Voters in Gold Bar and Index will be asked to combine Snohomish County Fire Districts 26 and 28 in an upcoming election. As of Wednesday, March 1, the two virtually volunteer-driven districts began working under a four-year interlocal agreement (ILA). The contract consolidates most operations, leadership and government, creating one fire chief and one assistant fire chief position, and combines each five-member board of commissioners into one 10-member board.
- PUB DATE: 4/4/2017 3:26:28 AM - SOURCE: Monroe Monitor

Intense heat and strain appear to put firefighters at a greater risk of heart attack, a new study finds. The physical demands of firefighting may trigger the formation of blood clots and impair blood vessel function -- two factors associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke, researchers in Scotland report.
- PUB DATE: 4/4/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: HealthDay News

A city councilman wants voters to approve a city charter change that would allow council to make major changes to the police and fire departments — or abolish them altogether. Mathew Davoli has proposed legislation that, if approved on the November ballot, would give council the power to scrap police and fire departments or contract with other agencies to provide those services.
- PUB DATE: 4/4/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Toledo Blade

Questions loom about why a fire chief with a squeaky clean record was forced out of office last week. Action News Jax went through all 381 pages of now-former Nassau County Fire Chief Matthew Graves’ personnel record on Monday. Graves abruptly retired under pressure from county leaders on Friday. His letter of retirement said he’s had a “rewarding” career.
- PUB DATE: 4/4/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTEV-TV 47

A former Champaign-area paramedic who was set to become a fire chief in Alaska is facing criminal charges after prosecutors say he drugged and sexually assaulted a man who attended his going-away party. David J. Dunn, 43, of Savoy, was arraigned in the Champaign County Courthouse Monday for felony criminal sexual assault, according to the Champaign County state’s attorney office.
- PUB DATE: 4/4/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Chicago Tribune