Ariz. Officials Weigh Fire Station Closures Amid Budget Deficit
Tucson officials are confronting a $16.8 million budget shortfall as the 2026‑2027 fiscal year approaches. City staff have proposed closing two fire stations—one near the University of Arizona and another by the state prison—to curb expenses. Firefighters argue the cuts would strain an already over‑taxed department that handled a record 105,000 calls last year. Council members are also weighing a hiring freeze, a “frost” hiring strategy, and reinstating an $8.5 million bus‑fare revenue stream before any fire‑station closures are approved.
Ex-Conn. Fire Lieutenant Files $3.5M Lawsuit Alleging Racial Bias in Firing
Former New Haven fire lieutenant Keith Norfleet, a Black employee earning about $110,000 annually, filed a federal lawsuit seeking over $3.5 million after being fired in August 2024 despite a jury acquitting him of sexual assault. The complaint alleges the city violated...
Ohio County Launches Scholarships for Future Public Safety Workers
Cuyahoga County is funding a new scholarship program with $25,000 to support up to ten high‑school students pursuing police, fire or EMS training. Each award provides up to $2,500 and targets low‑income learners already working with College Now advisors. The...
Wis. Law Helps Fire Departments Buy Soy-Based, PFAS-Free Foam
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed legislation allowing fire departments to use state grant funding for soybean‑based, PFAS‑free fire‑suppression foam. The law expands the Department of Natural Resources grant program, covering up to 50% of the cost for soy‑derived suppressants and...
Va. City Seeks Public Input as Search Begins for Next Fire Chief
Lynchburg, Va., is launching a public‑input driven search for a new fire chief, aiming to appoint a permanent leader by June. The city held in‑person sessions and opened an online survey through April 13, gathering feedback from firefighters, partners, and residents...
Mich. Township Issues $13.2M in Bonds for New Fire Station
Scio Township in Michigan issued $13.2 million in bonds to fund a new fire station on Wagner Road. The bond, issued March 12, follows a 2024 voter‑approved 2.7‑mill tax after earlier failed attempts. The project stems from a 2022 Fire Services Guidance...
Calif. FD Tests Sound Wave System to Fight Fires without Water
The San Bernardino County Fire Department is piloting Sonic Fire Tech’s sound‑wave fire‑suppression system, which uses infrared sensors to detect flames and extinguishes them by vibrating oxygen at frequencies the fire cannot consume. Developed by former NASA acoustics engineers, the technology creates...
Should Volunteer Firefighters Be Paid? FireRescue1 Readers Weigh in on a Growing Debate
Volunteer fire departments across the United States are confronting steep declines in membership, prompting a renewed push to offer compensation. Proposals in New York suggest paying volunteers up to $12,000 annually as a potential remedy for staffing shortfalls. Feedback from...
$14K Grant Boosts Heart Health Checks for Mass. Firefighters
Amesbury’s City Council approved a $14,858 grant from the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association to fund cardiac screenings for 17 of the fire department’s 39 members. The grant, secured by Lieutenant David Carpentier, will cover expensive heart‑health evaluations scheduled for late...
Mass. Fire Chief Accused of Favoritism, Ethics Violations Involving Sons
Massachusetts State Ethics Commission has filed an Order to Show Cause against Clinton Fire Chief Michael Lutes, alleging he violated the state conflict‑of‑interest law by favoring his two firefighter sons. The commission says Lutes assigned exclusive fire‑alarm training that generated...
Lawsuit Alleges La. Firefighters Failed to Search for Victims in Deadly House Fire
A Shreveport family has filed a wrongful‑death lawsuit alleging the fire department failed to inform first‑arriving crews that multiple occupants were trapped in an April 2025 house fire. Dispatch messages reportedly omitted the occupant detail, and Engine 6 began fire suppression without...
'What We Do and Why We Do It': Pa. FD Launches Podcast to Boost Community Engagement
Valley Regional Fire & Rescue in Butler Township, Pennsylvania, launched a podcast called “116‑The Frequency” in November, hosted by Captain Kenny Cunningham and part‑time firefighter Jack Jones. The show aims to boost community engagement by sharing behind‑the‑scenes stories, answering resident...
