Grays Harbor Fire Protection District #5, which covers the Porter, Elma, and Satsop area of East Grays Harbor County has decided to ask voters to establish an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) funding levy. At the July Commissioners’ meeting, the Board passed a resolution authorizing the placement of a renewable six-year EMS Levy proposition on the November 8th ballot for citizen consideration.
- PUB DATE: 9/2/2016 4:47:57 AM - SOURCE: KBKW 1450-AM & 94.7-FM

Firefighters are pushing back against the possible closure of one of Petersburg’s four fire stations, calling it a threat to public safety that eventually will cost lives. “The impact of staffing reduction and a proposed station closure would reduce the department of the firefighting force by approximately 25 percent,” said Andrew Pantelis, district vice president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, during a news conference Thursday in Petersburg.
- PUB DATE: 9/2/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Richmond Times-Dispatch

Analysis by a team from Drexel University found that firefighters may shun safety gear due to the pressure of living up to their risk-taker image. Jennifer Taylor, PhD, associate professor in Drexel’s Dornsife School of Public Health, and her team used data from 123 firefighters interviews across the country to determine why they often refrain from using personal protective equipment (PPE) in dangerous situations.
- PUB DATE: 9/2/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Drexel University

It's been almost four years since first responders to a fire in Webster, outside Rochester were ambushed as they arrived to help. Four firefighters were shot and two of them killed. Since then, we've seen attacks on other first responders including police officers in cities all over the country. Now, one fire department in Central New York is taking new action by wearing bullet proof vests capable of stopping a high powered rifle.
- PUB DATE: 9/2/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WSTM-TV NBC3-CNY Central

The board of the Greater Eagle Fire Protection District terminated its jailed Chief Kurt Vogel on Thursday. Vogel was arrested last month on charges he stole more than $120,000 from his former fire department in Sterling. Vogel, who was hired by the Eagle district in April, was placed on unpaid leave following his Aug.
- PUB DATE: 9/2/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Denver Post