Three homes were evacuated and one resident was hospitalized as a fire tore through multiple homes on Hope Road early Friday morning. Crews battled flames and heavy smoke as the fire spread, prompting commanding officers to escalate the blaze to three alarms. Firefighters from several towns, including Garfield, Clifton, Rutherford, Paterson and Carlstadt, responded to assist the Passaic Fire Department.

Passaic Mayor Hector Lora told News 12 that residents from 158, 160 and 164 Hope Ave. were evacuated, and one resident was transported to a hospital for smoke inhalation. A total of nine people from four apartments were displaced as a result of the fire, the mayor said. Lora added that a 7-month-old baby who also resided in the home was evacuated and is doing fine.

The Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents with emergency housing and other necessities, Lora said. Ladders stretched to the top of the main building on fire, and firefighters could be seen on the roof trying to bring the blaze under control. Police closed multiple roads in the area near the fire, routing traffic away from the scene.

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VIDEO: After more than 170 grueling hours of training and tests, Emily Gindele graduated from the entry-level firefighter program as a West Whiteland Fire Company volunteer firefighter on Wednesday night. “I never thought I would see this day,” said the 26-year-old from Exton, Pa.

“I’m so excited I can finally do it. After the accident, I was definitely kind of hopeless and thought that I would never get to this point, but I’m here. I did it, and I worked really hard to get here.” It’s a miraculous dream come true for Gindele after a car crash left her critically injured and killed her boyfriend, 25-year-old Colin Reedy, two years ago.

Both of the volunteer firefighters were responding to a call at the time. “It was hard. I went through a lot. My body went through a lot. I still feel pain every day. I still have cognitive issues,” said Gindele. Despite her brain injury, broken bones, stroke and heartache, Gindele wanted to prove to herself she could accomplish her original goal. “I did everything that I could to be like everybody else,” said Gindele.

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VIDEO: Fire departments across Central Texas are preparing to implement mandatory annual cancer screenings for firefighters under a new state law aimed at detecting health issues early. The Wade Cannon Act requires all paid fire departments in Texas to provide annual cancer screenings for employees. Departments have until June 1 to implement the screenings.

“Cancer has always been an issue for firefighters,” said District 54 Representative Pat Curry. “And on top of that, if they’re not getting the annual physicals and they’re not available to them, that can be a real problem.” Hewitt Fire Chief Jonathan Christian said firefighters face constant exposure to carcinogens during emergency calls. “Every time we go into a fire, we come out with all the carcinogens and smoke. It penetrates everything,” Christian said. “We get exposed to a lot.”

Curry said firefighters often encounter unknown hazards during structure fires. “They go out into the middle of these fires, and they don’t know that this house happens to have a bunch of paint or different chemicals in it,” Curry said. “And all of a sudden the garage catches on fire and things start exploding, and they’re breathing in something that could easily give them cancer or kill them.”

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PHOTOS: Bartow city officials said the Bartow Fire Department and Polk County Fire Rescue were working a structure fire at Sonny’s BBQ Restaurant, located at 595 N. Broadway Ave.

A fire that started early Wednesday morning has completely destroyed the Sonny’s BBQ restaurant in Bartow, leaving a community staple that has served the area since 1992 in ruins.

The Bartow Fire Department received a call just after 6 a.m. from an employee who discovered the fire. Officials said the employee noticed it when he heard a loud popping sound coming from above.

“Our pitmaster shows up first thing in the morning to unload meat and get out of there and noticed that obviously that there was a fire,” said Scott Frantz, president of ACG Barbecue, which oversees 30 Sonny’s BBQ franchises.

The fire started in the attic and quickly spread to the roof. Deputy Fire Chief Byron Moore said the flames burned so intensely that the roof eventually collapsed, forcing crews to switch to defensive tactics.

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VIDEO: When someone overdoses, paramedics and EMS are usually the first people arriving to help. That’s why a new law in Pennsylvania is helping first responders and EMS with combating overdoses in the Commonwealth.

