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Mich. FD to Pair Community Health Worker with EMS to Ease 911 and ER Load

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Mich. FD to Pair Community Health Worker with EMS to Ease 911 and ER Load

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing

  • Grand Rapids, Mich. — The Grand Rapids Fire Department and Corewell Health will pilot a community health worker (CHW) response alongside EMS to steer low-acuity 911 callers toward primary care and social services. FireRescue1
  • Timeline/scale: Six-month pilot begins January; embeds a full-time CHW with GRFD resources at no additional cost to the department. FireRescue1
  • Why it matters: GRFD handles 17,000+ medical-related calls/year; many are driven by social needs (medication access, food, transportation), not emergencies. FireRescue1
  • Goals/metrics: Cut preventable ED visits and repeat 911 calls; measure success via community feedback and reductions in repeat users and ED utilization. FireRescue1

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Rapids Fire Department is teaming with Corewell Health on a first-of-its-kind partnership in Michigan that inserts a community health worker (CHW) into the emergency response for low-acuity 911 calls, aiming to connect residents with primary care, medications and social supports instead of defaulting to ambulance transports and emergency departments. The six-month pilot starts in January. FireRescue1

GRFD leadership said the program targets calls where the real problem is access—prescriptions, food, transportation, a doctor’s appointment—rather than a time-sensitive medical emergency. The CHW will ride with GRFD’s assigned EMS resource, help triage needs on scene, and coordinate follow-up care to reduce repeat 911 use and preventable ED visits. FireRescue1

The fire department will repurpose an existing EMS captain, vehicle and equipment, keeping the pilot cost-neutralfor GRFD, while Corewell Health supplies the CHW and plans to scale based on results. At conclusion, the partners will evaluate outcomes using community feedback and data on repeat-caller reductions and ED utilization. FireRescue1

Officials characterized the expected impact as small caseload, big benefit: even a few hundred avoided transports annually would free ambulances, open ED capacity and get patients closer to the right care—all while reducing crew burnout on recurring non-emergent runs. FireRescue1

Man Jumps from Fourth Floor to Escape NYC Apartment Fire; FDNY Contained Blaze to Kitchen

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Man Jumps from Fourth Floor to Escape NYC Apartment Fire; FDNY Contained Blaze to Kitchen

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing

  • Williamsburg, Brooklyn — A 42-year-old man jumped from a fourth-floor window to escape a kitchen fire late Tuesday morning; he suffered serious injuries but was conscious when transported. FireRescue1
  • Fire broke out around 11:30 a.m. on Keap St. near Marcy Ave.; FDNY contained the blaze to the kitchen after an hour-long battle. FireRescue1
  • Hatzolah medics took the victim to Bellevue Hospital. Cause under investigation by FDNY fire marshals. FireRescue1
  • NYPD Bomb Squad checked items found on the third floor; they were inert workout equipment filled with sand, police said. FireRescue1

NEW YORK — A Brooklyn man was seriously hurt Tuesday after leaping from a fourth-floor window to flee a fast-growing kitchen fire inside a Williamsburg apartment, officials said. The blaze erupted around 11:30 a.m. on Keap Street near Marcy Avenue, trapping the 42-year-old in his top-floor unit as smoke and heat built rapidly. FireRescue1

FDNY units arriving at the scene began stretching lines and venting as the victim jumped before firefighters could position equipment, FDNY Deputy Chief Joe Duggan told reporters. Neighbors reported heavy smoke pouring from the front windows moments before the man fell to the sidewalk. He was conscious and talking as Hatzolah medics transported him to Bellevue Hospital with serious injuries. FireRescue1

Firefighters contained the fire to the kitchen after roughly an hour of operations. Later, NYPD Bomb Squad officers inspected suspicious items found on the third floor and determined they were homemade exercise weights filled with sand, not explosives. FDNY fire marshals are investigating the cause.

Calif. FD Launches Nurse–Paramedic Unit to Triage Low-Acuity 911 Calls and Ease ED Load

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Calif. FD Launches Nurse–Paramedic Unit to Triage Low-Acuity 911 Calls and Ease ED Load

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing

  • Santa Monica, Calif. — Fire Department launches an Advanced Provider Unit (APU) pairing a nurse practitioner with a firefighter/paramedic to handle low-acuity 911 calls. FireRescue1
  • Began responding in November; currently operates Mon–Thu as part of a two-year Realignment Plan to strengthen public safety/EMS. FireRescue1
  • Goals: treat on scene, reduce unnecessary transports, keep ambulances free for critical calls, and connect frequent 911 users to follow-up care. FireRescue1+1
  • SMFD plans to expand to seven days and is recruiting part-time NPs with ED/urgent-care experience. FireRescue1+1

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The Santa Monica Fire Department has begun fielding a two-person Advanced Provider Unit (APU) that pairs a nurse practitioner with a firefighter/paramedic to respond to non-life-threatening medical calls, aiming to treat more patients in place and cut down on ambulance transports, officials said. The program started responding in November and is currently scheduled Monday through Thursday as the city ramps up staffing. FireRescue1

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A Santa Monica firefighter/paramedic and a nurse practitioner as the Advanced Provider Unit (APU).

