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National Fire News

VIDEOS: Four hospitalized after suspected mass overdose outside Texas bar

PHOTOS: Five adults were treated for suspected drug overdoses early Wednesday outside a bar in downtown Austin, with one patient found in respiratory arrest, authorities said.

Austin-Travis County EMS, Austin Fire Department and Austin police were called to the 300 block of East Sixth Street at about 2:20 a.m. after 911 dispatchers received multiple calls reporting overdose symptoms among people in and around Shakespeare’s bar, EMS Capt. Christa Stedman said.

All five patients received Narcan, with some requiring multiple doses from both first responders and bystanders at the scene, Stedman said.

EMS transported four of the patients to area hospitals in stable condition, including the patient who had been in respiratory arrest. The fifth patient refused transport. Six ambulances, two community health paramedics and three EMS commanders responded to the scene, according to Stedman.

WOAI-TV NBC 4 San Antonio View Full Story

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Fire and rescue in Florida debuts new rip current simulator that will help train for ocean rescues

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department has a new tool in its tool box — a rip current simulator advancing water rescue technology for local first responders.

It’s called the “Slipstream,” designed to prepare both rescue personnel and the community for dangerous aquatic conditions.

Dallas Cooke, JFRD’s Division Chief of Rescue, demonstrated the newly acquired machinery, emphasizing its dual role in public education and rigorous responder training.

“We are demonstrating our newly acquired rip current simulator while we’re teaching the community and, most importantly, our personnel how to respond when dealing with water incidents such as rip currents,” Cooke said.

The introduction of the simulator comes at a critical time for the region. Florida’s vast coastlines, community pools, lakes, and retention ponds mean residents and visitors are constantly surrounded by water.

According to Cooke, the area has recently seen an uptick in traumatic water-related incidents, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced preparation.

“While rip current safety is important, overall water safety is the most important thing,” Cooke said. “This equipment is going to allow us to better prepare our responders when dealing with incidents on the water.”

The Slipstream simulator offers an unprecedented level of realism for regional training. Capable of moving up to 3,000 gallons of water, the machine allows instructors to perfectly dial in the intensity of the water flow.

WJAX-TV CBS 47 Jacksonville View Full Story

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2 firefighters hurt battling house fire in Southeast D.C.

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Two firefighters were injured while battling a two-alarm house fire early Thursday morning in Southeast Washington, D.C., officials said.

D.C. Fire and EMS crews responded around 1 a.m. to the 3700 block of Suitland Road SE, where a fire started on the rear porch of a single-story home and spread into the interior.

The fire extended into the home and onto the roof, according to fire officials. A second alarm was called after a firefighter fell through the roof into the attic. The firefighter self-extricated, and the mayday was cleared. All searches of the home were negative.

Two firefighters were taken to the hospital with non-serious, non-life-threatening injuries. Fire officials said the fire was accidental and caused by incense burning on the porch. Two adults have been displaced and did not need additional services.

Special agent-certified fire investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were on scene assisting with the investigation.

WJLA-TV ABC 7 Washington, D.C. View Full Story

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VIDEOS: 3 killed after TV news helicopter crashes near site of deadly Los Angeles bus collision

Three people were killed after an NBC4 news helicopter crashed near the scene of a deadly bus collision in Chatsworth, California, on Tuesday evening, authorities said. The helicopter crashed between two commercial buildings in the 9100 block of Mason Avenue around 7 p.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

NBC4 confirmed on air shortly before 9 p.m. that the aircraft that crashed was the station’s helicopter. “We are going to take a couple of minutes to think about that, to process and to regroup,” NBC4 news anchor Colleen Williams said during the live broadcast. NBC4 later confirmed reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw died in the crash.

“We are deeply saddened to share that a helicopter providing aerial news coverage for NBC4 and Telemundo 52 was involved in a fatal accident in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives,” NBC4 and Telemundo 52 said in a statement late Tuesday.