The goal of the legislation is to provide more accurate and detailed information to responders on the scene faster. First responders see what’s happening where and how often overdoses occur around Pa. They will also not be required to upload the information onto the Overdose Information Network Dashboard.

“In 2025, we at First Capital EMS responded to 126 opioid overdoses,” executive director of First Capital EMS Benjamin Kirkpatrick said.

The data matters because when officials know where overdoses are spiking, they can move faster to the scene and help people before it’s too late. “Over 5,000 Pennsylvanians die from accidental drug poisoning every year. I mean, that’s a plague,” Senator Doug Mastriano said at a Tuesday afternoon press conference highlighting Act 18 of 2025.

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VIDEO: Maryland firefighters no longer have to pay out-of-pocket for cancer health screenings thanks to a new law that went into effect this year.

House Bill 459 and Senate Bill 374 also known as the James “Jimmy” Malone Act, named after a former Maryland state delegate and lifelong firefighter who died of cancer in 2024, eliminates co-pays for cancer prevention screenings for career firefighters covered by county self-insured health benefit plans.

“The law allows for people that have county covered self insured health benefits plans to have free access without co-pays to cancer preventing screenings so we think that early detection is the best prevention so we fully support that legislation,” Deputy Fire Chief Gordon Wallace of Howard County said.

Firefighters face higher cancer risks than the average person due to repeated exposure to toxins during fires. The carcinogenic byproducts of combustion put first responders at significant health risk throughout their careers.

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It didn’t take long for speculation to settle on Water Street in Waxahachie. At 4:30 a.m. Monday, Kayla Peppers and her family had to act quickly.

“We got woken up by the Waxahachie Police Department,” Peppers said. “I got my kids and everyone and we ran out here. It was just like engulfed in flames.” Peppers snapped photos of the fire next door.

“The flames were already, like, to that tree,” Peppers said. “Very scared. I thought our house was going to catch on fire too…”

The fire covered the Blind Pig Butchery, which officially opened in October 2025. The owners told WFAA off camera they bought the property in 2023. They said it took a little more than two years to fix up the building.

While ashes remained, the whispers on Water Street lingered.

“When we first moved here, I was kind of asking around and they said that Water Street was probably one of the most haunted areas in Waxahachie for some reason,” said Peppers.

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PHOTOS: For the first time, an electric fire truck will be responding to emergencies in Charlotte leaving from the city’s first all-electric fire station. The city held an uncoupling ceremony Tuesday at Fire House 30 where Charlotte Fire and city leaders officially welcomed the new station into service.

According to Chief Reginald Johnson, the station replaces a 35-year-old fire house known affectionately as “Grandma’s House” that the department has long out-grown.

“The new firehouse represents the same commitment now matched with the resources needed for today and the flexibility needed for tomorrow,” he said. The new station cost $10.3 million to build and includes all electric appliances, a geothermal heat pump system and a rooftop solar array that provides enough energy to offset about 29% of the building’s power.

The station will also be home to the city’s first electric fire truck. Charlotte’s Chief Sustainability Officer Heather Bolick said this truck will serve as a test to see how well trucks like this can meet the needs of the city. “We definitely want to see this in action,” she said.

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PHOTOS: Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation declaring Jan. 7 as a day of remembrance for the victims of the Los Angeles fires. In honor of the day, flags at all state buildings will be flown at half-staff.

“One year ago, fire tore through Los Angeles, shattering ordinary days and forever changing the lives of tens of thousands of people in Malibu, Altadena, Pasadena, and the Pacific Palisades,” the proclamation stated. “In a matter of hours, neighborhoods were reduced to ash, families were displaced, and 31 lives were taken — each one irreplaceable, each one deeply loved.”

The proclamation emphasized the ongoing impact of the fires, noting that the loss leaves “wounds that time cannot heal.”

