One of South Whidbey’s greatest and longest serving protectors will hang up his fire hat this month. Paul Busch, a South Whidbey Fire/EMS firefighter for 35 years, is retiring. His last official day on the job is Dec. 31. The man joined the department in 1978, and over three and a half decades he’s fought fires, responded to car accidents, natural disasters, been witness to tragedy and miracles and likely saved a few cats in trees.
- PUB DATE: 12/23/2015 5:04:56 AM - SOURCE: South Whidbey Record

They suit up, grab a hose and rush into a small burning building. After soaking the fire, they all exit and pat each other on the back. It’s just a drill, but important preparation to keep fire crews sharp. The work is just another day of live-fire training for the firefighters of Snohomish’s Fire District No.
- PUB DATE: 12/23/2015 3:55:33 AM - SOURCE: Snohomish County News

They suit up, grab a hose and rush into a small burning building. After soaking the fire, they all exit and pat each other on the back. It’s just a drill, but important preparation to keep fire crews sharp. The work is just another day of live-fire training for the firefighters of Snohomish’s Fire District No.
- PUB DATE: 12/23/2015 3:55:33 AM - SOURCE: Snohomish County News

To his last day on the force, Clarksdale Fire Department Capt. Willie Ratliff could still fight fire with the young guys. That's what his fellow firefighters said about him. It's what the community of Clarksdale knew about him. The 35-year veteran of the Clarksdale Fire Department was two shifts away from retirement Monday night when his shift mates found him, dead of an apparent heart attack at the station.
- PUB DATE: 12/23/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: clarion ledger

The former captain of the Etowah County Rescue Squad has been arrested for criminally negligent homicide related to the drowning death of a rescue squad volunteer April 25. Michael Ervin Bettis, 49, Gadsden, was arrested on the misdemeanor charge after he was indicted by an Etowah County grand jury, according to a news release from Sheriff Todd Entrekin.
- PUB DATE: 12/23/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: gadsden times