Overreliance on 911 has led to a $20 million annual shortfall in the Memphis Fire Department's EMS budget. It's a problem many departments are facing. Memphis Division Chief Andrew Hart says the number of ambulance rides increased 24 percent to more than 124,000 trips each year from where it was five years ago.
- PUB DATE: 4/1/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firechief.com

Lorain City Council approved a $28 million budget Thursday night and sealed the fate of up to 15 firefighters. Those hard-working individuals will lose their jobs as the city attempts to make up for a $3.6 million budget shortfall while keeping jobs and city services intact. City officials tell Cleveland 19 that one fire station will close, but Lorain firefighter Tom Baker says it's going to be a lot worse.
- PUB DATE: 4/1/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WXIX-TV FOX 19 Cincinnati

When love ignited, Garfield Fire Company 1 volunteer members Paul Mellor and Danielle Szep were proud to incorporate their fire department turnout coats on their wedding invitations. They posted on Facebook part of the wedding invitation that showed their names on the back of their fire department coats.
- PUB DATE: 4/1/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: North Jersey.com (Bergen County Record & Herald News)

The embattled deputy fire chief in Newaygo is speaking out to the 13 Watchdog team, through his attorney, to say he's innocent of the criminal charges he's facing. Court records indicate Robert VanDyke is being criminally charged with two counts of attempted embezzlement. He's accused of putting down on-call hours to be paid when he was outside of his fire district.
- PUB DATE: 4/1/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WZZM-TV Grand Rapids 13

Lindstrom (MN) Fire Department, rear-mount pumper. Commander R7818 cab and chassis; Cummins ISL 450-hp engine; Waterous S100 1,500-gpm pump.