A brand new lieutenant in the Portland Fire Bureau acted heroically and put his life at risk Wednesday morning to save lives when an explosion destroyed a building and injured several people, the bureau’s fire chief said. Chief Mike Myers said during an afternoon news conference that Lt. Peter St. John was injured in the explosion and had been taken to a hospital.
- PUB DATE: 10/20/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KATU-TV ABC 2 Portland

Active duty Yonkers Fire Lt. John "J-Rod" Rodriguez died Tuesday night from a 9/11-related cancer. He was 53 years old. Rodriguez leaves behind a wife and two children. "John Rodriguez was first and foremost a family man, a loving and devoted husband and proud father," said Yonkers Fire Union President Barry McGoey, who joined the department with Rodriguez in October 2000.
- PUB DATE: 10/20/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NY Journal News (Lohud.com)

Chicago Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago on Wednesday defended his 60-day suspension of a lieutenant who refused to send underlings into an area where they might be exposed to Ebola but said the city will accept an arbitrator’s ruling overturning the suspension. Santiago said the decision not to appeal the arbitrator’s ruling had nothing to do with the no-confidence vote taken Sept.
- PUB DATE: 10/20/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times

Two firefighters were rescued after falling through a stairwell in a burning home Thursday morning at Eichelberger Street and Wherry Avenue. Authorities say they fell through a stairwell about 10 feet into the basement. They were being evaluated for injuries. No further details were immediately available about what injuries they suffered.
- PUB DATE: 10/20/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

A Phoenix firefighter was called to the home where he grew up to help in the effort to save his father's life. Derek Dee was on Engine 20 when he realized he was headed to his parents' home on Sept. 10. Dee's father, 71-year-old Tommy Dee, was suffering from cardiac arrest. His mother called 911 and his parents' neighbor performed CPR.
- PUB DATE: 10/20/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CBS 5 AZ KPHO