In his first months as the new head of Detroit’s beleaguered Fire Department, Eric Jones is building bridges with union leaders, touting improved response times and a decline in arson fires. But aging infrastructure, worker safety and wages are among the issues that remain on his hefty to-do list. Jones, 47, was appointed to the Detroit Fire Department’s top post in October.
- PUB DATE: 2/9/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: detroit news

The city of Orlando is looking to change the way it does live fire training after firefighters said their health was put in danger from being exposed to asbestos. A dozen firefighters were exposed to the hazardous substance inside an abandoned apartment complex, but Channel 9 learned more may have been put in harm’s way.
- PUB DATE: 2/9/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WFTV-TV ABC 9 Orlando

As the community reacts to the fire at a Raytown apartment that claimed the life of a 5-year-old boy and hospitalized two other people, the details have emerged in the dramatic rescue mission that put firefighters in serious danger. "The hose line burst. I don't know if it was cut or it burned or what, but they had to shelter in another part of the building where there wasn't fire," Raytown deputy fire chief Mike Hunley said.
- PUB DATE: 2/9/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WDAF-TV FOX 4

A levy language error will put one Sandusky County township back on the ballot in November. Washington Township has long used a levy to pay for fire service, set in recent years at 1.5 mills. Township officials sought to raise the levy to 2.5 mills in November, and voters overwhelmingly approved that five-year levy.
- PUB DATE: 2/9/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: toledo blade

The two Pensacola Fire Department chiefs placed on administrative leave earlier this week are not the focus of an investigation into the fire department, though it remains unclear what that focus is or how long the investigation might last. Local attorney Russell VanSickle of the Beggs & Lane law firm has been hired to perform the investigation, and interim Fire Chief Matt Schmitt and Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Glover will remain on paid administrative leave until the investigation in concluded.
- PUB DATE: 2/9/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Pensacola News Journal