Los Angeles Fire Department received an Award of Excellence star adjacent to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The honor follows a suggestion from a 14-year-old student and recognizes the department’s efforts during the Palisades fire.
Congrats, LAFD! 🥳⭐🚒 Following through on a suggestion by a 14-year-old girl, the Los Angeles Fire Department was honored with an Award of Excellence star adjacent to the Hollywood Walk of Fame Friday, recognizing the agency’s bravery and public service battling the Palisades https://t.co/wBoWqfwiS4
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) December 13, 2025
Oshkosh Fire Department mourns the death of firefighter Tom Diebenkow, who died in a crash on an Indiana highway. Two other colleagues were injured while traveling for work.
Volunteer fire departments face recruitment challenges, leading to concerns about an aging workforce and response capabilities in regions like Sayre, Pennsylvania.
Texas A&M Forest Service awarded 17 million dollars to fire departments to support operations.
A top-ranking official in the Philadelphia Fire Department was demoted amid a sexual harassment investigation. Former Deputy Commissioner Anthony Hudgins was reassigned.
Oak Forest firefighters in Illinois are stretched thin, with calls for Tier 2 staffing fixes to maintain ranks. Suburban departments require firefighters to also serve as paramedics, straining resources.
I support 1st responders. Part of the problem is that most suburbs require that firefighters be paramedics as well. Not all can do both
Op-Ed: Oak Forest Firefighters Are Stretched Thin. Tier 2 Fix Needed to Keep Ranks Strong | Oak Forest, IL Patch https://t.co/fUAwkXrBHE
— Don Synowiec (@DonSynowiec) December 13, 2025
Efforts continue to address wildland firefighting safety, with a NASA contract awarded for research into improved protective gear.
Why the fuck is NASA involved with this? STOP and let @USWFS Chief Fennessy make these decisions!
Quest for ‘Holy Grail’ of wildland firefighting safety awarded NASA contract https://t.co/PIOjkLV9EP
— Phil Hardy (@EsqHardy) December 13, 2025
High-rise firefighting training programs highlight operations including standpipe scenarios, lithium-ion battery fires, and electric vehicle challenges.
Key Highlights: November 9-13, 2026
• Research-driven WET & DRY scenario rotations
• Improvised standpipe operations, lithium-ion, and EV challenges
• Timed task evaluations across 12 critical high-rise operations
• Full-day working group analysis https://t.co/Dle0Stoqdq— HighRiseFirefighting (@HighRiseUnit) December 13, 2025