City leaders framed the APU as a cornerstone of Santa Monica’s two-year Realignment Plan, approved in October, to strengthen public safety and emergency services. Early responses have included minor medical care and behavioral-health interventions, with an emphasis on keeping transport units available for time-sensitive emergencies and coordinating follow-up care for high-risk or frequent 911 callers. FireRescue1

According to the city’s program page, the APU will also conduct post-incident follow-ups to help manage chronic conditions and reduce repeat 911 use. SMFD says it intends to expand to seven days a week and is seeking part-time, contract nurse practitioners—preferably with ED or urgent-care backgrounds—to staff the model. Santa Monica

Fire Chief Matt Hallock said the initiative is designed to ease hospital pressure, improve patient outcomes and deliver advanced assessment and treatment directly at the scene. Officials added that the APU complements existing EMS resources rather than replacing ambulances, which remain dedicated to high-acuity incidents. FireRescue1

Editor’s note: The APU reflects a broader trend in fire-based EMS toward community paramedicine and alternative destination strategies—particularly in coastal and urban systems where ED crowding and repeat 911 use have strained response capacity.

Keene Bridge Weight Limits Could Add Minutes to Fire Response; City, FD Map Workarounds

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Keene Bridge Weight Limits Could Add Minutes to Fire Response; City, FD Map Workarounds

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing

  • Keene, N.H. — Two 10-ton bridge restrictions on Spring St. and Beaver St. now force fire apparatus to detour via Roxbury St. to reach East Keene. FireRescue1
  • Added time: Detour adds ~1 minute under normal conditions; if Central Square/Roxbury access is blocked, response could be 5–8 minutes longer, the department says. FireRescue1
  • Ops impact: Ambulances (under 10 tons) can still cross and will likely arrive first; search & rescue typically begins from those units. FireRescue1
  • Mitigation: City plans to keep at least one lane open through next spring’s downtown infrastructure project and is coordinating alternate routes (e.g., old middle school lot cut-through). FireRescue1
  • Next steps: Keene aims to replace the two red-listed 1920s bridges; exploring fund reallocation to accelerate Beaver St. work. FireRescue1

KEENE, N.H. — Newly posted 10-ton weight limits on two aging bridges in Keene are forcing fire trucks to reroute through Roxbury Street to reach parts of East Keene, a change that could add a minute to response times — and five to eight minutes if Central Square is obstructed, according to Deputy Chief Gregory Seymour. The city imposed the restrictions this month on the Spring Street and Beaver Street spans over Beaver Brook, citing structural deterioration in the 1920s-era bridges. FireRescue1

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Keene fire apparatus.

Seymour said the standard detour will not alter how crews fight fires in the neighborhood, because ambulances — which weigh under the 10-ton limit — can still cross and typically initiate search and rescue before heavy engines arrive. But he did not rule out crossing the restricted bridges with fire apparatus in a fast-moving, life-threateningscenario if the Roxbury route is unavailable. FireRescue1

The risk of longer delays could grow next spring as the downtown infrastructure project gets underway around Central Square, the main access point to Roxbury Street. City public works officials said at least one lane will remain open in each direction during construction and that the fire department will join weekly contractor meetings to flag disruptions early. Among contingency options: temporary access across the former middle school parking lot connecting Spring to Roxbury streets. FireRescue1

Keene is coordinating with the New Hampshire DOT to reallocate funds — potentially shifting dollars from a Maple Avenue bridge repair — to speed replacement of the Beaver Street bridge. The city also intends to replace both red-listed bridges in the longer term. FireRescue1

Officials urged residents to expect apparatus detours in East Keene and to remain mindful of work-zone traffic pattern changes as planning continues. FireRescue1

Mo. Firefighters Battle 2-Alarm Lumberyard Blaze Near Downtown Kansas City

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By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing

