A wildfire burning near the Oregon border has forced the evacuation of an entire small Washington town, authorities said. The Klickitat County sheriff's office issued the mandatory order for the town of Roosevelt on Tuesday afternoon. An estimated 300 people were evacuated, and a shelter was set up in a local school.
- PUB DATE: 8/5/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: komo news

Let's also sub-title this story, as stated by "Ronald The Arsonist" in the world's greatest movie "BACKDRAFT"... "The Funny Thing About Firemen Is, Night & Day, They're Always Firemen" Years ago I received an email from a Firefighter in Florida who has the same last name I do. He wrote me, reaching out, to make a connection.
- PUB DATE: 8/5/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firefighterclosecalls.com

The Hayward fire chief has been spared his job despite serving a one-month suspension earlier this year for repeatedly driving city vehicles while under the influence of alcohol, fighting with a subordinate and failing to respond to a “significant” fire while on call, an investigation found. Fire Chief Garrett Contreras, 41, was suspended without pay from June 13 to July 12 and had his pay docked by 9 percent as a result of an investigation that found he drove city vehicles while under the influence on at least four occasions, according to a letter written to the chief by City Manager Fran David.
- PUB DATE: 8/5/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: san francisco chronicle

A bullet did, in fact, strike the helmet of a firefighter who responded to a blaze in Avondale on July 18, police confirmed Tuesday. That conclusion has city firefighters seeking an apology from City Hall, where a spokesman had questioned whether firefighters' initial report on the incident was accurate.
- PUB DATE: 8/5/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Cincinnati Enquirer & Cincinnati.com

U.S. Forest Service officials said Tuesday that Black Hills National Forest Fire Engine Captain David "Dave" Ruhl died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation. The findings were released Tuesday after an autopsy was completed. The 38-year-old from South Dakota went missing the evening of July 30 during the initial attack on the Frog Fire in the Modoc National Forest.
- PUB DATE: 8/5/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KRCR-TV ABC 7 & KCVU-TV Fox 20