Houston can't overhaul a state-governed firefighter pension system that the mayor claims is pushing the city towards insolvency, a Texas appeals court ruled. Houston sued the Houston Firefighters' Relief and Retirement Fund in January 2014, seeking a declaration that a state law setting how the fund is operated, and giving the city no control over the amount of its contributions, is unconstitutional.
- PUB DATE: 9/13/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Courthouse News Service

A fire suppressant foam linked to the shutdown of two drinking water wells at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base injured a firefighter during a training incident and the Defense Department has launched an investigation to determine how widespread the problem is across the nation. The firefighter, Michael R.
- PUB DATE: 9/13/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Dayton Daily News

A rekindled fire on private Washington land overtook a structure Monday and caused dozens of homes to be evacuated. The fire was first reported around 2 p.m. near 407 Old Hwy 8 in Klickitat County. It quickly spread west and south towards Hwy 14 in Sundale, county officials said. Over 3,000 acres reportedly burned by 6:30 p.
- PUB DATE: 9/13/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: koin

Tri-State Fire District, Darien, IL, pumper. Enforcer cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 450-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm pump.

The city of Vancouver hired an outside investigator earlier this year to look into issues of gender-based discrimination within the Vancouver Fire Department. That inquiry is ongoing now. Emails obtained by The Columbian raise questions about how female firefighters are treated in Vancouver. In April, a firefighter was using the women’s restroom at Station 10 when her male boss walked in on her.
- PUB DATE: 9/12/2016 8:38:54 PM - SOURCE: Vancouver Columbian