According to a press dispatch, on Dec. 31 at approximately 7 a.m., Alaska State Troopers in Ketchikan responded to a residential fire on North Tongass Hwy. Investigation revealed the residence was only used for storage and the adjacent residence was the primary residence. Further investigation and interviews identified Kami Riley, age 43 of Ketchikan, as a suspect. Riley was subsequently arrested and lodged at KCC for one count of Arson II (DV). Alcohol is believed to be a factor in this incident. The investigation is ongoing.  

The number of people who died in fires fell by 25% last year, even as emergency crews responded to a record number of medical emergencies, the FDNY said Wednesday. Sixty-six people died in fires across the five boroughs in 2019, 22 fewer than the 88 victims in 2018, officials said. Yet the number of medical emergencies jumped by more than 2,300, bringing last year's total to 1,531,870 — the second highest in the FDNY's history, officials said. More than a third of the medical calls were for life-threatening emergencies such as heart attacks, people who fell unconscious or choking victims, officials said. "Thanks to the brave work of every FDNY member, and despite a growing number of medical emergencies our members face, fewer New Yorkers lost their lives in fires in 2019," FDNY Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said in a statement Wednesday.  

A Birmingham firefighter who says the conditions at an East Birmingham fire station made him sick has now filed a lawsuit against the City of Birmingham and Mayor Randall Woodfin. Michael Horsley who started with Birmingham in 2006 claims he, former and current employees of the City of Birmingham Fire Department ("BFD") have been forced to work in dangerous conditions at Fire Station 27 in the Huffman area. Horsley says when he went back to work at Station 27 he started suffering from sinus infections, chest congestion, dry cough, increased blood pressure and chest palpitations. The station which recently reopened was closed during the summer of 2019 because of health concerns, but the city says those problems have been fixed and the station is safe for employees.  

Tuesday night saw the end of a 73-year-old tradition. The Burlington Rescue Squad, a volunteer emergency medical service that has covered the City and Town of Burlington since 1946, officially disbanded when the clock struck midnight. "It's bittersweet," said Burlington Rescue Squad Chief Jeff Koenen, who frequently refers to the volunteer service as a tight-knit family and bonafide lifestyle. "Basically, it's grief." With the end of one era begins another. The City of Burlington Fire Department will now run EMS calls in the town and city, picking up where the Rescue Squad left off. "The city is prepared to assume the responsibilities that come with providing EMS services to the city and the township," city Fire Chief Alan Babe said Tuesday morning in his office. "We'll be staffed accordingly." The writing was on the wall for the Rescue Squad's dissolution for quite some time. Volunteerism is down and call volume is up.  

Detroit's fire commissioner says he will investigate the circumstances of a social media photograph posted on New Year's Eve showing 18 firefighters posing in front of roaring house fire, according to media reports. The photo was posted on the "Detroit Fire Incidents Page" on Facebook along with the caption "crews take a moment to get a selfie on New Years!" In the background is a house engulfed in flames. The post has since been taken down. Detroit Fire Commissioner Eric Jones told WXYZ-TV in a statement that if the photo "is verified," then "discipline will be in order." "There are a lot of ways to celebrate a retirement," Jones said in the statement. "Taking a photo in front of a building fire is not one of them." Sources told the TV station the engulfed house and the neighboring house were vacant, and that firefighters could not go inside the house to battle the blaze, only attack it defensively.  

A week after passing a measure to set up what's called a 401(a) plan, tax-deferred retirement saving accounts for retiring public safety employees, the City Council on Monday afternoon rescinded the resolution. Members of the City Council approved the repeal without opposition in an emergency meeting. Municipal officials cited a pair of reasons for rescinding the measure. "Numerous" retiring police and fire employees "objected" to their unions' plan to channel a portion of their payouts into tax-deferred accounts. Under the approved plan, retires "lack discretion" as to how much of their funds get directed to the accounts"It just didn't look good to me, didn't sound good," said Flavio Rivera, councilman at-large, chairman of the finance committee.