Sept. 02--ENTERPRISE -- Mike Moore of Joseph was arrested Aug. 16 and charged with first-degree theft and theft by deception while serving as the secretary/treasurer of the Joseph Fire Department.

Moore had served on the department as a firefighter for four years and as secretary/treasurer for two, Fire Chief Tom Clevenger said.

Sept. 02--Alameda city officials have placed Fire Chief Dave Kapler on administrative leave amid allegations that he inappropriately used the fire department's gas pumps to fuel his personal vehicles.

Kapler was placed on leave as of Thursday morning, Mayor Beverly Johnson said.

Interim City Manager Ann Marie Gallant offered no reason for pulling Kapler off duty when she announced her decision, Johnson said.

The mayor gave no other details about the move, saying it was a personnel issue.

Kansas City's fire chief said he's concerned about a new public awareness program known as Safe Haven.

The public service announcement for Safe Haven will be hitting the airwaves soon, showing places a parent can leave a newborn child if they can't care for it. Signs went up this week at Leawood Firehouse No. 3 at 148th Street and Mission Road, telling the public that babies can only be left with staff.

"If it saves a life, it's a positive thing," said Leawood Chief Ben Florence.

Aug. 27--STOCKTON -- San Joaquin County officials warned the city of Stockton on Thursday afternoon that its firefighters would be forbidden from working as paramedics after Wednesday if it had not reached an agreement with the county by then.

"You don't get to hang out a shingle and say 'I'm a paramedic and I'm going to work today,' " Emergency Medical Services Administrator Dan Burch said. "It's akin to having a driver's license: I might be able to drive a car perfectly fine, but the law says you have to have a license."

Newcastle Fire Chief Calvin Daigle will keep his job -- at least for now.

After a heated, three-hour meeting of the Young County Rural Volunteer Fire Department Board of Directors on Monday, the board voted to issue a "final warning" to Daigle over a variety of allegations.

During the meeting, the board discussed four allegations:

The Newcastle Fire Department's bylaws were not in conjunction with the county fire department bylaws;

Daigle lied to the county board;

Everyone reading this text belongs to an organization: In some case more than one organization. So that we will not diffuse our focus, let's all concentrate on the one type of organization where we have a common interest, the fire department.
 
As the member of a fire service organization, you will continually be subjected to the influences created by the three major elements of any organization. These are:
 

Aug. 25--WEBSTER -- The Rostraver Township commissioners may have voted to decertify the Rostraver Volunteer Fire Department No. 1, but the Webster-based department isn't going away without a fight.

The department's officers told a crowd of approximately 50 residents at an open meeting Tuesday night that they are looking for an attorney and promised to take legal action in an effort to stay in business.

HOUSTON

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A longtime Arizona firefighter is taking the reins as the new Houston fire chief, Local 2 Investigates reported Tuesday.

The Houston Fire Department's top job is going to Terry Garrison, who spent most of his career as an assistant chief with the Phoenix Fire Department.

Garrison left that position to become fire chief in Oceanside, Calif., and then joined the Daisy Mountain, Ariz., fire department in March, moving into the interim chief's position earlier this month when that town's fire chief died.

On this edition of "The Leader's Toolbox," host Dr. Richard B. Gasaway chats with FDNY Battalion Chief John Salka on the topic of company officer leadership.

John shares his wisdom based on his 30 years of experience in some of the busiest companies in New York City. John talks about essential qualities of leadership, how to develop future leaders and some of the mistakes that leaders make.

He also shares how his own career was impacted by good and bad role models and tips for our listeners on becoming a trusted leader.

Aug. 22--BRODHEAD -- Brodhead's embattled fire chief said he hopes to get all members of the city's divided fire department "on the same page."

The volunteers need to work together and accept the way he runs the department, Chief Jay Bohan said.

"I think after we get all this put to bed, I think it will be a much stronger organization, and we'll see who wants to be a part of it," he said.