A Houston firefighter survived a scare late Friday afternoon. His crew was cutting a hole in the roof of a south-side home to put a fire out when he fell through. "He fell through in such a way that the guys that were on the roof weren't able to pull him out," said HFD Deputy Chief Herman Gonzales.
- PUB DATE: 11/23/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTRK abc 13

A recent question about the appropriate title for Doña Ana County's top fire official brought to the forefront a power struggle that's been simmering for years between county administrators and volunteer fire districts across the county. County commissioners answered the question definitively when they voted unanimously earlier this month to change Robert Monsivaiz's title from "fire marshal" to "fire chief.
- PUB DATE: 11/23/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Las Cruces Sun-News

A firefighter who was allowed to graduate the Fire Academy despite failing physical tests has already gone out on medical leave — just 10 days into the job, The Post has learned. Probationary firefighter Choeurlyne Doirin-Holder injured herself Monday while conducting a routine check of equipment at Queens’ Engine 308 in South Richmond Hill.
- PUB DATE: 11/23/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: new york post

The Detroit Fire Department reported that Fire Boat 1 Capt. Walter Szelag died in the line of duty Friday of an apparent heart attack. At about 4:45 p.m. fire crews called for an ambulance to the fire boat station. Capt. Szelag was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The department web site said one firefighter reported that Friday was meant to be Szelag's last shift at the boat station before it was closed for the winter.
- PUB DATE: 11/23/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firerescue1

Strong, shifting winds that dramatically fanned a wildfire near Twisp in Okanogan County in August pushed walls of flames and smoke onto a team of firefighters, catching them off-guard and forcing them to retreat blindly down a winding dirt road to their deaths, according to a joint state and federal report released Friday.
- PUB DATE: 11/23/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Seattle Times