A California man was arrested Monday on arson charges for allegedly sparking a wildfire that exploded over the weekend, destroying more than 175 homes, businesses and other structures in a small town, authorities said. Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin said Damin Anthony Pashilk, 40, of Clearlake was arrested Monday on 17 counts of arson and is in jail.
- PUB DATE: 8/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fox News

As a Philadelphia firefighter, Steven Mesete often is required to spring into action at a moment's notice, abruptly sending his heart into rat-a-tat mode. "You can be sitting still, and then running at 100 miles an hour," he said. One day last week, Mesete ramped up his cardiovascular system in a much more controlled fashion, walking on a treadmill with wires stuck to his chest and a cardiologist standing nearby.
- PUB DATE: 8/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Philly.com

Chief Michael Jensen is leaving Unified Fire Authority, an agency under investigation over bonuses it approved for him and three others. During a two-hour closed-door meeting, Jensen said, he and the agency's board had a "long, good discussion" and agreed on a "mutual separation" in the best interest of Unified Fire Authority (UFA).
- PUB DATE: 8/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Salt Lake Tribune

NASA’s new artificial intelligence — capable of running on a cellphone — could soon put Apple’s Siri and Microsoft’s Cortana to shame. The hope for the AI, named AUDREY, is to be deployed in the field to help save first responders’ lives by making split-second recommendations in dangerous situations, NASA officials said.
- PUB DATE: 8/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Los Angeles Daily News

Yakima firefighters told our reporter Haley Gibbs that the recent house fires have all been of high urgency. There have been three different house fires in three days, and most of them have left families homeless. The fire that happened Saturday on N. 2nd Street in Yakima was caused by children who were playing with aerosol cans and lighters.
- PUB DATE: 8/15/2016 10:53:48 PM - SOURCE: kndu