FireFighterNation

Two months after Fire Chief Steve Jerauld assured the public that moving from three-person to two-person trucks wouldn't put residents' lives in danger, county commissioners demanded that the county immediately return to its previous staffing levels, even if it will cost approximately $7.5 million a year and increase overtime costs.

We’re all aware of the drastic budget cutbacks occurring across the country. We can’t wait for others to speak on our behalf to protect our department’s services; we all have to become our own advocates, and that will involve developing innovative approaches to promoting what we do and the positive impact we have on our communities every day. Here, Jon Hansen offers some suggestions that can make a difference.

East Contra Costa Fire District will scale back to three stations but have three firefighters on each engine. On the advice of Fire Chief Hugh Henderson, other firefighters and numerous residents, directors approved the proposed configuration in a 5-4 vote before a near-capacity crowd.

San Jose police officers and firefighters Wednesday made good on promises to legally challenge San Jose's voter-approved pension reform with a pair of lawsuits filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court.

Despite economic challenges affecting municipalities across the country, apparatus manufacturers are continuing to innovate, striving to meet the changing needs of the fire service. Bob Vaccaro profiles some of the recent and future trends.