Firefighting

09/29/2007 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger today signed AB 384 by Assemblymember Portantino (D-Pasadena) to help the families of the five firefighters who lost their lives while battling the Esperanza Fire in October of 2006. The California Fallen Federal Firefighter Survivor Assistance Act of 2007 provides Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) heath benefit coverage to families of fallen U.S. Forest Service firefighters.    » read more »

September, 14, 2007, JUNEAU – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin issued a state disaster declaration today for the Beaver Village Power Plant Fire, allowing immediate use of disaster assistance funds for the Alaska Energy Authority to restore the power plant.

A stipulation to the declaration requires claims paid by insurance or other sources offset the state funds provided through this disaster declaration.    » read more »

September 04, 2007 -- ATLANTA – Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that the U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a $4.1 million reimbursement to Georgia as a result of an April Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) to help the state fight the Sweat Farm Road Fire. This is FEMA’s second multi-million dollar grant in connection with this blaze. The earlier grant totaled $6.1 million in federal funds.    » read more »

September 5, 2007 -- At the State Police Academy in Meriden, Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today unveiled a new $1 million radio system that enables first responders across the state to communicate in emergency situations. The technology, called Cross Band, plugs into existing police radio systems. The new system will keep portable radios synchronized.    » read more »

September 4, 2007 -- Salem – Last night Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act in response to the GW fire in Deschutes County .

The Governor will be touring the fire later this afternoon.

In accordance with ORS 476.510-476.610, the Governor determined that a threat to life, safety, and property exists due to the fire and that the threat exceeds the fire-fighting capabilities of local fire-fighting personnel and equipment.    » read more »

MANCHESTER, NH - Presidential Candidate Chris Dodd today received the endorsement of the New Hampshire Professional Fire Fighters at an event in Manchester. Earlier this week, Dodd was endorsed by the Fire Fighters at a meeting of IAFF leadership in Washington, DC. Dodd and IAFF President Harold Schaitberger continued their multistate tour in New Hampshire, where New Hampshire IAFF President Dave Lang joined International IAFF President Schaitberger in supporting Senator Dodd.    » read more »

08/30/2007 -- Boston – Senator John Kerry today released the following statement on the death of two Boston firefighters in a West Roxbury fire.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, DC - Saying that he was the candidate that offered the proven leadership they trust to keep America safe and middle class families secure, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Harold Schaitberger today announced the IAFF's endorsement of Chris Dodd for President. The endorsement, which was made at a meeting of the IAFF leadership earlier in the morning, marks the first major union endorsement of the 2008 Presidential campaign.    » read more »

29 August 2007 -- Fire officials in Greece say progress is being made in fighting deadly wildfires sweeping the country but many fires are not yet contained.

With firefighting efforts concentrated Wednesday on the island of Evia, north of Athens, and on the Peloponnese Peninsula, Greek officials say there is no longer imminent danger of the fires spreading.

The fires have claimed at least 63 lives and burned numerous villages and thousands of hectares of forest.    » read more »

NetApp StoreVault S500 Enables Fire District to Dependably Manage Massive Data Growth and Achieve Reliable Disk-to-Disk Backup and Offsite Replication

August 27, 2007 -- Location: Luce County. 6.5 miles north of the Village of Newberry.    » read more »

Richardson also proposes fully funding programs for fire fighters and police officers, National Fire Fighters’ Survivors Fund

08/27/2007 -- CEDAR RAPIDS, IA -- Speaking to fire fighters in Iowa today, Governor Bill Richardson announced his plan for America's fire fighters and police officers, including guaranteeing health care between retirement and the age of Medicare eligibility.    » read more »

August 27, 2007 -- The following is the prepared text of Mayor Bloomberg’s briefing. Please check against delivery.

"Good afternoon. Commissioner Nick Scoppetta, FDNY Chief of Department Sal Cassano, and Lou Garcia, the FDNY's Chief Fire Marshal, have joined me today to discuss last week's fire at the Deutsche Bank building. This City has been working around the clock to respond to this terrible tragedy, in which two of our Bravest lost their lives.    » read more »

August 27, 2007 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) fire crew deployed to Michigan on August 13 to help suppress wildfires will return this afternoon. Seventeen firefighters from the Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew (CIFC) were joined by one firefighter from Rhode Island and two firefighters from Vermont.

The crew will return to DEP Eastern District Headquarters at around 3:00 PM. (Directions to the Eastern District HQ are below.)    » read more »

August 23, 2007 -- The following is the text of New York City Mayor Bloomberg’s eulogy as delivered

“Bishop Catanello, Father Buchanan, Father Maria and rest of the clergy. Linda, Rosemarie, Joseph, Maria, Teresa, Governor Spitzer, Commissioner Scoppetta, Chief Cassano and all of the friends, neighbors, and family of Joseph Graffagnino.    » read more »