Two off-duty Oakland firefighters were shot, one fatally, in San Jose's Japantown on Thursday night, and one person has been detained in connection with the crime, police say. The shooting was reported at 9:37 p.m. near 8th and Taylor streets, across the street from Gordon Biersch Brewery, according to police.
- PUB DATE: 8/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NBC Bay Area

A rule requiring fire sprinkler systems be put in new apartment buildings has been deemed unenforceable by the state. This comes just six months after the Department of Safety and Professional Services decided to keep the rule. It said new apartment buildings with three to 20 units have to have fire sprinkler systems installed.
- PUB DATE: 8/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Channel3000.com

The city put embattled Fire Chief Thomas Ronalter on leave Thursday and appointed an acting leader for the department, but Ronalter publicly declared he won't quit over accusations of mismanagement and racial insensitivity. "I detest racism and all of the harm it causes. While I have made mistakes, I have never treated people — firefighters or otherwise — differently based on the color of their skin," Ronalter said in a statement emailed to reporters Thursday afternoon.
- PUB DATE: 8/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Hartford Courant

U.S. Rep. Trey Hollingsworth met with local fire service members Wednesday to discuss a bill aimed at tackling increased cancer rates among firefighters. The Firefighter Cancer Registry Act, co-sponsored by Indiana's 9th Congressional District representative, would provide the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the funding and capability to collect and analyze data related to cancer incidents within the profession.
- PUB DATE: 8/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: News and Tribune

The Spokane Fire Department said Thursday that two people are alive thanks to a program called Automatic Aid. On Wednesday afternoon, a mother and daughter were hit by a car in the North Spokane Costco parking lot. Officials said at one point, the mother was pinned under the car and crews had to lift the car to pull her out safely.
- PUB DATE: 8/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KREM-TV CBS 2