A group of Arizona House lawmakers is launching an effort aimed at cutting the soaring costs to communities of police and fire pensions, with its leader warning that cities could end up declaring bankruptcy if legislators fail to act. The new committee announced by House Speaker J.D. Mesnard comes just over a year after 70 percent of voters approved changes to the state's public safety pension plan designed to return it to solvency in 20 years.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: U.S. News & Report

The city’s search for a full-time fire chief took a step backward this week. Because of a clerical error, the Civil Service Commission will conduct a second set of interviews with seven candidates for the position instead of moving forward with the three finalists selected earlier this month. According to the city attorney’s office, Columbus Human Resources Director Mike Oglevie sent a memo containing 13 of the 17 interview questions to six of the seven candidates prior to the June 6 interviews with the Civil Service Commission, leaving one candidate off the list of recipients.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Columbus Telegram

The city, county and a local fire district recently sued several major pharmaceutical companies and a medical distribution firm, charging them with damaging the local economy by promoting the use of opioid painkillers they knew to be dangerous and extremely addictive. The 52-page complaint was filed in Superior Court late last month by two private law firms on behalf of Stockton, San Joaquin County and the Montezuma Fire Protection District, which serves unincorporated portions of southeast Stockton.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Recordnet.com

Schaumberg (IL) Fire Department 100-foot platform. Velocity cab and chassis; Cummins ISX15 550-hp engine.

Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a blaze that swept through a homeless encampment in Federal Way Saturday night. It's not clear if anyone was hurt. The camp sits in the woods near Pacific Highway South. Firefighters say it was difficult to reach the fire because of the terrain. Crews used about 500 feet of hose to reach the flames.
- PUB DATE: 6/25/2017 11:34:06 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000