A story that came across the wires the other day caught my eye.

It seems that a relatively routine auto fire in Friday Harbor, WA turned into a major event in which the chief of the department was suspended after some of the department's members sent a letter of no confidence to the town administrators, and then abruptly resigned. The primary reason? The chief allowed safety shortcuts to exist in the department.

Sept. 02--As Hurricane Earl makes its approach, the greatest concern is public safety both during and after the storm.

While Earl threatens to merely brush Craven County, first responders prepare for the most precarious of situations involving people and property.

"There's a wide range of things that could happen with a storm," said Township 9 Fire Chief Jonathon Gaskins.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

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A firefighter was taken to a hospital after battling a fire at a Nashville home.

The South Harpeth Road house caught fire late Wednesday morning, according to the Nashville Fire Department. The home is a total loss.

The firefighter, whose name wasn't immediately released, was transported to Vanderbilt. He had minor injuries but will recover, the department said.

WELLESLEY, Mass. --

Crews battled a three-alarm fire in Wellesley early Wednesday.

The fire broke out at 41 Kimlo Road in Wellesley early Wednesday.

The homeowner was able to get out OK, but several firefighters suffered minor injuries.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Route 9 east was closed for a time as crews battled the fire.

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Sept. 01--BELFAIR -- Backed by the Mason County Fire Marshal, firefighters in Belfair are currently removing about 50 locks from fire hydrants.

The locks were installed about a month ago by the Belfair Water District as a way to curb water theft. But crews with Belfair-based Mason County Fire District 2 -- who've had to cut the locks in responding to recent fire -- felt that they were a serious safety hazard.

COLUMBIA, Tenn.

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Rescue teams pulled off a tricky and dangerous rescue. But after they saved a man from a grain silo, he disappeared.

Emergency workers spent more than an hour Monday at the silo on Hayes Denton Road in Columbia. They had to lower a harness into the silo, and with a firefighter in there to help, the man was pulled to safety.

But as soon as he was on the ground, he took off.

Authorities didn't get his name and don't know how he became trapped.

Five firefighters were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

Each year, safety professionals are required to complete a defined number of activities, such as training courses, giving technical presentations, performing various workshops, etc. The objective is professional growth. For those of us responsible for fire department safety initiatives, we must keep current and understand not only what is occurring, but what the future may hold.

MILWAUKEE --

Four Milwaukee firefighters were injured while battling a fire at an apartment building at 95th Street and Brown Deer Road early Monday afternoon.

95th and Brown Deer Road - The fire started in the middle of the building, according to the Milwaukee Fire Department.

Extra units were called, and the fire was raised to a second alarm because officials wanted to make sure the flames didn't spread to other apartments, the Fire Department said.

SOMERSWORTH, N.H. --

Somersworth firefighters had to evacuate their own station when a work crew hit a gas main on Monday.

Fire officials said the town crew working on a water line on Maple Street hit the gas main just after 1:15 p.m. The fire station and two adjacent elderly housing complexes were evacuated.

The leak was capped about a half-hour later, and there were no injuries, fire officials said.