D.C. Fire Chief Gregory Dean has responded to the sudden and very public resignation of the city’s medical director, Dr. Jullette Saussy, by defending his department. Saussy’s scathing resignation letter criticized the fire department for its toxic culture and slow response times, citing an incident that occurred last month when a man with stab wounds died after it took firefighters 18 minutes after the 911 call to arrive at the scene.
- PUB DATE: 2/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firerescue1

Jason Beard didn’t have to testify, he told a federal court jury Thursday, but the former Augusta fire marshal insisted. “I’d like for the jury to hear my side of the story, the truthful side,” he said. The jury didn’t buy it. After deliberating close to three hours Thursday evening, the jury convicted Beard of six counts of extortion and one count of attempted extortion.
- PUB DATE: 2/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: augusta chronicle

Members of the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company are particularly grief-stricken after learning one of their own, Harford County Sheriff's Office Deputy Patrick Dailey, was killed in the line of duty Wednesday. "It is with a heavy heart that the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company shares the loss of active life member Patrick 'Pat' B.
- PUB DATE: 2/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: baltimore sun

Barrow’s volunteer fire department chief, a nephew of a state lawmaker, was fatally shot in an incident involving a North Slope Borough police officer early Wednesday, according to borough officials. Vincent Nageak III, 36, of Barrow, nephew of state Rep. Ben Nageak, was identified by the borough as the dead man.
- PUB DATE: 2/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: alaska dispatch news

The Philadelphia Fire Department will no longer use "brownouts" or forced staff rotations - two controversial policies implemented by former Mayor Michael Nutter, Mayor Kenney announced Thursday. Kenney, whose father was a battalion chief, announced the change in conjunction with a report issued by City Controller Alan Butkovitz, which found both practices "jeopardized public safety" and cost the city $20 million in overtime.
- PUB DATE: 2/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Philadelphia Inquirer