The son of Utica Fire Chief Russell Brooks has filed a federal civil complaint against the City of Utica alleging the city violated federal and state anti-discrimination laws. On Dec. 2, John Brooks filed the federal civil complaint saying he was subjected to a hostile work environment at the Utica Fire Department — where he has been employed as a firefighter-paramedic since 2006 — because he requested an accommodation as a practicing Nazirite.
- PUB DATE: 2/17/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Utica Observer Dispatch

You’re driving your engine to the scene of reported structure fire as part of a multi-company response. You’re navigating traffic on a heavily traveled thoroughfare and you’re fast approaching a controlled intersection. What should you be prepared to do? Stop! That’s the first lesson I always imparted to firefighters when I was teaching them how to drive fire apparatus.
- PUB DATE: 2/17/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

St. Louis Fire Department instructor falsely claimed that he ran to the aid of victims at the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Shawn Daniel, a paramedic training officer for the city's fire department, had said he was among the emergency workers who hurried to help the injured. A statement from the St.
- PUB DATE: 2/17/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse.com

Pottstown (PA) Fire Department 79-foot AerialCat rear-mount aerial quint. Predator Panther cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 450-hp engine; Waterous CSU C20 1,500-gpm pump.

The Yakima Fire Department (YFD) is up for a $477,000 federal grant after getting the green light from city council to apply for it last week. It's funding the department severely needs, with service calls up in 2016 and a staffing shortage that's continued this year. The SAFER grant from the Department of Homeland Security covers portions of a firefighter's salary for three years and would help YFD fill its ranks.
- PUB DATE: 2/16/2017 8:56:26 PM - SOURCE: KIMA-TV CBS 29 Yakima