Free Republic

President Donald J. Trump declared an end to lower standards in the name of discriminatory “diversity, equity, and inclusion” initiatives — and the Trump Administration continues to make good on that commitment to prioritize merit, not divisive race-based obsessions, in hiring.Yesterday, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed several Biden-era lawsuits against police and fire departments who used race-neutral mechanisms — such as standard aptitude tests, physical exams, and credit checks — in their hiring processes, the result of which lowered standards and endangered public safety.DISMISSED: United States v. City of Durham (North Carolina)The Biden DOJ...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration shut down a highly trained, all-volunteer team of certified firefighters in early 2024—a move that rendered the California National Guard incapable of sending a complete firefighting force to Los Angeles until 10 days after the deadly fires broke out in the city, the Washington Free Beacon has learned. Launched in 2020, Team Blaze was an on-call strike force staffed entirely with certified firefighters of the California State Guard, a volunteer militia force that reports directly to Gov. Gavin Newsom. Former State Guard commanding general Jay Coggan said its members attended regular trainings at their own...

Dustin Nehl was previously convicted of arson in Woodburn; Jennifer Nehl was highlighted by federal NOAA for climate education for incarcerated youth in 2023 ... An Oregon couple was arrested Sunday for impersonating firefighters in the area burned by the Pacific Palisades near Los Angeles, California... the couple as Dustin Nehl, 31, and Jennifer Nehl, 44. Mr. Nehl’s social media accounts say he lives in Woodburn, Oregon; Mrs. Nehl’s say she lives in Jefferson or Scio, Oregon. The couple allegedly drove a full-size firetruck emblazoned with “Roaring River Fire” into the recently burned area, claiming they were volunteer firefighters. Police...

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – A man and a woman from Oregon were arrested over the weekend for reportedly impersonating firefighters as they attempted to enter a Palisades Fire evacuation zone in what appeared to be a legitimate fire engine, officials announced Sunday. In a news release, officials with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department said the suspects, identified as 31-year-old Dustin Nehl and 44-year-old Jennifer Nehl, were spotted by LAPD patrol officers on Jan. 18. Not believing the fire truck was legitimate, police relayed the information to sheriff’s deputies, who caught up to the suspects. LASD said that when they contacted...

A group of California firefighters stopped a looter from robbing a burned-down house and jetting off with an Emmy Award that had miraculously survived the fiery carnage of the Eaton Fire. Smoke eaters with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were working in a burned-down Altadena neighborhood on Thursday when they came across two suspicious people who were leaving one of the properties. One of the firefighters confronted a woman – wearing a dark sweatshirt and skirt over sweatpants – carrying possessions from the home including the prestigious award. ... No way, you are not doing this,” the first responder...

Amazing Firefighters. Thank You.

Desperate one-percenters are dropping small fortunes on private professional fire crews to protect their mansions as California’s most expensive wildfires continue to devour some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Private fire protection companies often contract with state and local governments to help battle wildfires, but in recent years California’s fire firms have begun offering “on call” services, ready to to show up with their own water supplies, trucks, hoses, fire-quenching chemicals, and other industrial-grade equipment. But these heroes-for-hire come with a hefty price tag, with some outfits charging $2,000 an hour for their services, the Daily Mail reported....

When devastating wildfires erupted across Los Angeles County this week, David Torgerson’s team of firefighters went to work. The thousands of city, county and state firefighters dispatched to battle the blazes went wherever they were needed. The crews from Torgerson’s Wildfire Defense Systems, however, set out for particular addresses. Armed with hoses, fire-blocking gel and their own water supply, the Montana-based outfit contracts with insurance companies to defend the homes of customers who buy policies that include their services. It’s a win-win if the private firefighters succeed in saving a home, said Torgerson, the company’s founder and executive chairman. The...

Two looters were arrested recently after they dressed as firefighters and entered local homes vacated in the Palisades Fire, according to information given by the Los Angeles Police Department to community members Saturday evening. Police have arrested dozens of would-be looters who have targeted the affluent Pacific Palisades, devastated by the fire that raged last week. Many neighborhoods were destroyed, but some homes remain intact — enticing looters. The police said that in addition to twenty looters who had been arrested in the first days of the fire, seven looters had been arrested more recently. Some 400 officers were assigned...

