A police and fire station shuttered earlier this year by the city of Springfield are reopening this month amid pressure from local unions. Fire Station No. 5 opened on Saturday — less than two weeks after the city announced plans to postpone its reopening from July 1 to Aug. 7 due to staffing and equipment issues — after calls from union leaders for it keep the promise it made to voters who expected coverage to resume after an income tax increase was approved at the polls in May.
- PUB DATE: 7/3/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Springfield News-Sun

Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell W. Whitfield Jr. retired this week from the position he has held since 2010, citing health concerns, the need to assume more responsibility for caring for his aging parents and hoping to spend more time with his family. "I've been wonderfully blessed to have had this opportunity," Whitfield said.
- PUB DATE: 7/3/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Buffalo News

Though they recently announced a compromise labor contract that saved the city money, Anchorage Fire Department officials are now clashing with the firefighters union over reducing overtime by cutting hours of a South Anchorage water truck. Mike Stumbaugh, president of International Association of Firefighters Local 1264, said his members gave up future raises in a recently renegotiated contract with the understanding it would prevent cuts.
- PUB DATE: 7/3/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Alaska Dispatch News

The former Dayville Fire Company deputy chief, who was arrested in April on assault charges, was charged this week with side-swiping a vehicle while driving a fire truck to an emergency call, state police said. At approximately 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, state police responded to a motor vehicle crash on Upper Maple Street in Killingly.
- PUB DATE: 7/3/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Norwich Bulletin

Four people who died in a cabin fire near Tamarack Resort Friday night have been identified. According to the Valley County Sheriff's Office, William Smith, who survived the fire, identified the other victims as his wife, Erin Smith, 34, their friend James Harper 3rd, 49, of Boise, and two juveniles.
- PUB DATE: 7/3/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTVB-TV NBC 7