Firefighters in central California are still struggling to contain a fire that officials have called a "firefight of epic proportions." The fire, which began Thursday just before 4 p.m. local time, continues to spread across Kern County and has destroyed 80 homes, Tyler Townsend of Erskine Creek Fire said this morning.
- PUB DATE: 6/24/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: abc news

Just a week before a deployment plan goes into effect, the eight soon-to-be demoted captains have been told what their roles will be with the city’s fire department. Daniel Daugherty, president of the Watertown Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 191, confirmed that the captains will be renamed as “unit leaders” but will basically handle the same responsibilities they do now while on calls.
- PUB DATE: 6/24/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: watertown daily times

Another former Providence fire chief is returning to his old department. Michael J. Dillon, who served in the fire department for 39 years before retiring as acting chief in 2013, is being hired to oversee day-to-day operations following the retirement of asst. Chief Scott Mello. Dillon’s official title will be operations chief and he’ll be paid on a per diem basis, according to Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare.
- PUB DATE: 6/24/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WPRI-TV Providence 12

When Brian Cresto and his fellow firefighters fly toward a wildfire at just a few hundred feet off the ground, he's scouting for the best spot for them to land when they parachute down. Lately, he's also been keeping an eye out for hobby drones that could take out their twin-engine propeller craft before it climbs to 1,500 feet, where the eight smokejumpers exit.
- PUB DATE: 6/24/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: abc news

After months of waiting, a Ralston firefighter passed a major hurdle this week. He's one step closer to getting a double lung transplant. Ralston Firefighter Mike Bramhall was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 4 months old; the reality that one day his lungs wouldn't be able to keep up with the disease is something he's always known would happen.
- PUB DATE: 6/24/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: nbc nebraska