Training

The family of a Honolulu firefighter who died last year during a water rescue training exercise, has filed suit against the City and County of Honolulu. Cliff Rigsbee was participating in water rescue training on June 14, 2016 on the southeast shore of Oahu near Diamond Head.

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A Wisconsin fire chief has opted to resign rather than take certification classes required by his department. Brian Schmitt, formerly the fire chief in Wilson, is required by town bylaws to take 112 hours of training to meet the minimum requirements.

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An Indiana fire chief was arrested at the scene of a house fire Tuesday for reportedly pushing a police officer who was breaking windows in an attempt to ventilate the building. The incident occurred in the Town of Cannelton and involved Cannelton Police Officer Ryen Foertsch and Cannelton Fire Chief Christopher Herzog.

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The State of Hawaii’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health has cited the Honolulu Fire Department for two OSHA violations following its investigation into the training death of Clifford Riggsbee last June.

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The family of Hartford firefighter Kevin Bell has agreed to settle a wrongful death lawsuit they filed against the city and three fire officers for $350,000. Bell died on October 7, 2014 when he became separated from his crew during rapid fire development.

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Today’s burning question: I was recently hired as a firefighter and my department requires me to get my paramedic license within my first year. The department gives me time off to attend classes when I am scheduled to work but ...

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Today’s burning question: Do fire departments/EMS organizations have to pay personnel for the time spent attending training for EMT and paramedic while off-duty? Answer: There are several important issues that arise including what is the agreement between the parties, are the employees public employees, and does the training fit into an exception under the FLSA.

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The San Francisco Bay Area’s NBC affiliate has done an extensive expose on a series of complaints by former fire academy recruits, several of which have led to lawsuits.

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The widow of an Oklahoma firefighter who drown last year in floodwaters has filed a wrongful death suit against the city. Claremore Fire Captain Jason Farley died on May 23, 2015 when he was pulled into a flooded storm drain while at the scene of a water rescue.

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An Indianapolis firefighter has filed suit in federal court claiming he was “set up” by co-workers on “fabricated allegations” after he complained about being denied a training opportunity because of his race. Jason Hardister filed suit last week alleging race discrimination and retaliation.

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Forty-four current and former firefighters from Southern Marin Fire Protection District have filed suit in federal court alleging overtime compensation violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

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The Barnstable County Fire Academy on Cape Cod is facing an environmental lawsuit and possible shut down over ground water pollution attributed to the use of AFFF over the years. According to local officials, two wells that provide drinking water to several area communities had to be closed last spring due to elevated levels perfluorooctane sulfonate. The wells are adjacent to the academy.

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A firefighter in the City of Miami has been given a four-day unpaid suspension for his role in an apparatus accident last August that injured twelve people, including seven firefighters. Gustavo Alzate, a Miami firefighter for two years, was driving an EMS unit when it collided with an engine company

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Today’s burning question: Can my fire department tell me I can’t drink while off-duty? I mean… who do they think they are suspending me for drinking when I’m on my own time? It’s not fair. Oh, by the way I was attending a fire department training program at the union hall at the time

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