California's firefighting agency can twice demote three state firefighters who cheated to get jobs and promotions at a training academy that was rocked by an ethics scandal, a state appeals board said in a decision made public Tuesday. The State Personnel Board backed an administrative law judge's decision that the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has the authority to impose tougher penalties than were originally sought against the three.
- PUB DATE: 4/20/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KCRA-TV NBC 3 Sacramento

Firefighter Jason Rivera, an 18-year veteran of the fire service and a member of the New Haven (CT) Fire Department, was awarded the 2016 Ray Downey Courage & Valor Award at Wednesday’s Opening Session. Robert Biolchini, chairman of the board, PennWell Corp., presented the award. Fire Department of New York Battalion Chiefs Joe and Chuck Downey, sons of Ray Downey; Ron Siarnicki, executive director, National Fallen Firefighter Foundation; Chief Ron Kanterman, National Fire Academy Alumni Association; and Bobby Halton, Fire Engineering editor in chief / FDIC education director, also members of the Selection Committee, participated in the ceremony.
- PUB DATE: 4/20/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: fire engineering

When Orange City firefighter-paramedic Caroline Dorton heard a woman had been stabbed in the parking lot of the Chili's restaurant where she was eating in Lake Mary on Sunday, she did what came naturally. Dorton rushed outside to help. But the stabbed woman's husband returned. He saw Dorton and another person trying to help his bleeding wife and ran them over, police said.
- PUB DATE: 4/20/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: the daytona beach news-journal

Firefighters trying to save a burning home walked into something they say they have never seen before, a garage full of dozens of snakes, many of them venomous. There was nothing firefighters could do to save the snakes and the family not only lost their pets, but also their home on Silver Leaf Circle in James Island.
- PUB DATE: 4/20/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCBD-TV Charleston 2

We all know that you don’t need an advanced degree to pull ceiling. So why are departments placing a greater emphasis on higher education and advanced degrees these days, particularly when the process of getting a degree can be expensive and time-consuming? Firefighting is a dangerous, difficult and inherently risky job.
- PUB DATE: 4/20/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firehouse