It also highlighted the broader context of wildfires in California, referencing past fires such as the Tubbs, Camp, and North Complex fires. “The past decade has seen fires on a scale once unimaginable – driven by hotter temperatures, prolonged drought, and the accelerating realities of a changing climate,” Newsom said.

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Six people were hurt, almost all of them firefighters, when giant orange flames tore through a residential building in Queens overnight, displacing residents and raining debris, authorities say.

According to the FDNY, a 3:30 a.m. call came in about fire on the first floor of a two-story home in Ridgewood, on Madison Street between Seneca and Onderdonk avenues.

Video posted to the Citizen app showed firefighters encountered heavy flames. Four buildings were impacted in total. It took hours to at least contain the fire, which escalated to five alarms at its peak; by 8:45 a.m., officials said the fire still wasn’t considered under control.

Operations were ongoing throughout the early morning hours Tuesday. Displaced residents in Red Cross blankets were seen standing on the side of the street, watching the firefighting effort.

One of the injured firefighters had an air conditioner topple out a window and fall on him at the scene. He was taken to a hospital with “significant” pain, officials said. The firefighter is expected to be OK.

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A year after twin infernos tore across opposite ends of Los Angeles County, the scars are still visible. Thousands of homes were reduced to rubble, with rebuilding slow, and the death toll showed how a wildfire under extreme weather conditions can turn catastrophic.

The Palisades and Eaton fires ignited within hours of each other on Jan. 6, 2024. These figures show how fast the disaster unfolded and the toll it left behind:

The speed of predicted wind gusts in mountain areas, equivalent to 145 kilometers per hour. Red Flag warnings were issued Jan. 6 for severe wildfire danger as Southern California was buffeted by the region’s notorious Santa Ana winds. Grass and brush were tinder dry after months with little or no rain. The National Weather Service warned it could be a life-threatening wind event. Firefighting assets were pre-positioned in areas deemed to be at especially high risk for fires.

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Flames tore through the Lake House Inn Sunday night, destroying a historic supper club near Edgerton that had stood for generations as a place for family gatherings and community connection.

The Lake House Inn was deemed a total loss after crews were called to the property at 8:28 p.m. for reports of smoke in the area, according to Rock County Communications.

When firefighters arrived, they saw flames coming from the structure. Lakeside Fire Rescue requested mutual aid, prompting multiple agencies to respond, including the Rock County Sheriff’s Office. Officials urged nearby residents to close doors and windows due to heavy smoke. By 11:30 p.m., flames had been extinguished, though WMTV crews on scene could still see smoke rising from the remains of the building as firefighters continued their work overnight.

The sheriff’s office said the business was closed at the time of the fire and confirmed no one was inside. Investigators later determined the building was a total loss. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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PHOTOS: A massive fire that tore through a three-story apartment complex under construction in Denver on Friday evening was still smoldering over the weekend as crews battled hotspots.

The blaze erupted at the Harker Heights building site at around 6:45 p.m. Friday near S. Leetsdale Drive and S. Forest Street, forcing street closures, evacuations and injuring one firefighter. No other injuries were reported. S. Leetsdale Drive remains closed between S. Forest and S. Holly streets.

Evacuations were issued for residents behind the construction site on Friday evening due to heat from the fire. Officials said 12 families stayed at an emergency shelter overnight from Friday into Saturday, but the shelter closed around noon on Saturday.

“We just all were rushing into the car, and my dad was grabbing drinks because we didn’t know if we were going to have to stay out of our house all day,” said an evacuee.

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VIDEO: Construction is underway on Boone County’s first child care center built exclusively for first responders. The 10,000-square-foot facility will feature multiple classrooms, indoor and outdoor play areas, and room for future expansion.

“I love this job, but at the end of the day, family comes first,” said Matthew Goodspeed, a single father and emergency telecommunicator said. “I have to do what’s right for my family. Being able to be flexible with child care and being able to work odd or different hours at times will definitely open up some doors.”

