Legal Issues
Follow a triaged response to what is posted and remember to discipline the behavior, not the content
CAL FIRE plans new training and protocol updates as lawsuits from the 2023 helicopter collision moves forward
Fire and police agencies in Nashville, New Orleans, Toledo and Prince George’s County launched investigations and placed employees on leave after online comments about Kirk’s death
The Enhancing First Response Act would recognize dispatchers’ lifesaving role and improve emergency communications infrastructure
Time-card discrepancies at Bear Gulch led a BLM ranger to call Border Patrol, detaining two contract firefighters and sparking controversy over immigration enforcement during wildfire operations
Breaking down recent news that’s getting readers fired up
The appeals court agreed Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue faced undue hardship if it excused the unvaccinated crew members, citing safety, staffing and operational risks during the pandemic
In the Newbern’s first election in six decades, Firefighter Patrick Braxton won 66–26 to end the legal fight that once locked him out of city hall
Discover actionable strategies for EMS teams to minimize errors through rest, focus and teamwork
Veteran wildland firefighters say the unprecedented raid at the Bear Gulch fire undermined trust on the fire line, raising fears that crews could face immigration checks while battling active blazes
Mislabeling public safety K9s creates confusion, liability and access issues during high-stakes deployments
The man reportedly received a U-Visa certification in 2017 after helping federal investigators solve a crime
The arrests came during a federal investigation that led the Bureau of Land Management to end contracts with two Oregon-based forestry companies
Prosecutors say Joshua Thompson ignored a restraining order and hid assault rifles, handguns, 2,000 rounds of ammo and meth pills
The North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company will revise policies for handling minors and require sensitivity training after Chief Peter Alt was filmed cursing at a youth during a call
Kristin Crowley’s legal claim says Bass ousted her and ran a “misinformation” campaign to shift blame for L.A.’s most destructive wildfire
Police say the firefighter was charged with assault, harassment and weapons possession and released without bail
A former Gabriel House resident injured in the fire that killed 10 people, is suing the facility’s owner and its fire safety contractor for negligence
Milton Guamarriga’s family says he has lived in the U.S. for nearly 30 years, volunteers as a firefighter and was applying for citizenship
The city council awarded nearly $1.1 million to the wife of Kyle Brinker, a Kansas City Fire Department paramedic who died during a training exercise in 2024
Fire chiefs must embrace policy advocacy to influence decisions that shape public safety and department operations
North Babylon Fire Chief Peter Alt was caught on video shouting profanities at a 10-year-old girl during an emergency call
Three residents of Gabriel House are suing the facility’s owner and a fire inspection company, claiming unsafe conditions, poor enforcement of smoking policies, and failed fire systems
Assemblyman Phil Ramos accuses East Brentwood Fire Chief Bryant Figueroa of storming into his office following tensions over ICE’s use of a firehouse parking lot
Laramie County Fire District 1 Chief Darrick Mittlestadt and his wife face up to 25 years in prison after being accused of isolating and starving their 13-year-old adopted son
The county blocked delivery of key rescue equipment to Spokane after accusing the city of ending emergency preparedness agreements
Roger Bentley was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and other charges after prosecutors said he ignored signs of a gas leak before the 2024 blast that killed Sterling Firefighter Trevor Brown
Community trust can erode quickly when firefighters are mistaken for enforcers
Duane Williams, exonerated in 2024 after serving 11 years for a deadly fire he didn’t commit, has filed a $100M federal lawsuit against Detroit police, fire officials and the city
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