The FDNY on Monday moved to curb soaring medical leave among firefighters by reducing staffing on engine companies. Effective on Tuesday at 9 a.m., the FDNY will no longer assign a fifth firefighter to the 10 engine companies that had carried an extra set of hands, the Daily News has learned. The absenteeism rate includes time taken off to recover from injuries as well as sick days to recuperate from an illness.
- PUB DATE: 12/5/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News

After Daniel Helsel and his colleague were dispatched to help a woman in labor at her home Monday morning, the two firefighters joked about the coincidence of the call landing on his birthday. Wouldn’t it be funny if Helsel, who was born in the back of an ambulance, wound up delivering a baby on the way to the hospital just as he had come into the world 42 years ago? It turns out that is exactly what happened minutes after Helsel and his colleagues loaded the mother-to-be in the back of an ambulance heading to Prince George’s Hospital Center.
- PUB DATE: 12/5/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Washington Post

Thousands were forced to flee their homes on Monday as firefighters battled a fast-moving wildfire in Southern California that had charred at least 45,000 acres of land, authorities said. Intensified by strong winds and harsh weather conditions, the fire was impacting structures in downtown Ventura early Tuesday morning, with multiple residential homes on fire near City Hall.
- PUB DATE: 12/5/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: ABC News

There's a huge debate Monday night in Belleville about the city's proposal to eliminate its fire department and let a neighboring township provide services. The idea isn't sitting well with residents and current firefighters. Current firefighters would have to re-apply for their jobs, but residents don't like the idea of the city's only firehouse shutting down.
- PUB DATE: 12/5/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WDIV-TV NBC 4 Detroit