Ten Harris County deputies were exposed to a 'non-toxic irritant' after a release of pressure from multiple small containers holding chemicals at the Arkema plant in Crosby. The incident was first reported by emergency officials as two explosions. Law enforcement later began referring to the situation as containers popping, spewing black smoke, and being on fire.
- PUB DATE: 8/31/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KHOU-TV CBS 11 Houston

A Baltimore Fire captain was suspended and transferred from his post on Wednesday after giving a television interview about his engine being directed away from the scene of a house fire on Friday, a department spokesman said. Capt. John Parker, of Engine 31, which is housed in the 3100 block of Greenmount Avenue in Waverly, was transferred to Engine 6 in Oldtown, according to an internal Fire Department document obtained by The Baltimore Sun.
- PUB DATE: 8/31/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Baltimore Sun

A recent, but long overdue, external audit has discovered $6.2 million in a county bank account that the financially strapped East Contra Costa Fire District should have received as savings from staff reductions and fire station closures over the past three years. The revelation, coming after years of station closures, deep budget cuts and failed ballot measures to raise revenue, drew a strong response from state Assemblyman Jim Frazier, D-Oakley, who had been seeking to pass a bill in the Legislature to help the district stay afloat.
- PUB DATE: 8/31/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: East Bay Times

This is an immediate request for unused fire/rescue/EMS department or company t-shirts of any and all sizes to be distributed to Texas Firefighters (and their families) who have suffered property losses. The shirts will provide them with something new to wear after losing so much, and it also allows them to wear the logo of those departments, locals, associations and fire companies that were able to help.
- PUB DATE: 8/31/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FirefighterCloseCalls.com

There was never a doubt in Patti Valero's mind that she could overcome the loss of her leg and get back on the job. After all, the retiring Hillsborough County firefighter had grown accustomed to facing adversity throughout not only her career but her personal life as well. "I never cried," Valero said in a recent interview with Firehouse.
- PUB DATE: 8/31/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse