A Kansas City firefighter/paramedic earned $232,105 last year — more than the fire chief and the city manager. It was an anomaly, based on an extraordinary amount of overtime. But an emergency medical technician earned $170,446, and three other paramedics earned between $151,000 and $173,816, again with the help of lots of overtime.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Kansas City Star

A firefighter arrived at the scene of a deadly blaze early Wednesday morning only to realize it was his sister's family's home. "It was the family of one of our firefighters," Chief Rich Holloway said, “so he's dealing with that currently." The fire killed 4 children and seriously injured 2 adults and a teenage boy.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KMTR-TV Eugene

Clay Township's ousted fire chief said he was wrongfully terminated after pointing out alleged fraudulent activities involving a federal grant and unpaid overtime due to firefighters. Daryl DuPage filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the township and several board members Thursday. DuPage was asked to resign in December before the board officially voted to fire him the next month.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Port Huron Times Herald

Apartment fires that originate on exterior wooden balconies or walkways, and subsequently advance rapidly up exterior walls into the soffit and into the attic are becoming more commonplace. The Omaha (Neb.) Fire Department experienced eight such fires between October 2011 and June 2012. Post-incident analyses for these fires showed that in each case the fire was well-advanced before the first fire unit arrived.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1