Fire Law Blog

A Spencerport, New York firefighter has been charged with animal cruelty following a failed attempt to rescue a cat from a tree that resulted in the animal’s death. Firefighters were dispatched to assist with a cat that had become stranded in a tree.

A Louisiana appellate court has affirmed a Civil Service Commission decision overturning the suspension of a New Orleans firefighter, finding the discipline was procedurally defective under the state’s Fire Service Bill of Rights.

A reporter has filed suit against an Oregon Fire District and four members of its governing board accusing them of repeatedly failing to make board meeting minutes available to the public within a reasonable time, in violation of Oregon’s Public Meetings Law.

A former Seattle firefighter recruit has filed suit against the City of Seattle, alleging the Seattle Fire Department forced him to resign after he suffered an injury during recruit training rather than allowing him to recover and return to the academy.

A fatal incident involving a West Virginia ambulance crew is drawing scrutiny after surveillance video surfaced that appears to contradict the initial account provided by EMS personnel. The incident occurred on April 16, 2026, in Elkview, WV, involving two employees of the Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for April 27, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss a decision clearing a Kansas paramedic of wrongdoing for using EMS equipment in an attempt to save a fallen sheriff’s K-9; criminal charges brought against a Portland (OR) firefighter who uploaded and downloaded child porn from the firehouse; the settlement …

The Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services has ruled that a Sedgwick County paramedic will not face punishment for using EMS equipment in an attempt to save a fallen sheriff’s K-9. The matter arose from the November 2023 death of K-9 Bane, a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office police dog that was fatally injured.

A firefighter with Portland Fire & Rescue has been charged after investigators traced uploads of child sexual abuse material to an IP address assigned to a Portland fire station. The investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a report from an online platform concerning illegal content uploads.

A firefighter with Portland Fire & Rescue has been charged after investigators traced uploads of child sexual abuse material to an IP address assigned to a Portland fire station. The investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a report from an online platform concerning illegal content uploads.

Here is the handout with the data from my FDIC presentation: What is our biggest liability?

Here is the handout with the data from my FDIC presentation: What is our biggest liability?

The City of Lansing has settled the gender discrimination lawsuit brought by Firefighter/Paramedic Cecilia Major over allegations that she was singled out and repeatedly questioned about wearing a bra while on duty. Under the settlement, Lansing agreed to pay Major $325,000, with approximately $210,000 going directly to her and the balance covering attorney’s fees and related costs.

The City of Lansing has settled the gender discrimination lawsuit brought by Firefighter/Paramedic Cecilia Major over allegations that she was singled out and repeatedly questioned about wearing a bra while on duty. Under the settlement, Lansing agreed to pay Major $325,000, with approximately $210,000 going directly to her and the balance covering attorney’s fees and related costs.

A Georgia firefighter has filed suit in federal court alleging that the discipline imposed on him after reporting a workplace violence incident was racially discriminatory and part of a hostile work environment that ultimately forced his resignation.

A Georgia firefighter has filed suit in federal court alleging that the discipline imposed on him after reporting a workplace violence incident was racially discriminatory and part of a hostile work environment that ultimately forced his resignation.

The City of Dallas has filed suit against a former Dallas Fire-Rescue recruit, alleging that he continued to receive pay and benefits for approximately twenty months after resigning, resulting in an overpayment of $127,441.34.

The City of Dallas has filed suit against a former Dallas Fire-Rescue recruit, alleging that he continued to receive pay and benefits for approximately twenty months after resigning, resulting in an overpayment of $127,441.34.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for April 20, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss the filing of another lawsuit against Shreveport over a fatal fire in 2025; a Louisiana appellate decision granting immunity to the Kenner Fire Department over an apparatus accident; the filing of arson and murder charges against an Ohio volunteer firefighter; …

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for April 20, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss the filing of another lawsuit against Shreveport over a fatal fire in 2025; a Louisiana appellate decision granting immunity to the Kenner Fire Department over an apparatus accident; the filing of arson and murder charges against an Ohio volunteer firefighter; …

A third lawsuit has now been filed against the City of Shreveport and the Shreveport Fire Department arising out of the April 6, 2025 fatal fire on Kemp Lane that claimed the lives of Mildred Carter-Rawls and her two granddaughters.