Ga. FD Opens New Nearly $5M Firehouse
Columbus, Georgia opened Fire Station 5 on Lynch Road, a nearly $5 million facility funded by a SPLOST levy and built on land donated by Pratt & Whitney. The station replaces an aging building and houses one engine, one ambulance, and six...
Neb. 911 Dispatchers Turn to Smartphone Tools to Pinpoint Callers More Quickly
Hall County/Grand Island 911 dispatchers are now using smartphone‑derived data through RapidSOS and the what3words app to pinpoint callers almost every time. The tools overlay precise GPS coordinates onto dispatch maps, allowing first responders to locate incidents within three‑meter squares....
Fire, EMS Departments Turn to Online Resale Market as Apparatus Costs Surge
Fire and EMS agencies are confronting soaring apparatus prices—often exceeding $1 million—and supply‑chain delays that can stretch delivery to five years. To offset costs and shorten acquisition cycles, many are turning to Garage, an online resale marketplace that connects departments nationwide...
Md. Firefighters Train for EV Fires with Crane Operations, Parking Garage Removal
Howard County’s Department of Fire and Rescue Services held a regional training session at Howard Community College focused on electric‑vehicle (EV) fire response. Firefighters practiced using a crane to lift and relocate a burning EV from a parking garage, employing...
Conn. Fire Department Adopts Quieter Station Alerting to Reduce Cardiac Stress
Danbury Fire Department in Connecticut has replaced its traditional high‑volume alarms with a new Phoenix G2 alerting system that begins with a soft tone and a calm, computerized voice. The $500,000 system, funded by the American Rescue Plan, integrates with...
Complete Clean Air Solutions: The Smarter Standard for Fire Station Health
MagneGrip announced a complete clean‑air solution for fire stations, combining source‑capture exhaust removal, AirHAWK air‑purification units, and a continuous air‑quality monitoring platform. The source‑capture system extracts diesel emissions at the vehicle tailpipe, preventing contaminants from entering living and apparatus areas....
Texas FD Responses to some Rural Calls in Jeopardy as Funding Dispute Grows
Sherman Fire Rescue responded to roughly 600 calls in unincorporated Grayson County in 2025, a service currently funded through a city‑county contract. The contract costs the city about $30,000 per month, but a voter‑rejected sales‑tax measure has left the county...
$825K Grant Helps Bring Ill. Fire Training Tower Closer to Construction
Sterling and Rock Falls fire departments secured an $825,000 federal grant, thanks to Rep. Eric Sorensen, to fund a shared regional fire training tower. The facility, slated for Rock Falls’ industrial park, will provide daily realistic training, reducing travel and...
New Firehouse, Strike Teams Reshape Fire Response in Miss. County
The Lee County Fire Department in Saltillo moved into a brand‑new standalone station last week, giving the city two fire stations and freeing its old facility for volunteers. Simultaneously, the county launched two full‑time strike teams—one in Saltillo, one in...
Ariz. FD Opens New Firehouse with Health-Focused Design
The Tucson Fire Department opened Station 14 on Feb. 23, a 15,000‑square‑foot facility that replaces the 1968 South Liberty Avenue station. Funded by Proposition 101’s nearly $10 million allocation, the new firehouse emphasizes firefighter health with private dorms, a gym, individualized alerting, and a...
'As Long as the Message Gets Out': Ky. FD Lights up TikTok with Fire Safety and a Sense of Humor
The Owensboro Fire Department (OFD) launched a TikTok channel to spread fire‑safety messages and boost recruitment. Within a week the account amassed 1,400 followers, with its debut video garnering over 15,000 views and subsequent clips reaching thousands. The department pairs...
$40K Grant From Gary Sinise Foundation Helps Pa. FD Replace Outdated Extrication Tools
The Gary Sinise Foundation awarded a $40,000 grant to West Hazleton, Pa., fire department, enabling replacement of its 1994‑era extrication tools with lighter, higher‑capacity equipment. The new gear can lift overturned vehicles, railcars and stabilize structures, dramatically improving rescue operations. Department...
Mass. Fire Officials Credit Free Smoke Alarm Program with Saving Family in Mobile Home Fire
The Chelmsford Fire Department’s free "Get Alarmed Chelmsford" program installed smoke and carbon‑monoxide detectors in the mobile‑home‑dense Chelmsford Commons neighborhood, achieving a 25% enrollment rate in its first month. On Feb. 8, a detector installed through the initiative woke a family...