LOS ANGELES — Adam Leber was nodding off in his Hollywood Hills mansion late Wednesday night when his housekeeper jolted him awake with an urgent message: There’s a fire at the door. Leber — a talent manager whose clients have included Miley Cyrus and Lil Nas X — opened his door and looked. Sure enough, “The entire hillside was on fire,” he said. “It was insane.” Orange-red flames sprung up everywhere, spitting embers dangerously close. Without thinking, he and his wife scooped up their dogs and 3-year-old daughter, threw some belongings in their car and drove east, to take refuge...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) revealed that firefighters from Mexico were coming to assist with the ongoing Eaton Fire. In a post on X, Newsom expressed gratefulness for Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s “support” as California officials “work to suppress the Los Angeles wildfires.” Newsom has received criticism from California residents who have demanded to know what he is going to do in response to the wildfires. Newsom added that the firefighters coming from Mexico would be “joining more than 10,000 personnel already on the ground.” “Firefighters from Mexico are en route to the #EatonFire — joining more than 10,000 personnel...

California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his gratitude to the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum. This is for the support provided in the face of the devastating wildfires that affect Los Angeles County and other areas of the southern part of the state. Newsom highlighted Mexico's collaboration on social networks, El Universal declared. The governor ended by noting that Mexican firefighters are already on their way to join the more than 10,000 fighters facing the flames in the Eaton Fire.

Nearly 200 New York firefighters are battling a massive five-alarm blaze at a Bronx apartment building Friday morning that has left at least seven people injured. The FDNY responded to the huge blaze at a six-story residential building at 2910 Wallace Ave. in the East Bronx around 1:40 a.m., fire officials said — with alarming video showing the building engulfed with flames billowing from the roof. Within an hour, “heavy wind conditions” elevated the fire to five alarms — the highest alarm level indicating a severe fire, according to the FDNY.

LA officials say they do not have enough firefighters… they literally TERMINATED firefighters for not taking a COVID vax ... Let me get this straight. • California is burning. • All of its fire chiefs were selected based on their LGBTQ status. • Gavin Newsom spent all of the state’s fire resources on illegals. • He hasn’t called in the National Guard. • The LA Mayor is nowhere to be found. Gross incompetence. Gross mismanagement. ... First rule of Government You do not tell the truth about government ... In 2020 Janice Hahn worked overtime to fire the firefighters that...

PHILADELPHIA — Sirens are sounding for Sen. Bob Casey’s campaign in Pennsylvania, where the firefighters’ union in deep-blue Philly is ditching the incumbent Democrat and endorsing GOP Senate hopeful Dave McCormick instead. The union, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 22, is based in the city’s industrial Northern Liberties neighborhood and represents more than 4,500 firefighters, paramedics and EMTs. Union leaders announced the nod at a press conference with McCormick Wednesday, and explained their decision not to back Casey after endorsing him in his three previous bids for Senate. “Our endorsement decision wasn’t made lightly,” said Local 22 President Mike...

Mike Bresnan, the president of the Philadelphia Firefighers’ & Paramedics’ Union Local 22, said in a written statement, “We’re proud to endorse Dave McCormick for U.S. Senate because Pennsylvanians are desperate for new leadership. After meeting with both candidates, we feel that McCormick understands the challenges first responders are facing and will support policies that make our lives better and the city of Philadelphia safer.”

The Philadelphia Firefighters’ & Paramedics’ Union Local 22 endorsed Pennsylvania Senate Republican candidate Dave McCormick on Thursday. Mike Bresnan, the president of the Philadelphia Firefighers’ & Paramedics’ Union Local 22, said in a written statement, “We’re proud to endorse Dave McCormick for U.S. Senate because Pennsylvanians are desperate for new leadership. After meeting with both candidates, we feel that McCormick understands the challenges first responders are facing and will support policies that make our lives better and the city of Philadelphia safer.” McCormick said in a statement that Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), whom he aims to oust this November, has...

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it took the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) 50,000 gallons of water to extinguish the flames sparked from an electric Tesla Semi crash. The NTSB is investigating the cause of a Tesla Semi truck single-vehicle crash and fire that resulted in the closure of the eastbound lanes of California’s Interstate 80 for 15 hours last month. Extinguishing the fire required 50,000 gallons of water, as well as aircraft overhead that dumped f ire retardant, according to a preliminary report released Friday by the NTSB.

Police are investigating after a Jaws of Life tool was stolen from firefighters in Democrat-run Oakland, California, on Friday. The apparent theft happened after firefighters used it at the scene of a call in the 1600 block of West Street, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday. A law enforcement spokesperson said not long after the firefighters used it they realized it had been taken. Officials did not give any information about suspects in the case. Now, both agencies are working to recover the tool that is used after serious crashes to rescue individuals trapped inside vehicles. The Times report noted...

The infamous commissioner of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) announced her plans to resign amid mounting scandals, many related to her contentious stance against former President Donald Trump. Leading the agency since 2022, Laura Kavanagh stated in an email that it was time to “pass the torch” to a new commissioner, as reported by the New York Post on Saturday. “My dedication to the FDNY has never and will never waver,” she added. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to devote the last 10 years — five as first deputy commissioner and more than two as...