Fire Chief

The Bakersfield Californian KERN COUNTY, Calif. — The Kern County Fire Department has received $84,089 to buy "jaws of life," the extrication equipment used to rescue crash victims who are trapped in vehicles. The funds come from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

St. Joseph News-Press ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — With the recent retirements of two longtime members of the St. Joseph Fire Department, officials are implementing new ways of bringing in younger recruits. Assistant Fire Chief Jamey McVicker says that, despite recruitment challenges to all government agencies in recent years, staffing in his department has remained strong. "Our staffing state right now is good. We have a good pool to pick from," he said. "We still have some depth.

By DeAsia Paige The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ATLANTA — Roughly two days after a massive fire erupted at a northeast Atlanta apartment complex, some displaced residents struggled to retrieve their items and said they want more transparency from the apartment management and property owners. And others are just trying to wrestle with the grief and sadness that come with losing belongings — and a home.

By Rebecca Johnson, Sam Charles, Alysa Guffey Chicago Tribune CHICAGO — A Chicago Fire Department firefighter described as “loved by so many” died Monday morning after succumbing to injuries suffered while battling a blaze in Lincoln Park, department officials said. Andrew “Drew” Price, 39, was on the roof of the four-story building where the fire broke out when he fell through a shaft and was trapped, fire officials said. The building, at 2430-2432 N.

By Brian L. Gonsalves You knew it was bound to happen. Your department has promoted its first Gen Z chief officer – or maybe your department is just now promoting millennial fire officers. No matter if they are in their mid-20s or early 40s, young or new leaders alike must navigate a field of leadership landmines. So, how can you help them overcome the challenges ahead?

Leadership is harder today than it has ever been – at all ranks. Many of our company officers are facing challenges for which they simply have not been trained, particularly as they try to focus on “big picture” issues that are beyond their scope, both on the human resources and operational sides of the firehouse. Operations are becoming more complex, and the expectations and scrutiny to perform have never been higher.

Sponsored by American Firehouse Furniture By John Erich, FireRescue1 BrandFocus Staff Fire service leaders have learned – sometimes the hard way – that the dangers of their jobs don’t necessarily end on the fireground, or even when they return their apparatus to its bay. Carcinogens encountered on scenes can ride along back to firehouses on uniforms and equipment and continue to pose health risks long after firefighters have wound down and relaxed after calls.

By Rebecca White, Anna Gratzer, Leonard Greene New York Daily News NEW YORK — A basement blaze that tore through a Brooklyn brownstone, killing three generations of a beloved family, was caused by a lithium ion battery, fire officials said Monday. The three-alarm fire was sparked by a battery alongside two stand-up scooters in the bottom floor of the family’s longtime home on Albany Ave. near Park Place in Crown Heights about 4:30 a.m. Sunday.

By Joanna Putman Police1/FireRescue1 SEATTLE — The Seattle Fire Department has started to see equipment theft as part of “the cost of doing business,” KOMO reported. The thefts can occur when firefighters are out responding to calls. The report referenced a July incident, during which thousands of dollars worth of fire equipment was taken from a truck while firefighters were inside a hotel.

Sponsored by Cradlepoint By FireRescue1 BrandFocus Staff When it comes to public safety, a ‘smart city’ is a municipality that harnesses the power of information technology, devices like cameras and electronic sensors, and broadband communications to improve situational awareness and responsiveness for their agencies and enhance decision-making by their commanders.