KABC-TV ABC 7 Los Angeles View Full Story

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Amarillo Fire Department, West Texas A&M University partner to advance PPE safety

The Amarillo Fire Department is partnering with the West Texas A&M University College of Engineering on researching methods used to clean firefighter personal protective equipment after exposure to lithium-ion battery fires.

According to AFD officials, the research is being conducted with Dr. Emily Hunt, dean of WT’s College of Engineering, professor of mechanical engineering, and associate vice president for research development and innovation. Hunt’s experience includes materials, combustion and applied engineering research.

Officials note that phase I of research evaluated protective gear exposed to contaminants associated with lithium-ion battery fires. Preliminary findings “raised concerns” about certain previously recommended cleaning practices, specifically, liquid carbon dioxide cleaning.

AFD noted that additional testing will be needed “to determine which methods are most effective in removing contaminants without adversely affecting the gear’s protective performance.”

KCIT-TV FOX 14 Amarillo View Full Story

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VIDEOS: At least 6 people injured in high-rise apartment building fire in New York

At least six people have been injured in a fire at a high-rise apartment building in the Bronx on Tuesday.

The second-alarm fire started in an apartment on the second floor of a six-story building at 1773 Vyse Ave. in the Crotona Park East section just after 4:30 p.m. Flames then spread to the floors above, close to the fire escapes firefighters were using to make sure there wasn’t anyone trapped.

“There were two people coming down the fire escape. That was the part that scared me the most,” neighbor Hector Vargas said. Neighbors say a woman lives in the apartment where the fire started.

“There’s a lady who lives there that shouldn’t be living there by herself,” said Luis Rodriguez, who lives in the building. “She needs a home health attendant 24/7 and sadly the reason why it happened.”

Neighbors say the woman has a part-time aide who was not there, and that she likes to burn candles.

WABC-TV ABC 7 New York City View Full Story

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VIDEOS: New cruise ship terminal dock in Alaska catches fire

PHOTOS: The newly built terminal dock in Whittier caught fire Monday with flames and billowing smoke engulfing the area around the dock.

The cause of the blaze was unknown as of Monday afternoon, at which time the fire was still burning.

Whittier City Manager Jackie Wilde confirmed that there is an active fire at the Glacier Creek Cruise Ship terminal. The U.S. Coast Guard said the fire was first reported to that agency at 11 a.m.

Photos and videos show a tour boat named the Klondike Express next to the dock when it caught fire. Wilde says the boat has since moved away. She also states that a cruise ship has moved away from the dock. The Coast Guard said there were no passengers on the Klondike Express when the fire started.

One cruise ship, the Norwegian Jade, has left the dock after being moored there when the fire started, according to the Coast Guard.

Eyewitness Barbara Mackessy said she was docked in the middle of a back-to-back cruise waiting for new passengers when she saw the fire.

KTUU-TV NBC 2 Anchorage View Full Story

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Wisconsin: U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany’s plane crashes into Lake Wausau, removed from water

VIDEOS/PHOTOS: Crews removed a plane from Lake Wausau on Monday after the aircraft, carrying U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, the Republican nominee for Wisconsin governor, made an emergency landing in the water on Saturday night.

The plane was raised to the surface using air bags, lifted out of the water onto land and moved to a storage location. A towing company was brought in to recover it Monday morning, and the removal took several hours. The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are also part of the response.

Tiffany said he was flying back from La Crosse on Saturday night, Sept. 12, when the small plane he was riding in lost power on final approach to the Wausau Airport. He said the pilot told him to tighten his seatbelt, and about 10 seconds later, they hit the water.

The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office said deputies got the 911 call just before 9 p.m. Saturday. The two men were able to get off of the plane and waited on top of it for help. But the aircraft started sinking, so they swam to a nearby sandbar.

About 15 minutes later, Wausau Fire crews reached them by boat. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the emergency landing. Both Tiffany and the pilot needed stitches but are going to be OK. Tiffany said his head hit the plane’s dashboard. Both men were taken to the hospital with minor injuries and released.