The new child care center is being built with a $2.5 million funding agreement appropriated by the Missouri General Assembly and approved by the Boone County Commission. This money covers roughly half of the project’s cost.

“We see this as a way to show our first responders within Boone County government that we have their back, that they can continue to go out and do their critical work each and every day, knowing that their most important asset — their child — is safe at a facility right there on site with them receiving high-quality care,” Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick said.

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PHOTOS: Multiple buildings were destroyed in a massive fire in the heart of downtown Arcata on Friday afternoon. According to Arcata Fire officials, the fire began in a two-story commercial structure in the 800 block of 10th Street around 2:30 p.m., with apartments above and businesses below.

The fire, exacerbated by high winds and a ruptured gas main, caused devastating damage to businesses including Northtown Books, Dandar’s Games and portions of Hensel’s Ace Hardware, as well as the apartment dwellings, the Arcata Fire District and Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department said.

The Arcata Fire District quickly responded to the fire with assistance from agencies from Ferndale, Loleta, Samoa, Kneeland, Westhaven, Fieldbrook, Humboldt Bay, Fortuna, Rio Dell and Blue Lake, as well as support from Cal Fire Trinidad, Cal Fire Weott, Arcata Police, CHP and PG&E for the ruptured gas line.

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Crews have the large fire at a Roselle Park flooring company under control. Police are still blocking off the area in front of the Crossfield Products Corporation. News 12 is told the building makes resin for floors. Crews responded to the fire on Valley Road near the corner of Westfield Avenue around 4:45 p.m. Thursday.

Mayor Joseph Signorello Jr. says thankfully there have been no reports of any injuries so far. Mutual aid from surrounding towns stayed through the night to get the fire under control. The fire did not spread to any other buildings in this residential area.

Multiple homes were evacuated as a safety precaution, and some did lose power but the lights are back on in the neighborhood. Roselle Park Police asked residents to keep windows and doors closed because of poor air quality from the heavy smoke.

There were reports of strong odors from the chemicals. This morning there is very little smoke. The mayor added that crews are going to bring in heavy equipment to safely address any remaining concerns with the building and officials have not yet given a cause.

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Volunteer fire and EMS departments in Dubuque County have a new avenue to fund first responders — and possibly a helpful tool for recruitment and retention.

The state recently allocated $1.5 million to volunteer firefighters, emergency medical service providers and reserve peace officers through a program that requires a local match. First responders can receive an up-to-$500 benefit each, but the amount depends on how many departments apply.

“The Length of Service Award Program was designed as a way to enhance recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters,” said Mike Lambert, director for the Key West Community Fire Department. “Once our firefighters realize that this could be a benefit, maybe it’ll increase participation from our volunteers. With any organization, we always want to increase the participation.”

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VIDEO: Around 40 people are dead and around 115 others were severely injured after a fire broke out during a New Year’s Eve celebration at a bar in a Swiss Alps resort, authorities said Thursday.

Calling it an “unprecedented tragedy,” Valais canton police commander Frédéric Gisler said many of the injured are in critical condition.

“The priority will be to identify those who lost their lives,” Gisler said at a news conference. Swiss President Guy Parmelin said that many of the victims were young people and the victims include Swiss residents as well as tourists from neighboring countries and elsewhere.

“Behind these numbers are faces, names, families, destinies brutally interrupted,” Parmelin said at the press conference.

The new year was less than two hours old when the fire that devoured the Le Constellation in the town of Crans-Montana was first reported around 1:30 a.m. (7:30 p.m. ET Wednesday), Gisler said.

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A CSX train derailment on Tuesday morning forced residents to evacuate their homes or shelter in place after a railcar leaked molten sulfur, creating a dangerous gas plume. The Trenton Fire Department reported that fewer than 100 homes were impacted by the incident, which occurred around 6:30 a.m.

