Candidates for Washington’s Commissioner of Public Lands will gather on Monday in Olympia to make the case for why they should oversee 5.6 million acres of the state’s land and lead firefighting efforts against often-dangerous summer blazes. The event is hosted by Washington’s League of Women Voters and sponsored in part by The Olympian.
- PUB DATE: 7/8/2016 4:23:46 AM - SOURCE: Olympian

After months of controversy, the Valencia County fire chief has been fired.Steven Gonzales is facing charges of impersonating an officer and false imprisonment after he pulled over a person for driving erratically in Los Lunas. Authorities say that as fire chief, Gonzales had no authority to pull people over.
- PUB DATE: 7/8/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: koat.com

A borough resident has made an official complaint to Hightstown's council about a hip hop video partially filmed at the borough's volunteer fire station that features its apparatus. The video is for a song called "IDK" by New Jersey performer Elite Motivated, and it was filmed and directed by Patrick Byas, an actor and director from Hightstown.
- PUB DATE: 7/8/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: nj.com

After years of discussion and shared services, Clark County Fire District 2 might merge with Clark County Fire & Rescue. Residents of District 2 will decide whether to merge during a vote on Aug. 2. To pass, the vote will require a simple majority. District 2 covers a small portion of Clark County between Woodland and La Center.
- PUB DATE: 7/8/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Columbian

Last October, longtime Somerville Firefighter Robert Quinn died suddenly at the age of 57 of a heart attack. Two months later, 48-year-old Somerville Fire Lieutenant Paul Sullivan died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Today, two other Somerville firefighters are on leave, diagnosed with cancer, and over the past year, many others have missed time with other injuries.
- PUB DATE: 7/8/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Sommervillewickedlocal.com