The US Second Circuit Court of Appeals handed down a decision yesterday in a complicated race discrimination case involving the Buffalo Fire Department and the Men of Color Helping All Society, Inc., (M.O.C.H.A). MOCHA sought to challenge promotional examinations for ...

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A Washington state fire captain is contesting discipline handed down over his use of the fire department email system to deliver religious messages. Spokane Valley Fire Department Captain Jon Sprague was suspended without pay for two 24-hour shifts for conduct ...

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Two fire departments, one in New Jersey and the other in North Carolina, have found themselves in the middle of a complicated commercial lawsuit in Federal court over title to a brand new American LaFrance brush truck. Last September, the ...

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Today’s Burning Question: How does the Weingarten Rule apply during an administrative investigation when the union representatives will not make themselves available for the employee? Answer:  The short answer is that a union that plays that game, plays it at ...

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Albuquerque Fire Department Captain Emily Kane wanted to run for state representative. Standing in her way (besides her opponents) was a city charter provision that prohibited employees from either running for or holding state office. When Captain Kane was informed ...

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A deputy chief who was laid off in 2010 and filed a $1.3 million claim with the city of Topeka last year alleging sex discrimination, has moved her allegations forward by filing suit in Federal court against both the city ...

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Today’s Burning Question: How does the FLSA 20% rule with regard to volunteers work? We are having a debate over this at our department and our Firehouse Lawyers seem to disagree. Answer: The FLSA’s 20% rule with regard to volunteers ...

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Fire Chief Dennis Rubin is one of the most forward thinking chiefs of this era (hey… you guys from DC and Atlanta… yeah you… put down those rocks… hear me out… you too Hookman). Dennis Rubin is also the most ...

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An entertainment firm, Play Wit It Entertainment, has issued a public apology to the Jackson, Mississippi Fire Department on behalf of  “Hollywood Luck” following a controversial  rap video that showcased a JFD ladder truck and turnout gear. The department reportedly has ...

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A Lowell, Massachusetts firefighter who was found not guilty of drunk driving is now in hot water for having driven fire apparatus while his license was suspended. Firefighter Donald Goyette was arrested on October 20, 2011 by Massachusetts State Police ...

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A Mississippi fire chief and a county deputy sheriff are the latest participants in the ongoing Police-Fire Wars. The incident occurred last Sunday at a motor vehicle accident in Poplarville, Mississippi. Allegedly the single vehicle involved in the crash was ...

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On Tuesday, the New Jersey Supreme Court handed down a decision paving the way for a jury to decide whether personnel assigned to the Plainfield Rescue Squad were negligent in not immediately transporting a shooting victim, as opposed to performing ...

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IAFF Local 22 has once again taken the City of Philadelphia to court over the 2009 collective bargaining agreement that remains unresolved. The union has thus far prevailed at every decision point, yet Mayor Michael Nutter continue to defy arbitration ...

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The city manager of North Las Vagas has placed Fire Chief Al Gillespie on paid administrative leave, but the reasons for that leave are being hotly disputed. The firefighters union, IAFF Local 1607 says it is because Chief Gillespie refuses ...

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