MPFFU

A fire house divided

June 3, 2013: When the alarm sounded at the Benton Harbor fire station in the early morning hours of March 14, there was one firefighter ready to answer the call. That firefighter, Lt. Doug Bell, was one of only three remaining full-time firefighters in the city. The other nine were laid off in 2011 as Benton Harbor created a public safety department with police trained to fight fires. Read more:

Pittsfield and Washington Townships awarded federal grant money

June 3, 2013: U.S. senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin recently announced support for the Washington and Pittsfield Townships Fire Departments. Read more:

Bay City firefighters on clock for new contract as July layoffs loom

June 3, 2013: A Bay City firefighters union leader says he hopes “progress” is made in contract negotiations on Monday and Tuesday, June 3-4. Read more:

Hazel Park firefighter layoffs expected

May 31, 2013: Hazel Park officials are considering outsourcing firefighting services to neighboring Warren or laying off firefighters as they work to trim yet another budget deficit. Read more:

Warren fire boss: Decision may hurt chance of manpower grant extension

May 31, 2013: Warren’s top fire department administrator charges a dispute involving less than $20,000 could extinguish the city’s chances of extending a large federal grant to hire more firefighters. Read more:

LINCOLN PARK: Talks on Fire Department merger with Allen Park begin

May 31, 2013: The possibility of the Fire Department merging with Allen Park’s is being explored, City Manager Joseph Merucci said today. Read more:

Inkster Local 1577 8th Annual Golf Outing Benefit (July 12, 2013)

May 30, 2013: This golf outing will benefit the Great Lakes Burn Camp and Inkster Firefighters Charities. View flyer:

Saginaw council approves manager's budget with police and fire cuts

May 30, 2013: It calls for 51 layoffs in the police and fire departments, which would reduce the police department to 55 officers and the fire department to 35 firefighters. Read more:

Firefighters to get back overtime pay

May 30, 2013: Battle Creek will pay its firefighters a quarter million dollars in back pay after an audit of overtime by the Michigan Department of Labor. Read more:

Royal Oak balances budget; preventing firefighter layoffs

May 29, 2013: The 3.975-mill tax voters approved last fall has stabilized finances and the revenue it generated during the first collection in December is bringing back police jobs, preventing firefighter layoffs, and funding some senior programs. Read more:

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