A Michigan State Police trooper testified that suspended Allegan District Fire Chief Matt Gillies admitted to sexually abusing a 4-year-old girl and recording it. During the hearing Tuesday, the trooper affirmed Gillies sexually abused the young girl at his home and recorded it in September. Gillies had a previous foster care relationship with the girl but not at the time of the alleged incident, according to investigators.
- PUB DATE: 11/2/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Detroit Free Press

Rural fire departments have more than 140 additional firefighters one year after legislation became law that eliminated the age limit for new volunteers. House Bill 2005, authored by Rep. Mike Sanders, took effect Nov. 1, 2015. The law eliminated the 45-year-old age limit for new firefighters by giving them the option of joining the system without the requirement that they be added to the state’s pension plan.
- PUB DATE: 11/2/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Norman Transcript

In the effort to save lives, the Pullman Fire Department just got a new tool for fire calls. Firefighters received four thermal imaging cameras. On the camera the heat shows up as a bright white color. This will help firefighters find where the fire is right away, see where people are. Just last week, they used a thermal imaging camera in an apartment fire, and rescued a man from his burning apartment.
- PUB DATE: 11/2/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KLEW TV

Sharpsburg (PA) Volunteer Fire Department Legend series pumper. Metro Star cab and chassis; Cummins ISL 450-hp engine; Darley PSM 1,500-gpm pump.

Investigators continue to try to determine the cause of two fires from the past two weekends that left two people injured, and killed a 3-year-old boy and a dog. On Oct. 21, a fire in the 4000 block of East Longfellow Avenue started around 11:30 p.m. The two residents in the house were able to evacuate their three children but were unable to reach 3-year-old Noah Whitcher, who died huddled next to a dog.
- PUB DATE: 11/1/2016 5:33:28 PM - SOURCE: Spokane Spokesman-Review