The state’s Retirement Board Wednesday refused to grant a disability pension to a Cranston firefighter, also a smoker, who argued that his colon cancer is a job-related medical condition under Rhode Island law. In a 7-6 vote, the panel voted against Kevin J. Lang’s appeal, accepting the recommendation of the board’s disability subcommittee and setting the stage for another round of appellate arguments in Workers Compensation Court.
- PUB DATE: 7/10/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: providence journal

A Texarkana mother and baby are safe after their house caught fire and exploded just after 10 p.m. Wednesday. When the Texarkana Fire Department arrived at home in the 2000 block of Pearl Street, they found smoke coming from the attic space of the residence. Firefighters say Tasha Pool and her 18-month-old child were asleep inside the house when neighbors began beating on her door, telling her the house was on fire.
- PUB DATE: 7/10/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KSLA-TV Shreveport News 12

Two U.S. Forest Service firefighters are dead after the car they were driving went off the road, down a cliff and into the Trinity River sometime Wednesday night into Thursday afternoon. The California Highway Patrol said the two were reported missing after they left work in Salyer on Wednesday and never showed up for work Thursday morning.
- PUB DATE: 7/10/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KRCR-TV ABC 7 & KCVU-TV Fox 20

A kitten was rescued by firefighters in Hazel Dell, Washington -- from the exhaust system of a motor home. Owners of the RV heard a cat calling out for a couple of days, but weren’t able to get it out on their own. They called Clark County fire officials. Firefighters went to their home and rescued the kitten.
- PUB DATE: 7/9/2015 9:43:11 PM - SOURCE: KIRO-TV CBS 7