The family of a woman who died after going without oxygen for 17 minutes filed a lawsuit against a call center and first responders. Laurelyn Wagner-Pitts, 60, went into cardiac arrest July 30; she died in August after her family decided to take her off a ventilator. Her husband, Randy Pitts, called 911 after Wagner-Pitts began to make “funny noises and had a look on her face,” reported the Joliet Patch.
- PUB DATE: 12/30/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: EMS1

A City of Miami firefighter thanked his colleagues at Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Thursday, for saving his son’s life, just before Christmas. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to a house fire on Southwest 112th Avenue, last Friday, and found Anthony Villa lying on the ground unconscious. “He happened to be in cardiac arrest,” Miami Fire Rescue Chief Maurice Kemp said, “which, as you know, it doesn’t get any worse than that.
- PUB DATE: 12/30/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WSVN.com

Island Park (ID) Fire Protection District pumper. Kenworth T370 cab and chassis; Paccar PX9 380-hp engine; Darley LDM 1,250-gpm pump.

What was supposed to be a casual play date with a friend turned into a life-or-death situation Tuesday: A West Seattle mom with two kids, trapped inside a burning car on a busy downtown street. On Thursday, the family laughed and giggled in their friend’s living room. It’s those moments that mean the most to the Melake Family, with 3-year-old Aliana and 19-month-old Jaiden at the center of their world.
- PUB DATE: 12/29/2016 8:58:20 PM - SOURCE: KCPQ-TV FOX 13

Volunteer firefighter numbers nationwide continue to decrease in communities where surrounding fire departments rely heavily on volunteer help. Pete Lorea has been a volunteer firefighter at Franklin County Fire District 3 for over 5 years. When he's not working his day job he's either checking the fire trucks or running to the next call.
- PUB DATE: 12/29/2016 5:20:32 PM - SOURCE: KAPP-TV Yakima