Bethel Volunteer Fire Department chief David Aldrighetti said he's dealing with a tough situation. "[I'm] stressed out. You know, this is something that it's harder to deal with than when you have a major fire because it's personal," Aldrighetti said. The fire chief needs to figure out how to move forward after 66-year-old veteran firefighter James Hart responded to a serious motorcycle accident while intoxicated.
- PUB DATE: 7/16/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WPTZ-TV NBC 5 Plattsburgh/WNNE-TV NBC 31

Firefighters next year will start working more hours at a lower rate of pay because the city cannot afford "above market prices" for their services, an arbitrator has ruled. A new work schedule that takes effect Jan. 3 will have Grand Rapids firefighters working an average of 54 hours per week, rather than the current 50.
- PUB DATE: 7/16/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: mlive.com

An off-duty Mansfield firefighter physically stopped an armed robber at a convenience store in Midlothian recently. Firefighter Daniel Gaskey stopped in the Oasis Food Store in Midlothian before heading to work on June 26. Then a 19-year-old shoved past him and held out a hunting knife about five inches long to the cashier.
- PUB DATE: 7/16/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTBC-TV MyFoxAustin

A Volusia County firefighter, described by a superior as a danger to co-workers during an angry outburst at the fire station, served a suspension for threatening to cut up his commander into a thousand pieces, records show. Eric Middlebrook, 48, a retired U.S. Army medic who did a tour in Afghanistan, has been working with Volusia County Fire Services for 12 years.
- PUB DATE: 7/16/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Daytona Beach News-Journal

John Whelan, a Denver firefighter who was injured while fighting a fire north of downtown last month, died Wednesday night, the Denver Fire Department said. Whelan was on a routine call of a dumpster fire on June 28. Crews were able to put out the fire quickly but to make sure everything was OK, Whelan and other firefighters climbed onto the roof of a building at 3860 Blake St.
- PUB DATE: 7/16/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KDVR-TV FOX 31 Denver