WITI-TV FOX 6 Milwaukee View Full Story

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VIDEOS: 4 hospitalized after crane collapses in Florida, fire rescue says

PHOTOS: A driver and three workers were taken to the hospital after construction equipment collapsed onto multiple cars and a construction box in Brickell Monday morning, fire rescue officials said.

Miami Fire Rescue officials said a 85-foot drill rig, also known as a pile rig, collapsed on Southeast 12th Street and Brickell Bay Drive around 8 a.m.

Miami Fire Chief Robert Hevia said the drill rig collapsed onto a construction box and three vehicles, including two that were parked and one that was driving down Brickell Bay Drive.

Hevia said that the driver of a white BMW SUV saw the drill rig falling, stopped her vehicle and put it in reverse. The drill rig then landed on the SUV’s hood, which caused a fire, and the driver was able to escape by going out the back.

Video showed the downed equipment on top of the box and the charred remains of the BMW, as well as the two parked cars. Two workers, ages 29 and 27, were in the construction box when the drill rig fell on top of it, trapping them.

WTVJ-TV NBC 6 Miami View Full Story

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VIDEO: Officials say 1 believed to be inside after massive fire at Ohio home

PHOTOS: A domestic dispute between two brothers escalated into a dangerous standoff and massive house fire Friday night in Hamilton, according to Assistant Police Chief Brian Robinson.

Robinson said police were called to a home in the 200 block of Eaton Avenue around 6:50 p.m. after a third party reported two men fighting in the front yard.

The first officer arrived approximately eight minutes later and found a man outside with blood and an injury to his arm. The man told police he had been in a physical altercation with his brother, who had been drinking.

According to Robinson, the injured man said his brother was also severely injured and had run back inside the home after the fight. Both men are believed to be in their mid-to-late 20s. By approximately 8:30 p.m., flames were visible through the windows and roof of the home.

Firefighters initially remained outside because of the reported gunfire and information from family members that several guns and a large amount of ammunition may have been inside. Police said some of the popping sounds heard after the fire began may have been ammunition igniting in the flames.

Once crews moved closer to attack the fire, police officers used ballistic shields to protect firefighters in case shots were fired from the home.

WLWT-TV NBC 5 Cincinnati View Full Story

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Firefighter among 7 injured in crash involving ladder truck in South Los Angeles

At least seven people have been injured in an accident involving a Los Angeles Fire Department ladder truck and three other vehicles in South Los Angeles. This crash happened around 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of South Figueroa Street and 120th Street, near the 110 and 105 freeways.

Video from the Citizen App shows the fire truck lodged in the front of a sports bar near a laundromat. Three sedans were seen crashed right next to it.

A firefighter is among the injured, according to LAFD, and one person had to be extricated from a vehicle. All seven injured people were taken to the hospital in unknown condition. The intersection remained shut down for hours, with the fire truck still lodged in the building before crews eventually towed it away.

The cause of the accident is under investigation. This is the second accident involving a city fire department vehicle in the past four days.

“I know that they were going emergency when they were responding to that incident, when they were involved in that traffic accident at this intersection,” said Capt. Anthony Tubbs with LAFD. “There’s pretty significant damage to our apparatus, as well as a couple civilian vehicles, enough to result in seven individuals who needed to be transported.”

KABC-TV ABC 7 Los Angeles View Full Story

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Retired Illinois firefighter, auto body shop owner restore fire truck to honor FDNY

VIDEO: A suburban auto body shop owner and a retired firefighter are teaming up to honor New York firefighters on the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Together they restored a vintage fire truck, but the reason behind their bond goes much deeper. John Tobin arrived at a fire station on Staten Island to return a piece of history.

“FDNY really embraces their history,” he said. “It’s the love of the fire service and the respect that one tries to give back.” The special moment was captured on cellphone video on Tuesday ahead of the 25th anniversary of September 11.

The retired Elgin firefighter spent two years restoring the front of this vintage fire truck for Ladder Company 81. The truck served several communities before ending up at a dealer in Shorewood. His friend reached out to him about the truck.