  • Kansas City, Mo. — A second-alarm fire tore through an outbuilding at Central Missouri Reload Inc., sending flames skyward visible to morning commuters. No injuries reported. FireRescue1
  • Time/Place: Crews dispatched ~6:15 a.m., 3900 E. 14th Terrace (east of downtown, near Jackson Curve). FireRescue1
  • Tactics/Water: Immediate defensive attack; multiple aerial master streams; water relays from three hydrants(one on-site, others ~3–4 blocks away). FireRescue1
  • Overhaul: Fire under control before 9 a.m.; KCFD deployed its firefighting robot during cleanup/overhaul. FireRescue1
  • Impact: Owner estimates “close to a $5 million loss”; cause under investigation. FireRescue1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City firefighters mounted a large defensive operation Tuesday morning after a lumberyard outbuilding erupted in flames east of downtown, driving columns of smoke visible along the Jackson Curve. No injuries were reported, officials said. FireRescue1

Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins said companies arrived about 6:15 a.m. at Central Missouri Reload Inc., 3900 E. 14th Terrace, and found stacks of lumber in a detached structure fully involved. Crews immediately shifted to large-caliber streams from multiple aerials to contain the fire. The incident was placed under control shortly before 9 a.m., with firefighters then unpiling materials to reach deep-seated fire. FireRescue1

Water supply required an expanded assignment: while a hydrant sat in front of the business, KCFD also pulled water from two additional hydrants about three blocks and more than four blocks away to feed the master streams and long hose lays. At the height of the incident, the department had about 12 fire trucks and three ambulances on scene; several were released as overhaul progressed. FireRescue1

Owner Keith Fletcher said the 40-year-old operation has faced three fires in the past year, previously blamed on nearby encampments. He estimated “close to a $5 million loss” from Tuesday’s blaze. The exact cause remains under investigation. FireRescue1

KCFD also deployed its new firefighting robot to assist with overhaul operations around smoldering lumber stacks and hotspots. Officials urged anyone spotting smoke or fire to call 911 promptly, noting the fire “had grown rather large” by the time first units arrived. FireRescue1

Detroit House Fires Kill 4, Injure Others; Firefighter Hurt as Crews Battle New Blazes

FHD Staff
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Detroit House Fires Kill 4, Injure Others; Firefighter Hurt as Crews Battle New Blazes

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing

  • Detroit — Two separate house fires on Sunday and Monday left four people dead (including a 7-year-old boy) and three hospitalized, officials said. Early Tuesday, crews battled three more east-side fires; one firefighter was injured. Firehouse
  • Tuesday’s incidents included blazes on Dwyer Ave., Charest St. (with a rekindle), and Ashland St.; one fire spread to four nearby houses. Firehouse
  • Causes of all incidents remain under investigation. The Detroit Fire Department urged winter heating and candle safety, citing NFPA data on seasonal risks. Firehouse

DETROIT — A string of Detroit house fires over three days left four people dead—including a 7-year-old boy—and three others hospitalized, as firefighters returned to the east side before dawn Tuesday to contain three additional blazes, authorities said. A Detroit firefighter suffered a minor injury during one of Tuesday’s fires and was treated at a hospital, officials added. Firehouse

According to the department, crews first responded around 12:45 a.m. Tuesday to the 19100 block of Dwyer Avenue(near Seven Mile and Mound), where flames originating in one house extended to four nearby homes. No injuries were reported at that scene, and displaced residents were connected with the American Red Cross and the city’s Housing Department. Firehouse

Shortly before 3 a.m., firefighters went to the 19600 block of Charest Street (Outer Drive/Conant area) and found the occupants and their dogs outside. The fire was knocked down, but rekindled after 6 a.m. and was quickly extinguished. Around 3:10 a.m., a separate fire drew companies to a two-family flat on Ashland Street (Kercheval/Chalmers). Crews found fire in the second-story unit; one firefighter was injured during operations and later released. Firehouse

The overnight run followed two fatal fires: on Monday morning, three people died and one was hospitalized after a blaze on the 19000 block of Wildemere Street on the northwest side; on Sunday, a 7-year-old boy died in a west-side fire on Rutherford Street, where a woman and a 4-year-old were transported. Investigations into all incidents continue. Firehouse

With winter heating season underway, Detroit Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms urged residents to review space-heater and candle precautions and to check smoke alarms. The department highlighted NFPA data showing heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths, with risks peaking during the holidays and the coldest months. Firehouse

Authorities asked anyone with information about the recent fires to contact investigators. Additional updates, including causes and victim identifications, will be released as they are confirmed.

