The holiday season is a time when fire departments often experience an increase in accidental fires due to candles, electrical problems, drying live Christmas trees and misuse of space heaters as temperatures begin to plummet. ...more

December 3, 2008

A husband and wife escaped unharmed but were left homeless Friday night when fire swept through and destroyed their two-story home at 2995 W. Shula Road in the Highlands Lake Fire District. ...more

November 1, 2008

It is not known whether there will even be a Spring Hill Fire Rescue Board beyond this year. ...more

October 26, 2008

Vote 'No' On Independence Sorry, Bill, but your arguments just won't wash. You say you want what you pay for: We Spring Hill residents paid $650,000 (that's almost three quarters of a million dollars) for a 100-foot ladder truck! Considering that the tallest buildings here are less than 60 feet tall, it doesn't make any sense. ...more

October 8, 2008

The city is one step closer to charging insurance companies - or uninsured out-of-towners - for services provided when the police and fire departments respond to a car wreck or house fire. ...more

September 17, 2008

Could recover $150,000 a year, official says. ...more

September 17, 2008

For volunteer firefighters, this was the Holy Grail. To stay under the smoke, kneel when entering the door of a burning home. Follow the hose in, remain with the three-man team, and make sure all three come out. ...more

September 15, 2008

Every month firefighters from six North Pinellas fire departments pose a frightening scenario and then practice rescuing people and pets from the mock danger. ...more

August 30, 2008

One of the perks of being a reporter is access to new experiences. When Palm Harbor Fire Rescue spokeswoman Elizabeth Montforti invited local journalists to join North Pinellas firefighters while they practice their water rescue techniques, it was like getting an unexpected bonus. ...more

August 30, 2008

It wasn't a person drowning in the driver's seat of a car at the bottom of a retention pond. It was a dummy strapped into a contraption made of PVC pipe and construction mesh at the bottom of a swimming pool. ...more

August 27, 2008