Residents and town officials in East Granby are mourning the loss of Fire Chief Peter Ahlstrin, who died in a crash along Route 20 in Windsor Thursday night. At approximately 10:40 p.m. Thursday, State Police responded to Route 20 near the Hamilton Road South exit on a report of a crash. Upon arrival, troopers discovered that a vehicle being driven by 28-year-old Ahlstrin, had struck a wire rope guard rail on the right shoulder of the roadway, then rolled down an embankment.
- PUB DATE: 7/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTNH-TV ABC 8 New Haven

The Temple Hills homeowner who prosecutors say shot and killed a Prince George’s County firefighter and injured a second in April will not face a murder charge, state’s attorney Angela Alsobrooks announced Thursday. Instead, Darrell Lumpkin, 61, has been indicted on six counts related to illegal possession of firearms.
- PUB DATE: 7/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTOP-AM 1500 Washington

The federal government sued a homeowner for nearly $25 million on Thursday, contending his negligence sparked a 2013 fire in the mountains east of Los Angeles that forced 5,000 people from their homes. The lawsuit says that a short in a poorly maintained electrical junction box sparked a blaze in the San Jacinto Mountains above Palm Springs that charred more than 27,500 acres of brush and timber — about 43 square miles — and at one point threatened the town of Idyllwild.
- PUB DATE: 7/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KCAL-TV Los Angeles

The 1980’s cartoon series “G.I. Joe” ended each episode with an often corny and sometimes salient lesson, always following roughly the same script: A few adolescents get an oafish idea, like jumping their bikes over a downed sparking electrical wire, when a prominent member of the Joe squad materializes to explain their error in judgment.
- PUB DATE: 7/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NFPA Journal

Let me get this fact out of the way: I love sports. In fact, there aren't many sports that I don't follow. And, when there is a chance of a record being broken or a milestone achieved, it certainly has my attention. Why is it that we cheer on horses who have a chance to win the Triple Crown? Why is it we enjoy a pitcher throwing a perfect game, a hockey player completing the hat trick or a golfer winning all four majors? It's because there are levels of excellence that spectators and fans like to see people and teams accomplish.
- PUB DATE: 7/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firerescue1