For the first time in nearly 2 years the San Jose Fire Department is fully staffed with 651 firefighters.  Friday night 19 new firefighters received their badges and helmets after completing the academy.  San Jose laid off 49 firefighters nearly 2 years ago and 19 brought on Friday finishes replacing those 49.  For up-to-date news accounts of this story, photos and to post a comment, please access the links below:

San Jose Fire Department Message Board

04/28/2012 – San Jose Fire Department fully staffed following severe budget cuts

Former Fire Chief Jamie Geer

Former Clearwater, FL Fire Chief Jamie Geer was sentenced today to life in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing a young girl for almost 10 years.  Geer testified that the girl’s allegations were part of a union plan to get rid of him.  For up-to-date news accounts of this story, photos and to post a comment, please access the links below:

Clearwater Fire Rescue Message Board

04/27/2012 – Former Clearwater fire chief Geer guilty of all sex abuse charges

04/27/2012 – Former Clearwater fire chief Jamie Geer found guilty of sexual abuse

04/27/2012 – Former Clearwater Fire chief guilty on all counts in child sex case

04/27/2012 – Former chief Geer gets life sentence for sex with minor

Former chief Geer gets life sentence for sex with minor

The firefighters of the Wichita Fire Department held a ‘no confidence’ vote in their top leadership.  The results are expected to be turned over to the City as soon as tomorrow.  The Chief was the subject of a ‘no confidence’ vote in his last position in Maryland.  For up-to-date news accounts of this story, photos and to post a comment, please access the links below:

Wichita Fire Department Message Board

04/26/2012 – Wichita Fire Union Holds No Confidence Vote

Some Ohio Firefighters are upset that their interest rate for the DROP Program has been slashed from 5% to 2.23%.  The cut was due to the fund not bringing in enough in earned interest.  Plus the state is thinking of making other changes to the retirement program this year.  For up-to-date news accounts of this story, photos and to post a comment, please access the links below:

04/23/2012 – Deferred pensions’ interest slashed

04/23/2012 – Pension interest change upsets Ohio firefighters

04/23/2012 – Cut in pension interest irks some Ohio firefighters

Joshua Ellis

Cherokee County, GA Firefighter/Paramedic Joshua Ellis was vacationing in Destin, FL and was sitting down to enjoy dinner with his wife.  A woman started banging on the restaurant window and when Ellis went outside he found out that the woman’s son was drowning in the pool.  Ellis found the 8 year old unresponsive at the bottom of the deep end of the pool and went in and pulled him out.  He then began CPR along with a retired Kentucky Paramedic.  For up-to-date news accounts of this story, photos and to post a comment, please access the links below:

04/24/2012 – Firefighter rescues boy from resort pool

04/23/2012 – Cherokee Co. firefighter saves boy while on vacation

04/23/2012 – Cherokee Firefighter Rescues Drowning Boy in Florida

The Executive Fire Commissioner, Donald Austin, of the Detroit Fire Department is proposing that some vacant buildings be allowed to burn in order to save money.  Facing a 15% budget cut, Austin is coming up with three recommendations, with the vacant buildings being allowed to burn being the number one proposal.  For up-to-date news accounts of this story, photos and to post a comment, please access the links below:

Detroit Fire Department Message Board

04/22/2012 – Detroit fire boss: Let some vacant buildings burn

After a 2011 Supreme Court discrimination victory, African American applicants for the Chicago Fire Department thought it would be easier to get hired.  Now some applicants are filing complaints alleging new cases of discrimination.  They are alleging discrimination in the medical screening process.  For up-to-date news accounts of this story, photos and to post a comment, please access the links below:

Chicago Fire Department Message Board

04/19/2012 – Firefighter applicants allege new discrimination by CFD

Battalion Chief Chris Rowe

Long Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Chris Rowe noticed smoke coming from a neighbor’s home.  he entered the home and found the kitchen on fire.  He heard a voice and found a 70 year old woman in slumped in a chair in the living room.  He then took her outside to safety.  For up-to-date news accounts of this story, photos and to post a comment, please access the links below:

Long Beach Fire Department Message Board

04/19/2012 – Off-duty firefighter rescues woman in burning home

04/19/2012 – Off-Duty Battalion Chief Saves Woman from Burning Home

04/19/2012 – Battalion chief rescues neighbor

Wilfredo A. Ferre US Attorney for Souther District of Florida

Two Miami Beach firefighters were charged in a Federal Investigation with extortion.  Chai Footman and Henry Bryant were arrested Wenesday and charged with allegedly shaking down a club owner to avoid city fines and inspections.  Bryant was also charged with conspiring to possess and distribute cocaine.  Two of the firefighters were able to be rescued while Neary and Sweeney were not.  For up-to-date news accounts of this story, photos and to post a comment, please access the links below:

Miami Beach Fire Department Message Board

04/12/2012 – Miami Beach inspectors, county cop charged in nightclub shake-down, drug-trafficking schemes

Firefighters mourn the deaths of 2 firefighters

Two Philadelphia firefighters were killed Monday in a 5 alarm blaze in a old vacant hosiery building.  The two firefighters killed, Lt. Robert P. Neary and Firefighter Daniel Sweeney, were with 2 other firefighters in a store next door when a wall of the mill building collapsed into the roof of the building the were in, covering the four with tons of debris.  Two of the firefighters were able to be rescued while Neary and Sweeney were not.  For up-to-date news accounts of this story, photos and to post a comment, please access the links below:

Philadelphia Fire Department Message Board

04/09/2012 – Two firefighters die battling Kensington warehouse blaze

04/09/2012 – 2 Philadelphia firefighters killed, 2 hurt in 5-alarm fire

04/09/2012 – 2 firefighters killed in Philadelphia factory fire