The WatchDesk Post

DALLAS – A federal official says a fire that destroyed a church last week was the eighth case of arson against a house of worship in Texas this year.Spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, …

Read the original here: 
Feds say arson behind 8 Texas church fires in 2010 (MalaysiaNews.net)

Cal Fire at Corralitos firefighter Lawrence Erickson will be recognized today as Firefighter of the Year by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.

Here is the original post: 
Firefighter of the Year recognized by county supervisors (Register Pajaronian)

In what a prosecutor called a “pretty scary” case, a Milford man yesterday was declared a danger to the public and was ordered held without bail pending his trial on arson charges.

See more here:
Arson suspect held without bail (The Milford Daily News)

One of the worst kept secrets in the fire service and in municipal government is the reduction of staffing on engines, ladders and rescues. The reduction of firefighters to less than four per rig is responsible for killing firefighters and civilians because there are too many tasks to accomplish with too few people. 2009 saw cities and counties cutting the number of firefighters for fiscal reasons. What politicians were saying, and companies that recommend the practice, is the lives of citizens and firefighters don't matter. “We will gamble” seems to be tone. Well, the gamble brings tragic results. This year firefighters must work hand in hand with the insurance industry to punish those who operate below NFPA 1710 staffing levels. Imaging the public having to hear no one will go inside because too few people are on scene. Insurance companies will act accordingly and residents will remove those who are responsible.

Here is the original:
Minimum Staffing Must Be Maintained

A Fort Worth firefighter was killed and two other firefighters injured this weekend in a one-vehicle

Excerpt from:
Fort Worth firefighter killed, two hurt in New Mexico crash (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)