A firefighter who is fighting a department policy that he said would force him to cut off his ponytail took his case directly to City Council, claiming gender discrimination. Timothy Gay, an Elmira Street resident and one of the few members of the department who actually lives and pays taxes in the city, said the policy was directed at him, as he is the only male member of the department with long hair.
- PUB DATE: 9/29/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: press of atlantic city

If Shickshinny state troopers were likened to a Christmas character over the weekend, Scrooge would be a good description, according to Holly Morris. Morris, secretary of the Shickshinny Volunteer Fire Department, said several fire fighters had gathered at the intersection of Routes 11 and 239 on Saturday to collect money during their annual “boot drop” collection, the fire department’s major fundraiser of the year, when they were approached by state Trooper Steve Steransky, Jr.
- PUB DATE: 9/29/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: times leader

DC Fire and EMS Chief Gregory Dean will ask the D.C. council on Tuesday for authority to hire an outside company to provide ambulance service to help relieve his overtaxed fleet. Under Dean's plan, which has the support of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Fire and EMS would contract with a third party ambulance company.
- PUB DATE: 9/29/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WUSA-TV 9 DC

Three groups will receive $5.9 million in federal grants to train first responders to handle railroad incidents involving crude oil, ethanol and other flammable liquids. The U.S. Transportation Department announced the grants Monday. Concerns have been growing about these shipments because the number has surged, and there have been several fiery derailments involving crude oil in recent years.
- PUB DATE: 9/29/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: washington times

A man's fear of spiders nearly caused him to set a Metro Detroit gas station on fire. Instead, he set his car and a gas pump on fire. WJBK-TV FOX 2 News reports the man saw a spider on his car's gas tank while he was at a gas station in Center Line. He then did something that most people understand is obviously not smart.
- PUB DATE: 9/29/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: mlive.com