Two fires that started in vegetation and then spread to three nearby homes on Wednesday caused a total estimated damage of $780,000, according to the Vancouver Fire Marshal’s Office. The two separate fires were reported within about an hour and a half of each other, stretching firefighting resources thin as crews worked to quell one blaze before being called to the second.
- PUB DATE: 7/16/2015 8:07:44 AM - SOURCE: Vancouver Columbian

The city’s new fire boat, the Salish Star, has arrived in town and could be in service as soon as this fall. Over the past few weeks, people already may have noticed crews taking the new boat out on Bellingham Bay for training, spraying thousands of gallons of water from two fire pumps. About 3,000 gallons of water per minute, to be exact.
- PUB DATE: 7/16/2015 4:31:29 AM - SOURCE: Bellingham Herald

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