The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources met Thursday morning with the purpose of addressing prevention tactics when it comes to fires from electric grids. To put in plain terms, what can electric companies do to prevent fires, and what would some solutions look like in the future? Senator Lisa Murkowski, Chairwoman of the committee with West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin being the ranking member, listened to testimony from five witnesses. Notable witnesses include Bill Johnson, CEO and President of PG&E and Dr. B. Don Russell, Distinguished Professor and Director, Power System Automation Laboratory. In Sen. Murkowski's opening statement, she highlighted California and the deadly Camp Fire. That 2018 wildfire killed 85 people and the cause was attributed to degraded power lines operated by PG&E, which eventually settled its liability for a combined $24.5 billion for victims and insurers.  

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.