WMAQ-TV NBC 5 Chicago View Full Story

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9/11 Reflections: A Legacy of Service and Sacrifice

On this 25th anniversary of September 11, we honor the memory of a national tragedy that changed our country forever. We will never forget the fallen, nor those who still carry the weight of that day.

We honor the heroism, courage, and sacrifice of firefighters and all first responders who selflessly ran into the path of danger, and we recognize the lasting toll carried by survivors, families, and responders.

Twenty-five years later, we remember the courage, sacrifice, and service of those who answered the call on September 11, 2001.

This video honors the firefighters, first responders, public safety professionals, and countless others whose actions that day and in the days that followed, demonstrated extraordinary bravery and commitment to others.

Through the voices and experiences of fire service leaders, we reflect on the lessons, the leadership, and the legacy of 9/11.

We remember those we lost. We honor those who served. And we remain committed to never forgetting.

We remember 9/11 not just as a moment in time, but as a defining experience for our nation and our fire service. These quotes and reflections, shared by first responders, preserve the personal truths of that day, ensuring we never forget the sacrifices made and the lessons learned.

IAFC.org View Full Story

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NTSB releases details from Amazon cargo plane crash on Florida runway that killed five

VIDEOS: One of the pilots of the Amazon cargo plane that careened off a Miami runway and killed five people repeatedly warned they were coming in too fast nearly two minutes ahead of time and at the last second urged them to abort the landing, according to highlights of the cockpit recording that investigators released Wednesday.

The National Transportation Safety Board released some details from the recording after investigators interviewed both pilots, but the full transcript won’t be made public until later. The agency said the other pilot didn’t consistently respond to the speed warnings.

The Amazon plane came in fast on Sunday afternoon and then barreled roughly 1,300 feet (396 meters) past the end of the runway and smashed into a van carrying workers at a plane cleaning company before hitting a compact SUV as it slid across a public road before catching fire.

All five people who died were in the van. Five others were hurt, including two who remained in critical condition on Tuesday. The two pilots survived.

WTVJ-TV NBC 6 Miami View Full Story

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Triplet brothers follow FDNY firefighter father into fire service after 9/11

The triplet sons of an FDNY firefighter, who responded to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, are not identical but they share a common past and will soon share a common future.

They’re three of the thousands of children who lost a parent 25 years ago on Sept. 11 or in the years after due to 9/11-related illnesses.

William Gormley’s sons – Raymond, Billy and Kevin – were just 3 years old when their father rushed to the twin towers on Sept. 11, 2001. While many children lost parents that day, the brothers grew up with their father, only later learning the toll his work at Ground Zero had taken on his health.

“We all, for the most part, have the same lives in a lot of ways,” Raymond said while sitting on a couch between his two brothers. “The same trauma, the same upbringing, the same everything. No one understands me like these two understand me.”

But for Kevin, Raymond and Billy didn’t learn about what happened from the history books, they lived it and they always had each other to rely on.

“This is a huge point my father always made, he said, ‘These are your people. You were born with them, and this is what you got til the end,'” Kevin said.

They don’t remember what happened on Sept. 11, since they were so young. “Now, 25 years later, we’re understanding the full grasp of what happened that day,” Raymond said.

WABC-TV ABC 7 New York City View Full Story

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VIDEOS: Apartment fire in Beverly Hills displaces residents, injures firefighters

A Beverly Hills apartment building caught fire Wednesday, displacing residents and forcing a partial roof collapse. The Beverly Hills Fire Department responded to a call in the 200 block of South Rexford Drive around 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 9.

Residents evacuated safely, but multiple firefighters were injured, with two taken to the hospital, including one treated for heat exhaustion. High heat and humidity created significant physical challenges for crews battling the flames in heavy gear.

The fire forced residents out of the garden-style, multi-unit building and onto the street as flames shot through the roof. Neighboring homes were also impacted by the emergency response. Scott Prisland, a 30-year resident of one of the four units, evacuated alongside his wife, Marnie. Firefighters managed to pull photo albums from their home, along with a Tony Award Prisland recently won for the Broadway musical “Schmigadoon!”