As Dayton Booms, Fire Chief Says Department Is Straining; Council Scraps $2.5M Ladder Truck

FHD Staff
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As Dayton Booms, Fire Chief Says Department Is Straining; Council Scraps $2.5M Ladder Truck

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing

  • Dayton, Minn. — As one of Minnesota’s fastest-growing cities, Dayton’s fire chief says the department is under strain and needs a ladder truck for new mid-rise apartments and large warehouses. The City Council canceled a $2.5M ladder purchase this month, saying used options and mutual aid should be considered. Firehouse
  • Run volume rose 64% in three years (367 calls in 2021 → 603 in 2024), with daytime staffing gaps and volunteer burnout cited by leadership. Firehouse
  • Council trimmed lower-acuity medical responses, approved up to 8 part-time firefighters in October, and is debating long-term staffing and budget models as growth accelerates. Firehouse
  • Recent incidents highlight constraints, including a mobile-home community fire where limited hydrants forced tanker shuttles and a firefighter was shocked (non-life-threatening). CBS News+1
  • City documents show a 5-year staffing plan (2025–2030) under discussion as Dayton plans for rapid population growth. Dayton+1

DAYTON, Minn. — The Dayton Fire Department is pushing for new resources and a structured staffing plan as call volumes climb with the city’s rapid growth, but a divided City Council this month canceled a $2.5 million ladder truck order, opting to study used alternatives and rely on mutual aid for aerial coverage in the meantime. Firehouse

In an interview carried by Firehouse from the Star Tribune, Fire Chief Gary Hendrickson said newer multistory apartments and large industrial warehouses require aerial capability the city doesn’t currently field. The ladder truck had been approved by the prior council; the reversal, firefighters said, follows a year of friction over budgets, operations and staffing. Firehouse

Department data show 367 calls in 2021 rising to 603 in 2024, stressing an on-call roster that struggles to assemble crews during weekday daytime hours when many volunteers are at work. City leaders have debated how to reduce burnout while keeping service levels acceptable for a fast-growing community. Firehouse

In recent months the council reduced responses to lower-level medical calls, approved hiring up to eight part-time firefighters on a split vote, and raised firefighter pay, while also questioning whether large capital purchases—like a new aerial—should wait. The mayor has urged a harder look at costs as the city juggles multiple priorities. Firehouse

Operational strains surfaced in September, when a fire in a mobile-home community required extensive water shuttlesbecause hydrants were sparse; more than a dozen mutual-aid companies assisted and one firefighter suffered an electrical shock and recovered. City documents indicate a five-year staffing model and additional equipment needs are under review. CBS News+2KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News+2

The growth pressures are real: regional planners and local media have flagged Dayton among the region’s fastest-growing cities, with infrastructure, public safety and staffing trying to keep pace. City officials say they want a durable plan that matches service levels to tax impacts as development continues along the Interstate 94 corridor. KARE 11+1

For now, the department continues to pursue duty-crew coverage and incremental staffing while relying on mutual aid for aerials. Firefighters and officials say they hope to lower the temperature of the debate and settle on a long-term path that supports both response reliability and fiscal constraints. Firehouse

Police Report Multiple Victims in Active Shooter Incident at Brown University; Manhunt Continues

FHD Staff
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Police Report Multiple Victims in Active Shooter Incident at Brown University; Manhunt Continues

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing

  • Providence, R.I. — Police say 2 people were killed and 8–9 others wounded in a Dec. 13 shooting centered on Brown University’s Barus & Holley engineering complex. firerescue1.com
  • Manhunt ongoing: Authorities released new photos/video of a person of interest and the FBI offered up to $50,000 for tips; a man briefly detained was released. ABC News+2ABC6+2
  • Campus/community were ordered to shelter in place for hours as multi-agency units searched buildings and nearby streets. firerescue1.com
  • Officials said victims were transported in critical but stable condition; finals were disrupted and security remains heightened. firerescue1.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Police and federal agents continued to search for the gunman who opened fire near Brown University’s Barus & Holley building on Saturday, killing two people and wounding at least eight others, authorities said. Students and staff were ordered to shelter in place for hours as tactical teams swept academic buildings and surrounding neighborhoods. firerescue1.com

The shooting unfolded on the second day of finals in and around Brown’s engineering complex, where classrooms and labs were occupied, according to university and city statements. Initial alerts warned of an active shooter and advised people to lock doors and avoid the area. By evening, officials said victims were transported with injuries described as critical but stable. firerescue1.com

On Sunday and Monday, investigators released surveillance images and video of a person of interest and asked the public for help. The FBI announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction, noting the individual should be considered armed and dangerous. A person questioned earlier was released, and the search remains active with no suspect in custody, officials said. ABC News+2ABC6+2

Brown University extended safety measures and urged continued vigilance as Providence Police, the FBI, and state partners process evidence and canvass for additional video. Authorities have not released a motive and did not immediately identify the deceased. ABC News

This is a developing story. Details may change as authorities release confirmed information.

