Fire Law Blog

The City of Pawtucket has reinstated four firefighters who were terminated last year following an investigation into allegations involving marijuana use, purchase, and sales among department personnel. Ten firefighters ultimately left the department as a result of the investigation.

An Oregon journalist who filed a lawsuit two weeks ago alleging a small fire district in Central Oregon violated the state’s public meetings law, has now filed a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging the district and several of its officials violated his First Amendment rights.

The City of Buffalo has agreed to pay nearly $6 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit arising out of the March 1, 2023 fire that claimed the life of Buffalo Firefighter Jason Arno. The settlement was announced just before a jury trial was scheduled to begin in New York State Supreme Court.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 11, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss a suit filed by a former Texas chief against the city, elected official and the union following the dismissal of criminal charges that led to his ouster; a civil suit brought by the family of a deceased patient over photos …

A former Texas fire chief who was acquitted on some criminal charges and had others dismissed has filed suit against the City of Brownsville, its current fire chief, two former city commissioners, and the Brownsville Firefighters Association Local 970, alleging he was targeted for refusing to participate in improper political conduct.

The family of a gravely injured North Carolina patient has filed suit against Onslow County and a former EMT, alleging the EMT photographed the patient at the scene of a medical emergency and shared the images with others inside the county’s EMS department.

Freddy Escobar, President of United Firefighters of Los Angeles, IAFF Local 112, and a Captain with the Los Angeles Fire Department, has filed suit in federal court against the City of Los Angeles and Mayor Karen Bass, alleging retaliation for his public criticism of the City’s handling and funding of the fire department before and after the January 2025 Palisades Fire.

A federal court in Alabama has dismissed part of a Birmingham firefighter’s ADA lawsuit against the city, while allowing portions of the case to proceed. The suit was brought by Birmingham Firefighter Herman Walker, who alleges the city failed to accommodate his mental health conditions and retaliated against him after he sought transfers away from stations with high levels of violent calls.

A Washington state firefighter has filed suit against her former department alleging a longstanding pattern of sexual harassment, retaliation, and a workplace culture hostile to women. Sheena Radder alleges she was subjected to ongoing sexual harassment by supervisors and coworkers when she served with Whatcom County Fire District No. 7.

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for May 4, 2026, Brad and Curt discuss animal cruelty charges brought against an upstate New York firefighter who used a hose line to dislodge a cat from a tree; an appellate ruling that by violating the Louisiana Fire Service Bill of Rights the New Orleans Fire Department …

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?