Police reports showed the driver was drunk when he struck Firefighter Johnn Tetrick, who was working a rollover crash at the time of the incident

By Rachel Engel FireRescue1

CLEVELAND, Ohio — A Cuyahoga County judge set the bail for a driver accused of killing a Cleveland firefighter at $500,000, ABC 13 reported. 

Leander Bissell, 40, was indicted on charges of murder, felonious assault, involuntary manslaughter, failure to stop after an accident, failure to comply and aggravated vehicular homicide in the death of Firefighter Johnny Tetrick. 

One of Tetrick’s three daughters spoke at Bissell’s arraignment, requesting bail be set at $1 million.

“I would like to ask the court for a million dollar bond on Mr. Bissell’s prior record, the fact that he fled the scene, he was inebriated and he killed my father,” she said.

Police reports showed Bissell was drunk when he struck Tetrick, who was working a rollover crash at the time of the incident. He later died from his injuries.

Bissell then fled the scene, police said. He was arrested several hours later at a Cleveland home.

A court date for Bissell is set for Dec. 7.

Family, friends and colleagues gathered to honor Tetrick at a funeral ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 26. 

To participate, junior firefighters will need permission from their parent or guardian and the fire chief.

Source The Mercury, Pottstown, Pa. (TNS) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Dec. 2—WEST CHESTER — Junior firefighters will now have an earlier opportunity to access the training they need to become full firefighters across Pennsylvania, state Sen. Carolyn Comitta said.

Act 155 of 2022 allows junior firefighters, age 17, to train on live-burn, interior firefighter modules. Currently, only those 18 and older are allowed to enroll in this training program.

Comitta, who serves on the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, said the measure helps ensure that junior firefighters are immediately able to serve as full-fledged firefighters once they turn 18.

PA Cadets Put Through the Paces at Training Academy 

“I hope this law helps bolster the ranks of our volunteer firefighters by harnessing the interest and energy young people have for the fire service and empowering them to hit the ground running once they turn 18,” she said. “Our fire companies continue to face significant challenges in recruiting and retaining volunteers. Allowing young people to access this training earlier is one way we can help ensure they continue serving our communities.”

The bill, sponsored by Senator Pat Stefano, unanimously passed the legislature and was recently signed into law by the governor.

To participate in live burns, junior firefighters would need their parent or guardian’s permission and the local fire chief’s permission. The training would be completed under the instruction of a credentialed Pennsylvania State Fire Academy instructor.

Atlanta firefighters found two victims after conducting an aggressive fire attack.

By Rosana Hughes The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (TNS) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Two people were found dead in a Bankhead-Bolton home in northwest Atlanta after a fire Saturday morning, according to fire officials.

Atlanta fire crews responded to the home in the 900 block of Bolton Road around 8:30 a.m. and found heavy fire coming from the one-story house, a fire department statement read. Firefighters aggressively attacked the fire until it was fully extinguished.

Once it was safe to search the home, crews found one victim in a front room on the right side of the house and another in a front room on the left side, the statement read.

A gas leak was later discovered in the front yard of the residence, fire officials said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

A Palestine firefighter, who was shot in the leg, is expected to be OK.

By Pennylynn Webb Source Palestine Herald-Press, Texas (TNS) Firehouse.com News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Dec. 3—The Palestine Police Department is investigating the shooting of a city firefighter.

According to Chief Mark Harcrow, at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, emergency services responded to a reported “accidental shooting” at Palestine’s Fire Station #2, 107 Seventh Street.

“Witnesses stated that a member of the department was outside of the station showing another firefighter a new handgun when it discharged, striking their co-worker in the leg,” Harcrow said. “The handgun was stored in the personal vehicle of the firefighter prior to the incident.”

Harcrow said the firefighter had been struck in the lower portion of his body by a single round from the handgun.

Harcrow said members of the Palestine Fire Department administered medical aid immediately following the incident and the firefighter was transported to Palestine Regional Medical Center in stable condition and he is expected to recover.

Harcrow said the Palestine Fire Department employee that shot his co-worker has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.

Chief Niles Ford led the Baltimore Fire Department for eight years before resigning as the report on the Jan. 24 row house fire where three firefighters died was released.

Source Firehouse.com News

Baltimore City Fire Chief Niles Ford has resigned following the release of an investigative report into the line of duty deaths of three firefighters in January.

Ford’s resignation is effective immediately, Mayor Brandon Scott told WJZ. 

He led the department for eight years.

Lt. Paul Butrim, Firefighter/Paramedic Kelsey Sadler, and Firefighter/Paramedic Kenneth Lacayo were killed in the Jan. 14 row house fire. 

Scott said in a statement: “The report outlines the events that occurred on January 24, 2022, along with findings and recommendations that will be implemented to ensure that a tragedy like this will never happen again, My administration will immediately establish an accountability program to ensure that these recommendations are properly implemented and that we have a department that is not only committed to protecting and saving the lives of our residents, but is equally committed to carrying out this work in a manner that also safeguards the lives of those men and women who selflessly serve others on a daily basis.”