PHOTO - A photo of a Phoenix-area firefighter carrying an American flag over his shoulder while walking from a huge recycling plant fire went viral on Wednesday. The photo, originally posted by Adrienne Berman, shows Tempe Fire Department Capt. Nick Ells walking away from a fire near 36th Street and University Drive with the flag.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: ktar

A battalion chief has become short-tempered and erratic in his decision making. A company officer is rumored to be going through a bad divorce and drinking heavily when off duty. A firefighter who was involved in a particularly bad medical call has been calling in sick a lot since then. As a fire chief, should you say or do anything in response to these circumstances? Should anyone? And if someone does take action, exactly what should that person do? Firefighters sometimes hesitate to get involved when a colleague might be having problems related to behavioral health, because they don't want to intrude.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firerescue1

Mayor Tony George has decided to scrap a 4½-year-old ambulance mutual aid agreement with three neighboring towns and instead return to using for-profit Trans-Med Ambulance as the primary backup unit for the entire city, multiple people familiar with the plan said Thursday. Fire Chief Jay Delaney would only say in an email that George gave him a directive “to change the dispatch procedures when city ambulances are already committed to calls.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice

Lexington got its first female fire chief Thursday with the appointment of Kristin Chilton, a 23-year veteran of the department. Chilton, 48, was an assistant chief until Mayor Jim Gray selected her for the top job. She was one of 32 applicants for the position. “This is an important day for our city,” Gray said.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: lexington herald-leader