Archive for May 4th, 2019

Cancer in the fire service

Excerpts from wral.com:

Legislation designating nine types of cancer as on-the-job injuries for firefighters cleared a House committee Tuesday in North Carolina despite opposition from a powerful lobbying group.

Statistically, firefighters are at a higher risk than the general public for esophageal, intestinal, rectal, testicular, brain, and oral cavity cancers, as well as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and mesothelioma. House Bill 520 would change North Carolina’s workers compensation law to presume that a firefighter diagnosed with one of those cancers got it on the job.

Currently, firefighters who can’t prove their cancer was caused by their occupation must get their insurance to cover as much of their treatment costs as possible. Many have to keep working through chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

A legislative counsel for the North Carolina League of Municipalities argued against the change, saying adjusting workers comp for a single class of employees has been found unconstitutional by the courts in the past. Counties and cities worry that the proposal, if passed, would increase workers comp costs for local governments that employ firefighters.

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Buffalo Grove Fire Department news (more)

Retired and active Buffalo Grove firefighters, friends, and family members gathered this morning (5/4/19) at Station 26 to congratulate Battalion Chief Brian Barna on 29 years of service to the village as he completed his final shift.

Buffalo Grove FD Battalion Chief Brian Barna retirement

Larry Shapiro photo

Buffalo Grove FD Battalion Chief Brian Barna retirement

Larry Shapiro photo

Buffalo Grove FD Battalion Chief Brian Barna retirement

Larry Shapiro photo

Buffalo Grove FD Battalion Chief Brian Barna retirement

Larry Shapiro photo

Buffalo Grove FD Battalion Chief Brian Barna retirement

Larry Shapiro photo

Buffalo Grove FD Battalion Chief Brian Barna retirement

Larry Shapiro photo

Buffalo Grove FD Battalion Chief Brian Barna retirement

Larry Shapiro photo

Buffalo Grove FD Battalion Chief Brian Barna retirement

Larry Shapiro photo

Buffalo Grove FD Battalion Chief Brian Barna retirement

Larry Shapiro photo

Buffalo Grove FD Battalion Chief Brian Barna retirement

Larry Shapiro photo

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Fatal explosion and fire in Waukegan, 5-3-19

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

Four employees of a Waukegan chemical plant were hospitalized and another three were reported missing following an explosion late Friday that was heard and felt across Lake County around 9:45 p.m. 

Waukegan Fire Marshal Steve Lenzi reported that first arriving crews were quickly overwhelmed by flames at the AB Specialty Silicones plant at 3790 Sunset Ave., which is on the city’s far northwest side near its border with Gurnee.

Fire personnel from Waukegan plus departments in Lake and Cook counties including hazardous materials crews and structural collapse technicians were involved with both fighting the fire and searching for the missing employees.

Fatal explosion and fire at the AB Specialty Silicones plant at 3790 Sunset Ave. in Waukegan IL 5/3/19

Jeff Rudolph photo

Fatal explosion and fire at the AB Specialty Silicones plant at 3790 Sunset Ave. in Waukegan IL 5/3/19

Jeff Rudolph photo

Fatal explosion and fire at the AB Specialty Silicones plant at 3790 Sunset Ave. in Waukegan IL 5/3/19

Jeff Rudolph photo

Fatal explosion and fire at the AB Specialty Silicones plant at 3790 Sunset Ave. in Waukegan IL 5/3/19

Jeff Rudolph photo

Fatal explosion and fire at the AB Specialty Silicones plant at 3790 Sunset Ave. in Waukegan IL 5/3/19

Jeff Rudolph photo

Waukegan FD ARFF unit works at the Fatal explosion and fire at the AB Specialty Silicones plant at 3790 Sunset Ave. in Waukegan IL 5/3/19

Jeff Rudolph photo

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Of interest … new TV show

Excerpts from deadline.com:

Fox is pushing deeper into unscripted programming after the breakout of The Masked Singer, re-teaming with producer Dick Wolf on First Responders Live.
 
Hosted by Josh Elliott and co-produced by Red Arrow Studios’ 44 Blue Productions, the show will premiere June 12. It promises an unprecedented look at fearless first responders as they answer emergency calls across the country.
 
The territory explored by the new show is already marked in the scripted realm by Wolf’s Chicago-set dramas centered around police and fire units, but the new series takes the concept into real life. In basic cable, A&E’s Live PD has gotten significant traction with a similar approach, delivering the network its highest ratings of any of its current shows and some enviable stats in on-demand viewing as well.

thanks Ron

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