Fort Bend County first responders who transported a presumptive coronavirus patient Tuesday followed all protocol, including wearing protective gear, the Stafford fire chief said. The 70-year-old patient is being treated in a Fort Bend County hospital. His condition isn't known. Two Stafford firefighters and three Fort Bend County firefighters responded to the call at the man's home on Tuesday. They say he was alert, walking and talking when they took him to an area hospital by ambulance. They obtained pertinent medical history and travel history, Stafford Fire Chief Larry DiCamillo said. They didn't learn the patient probably has coronavirus until Wednesday evening when initial test results came back as "presumptive positive." Even so, the first known case in the Houston area hit home.  

The Dallas Police and Fire Pension System, not long ago teetering on the edge of insolvency with an unfunded liability around $3 billion, has taken City Hall to court over $2 million meant for military veterans. It's a relatively small amount given the enormous numbers that threatened to sink the system only a few years ago. But enough to spark a lawsuit now lingering in Dallas federal court. That lawsuit, filed in January by the pension system, says the city owes that money to pay benefits to police officers and firefighters who went on active duty in the armed forces. The lawsuit claims that the city isn't following a 1994 federal law that says employers with pension plans shouldn't treat their workers as though they had "a break" if pressed into military service. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act requires employers to continue with their pension obligations if employees contribute to the fund upon their return.  

"There goes my house," Christine Cervantes said as she watched flames consume the home that she purchased 21 years ago. The San Antonio Fire Department says the home is destroyed. The fire broke out at 3 a.m. Thursday in the 400 block of Schenck Avenue on the Southeast Side. When crews arrived, her home was already being devoured by flames, which had spread to the property next door. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire in the attic of her next-door neighbor's home and save it, but that wasn't the case for Cervantes' home. "I've lost everything," she said as she walked KSAT 12 through her home. She and family members were trying to see what they could save, but nothing much was left after the flames. "My clothes, my car, everything is gone," she said. "This is where my grandfather's table was."  

College Station firefighters have a new tool to help them train for fires. A local company donated equipment that helps them practice fighting fires in high rises. On Thursday, the fire department practiced hooking up hoses for a call they don't receive often; a fire in a high rise building. The equipment is called a standpipe system. Standpipes are found in high-rises and skyscrapers and allow firefighters to transport water up the numerous floors. "Today the College Station Fire Department got to test out a brand new piece of equipment., it's a training prop. The department can practice using standpipes which go into high rise buildings," said Captain Stuart Marrs with the College Station Fire Department.  

Firefighters received a call about a residential fire Thursday afternoon. The call came from the area of W. College St. and S. High St. The two story building was empty, according to our reporter at the scene. The building was showing heavy smoke on their arrival. Several engine companies worked to put out the fire. They cut a hole in the roof for ventilation and used foam and water to get the fire under control. Neighbors say the building wasn't currently being used and was once a church. There were no injuries reported as of news time and the fire is still under investigation.  

To watch Jonathan Burns coaching students at the Santa Fe High School gym is to watch a man who's perfectly at ease with his career, even though he hasn't been teaching long. Just two years ago, you would have found Burns in a fire station helping save lives instead of inside a high school mentoring students. "I love being a mentor to these kids," said Burns, who coaches football, basketball, and teaches principles of health science. "Every kid wishes growing up they would have that one teacher that really made a difference. And that's what I want to do." Burns felt it was time to make a career change in May 2018 when tragedy struck the small town that sits 45 minutes south of Houston. A student gunman walked into the high school and killed 10 people — eight students and two teachers — and injured 13 others.  

As first responders get more and more calls about coronavirus, there are serious concerns among the ranks on how they respond. "We are very very concerned," said Patrick Morrison of the IAFF. Morrison said they're telling fire departments across the country to take inventory of their gear. "What we are hearing from our members around the country is we do not have enough supplies," Morrison said. These supplies include masks, protective suits and gloves. Morrisson said he got word that at least 40-firefighters nationwide are in quarantine as a result of coronavirus calls. Firefighters in D.C. are hoping congress' funding plan will cover more gear and quickly. "When someone calls 911, they want to ensure that we are delivering a service. But we need to ensure that we are protected first," said John Niemiec of the IAFF.  

A glitch in Pittsburgh's new payroll system triggered overpayments totaling about $400,000 for nearly half of the city's 600 firefighters, officials said. The city is now asking for the money back. The problem occurred in late December after arbitrators provided a new five-year contract to the International Association of Firefighters Local 1, officials said. The old contract expired in December 2018. The new pact provided firefighters with retroactive pay from January to November 2019 when arbitrators finalized the contract. Pittsburgh discovered overpayments ranging from several dollars to $5,000 after paying the firefighters, officials said. About 240 firefighters received overpayments. The city began seeking repayment this month, according to letters written to firefighters.  

If people need to get in from outside in the event of an emergency in downtown Bloomington, the fire department wants to let people know with specific voice directions in addition to the blare of a siren. The Bloomington Fire Department wants to install an outdoor warning siren with public address capability on the roof of the Government Center, 115 E. Washington St., Bloomington. "We would like increased capacity to provide information in case we need to direct people to safety," Fire Chief Brian Mohr told The Pantagraph. Mohr provided information about the i-Force Electronic Siren to the McLean County Board Property Committee on Thursday afternoon. The Government Center is owned by the Public Building Commission but McLean County government and the city of Bloomington lease space.  

One of the most important tools for the Mount Vernon fire department is now half a century old. "You can see the scratches and marks on it. The once really bright red paint is more of an orange color now. It's faded over the past 50 years. But overall, it's still an excellent running truck," said Chief Brad DeLay, Mount Vernon Volunteer Fire Protection District. With low mileage and almost all of the original equipment intact, the 1970 Chevy truck is anything but outdated. "It's kind of just basically a reserve engine. If we need it we know it's going to start and run and pump water for us," explained DeLay. He said the classic fire apparatus is like family. "Honestly it's just been part of this community for so long everybody just recognizes it," he said. The basic, yet effective design, was built to last.  

With the elimination of their positions finalized earlier this week, firefighters are asking the city to negotiate on the change to public safety officers. Scott Dix, president of Cedar Falls Firefighters Local 1366, made the request to begin formal union negotiations in a letter sent to the city Wednesday. He is seeking a response by 5 p.m. Friday. In the meantime, a firefighter transition task force is scheduled to begin meeting Friday to determine other career paths the city can offer the eight affected employees. The task force is set to meet for the first time at 7 a.m. in City Hall and will make its recommendations by April 1. The firefighters have been on paid administrative leave since the City Council's Monday night decision affirming its earlier vote to reorganize the public safety department. Council members overrode Mayor Rob Green's veto of that earlier decision with a 5-2 super majority.