San Francisco Fire Dept. Goes All-In on PFAS-Free Turnouts, Citing Health Gains and New Tech

FHD Staff
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San Francisco Fire Dept. Goes All-In on PFAS-Free Turnouts, Citing Health Gains and New Tech

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing

  • San Francisco — SFFD is switching its entire frontline to PFAS-free turnout gear, becoming the largest U.S. department to fully transition. firerescue1.com+1
  • Funded by a $2.35M FEMA AFG grant plus city match; ~1,100 sets for every suppression member by Dec. 31, 2025. firerescue1.com
  • Gear uses Milliken Assure moisture barrier and Fire-Dex ensemble; UL-certified to NFPA standards. firerescue1.com+1
  • Move accelerates a May 2024 city PFAS ban on turnout gear requiring full replacement by June 30, 2026. firerescue1.com+1
  • Department ran a 90-day wear trial with 50 firefighters before selecting the package. firerescue1.com

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Fire Department is outfitting every frontline firefighter with PFAS-free turnout gear by year’s end, a shift city leaders say makes SFFD the largest department in the country to complete a full transition away from fluorinated “forever chemicals.” The rollout pairs a $2.35 million FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grantwith matching city funds and covers about 1,100 sets of gear—one per suppression member. firerescue1.com+1

SFFD selected a system built around Milliken’s Assure moisture barrier—introduced in late 2024—and a Fire-Dexensemble. Officials said the barrier’s arrival closed a long-standing technical gap and enabled a fully non-PFAS solution that still meets rigorous performance requirements. The department reports the gear is UL-certified, meeting legacy NFPA 1971 (2018) benchmarks and the updated NFPA 1970-2025 standard. firerescue1.com+1

The move accelerates San Francisco’s May 2024 ordinance—the first of its kind nationally—banning PFAS in firefighter turnout gear by June 30, 2026. To validate performance before committing citywide, SFFD conducted a 90-day wear trial with 50 firefighters in live-fire training prior to procurement. firerescue1.com+1

Fire Chief Dean Crispen framed the transition as a health and readiness investment, citing the department’s elevated cancer risk profile and years of advocacy from labor and cancer-prevention groups. Local coverage highlighted the city’s cancer-screening initiatives and the push to align protective equipment with evolving toxic-exposure science. San Francisco Chronicle

Vendors and city officials said the transition demonstrates that PFAS-free does not require a trade-off in protection or breathability—an issue that persisted until a compliant moisture barrier was available. Product literature notes that Assure is non-PFAS, non-halogenated and designed to meet or exceed certification thresholds. Fire Apparatus+1

Editor’s note: The city says all frontline sets will be in service by Dec. 31, 2025, well ahead of the ordinance deadline.firerescue1.com

Report: Landlord Transferred West Philly Complex Two Days Before Arson Fire Gutted Building

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Report: Landlord Transferred West Philly Complex Two Days Before Arson Fire Gutted Building

A symbol of urban renewal in Philadelphia burned in an arson fire two days after the landlord turned over the building.

PHILADELPHIA — Two days before a four-alarm blaze gutted the vacant Admiral Court apartments at 48th and Locust Streets, the property’s owner, Philadelphia landlord Phil Pulley, signed a deed transferring the complex to a New York investment firm now demolishing the site, according to a report. Federal investigators have ruled the June fire intentionally set and are continuing the arson probe. Firehouse

Property records cited in the report identify the new owner as Aureus Special Asset Management, an entity linked to overseas investors. Crews began teardown last week after the firm obtained a city demolition permit this month. Firehouse

Pulley, who faced a $29.4 million foreclosure tied to stalled redevelopment plans at Admiral Court and the neighboring Dorsett Court, agreed to transfer both properties to lenders; he signed Admiral Court’s deed on June 5. The fire broke out less than 48 hours later, drawing more than 150 firefighters and knocking out power to about 750 nearby residents. No injuries were reported. Firehouse

The ATF, working with Philadelphia police and fire investigators, said the incident was an “intentionally set incendiary fire.” A spokesperson declined to provide further details while the investigation remains active. Firehouse

City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier criticized Pulley’s stewardship of the long-vacant buildings—cleared of tenants in 2018—and raised concerns that a lack of transparency around the new ownership could compound blight after demolition. Pulley did not respond to requests for comment; an individual at a related New York office declined to comment. Firehouse

Admiral Court, once promoted as a symbol of urban renewal, had racked up dozens of code citations in recent years, including fire code violations, as Pulley’s portfolio drew mounting legal and financial scrutiny. Separate city actions and state consumer-protection litigation remain pending, the report said. Firehouse

This story will be updated as investigators release additional information.

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