Chuck Sadler with the Trenton Voluntary Fire Department received a page stating that several CSX cars had rolled off the tracks. He was one of the first people on the scene. “The accident scene was within a mile of my house, less than a mile. So, we were there pretty quickly,” Sadler said.

“Two or three of us got there, and it was quite a bit more than we expected.” “There was some smoke, low-hanging smoke, and did notice like a little irritation to the throat, but nothing severe. And we just got upwind of it and stayed there.”

As firefighters realized one of the rail cars was leaking molten sulfur, they began alerting those who live within a mile of the derailment, telling residents to leave their homes or shelter in place with their HVAC systems turned off. Frank Amaro lives near Highway 41, about a mile from where the train derailed.

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Franklin’s Fire Department over the past three weeks has said goodbye to five high ranking officials who have retired after a combined 146 years of service.

“Each of these leaders has played a significant role in shaping the department and mentoring the firefighters who will carry our mission forward,” said Fire Chief Glenn Johnson. “Through their leadership, professionalism, and dedication, they strengthened both our culture and the level of service provided to the Franklin community. We are grateful for their contributions and proud of the legacy they leave behind.”

Some of the positions have already been filled. Battalion Chief Jose Periut was promoted to fill the position vacated by Battalion Chief Joe Polenzani. Additional promotion announcements are expected soon.

Here’s more about the five retirees and what they expect to do with their newfound free time:

Lieutenant Todd Stapleton (31 years) – Stapleton originally started his career in the Franklin Fire Department by accident. The Brentwood native was invited by a friend to a volunteer meeting in 1989 and then he and his identical twin brother Scott joined the Williamson County Rescue Squad (WCRS) as volunteer firefighters. Five years later, Stapleton was hired by the FFD. He plans to take a little time to get back to what would be considered “a normal schedule” before deciding what comes next.

Battalion Chief Joe Polenzani (27 years) – ​​Polenzani began his career in 1992 as a volunteer firefighter with the Ashland City Fire Department, where he served for 10 years, until he got married and moved to Williamson County. He then joined the Franklin Fire Department in 1998. He plans to remain active with the State’s Type 3 All-Hazards Incident Management Team, continue teaching at national training conferences and hopes to spend more time playing music, especially with the Nashville Fire Pipes and Drums.

Lieutenant Dave Metcalf (28 years) – After Metcalf’s military service in the United States Air Force, he entered the fire service as a volunteer in 1990 with Bullion Fire, later becoming a paid/call firefighter with the Nevada County Consolidated Fire Protection District while also working in construction. When his family relocated to Middle Tennessee, Metcalf followed and joined the Franklin Fire Department in 1997. Metcalf is planning to travel and spend more time with his four grandchildren.

Assistant Fire Chief Greg Baltimore (33 years) – Baltimore joined the Franklin Fire Department in 1992 and progressed through the ranks from firefighter to engineer, lieutenant, captain, battalion chief and assistant fire chief. He served 13 years as a battalion chief before being promoted to assistant fire chief in December 2020. During his tenure, he was a key leader in maintaining the department’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) Class 1 rating, a distinction earned by only the top one percent of fire departments nationwide out of more than 37,000 evaluated. He plans to spend time with his wife, his son, who is a high school senior, along with his adult son and daughter-in-law and their newly born daughter.

Captain Tom Chaffin (27 years) – A graduate of Franklin High School, Chaffin began his fire service career in 1992 as a volunteer firefighter in Bowling Green, Kentucky, while attending Western Kentucky University. After graduating, he returned to Franklin, joined the Williamson County Rescue Squad in 1994 as a volunteer firefighter, and was hired by the Franklin Fire Department in 1998. He considers one of his proudest accomplishments to be maintaining a strong family life throughout his career. He and his wife, Mindy, have two children, Alyssa (20) and Aaron (15). Chaffin looks forward to “our family’s adventure” of what comes next.

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