Story Written by: Cathy Womble is a staff writer for the Lake Okeechobee News.

Florida Forest Ranger Robert Smith was born in Arcadia but says because his family was in the ministry, he was fortunate to be able to travel and explore most of Florida and Georgia during his childhood. In 2009, his family settled in Okeechobee, and…

Dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies face the same risks as their human handlers. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States and the number of shooting incidents, violent crimes and terrorist attacks continues to rise.

It’s clear why K9s are frequently used by law enforcement…

Robert "Robbo" Pisani is a Captain in the North Hudson Fire Department and member of North Hudson Fire Officers IAFF Local 3951. His coworkers and friends describe him as the type of person that would drop whatever he's doing to help a friend in need.…

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is necessary for firefighter safety. However, PPE is heavy, bulky, and increases the physiological burden of firefighting. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have found that firefighters make errors in perception when judging their abilities to navigate obstacles while wearing PPE. These types of errors could increase the risk for injury on the fireground.…

A recent study investigated the relationship between sleep quality and three popular shift schedules — 24on/48off, 48on/96off, and Kelly (on/off/on/off/on/off/off/off/off) — at six fire departments in three southwestern U.S. states. Shift schedules that disrupt circadian rhythms…

Has your organization recently acquired new fire rescue equipment or vehicles?

Is the old equipment or vehicle(s) still in serviceable condition?

Would your organization like to donate the fire rescue equipment and/or vehicle(s) to a Volunteer Fire…

On Monday, June 18, 2007, the Charleston Fire Department lost nine brave firefighters while battling a devastating blaze at a furniture store. These heroes were memorialized on June 22, 2007. A procession of more than 300 fire engines, ladder trucks, ambulances, and command vehicles stretched approximately 7.5 miles (12 km) and moved single-file along a route which passed each of the three fire stations from which firefighters were lost, as well as…

We greatly appreciate your…

First responders have downloaded more than 10,000 copies of a guide to commercially available, hand-portable biodetection technologies created to help them determine what they might be up against in the field. Since many first responders do not always have immediate access to a computer, a mobile version of the guide…

Violators of the statewide Do No Call List, problems at the gas pump and motor vehicle repair problems were the top three complaints received in November at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The majority of the 2,965 complaints received concerned the pesky calls consumers want to…

We're into October now and for many of you, that means Homecoming Weekend is right around the corner. This particular weekend is definitely one of the most fun for college students because of the many parties and get togethers with friends, the big football game and other sporting events. It's also a time when fire safety…

Every year, wildfires burn more than 130,000 acres across Florida, threatening the lives of Floridians, as well as their homes and businesses. Firefighters bravely risk…

Ariel Castro

He just couldn’t face a millennium behind bars.

Ariel Castro — the monster who held three women as his personal sex slaves for a decade in a Cleveland house — committed suicide last night by hanging himself in his prison cell, officials said.

The sick fiend was being kept in protective custody in Ohio’s Corrections Reception Center in Harrisburg after being sentenced last month to more than 1,000 years in…

For many people, the…

While there is no such thing as an easy rescue, firefighters understand that some calls will prove more challenging than others. To ensure first responders know what to do when exposed to extreme situations, many fire departments provide firefighter training designed to prepare them for…

Day after day our nation’s public safety workers put their lives on the line to keep its citizens safe—but at what cost? Law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians have some of the most physically and psychologically stressful jobs in America (consistently ranking on CareerCast.com’s annual Top…

Just because people have a desire to complete firefighter training and become professional rescue workers does not mean they always follow through on their goals. If these individuals ever feel like they do not have what it takes to succeed as a firefighter, they may want to turn to elderly firefighters who are not letting…

News media reports at least 148 lives lost in home fires already this year

News Media Reports of Civilian Fire Fatalities

EMMITSBURG, Md. – While the winter months always bring a spike in home fires, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) says home fire deaths reported on by the news media are above those reported at this time…