In March, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said hazard pay for first responders could be considered for future legislation to address the COVID-19 national emergency. As federal officials continue working to implement the third COVID-19 stimulus package, several local governments have already passed their own legislation to provide hazard pay and stipends for first responders and other front-line workers. […]
The Iowa Professional Fire Fighters union is calling on Gov. Kim Reynolds to issue guidance requiring cities to cover medical costs for emergency first responders who contract the coronavirus. “We obviously are required to respond in emergencies and interact with people,” union president Doug Neys told the Des Moines Register. “And even with all the precautions […]
Just 2% of the inmates in federal prisons have been tested for the coronavirus. But 71% of them tested positive, the Wall Street Journal reports—at least 1,928 inmates out of 153,000. Corrections officials expect the number of cases to climb as testing expands. The difficulties in preventing the coronavirus from spreading in prisons are unique; guidelines on […]
WASHINGTON, DC — Nine more D.C. Fire and EMS members tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday, the fire department says. The total number of firefighter staff who have tested positive is now at 95 within the department. Of the 95 members, 57 have recovered and returned to full-duty. The nine new cases are home on self-quarantine […]
PORT RICHEY, FL — The chief never thought it would end this way. Gerard DeCanio spent half a century in policing and firefighting. In late 2016, he became chief of the Port Richey Police Department, one last stop before retirement. That is where his career ended — but not on his terms. The police chief […]
FDNY fire inspectors, already steamed over low pay, are now fuming over a lack of protective gear during the coronavirus pandemic, a new lawsuit charges. The class action case filed Friday in Manhattan Federal Court claims that the low salaries of fire protection inspectors compared to building inspectors is another example of the “long history […]
