A four-alarm fire that started about 3 a.m. Sunday morning destroyed Craft Stove and Hansen's Furniture in west Mount Vernon. Traffic was being detoured through the area. Mount Vernon Fire Chief Roy Hari said there were no injuries, and the cause was under investigation. Mary Morgan, a nearby resident, said that she was shaken out of bed by the initial explosions that accompanied the fire.
- PUB DATE: 5/2/2016 4:14:12 AM - SOURCE: Skagit Valley Herald (GoSkagit.com)

A Pineville firefighter was killed battling a fire Saturday night at a golf store in a strip mall on Pineville-Matthews Road. Richard Sheltra, 20, worked with the Pineville Volunteer Fire Department for three years. He was named Rookie of the Year in January, though no longer new to the department, and was also recognized for being the member of the department who received the most hours of training last year.
- PUB DATE: 5/2/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: charlotte observer

Fairfax Fire and Rescue Chief Richard Bowers is calling on the website “Fairfax Underground” to remove its “lewd and horrible” comments about fallen firefighter Nicole Mittendorff. The chief also promised a “very aggressive” internal investigation to determine whether anyone in his department is to blame.
- PUB DATE: 5/2/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Inside NoVA

A group representing firefighters and municipalities hopes to revive a law that protects first responders from getting sued by people they try to help. The so-called "public duty rule" dates to the 1800s and provides firefighters and paramedics broad immunity from lawsuits stemming from their on-the-job actions.
- PUB DATE: 5/2/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: chicago tribune

During a five-year period, close to one-quarter of the wildland fires that were reported in the U.S. were deemed arson. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) announced that the theme for Arson Awareness Week, May 1-7, is "Prevent Wildfire Arson — Spread the Facts Not the Fire." "Not all wildland is comprised of forests.
- PUB DATE: 5/2/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firehouse