Fire Law Blog

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for October 6, 2025, Brad and Curt discuss a defamation suit filed by two fire captains with the Youngstown Fire Department against the city’s mayor; a wrongful death suit against the Barstow Fire Department and others alleging negligence in the death of a fire captain; a lawsuit filed …

Two captains with the Youngstown Fire Department have filed a defamation lawsuit against Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, alleging that public comments he made to the press falsely portrayed them as racists and damaged their reputations.

The family of Barstow Fire Captain Garret Miller has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Barstow Fire Department, Barstow Community Hospital, Mercy Air Medical Transport (Air Methods), and others, alleging negligence in the events that led to his death last October.

A coalition of cities, counties, and fire agencies from across California, Washington, and Arizona has filed suit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, challenging new requirements tied to federal disaster preparedness and emergency management grants.

As if yesterday’s story about the sexual misconduct hazing incident in FDNY was not enough, two more stories are in the news today, one in Maryland, the other in Connecticut. In Montgomery County, Maryland, two firefighters have been charged with intentionally flooding a baseball field.

FDNY has suspended several members and opened an investigation after two videos showing apparent hazing of newly graduated firefighters were shared with the New York Daily News. According to reporting, one video—said to have been recorded at Engine 38/Ladder 51 in the Bronx—shows 3 firefighters doing pushups while repeatedly smashing their faces into cakes on the floor as an off-camera voice counts.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for September 29, 2025, Brad and Curt discuss a suit against Jacksonville Fire & Rescue alleging disability discrimination for failing to accommodate a firefighter’s ADHD during a promotional process; the release of an Oregon firefighter from ICE detention after he was arrested at the scene of a wildland …

A Jacksonville firefighter has filed suit against the City of Jacksonville alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA) for failure to accommodate his disability during a promotional examination.

An Oregon firefighter who was detained by immigration authorities while on assignment has been released following the filing of a federal lawsuit. Rigoberto Hernandez Hernandez, an Oregon firefighter, was detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents while assigned to the Bear Gulch Fire in Washington State. At the time he worked for a private sector wildland fire contractor.

A former firefighter has filed suit in federal court against the Fishers Fire Department alleging race, sex, and disability discrimination, as well as retaliation. The case was filed on September 24, 2025 by Lauren Gray, who joined the department in June 2022 as its first African American female firefighter

A former Clark County, Nevada firefighter who was charged last year with possessing child sexual-abuse material is now facing a second set of charges. Isiah Tureaud was arrested in January 2024 after a phone containing illicit images was discovered in his bunk at the firehouse.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan has denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit by former fire chief, Ronald Lammers, against the City of Riverview and its city manager. Chief Lammers was summarily terminated shortly after he objected to the elimination of his deputy chief.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for September 22, 2025, Brad and Curt discuss the resignation of an FDNY assistant commissioner over a team-building exercise for aspiring firefighters that was racially insensitive; a video of Senator Hawley questioning apparatus manufacturers accused of price gouging; a lawsuit filed by a Toledo fire captain alleging race …

An incident at a Brooklyn high school set in motion a chain of events that led to the resignation of Michele Maglione, Assistant Commissioner of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), and head of its Youth Workforce Development division.

Just in case you missed Senator Hawley’s questioning of apparatus manufacturers: Update: For those interested, here is a longer version:

A captain with the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department, has filed suit alleging racial and gender discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The complaint, filed September 18, 2025 in the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, names the City of Toledo, three chiefs, one captain, four lieutenants, and a firefighter as defendants.

Cleveland Fire Chief Anthony P. Luke has been placed on paid administrative leave following a social media post about the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. The action was announced this week by city officials after the post drew widespread attention.

A federal magistrate judge has recommended dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a longtime Graham, North Carolina firefighter who claimed he was wrongfully terminated due to age discrimination, retaliation, and other alleged violations.

The New York State Division of Human Rights has dismissed a complaint filed by former Patterson Fire Department #1 member who alleged that the department and several of its officers subjected her to unlawful discrimination and retaliation.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for September 15, 2025, Brad and Curt discuss a wave of disciplinary investigations into social media postings by firefighters about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025; a ruling in a disability discrimination case out of New Hampshire allowing a case to proceed …