Four people are dead after a medical evacuation helicopter based out of Visalia crashed east of McFarland Thursday night, said Dan Lynch, EMS director for Fresno County. The SkyLife medevac helicopter was transporting a patient in critical condition from Porterville to San Joaquin Community Hospital in Bakersfield when it crashed near Highway 65 and Sherwood Avenue, said Lynch, who oversees emergency medical services in Fresno, Madera, Kings and Tulare counties.
- PUB DATE: 12/11/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: sacramento bee

As the water raining down from the overhead sprinklers pooled in rivers of blood and the smell of gunpowder hung in the air Wednesday, Ryan Starling remembered his training. He got out his white tape. More than two dozen victims lay on the floor at the Inland Regional Center, the 33-year-old medic recalled Tuesday.
- PUB DATE: 12/11/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: los angeles times

James V. Maguire, a paramedic with the Hillsborough Rescue Squad, died in the line of duty on Monday. Maguire had responded to a call near his home on Sunday afternoon and performed CPR for an extended period of time. Less than 20 hours later, he apparently suffered a heart attack, the squad announced.
- PUB DATE: 12/11/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Newark Star-Ledger/NJ.com

Finally, some good news for 9/11 survivors. House Speaker Paul Ryan told members of his conference Thursday morning that Congress will reauthorize the Zadroga Act in a comprehensive spending bill that will come up for a vote next week. "Speaker Ryan told me this morning that the Zadroga Act, which funds health screenings and treatments for 9/11 first responders, is in the large spending bill that will pass next week," Rep.
- PUB DATE: 12/11/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: new york daily news

Ten weeks after the Spearfish Volunteer Fire Department members voted to resign en masse, the city and Lawrence County are poised to create a city department that will blend a paid fire chief and administrative staff with volunteer firefighters. Citing exhaustion, the rigors of fundraising and an inability to attract new volunteer leadership, a majority of the 134-year-old Spearfish Volunteer Fire Department, one of the oldest in western South Dakota, voted to disband, effective Jan.
- PUB DATE: 12/11/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: rapid city journal