As fire swept through a Hartford home in the early evening of Oct. 7, 2014, five firefighters inside the second-floor living room heard a commander's desperate radio call to "bail out." "All units out of the building now." Engine 16 Lt. John Moree would later tell investigators he searched for, but couldn't find, his partner, firefighter Kevin Bell, who was manning a hose inside the room.
- PUB DATE: 6/2/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Hartford Courant

Former State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover was named superintendent of the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy (NFA) in May. As superintendent, Hoover will provides leadership for the NFA, which focuses on enhancing the ability of fire and emergency services and allied professionals to deal more effectively with fire and related emergencies.
- PUB DATE: 6/2/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse

Almost 300 state firefighters whose promotions were suspended after Cal Fire discovered suspected cheating on a November 2016 exam can move up the ranks as long their individual results are vetted one more time, according to a Thursday decision from the State Personnel Board. The board voted to allow Cal Fire to promote from an exam that it dismissed last month when it reported that it found “irregularities” on a test that captains must pass before advancing to battalion chief.
- PUB DATE: 6/2/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Sacramento Bee

PHOTOS - Sixty people are without a home today after a seven-alarm blaze tore through a Reading condo complex, where about 100 firefighters were called to help contain the fire. Abby Brennan, who lives on the fourth floor, said she heard a fire alarm go off, opened her door and made her way down through the smoke with her 4-year-old son.
- PUB DATE: 6/2/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Boston Herald

Lower Saucon Fire-Rescue, Lower Saucon Township, PA, pumper. Metro Star cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 450-hp engine; Hale DSD 1,500-gpm pump; Pro Poly 1,000-gallon polypropylene tank.