“The Beverly Hills Fire Department did get us out and rescued the Tony, which is very nice,” Prisland said. “We lost a lot of other stuff, which is terrible, and I feel horrible for our neighbors.”

KTTV FOX 11 Los Angeles View Full Story

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‘It’s shocking that we went so long without it’: The first responders’ network built on 9/11 communications failures

During the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, first responders faced a number of problems. One of the most significant was a communications system that did not allow emergency workers from different agencies to easily coordinate with one another.

They all had unique radio systems with their own frequencies. That slowed responses in many instances at the World Trade Center in New York City, at the Pentagon and at the crash site in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The federal 911 Commission, established to examine the attacks and the response, recommended the creation of an agency that would work on delivering a nationwide broadband network that would be dedicated to public safety. The network needed to be robust enough to provide interoperable communications between all responding agencies to a major disaster.

In 2012, Congress created the First Responder Network Authority, known as FirstNet, to oversee the buildout of the network. Through a public/private agreement, AT&T was selected to build, operate and maintain the network. Congress appropriated a $7 billion to start the buildout and purchase dedicated prime broadband spectrum capable of supporting public safety communications.

The initial buildout was completed in 2023. “It’s shocking that we went so long without it,” said Anne Arundel County Fire Chief and FirstNet Board member Trisha Wolford. “There’s two things that keep us safe: One is our SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) with our air, but the other thing is our communication,” she said.

WTOP News View Full Story

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VIDEOS: Crews respond to massive fire at Lochmoor Club in Michigan

Fire crews on Wednesday were at the scene of a massive fire at the Lochmoor Club in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan.

Authorities urged residents and drivers to avoid the area and use an alternative route as crews work to address the fire. People were also urged not to approach the scene.

Witnesses tell CBS News Detroit that the fire appeared to have started in the kitchen and spread into the attic.

Officials say everyone who was initially inside the club escaped. It is currently unknown if any injuries were reported.

WWJ-TV CBS 62 Detroit View Full Story

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Former New York fire chiefs reflect on time at Ground Zero as 9/11 remembrances near

VIDEO: As the country pauses this week to honor the victims of the 9/11 Terrorists Attacks, two former Syracuse fire chiefs are sharing their experience in New York City following the attacks.

A group of about 10 Syracuse firefighters went down one week after the attacks.

“When we were driving down there on the West Side Highway, people were holding up signs, ‘Thank you for your assistance and help,” said Former Syracuse Fire Chief John Cowin.

The firefighters wanted to help. Everyone had volunteered to go, but a group of 10 experienced firefighters were chosen to bring down their ambulance to supplement the medical crews at Ground Zero. Their other mission was clearing debris.

“The thing that struck me, the pile was two 110-story buildings and it wasn’t that high, maybe nine stories high,” Cowin remembers.

Cowin said they were there for a short period of time and they found one firefighter. “The whole scene stopped and went quiet,” Cowin said.

WSTM-TV NBC/CW 3 Syracuse View Full Story

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Westfield Fire Department: Stray bullet missed firefighter by 2 feet inside Texas fire station

VIDEO: The Westfield Fire Department is sounding the alarm after they say a stray bullet came through the roof and ceiling of one of its stations, narrowly missing a firefighter who was getting ready for bed.

“Thankfully, no one was injured, but this could have ended very differently,” the fire department said on social media.

This happened at the Westfield Fire Station 2 on Bentley Road. WFD said the bullet missed the firefighter by just two feet.

“Shooting a gun into the air isn’t just against the law… it’s deadly conduct with potentially deadly consequences,” WFD said. “If you hear what sounds like gunfire, call 9-1-1 immediately. One call can save a life.”

The fire department said shots fired into the air can travel up to three miles from where they were shot, damage home and vehicles, and cause serious injury or death.

KHOU-TV CBS 11 Houston View Full Story

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