Sunnyside’s fire department showed off its first ladder truck Wednesday. At $980,000, the vehicle is one of the most important purchases in the fire department’s history, providing unprecedented access to potentially large fires. “That’s pretty monumental for us,” said Fire Chief Aaron Markham. Sunnyside owns or partially owns three fire engines and three ambulances — but previously not a ladder truck.
- PUB DATE: 4/14/2016 5:00:03 AM - SOURCE: Yakima Herald-Republic

Lee County builders want to shut off Estero Fire Rescue District's sprinkler ordinance. The Lee Building Industry Association, Inc., and the Florida Home Builders Association filed a joint lawsuit in Lee County Circuit Court in an attempt to halt the fire district's recent sprinkler ordinance. The lawsuit also asks a judge to review whether the fire district followed state law when it created the ordinance, according to Chené Thompson, a private lawyer hired by the builders.
- PUB DATE: 4/14/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: naples daily news

A former division chief for the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District who alleged in a lawsuit he was fired due to his age has been awarded $704,000 by a jury. Following a monthlong trial in San Bernardino Superior Court, the seven-woman, five-man jury announced its verdict Monday, determining George Corley’s age was a “substantial motivating reason” for his termination, court records show.
- PUB DATE: 4/14/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Redlands Daily Facts

We regret to pass on the Line of Duty Death of Freeport (IL) FD Firefighter/EMT Michael D. Pontius (IAFF Local 441). Firefighter Pontius, 58, passed away 2 says ago, on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 from Line of Duty injuries sustained from exposure to toxic substance while operating at a house fire. It’s important to note that the fire that killed him was in 2001.
- PUB DATE: 4/14/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firefighter close calls

The Las Cruces firefighter whose wife was pictured breastfeeding their infant son while wearing his uniform, and the union that represents city firefighters, defended the Las Cruces Fire Department on Wednesday, saying the agency is not against breastfeeding. The support for LCFD came a day after the controversy surrounding the photo made national news.
- PUB DATE: 4/14/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Las Cruces Sun-News