As Augusta Fire Chief Chris James heads out the door to a new job, members of the local firefighters union issued a letter Friday criticizing him for a contract he negotiated to buy several fire trucks they claim require constant maintenance. The Augusta Professional Firefighters Association claims members warned James years ago about the purchase of eight KME “prototype” fire trucks costing $6 million that now require frequent maintenance.
- PUB DATE: 2/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: augusta chronicle

The International Association of Fire Chiefs Foundation (IAFCF) has received a $10,000 grant from Emergent BioSolutions to provide 12 scholarships for qualified hazmat response professionals to attend the International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference, June 16-19 in Baltimore. The scholarships will provide a full conference registration and a $250 travel/housing stipend for each recipient.
- PUB DATE: 2/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: International Association of Fire Chiefs

The Elgin firefighters' union filed a labor complaint against the city after three of its members were told to cut their hair, which they had been growing to protest their 25-month lack of contract. International Association of Firefighters Local 439 President Vince Rychtanek said he, Vice President Edward Hanson and Shop Steward Joe Villella started letting their hair grow sometime after April 2015 to protest that firefighters have been working without a contract since January 2014.
- PUB DATE: 2/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: daily herald

The Pasco Fire Department wants to create a water rescue team that could allow first responders to get on local rivers quicker during emergencies. There have been 30 drownings in rivers in and surrounding the Tri-Cities over the last four years, with three cases in Pasco in 2015, officials said. A water rescue team would cut down on response times, give crews the ability to put out boat fires and provide a line of defense against hazardous waste spills, Pasco Fire Chief Bob Gear said.
- PUB DATE: 2/15/2016 10:42:18 PM - SOURCE: Mid-Columbia Tri-City Herald

The Pasco Fire Department wants to create a water rescue team that could allow first responders to get on local rivers quicker during emergencies. There have been 30 drownings in rivers in and surrounding the Tri-Cities over the last four years, with three cases in Pasco in 2015, officials said. A water rescue team would cut down on response times, give crews the ability to put out boat fires and provide a line of defense against hazardous waste spills, Pasco Fire Chief Bob Gear said.
- PUB DATE: 2/15/2016 10:42:18 PM - SOURCE: Mid-Columbia Tri-City Herald