New Hampshire Firefighters to Receive Death Benefits
CONCORD -- Gov. John Lynch signed legislation (SB 169)
conferring the death benefit in July. The signing came in the
wake of three police and firefighter deaths in the last eight
months. "We can never fully repay the families of fallen
officers and firefighters, but with this new law we are showing
our appreciation,'' said Lynch, surrounded by law enforcement
leaders from across the state. Moments earlier, Lynch signed a
related bill (HB 135) to designate the second Sunday in October
as Firefighters Memorial Day. Rep. Michael O'Brien, D-Nashua,
said his home city has celebrated Memorial Sunday for fallen firefighters
every spring since before he came to the fire department in 1981.
Firefighters plan a formal ceremony on the first holiday next
to the local firefighter-made memorial at the New Hampshire Fire
Academy in Concord, said Safety Commissioner John Barthelmes.
The death benefits law will be forever known as Michael's Law
in honor of Manchester Patrolman Michael Briggs, who police allege
was shot in the head by Michael "Stix'' Addison. He faces
the death penalty if convicted. The original death benefit bill
tried to back date the benefit to last October to cover the Briggs
family, but its prime sponsor, Manchester Democratic Sen. Lou
D'Allesandro, was told that was not necessary.
Firefighters Injured While Battling House Fires
APOPKA, FLORIDA -- Three firefighters are recovering after
being hurt on the job. It happened while fighting a house fire.
Investigators said one firefighter was on the roof of the home
and didn't realize the fire was burning beneath him. The roof
gave way and he fell into the attic. That firefighter suffered
second degree burns and had to be rushed to Orlando Regional Medical
Center. Two other firefighters suffered minor injuries while trying
to help their colleague. All three firefighters are expected to
recover. About 75 percent of the large home was damaged in the
fire.
L.A. Firefighter Wins 6.2 Million Dollar Lawsuit
LOS ANGELES -- A jury awarded $6.2 million to a firefighter
who said she was harassed by colleagues because she is black and
a lesbian, harassment she says included someone mixing urine with
her mouthwash. Brenda Lee's lawsuit against the Los Angeles Fire
Department also claimed her superiors made derogatory comments
about her and forced her to perform strenuous exercises without
proper safety precautions because of her race and sexual orientation.
The jury's payout was the largest in a string of recent settlements
of cases alleging discrimination and retaliation against women
and minorities within the Fire Department.
