It was a badge of honor, dirty gear. Smoke-scarred protective suits carried a message, St. Paul Fire Marshal Steve Zaccard said: “You fought fires.” St. Paul Fire Department staff scrubbed gear and protective clothing after a house fire Tuesday, part of an effort to reduce their risk of cancer. “It exudes confidence and experience and competence,” he said.
- PUB DATE: 10/3/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Minneapolis Star Tribune

It's been a very bad week with the suicide of at least two Firefighters, the Line of Duty deaths of Wilmington Firefighters Lt. Christopher Leach, Firefighter Jerry Fickes and FDNY Deputy Fire Chief Michael Fahy. Our continued condolences to all those suffering due to these horrible losses. Among so many factors at any working fire are the folks who know about the incidents coming in well before we do-the dispatchers.
- PUB DATE: 10/3/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firefighter Close Calls

An explosion that destroyed a New York City home and killed a firefighter has drawn attention to marijuana-making methods that are legal in many states — but can also be lethal. A New York fire battalion chief died responding to the blast Tuesday in a Bronx home that authorities say had been converted into an indoor marijuana farm.
- PUB DATE: 10/3/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Yahoo.com

An elected commissioner of North Whatcom Fire and Rescue is suing his own fire district in small claims court over $1,000 in personal gear that went missing. Meanwhile, the district’s fire chief questions whether the commissioner, Dean Berkeley, is even eligible to serve, in light of a statement he made at a city council hearing in July in White Rock, a border city in British Columbia just north of Blaine.
- PUB DATE: 10/3/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Bellingham Herald

The Coast Guard says as much as 100 gallons of fuel spilled when a fire damaged boats at a marina in Tacoma. Six boats burst into flames Sunday morning at Tyee marina in Tacoma, sending up clouds of black smoke and scattered debris. Two boats partially sank and one sank completely A witness on nearby says he was awakened by the explosion and saw the boats engulfed in flames.
- PUB DATE: 10/3/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO News