A machete attack and a fire captain punched in the face — it's what Sacramento Metro Fire is facing with a growing homeless crisis. They say their jobs are getting more and more dangerous. Squatters in vacant buildings are responsible for fires causing millions in damage. Metro Fire Capt. Parker Wilbourn said his agency responded to more than 2,500 fire incidents last year directly related to homeless encampments or people experiencing homelessness.
- PUB DATE: 2/2/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOVR-TV CBS 13 Stockton

VIDEO: Marion County Fire Chief James Banta is promising to make changes to better respond to mental health struggles in the department after two firefighters died in less than a month. The chief released a video message to the department and residents of Marion County following the deaths of MCFR firefighter paramedics Allen Singleton and Tripp Wooten.
- PUB DATE: 2/2/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCJB-TV ABC/CW+ 20 Gainesville

PHOTOS: The city of Opelika just added a new fire engine to its fleet. The new truck, which cost $1.2 million, is called an aerial. It’s the first of four new firetrucks that will arrive this year. The total price for all four firetrucks will be close to $3 million. Opelika Fire Chief Shane Boyd said the new aerial is a multi-purpose truck with a pump, a water tank, a water hose, an aerial device, and ground ladders.
- PUB DATE: 2/2/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Opelika-Auburn News

More than a hundred dogs were rescued after the doggy daycare they were in caught fire in north Seattle Wednesday morning. The fire was reported just before 11 a.m. in the 13000 block of Lake City Way Northeast. The fire began inside the Dog Resort, a dog daycare and boarding business, that's across the street from the Fred Meyer in the Lake City neighborhood.
- PUB DATE: 2/2/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

The Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) officially hired 16 new firefighters that will begin attending the Fire Academy Wednesday. The recruits will endure an 18-week training course on top of exams on skills they have learned. “This new recruit academy will help SVFD move closer to being fully staffed and able to meet the increasing demands for our services.
- PUB DATE: 2/1/2023 1:39:25 PM - SOURCE: KREM TV CBS 2 Spokane