Staff at Travis County’s air rescue outfit will likely have to come to grips with the possibility that they will never know exactly what caused one of their colleagues to fall to her death during a patient rescue nearly a year ago, their leader said Wednesday. With no evidence of any equipment failure, the federal agency tasked with investigating the death of STAR Flight rescuer Kristin McLain, 46, determined that she was likely not properly attached to the helicopter’s hoist when she fell about 100 feet during a rescue in the Barton Creek Greenbelt.
- PUB DATE: 3/17/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: statesman

According to BusinessInsurance.com, the US Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) is contemplating new regulations aimed specifically at firefighters. Published last week, the article lists several areas that OSHA is looking at, including mandatory medical examinations to help address the cardiac risk and banning sliding poles due to injuries.
- PUB DATE: 3/17/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firelawblog.com

Tucson Fire Chief Jim Critchley is proposing to cut $4.7 million from the department budget — which includes possible job demotions — in a belt-tightening measure to help the city’s budget woes. The proposal was released in a memo from the chief to all employees. Some of the changes may begin before July.
- PUB DATE: 3/17/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Tucson Arizona Daily Star

A pickup truck slammed into a South Jersey home early Thursday morning, igniting a fire that destroyed the house of a firefighter. A driver lost control around 4:30 a.m. after colliding with another car and crashed his white pickup truck into a home along normally busy N Hook Road near Dunlap Avenue in Pennsville, said Pennsville Police Chief AJ Cummings.
- PUB DATE: 3/17/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: nbc philadelphia

This tanker is in service with the Readington Volunteer Fire Company, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.