Troubling allegations of hazing and even racist abuse at the San Francisco Fire Academy have emerged as the city is shelling out $100,000 a day in overtime to account for a significant shortage of firefighters, NBC Bay Area has learned. Currently, some 54 firefighter recruits are undergoing training at the Division of Training to join the ranks of 1,500 firefighters in the city – 250 firefighters short of the department’s authorized strength.
- PUB DATE: 7/18/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KNTV-TV NBC 11 Bay Area

Kenneth Patterson and Tony Masga were in the car Saturday morning when they saw flames shooting out of an apartment building on Wycoff Ave. The heat from the fire so intense, glass was breaking and smoke was everywhere. "I just jumped out the car without the crutches…and I went hobbling I went hobbling over here,” said Patterson.
- PUB DATE: 7/17/2016 10:39:22 PM - SOURCE: KCPQ-TV FOX 13

Ray (ND) Fire Department, pumper. Commander 3000 cab and chassis; Cummins ISL 450-hp engine; Hale DSD 1,500-gpm pump; UPF Poly 1,000-gallon tank.

Two separate hikers had to be rescued after being injured in the Snow Lake area near Snoqualmie Pass on Sunday. Crews from King County Search and Rescue and Bellevue Fire hiked two miles up the trailhead to reach a 40-year-old woman who fell more than 150 feet. Firefighters said the woman has lower body injuries but is in stable condition.
- PUB DATE: 7/17/2016 3:04:24 PM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue wants to replace two of its five stations — the crumbling one in Lexington and the earthquake-vulnerable station at Baker’s Corner in West Longview. On July 27, the district board of commissioners will decide whether to ask voters in November to approve an $11 million, 20-year bond to pay for the new stations as well as a new fire engine.
- PUB DATE: 7/16/2016 6:53:08 AM - SOURCE: Longview Daily News