About a dozen Alaskans are currently in Australia helping crews there with fire suppression efforts. Among them is Alaska National Park Service regional fire management officer Chuck Russell. In Australia, Russell's job consists of gathering information from the field on what U.S. firefighters have been doing. He briefs new arrivals and coordinates with Australia fire personnel on where they should be based on their qualifications. "In Alaska, there's snow cover and no risk of fires," he said. "Wherever we needed the help, the Canadians, Australians, New Zealand, they've come and assisted us." Most of the Alaskans currently working toward fire suppression efforts in Australia are in management positions, according to the Bureau of Land management. Two firefighters, including an Alaska smokejumper and a Chena Interagency Hotshot. "It's an opportunity for us to return the favor," Russell said.  

As California Governor Gavin Newsom continues cracking down on the state's oil industry, local officials say that a move away from oil may carry some unintended consequences. If Kern's oil industry took a hit, so would it's economy. And that would manifest itself in many ways, one of which being property taxes. Kern collects property taxes based on the value of oil and gas reserves within county lines. So if the value of everything collected is gone, that could mean trouble. "Property tax is the primary funding source for the fire department, any changes in the evaluation of lands, especially our oil lands, will have a significant impact to that budget," said David Nelson, the President of the Kern County Firefighters Association, a union that represents the Kern County Fire Department.  

New Cedar Falls Mayor Rob Green wants the city council to review the city's controversial Public Safety Officer program. The city has been slowly replacing firefighter positions with Public Safety Officers, or PSO's, which are police officers cross-trained as firefighters. The move has angered firefighters and was a big issue in the election where council member Green defeated incumbent Mayor Jim Brown. "There are aspects of it I like. There are aspects of it I don't think are in the best interests of the city," Green told KCRG TV. Just 15 fulltime firefighters remain on staff in Cedar Falls which is down from 30. Many left, saying they don't feel safe working with PSOs. Firefighters endorsed Green for mayor, hoping he would bring changes to the program. Now less than one week in — Mayor Green says he does not want to cut any more firefighter positions, but he stopped short of promising to reverse the program.  

The Superior Fire Department rung in 2020 with a new building, a new chief, a new fire truck and new technology that will take their work into the digital cloud. It's a young crew heading into the new year. Half the department has been there five years or less. Firefighters in their 20s outnumber firefighters in their 50s by 10-to-1. "The most senior person is not 50 years old — that has never happened in the history of the fire department," said Fire Chief Scott Gordon, 49. The loss of experience is a challenge, he said. In the fourth quarter of 2019, the department lost a cumulative 80 years of experience when former Fire Chief Steve Panger, Battalion Chief Steve Edwards and Captain Dave Johnson retired. It's also an opportunity for change. Seven years ago, Panger inherited a veteran command staff. Gordon's command staff has a cumulative three years of experience in administration.  

If your house catches fire, your husband has a heart attack or your cat gets stuck in a tree in Reno this year, you might find yourself the unsuspecting star of a new "COPS"-style reality TV show that airs in real time. At its meeting Wednesday, the Reno City Council will decide whether to sign a contract with A&E's "Live Rescue" that would allow television production crews to embed with firefighters responding to calls. Created in 2019, "Live Rescue" is a spin-off from the popular "Live PD," which has roiled communities across the country with the way it depicts it citizens interacting with police. Under the contract, "Live Rescue" crews would be allowed exclusive access to film Reno firefighters for the next year in exchange for a licensing fee of $500 a week. The footage would be aired "almost live" as a panel of in-studio personalities provide commentary.  

The Toledo Fire & Rescue Department (TFRD) is rolling out a new way to recruit with a focus on the community. Fire Chief Brian Byrd has assigned a specific team to recruit even more diverse candidates. They will work with community leaders like Toledo City Council members and Toledo Public Schools to fill the 50 open spots for the next class. "The fire department, and people have heard me say this before, is 150 years of tradition unimpeded by progress," Byrd said. "We need some progress. We need to do some things differently." Byrd says the time for change is now. He announced Tuesday morning that there will now be a full-time team of at least two people dedicated to finding the right recruits. "First of all we're looking for people who want to help people. That's what we do. We're out there for one purpose. That's to serve the community and help people."