Oxygen tanks must be on every single Chicago ambulance. But CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov learned there was a delay with the tanks' delivery for Fire Department ambulances just this week. And that could have meant a disaster if supplies had run out. Illinois state law requires the oxygen tanks in all ambulances. But sources said this week, the tank delivery was delayed by days. Instead of arriving at the beginning of the week, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said the latest oxygen tanks supply was being delivered Friday. That is at least three days after the tanks should have arrived. Why does it matter? Sources said Chicago Fire Department paramedics and firefighters were concerned that oxygen tank supplies could run short – or even run out. Some ambulances also had to be driven greater distances to restock.  

The Skokie Fire Department has a new fire chief, however, he's not exactly new to the department. At Monday's village board meeting, Interim Fire Chief Jeffrey Hoeflich was sworn in as Skokie's new fire chief. He's been with the department for nearly 34 years, having joined in 1986. "He has served the village with distinction," Village Manager John Lockerby said. During his time with the village, Hoeflich progressed through the ranks of lieutenant and captain. Prior to serving as interim chief, he served for ten years as the training officer for the Skokie Fire Department and also as a battalion chief. According to village officials, Hoeflich and his wife Christine are excited about entering this new chapter of their lives and are in the process of looking for a residence in Skokie.  

After 20 months at the bargaining table, the city of Elgin and its firefighters union have agreed on a contract that largely mirrors the previous one. The contract, approved by the city council without discussion Wednesday night, is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2018, and calls for 2.5% pay increases across the board for the 127 members of the International Association of Firefighters Local 439. That's the same pay increase received by other city employees, both union and nonunion. The new contract ends Dec. 31, 2021. Starting Jan. 1, the salary range for firefighters will be $72,347 to $96,426. The range for lieutenants will be $103,934 to $113,035, and for captains it will be $123,109 to $142,514. Both sides said they were pleased to reach an agreement without resorting to an independent arbitrator.  

The Braceville Fire Protection District and a village homeowner were able to work through their issues following a training fire that produced excessive smoke in one neighborhood. Earlier this month, the district conducted a training fire at a home at 141 E. South Railroad St. in Braceville. However, on the day of the fire, high winds forced smoke onto a neighboring property. The residents of that home said the smoke did damage to their house and forced them to be treated for smoke inhalation. On Dec. 9, the Fire District Board reported that they had worked with the family to clean up their property and had paid for a hotel while their house was being cleaned. The district said the damage was unfortunate and unexpected as winds kicked up, but added that training burns of derelict homes are vital to the fire service.  

In the week before Christmas, while most folks are shopping for presents, Park Ridge Fire Chief Jeff Sorensen and his department will be shopping for the best deal they can get for the city: a new tower ladder fire truck. After learning the extent of damages to the city's only tall ladder truck in the explosive fire at the former Marathon gas station at Northwest Highway and Oakton this summer, and knowing how long it takes for fire trucks to be ordered, Sorensen and his senior staff, including Battalion Chief John Hanson and Executive Officer Paul Lisowski, looked for ways to streamline the process. Prices are due to go up at the beginning of the year, and this month offered a tiny window of time to see that 2020 prices would be higher than Sorensen wanted to pay. The old tower ladder was scheduled to be replaced in the next fiscal year, just because of its age, but that postpones the year-long custom construction process at least six more months.  

A Local Law introduced by Chairman Dan J. Reynolds and the Majority Legislators that shields and protects First Responders has been approved by the Broome County Legislature. At the Regular Legislative Session held on Thursday, December 19th, the Legislature approved the Emergency First Responders Protection Act of 2019. The local law allows charges to be brought against anyone who harasses a first responder while they are engaged in their official duties in Broome County. If convicted, an individual could face a sentence of up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $5,000 for the most egregious offenses. "Looking out for our emergency first responders and their safety is one way we can show support for those who are the first to answer the call of duty," said Chairman Dan J. Reynolds.  

The Cambria County Board of Commissioners on Thursday voted unanimously to approve a $16.9 million contract for upgrades to the county's public safety radio system, a move designed to improve emergency responders' ability to reliably communicate with each other and with 911 dispatchers. Robbin Melnyk, Cambria County's 911 coordinator, said during Thursday's meeting of the Board of Commissioners that the "questionable" reliability of the county's existing public radio system "is a safety risk to our responders." The system's equipment has a track record of failure during heavy rainstorms and other poor weather, she added. "During severe weather, (there is) a known issue of certain towers not being able to communicate with emergency responders," she said.  

VIDEO: When Paul Pietrafesa, a driver for Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Department was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, his wife Karen said she was glad he and their family had done everything they always wanted to do, and that they had lived every day like it was their last. "Cancer doesn't discriminate. It's not a race, a male, or a female that's going to get it more. It's going to impact everybody," said Karen in a video produced by her late husband's colleagues. Unfortunately, some are more likely than others to develop deadly cancer, especially firefighters. According to research conducted by the University of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, male firefighters are at an increased risk for testicular and prostate cancers and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Female firefighters are more likely to develop a range of cancers, most commonly cervical.  

The labor unions representing Paterson's police officers and firefighters are accusing the city of violating their contracts by not issuing accrued leave time payments to employees who retired since July 1. Administration officials said the city intends to make the payments eventually, but that checks have not yet been issued because of "a cash flow issue." Business Administrator Vaughn McKoy said the total payments for the current fiscal year could amount to between $4 million and $5 million. "We have to make sure we don't deplete our cash because we have to operate the city as well," said McKoy during Tuesday night's city council meeting. During the past eight years, Paterson had borrowed more than $20 million to cover employee retirement payments. But the state has directed Paterson to stop borrowing money to pay the retirees, officials said. As a result, the city is trying to cover the payments in its regular operating budget.  

A North Bay man has written a song he hopes fire departments will adopt as an anthem. It's called "Smoke Soldiers," a three-minute rock ballad paying tribute to firefighters. And on Wednesday night, four Santa Rosa restaurants threw their support behind David Benjamin Gruenbaum of Santa Rosa 's effort. Staff wore shirts emblazoned with the "Smoke Soldiers" logo, and a portion of sales were donated to the local firefighter's holiday toy drive. "I'd like for us to make a toast to the 'Smoke Soldiers', hear, hear!" Superburger owner Dynasty Albrecht told her customers in her Yulupa Avenue restaurant. "I love the song, support it 110 percent, I think it's beautiful." Some customers wore the T-shirts as well.