New state bill makes EMS and paramedics eligible for hazardous duty time

VIDEO: On Tuesday, Governor Ivey signed a bill that now gives hazardous duty time to EMS and paramedics. House Bill 71 recognizes the contributions of emergency medical services and paramedics to public safety by awarding them hazardous duty time. That is the time when there is a risk of serious injury or even death. ”What this bill does is puts these emergency medical technicians in the same category as police and fire where for every five years they work, they get an extra year of retirement,” Rep. Steve Clouse said. It started with Ozark public safety director Charles Ward. This bill is an amendment to section 36-27-59 of the code of Alabama, otherwise known as the Stretch Bill—a benefit police and firefighters have been receiving.
WTVY-TV CBS 4 Dothan

Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue battles house fire

PHOTO: Crews battled a large house fire Tuesday afternoon in southern Tuscaloosa County. It was reported around 2 p.m. on Woodbank Way off Alabama Highway 69 South. Smoke could be seen from miles away. The house was engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived. Six fire units had to respond to the scene to bring the flames under control.
WVUA-CD 7 Tuscaloosa/Northport

Local musician loses almost everything in Gulf Shores house fire

A local musician lost almost everything after a fire erupted just before daybreak Monday at a home in the Crimson Ridge neighborhood off Coastal Gateway Boulevard. “I got up to see what it was and I just saw smoke and Donna had moved to a front bedroom in the middle of the night about four. I went in and woke her up and by then the house was starting to fill up with smoke,” said local musician and guitarist, Donnie Mathis. With flames engulfing the home, there was little time to do anything but get out. “We can replace everything else he got his two prized guitars out,” says Donna Mathis. Better known as “Delta,” Donnie is a regular performer around the Gulf Coast. One of those guitars was a gift from his father more than 60 years ago. “That’s the first thing I grabbed,” says Donnie. “Luckily it was right by the door as we were running out of the house.”
WKRG-TV CBS 5 Mobile