That optimism is shared by many public safety agencies and first responders, who see vast potential for unmanned systems—land- and water-borne robots, and aerial drones—to save lives and make firefighters, police, and emergency medical technicians safer and more efficient. As the technology rapidly expands and federal restrictions on operating unmanned systems become more defined, public safety agencies are scrambling to figure out how they can unleash this vast potential in a safe and smart way.
- PUB DATE: 7/17/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: National Fire Protection Association

The San Francisco Fire Department has made strides in getting ambulances to emergencies faster, but still lags behind state response time standards and is not training crews to deal with a disaster, a civil grand jury said Thursday. The 19-member civilian panel began its investigation after The Chronicle reported last year about the city’s troubled response time record.
- PUB DATE: 7/17/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: sfgate

Humans have an amazing capacity to do monumental things, and that includes royally screwing up. So, let's assume you've executed a grand career-crusher move. Like an Olympic gymnast sticking a perfect landing, your great blunder was worthy of a "ta-da" and high marks from the judges. The question becomes, what happens now? Can your career be saved? The answer depends on the size and nature of the blunder.
- PUB DATE: 7/17/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firerescue1

Nothing in the city charter prevents San Bernardino from outsourcing its Fire Department, a federal bankruptcy judge ruled Wednesday in a blow to the fire union that its attorneys immediately said they would appeal. The ruling clears the way for the city’s plans to replace city firefighters — plans that have been underway for months with the San Bernardino County Fire Department and the private firm Centerra submitting bids to provide fire service, and which the city counted on to save $7 million to $10 million a year in its bankruptcy exit plan filed in May.
- PUB DATE: 7/17/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: the sun

The unofficial results of the IAFC election have been returned; they show that Chief Tom Jenkins, Rogers (Ark.) Fire Department, has received the majority of IAFC members' votes and will become the IAFC's second vice president in August at Fire-Rescue International 2015 in Atlanta. "I'd like to commend both Chief Ford and Chief Jenkins for offering their candidacies to help lead our great organization and running professional campaigns for this important office," said Chief G.
- PUB DATE: 7/17/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: international association of fire chiefs