PHOTOS: Two employees are missing after reports of an explosion at an industrial building in Ohio. Two employees are unaccounted for and others suffered minor injuries after reports of multiple explosions and a large fire at an industrial cleaning business in Toledo.

Crews responded to the commercial business as heavy flames and large plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the property. Multiple explosions were reported as firefighters worked to contain the blaze. Video from the scene showed firefighters battling the flames as thick smoke filled the sky and bystanders watched nearby.

Officials told WTOL that a couple of employees suffered minor injuries, but it was not immediately clear whether they were taken to a hospital. “We did have a couple of people injured, a couple of employees, minor injuries. I don’t know if either of them have been transported,” an official told WTOL.

“Again, this is still an evolving scene, so that’s the best information I have.” When asked whether anyone had died in the fire, the official told WTOL that crews were still working to account for everyone who was at the business.

“I don’t know that. We are trying to go through the employee list and account for every employee that was there,” the official told WTOL. “We do have some eyewitnesses, and again, we have two people that are unaccountable.”

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VIDEO: The East Millinocket Fire Department recently received a new upgrade to their fire gear. They are now said to be the first fire department in Maine to be fully outfitted with PFAS-free gear.

With the support of a $90,000 grant from the Gloria C. MacKenzie Foundation, East Millinocket Fire has received new gear for all full-time and volunteer members. Chief Kevin McAdam says most of their previous gear was around 10-20 years old in age needed to be replaced.

“Since the mill shut down, we were able to buy one set of gear here and there, maybe two in a year,” said McAdam, referring to the closure of the Great Northern Paper mill in 2014, “This grant enabled everybody in the department to get a new set.”

Manufactured by companies Milliken & Company and the Philadelphia-based Ricochet Manufacturing Company, Inc. Each piece of new gear averages at around $4,000 apiece. The fire chief noted the new gear to be less bulky, more maneuverable and flexible.

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All tanks have been extinguished at the Explorer Pipeline tank farm in Glenpool after a suspected lightning strike sparked a fire that spread to three tanks Monday morning.

Officials said there were no active flames, but firefighters would continue to apply foam to the tanks overnight to cool them and prevent reignition. No injuries have been reported, and nearly 50 personnel were involved in the response.

The incident began around 8:34 a.m. with one tank before spreading to three. Crews continued to apply foam to the smoldering tanks to prevent it from reigniting. The tanks contain liquid petroleum products.

Glenpool Fire Public Information Officer Mandy Vavrinak said the fire could not be fought with water alone and requires specialized chemicals, equipment and personnel.

Multiple local departments and specialized industrial fire teams assisted with the response, including Cushing Fire Department, Sinclair Refining Fire Team, Coffeyville Resources Fire Team, Williams Fire and Hazard Control, U.S. Fire Pump and Kiefer Fire Department. Tulsa Fire Department was also at the scene earlier Monday.

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Three people were killed in a fire at an adult foster care home in Redford Township early Saturday morning.

The fire broke out at a home on Woodbine Avenue near Telegraph and 5 Mile roads. Two people were able to escape the home safely, but three others died inside.

A neighbor, Patrick Tansey, lives next door to the home that caught fire. He and his family were evacuated from their house.

“This morning around 6 a.m., we had a Redford Township knock on our door. Just told me and my family hey, we need you out of the house. At that point, we ran across the street with my children,” Tansey said.

While his family stood outside, Tansey’s son recorded video of the fire. “When we came out, the whole entire house was up in flames honestly, going higher than my roof,” Tansey said.

The Southfield and Livonia fire departments also responded to the scene to help Redford Township firefighters battle the blaze.

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VIDEO/PHOTOS: A first-of-its-kind emergency training center in Stanly County is giving North Carolina first responders a realistic way to prepare for deadly flood rescues before the next disaster strikes.

The $87 million facility features a five-million-gallon reservoir, a mock river channel capable of producing 200,000 gallons of water per minute and a simulated flooded village where rescue teams train for fast-moving water emergencies similar to those seen during Hurricane Helene.

Highway Patrol Swift Water Rescue Commander Lt. Sean Johnson said the center eliminates training challenges caused by drought and limited river access while helping rescuers safely master boat operations and flood response tactics.

Johnson has responded to disasters from the coast to the mountains over several decades.

“We deal with a lot of wide-area flooding, whereas what we saw during (Hurricane) Helene was very violent, turbulent water,” Johnson said.

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VIDEO: Students at TU Eindhoven have developed a solar-powered ambulance designed to provide healthcare to people in remote parts of the world.

Known as Stella Juva, the concept vehicle features a roof with 326 solar cells, as well as panels with a further 216 cells that can be extended when the vehicle is stationary. Alongside a 50kWh battery, this gives the solar ambulance a maximum daily range of around 715km across paved roads on a sunny day, with the average off-road range roughly half of that.

Rather than transferring patients to hospitals, the vehicle is designed to bring care to them in the community. Onboard medical equipment includes a cooler for vaccines and other medication, a portable X-ray machine, ultrasound, AED (Automated External Defibrillator), blood pressure monitor and thermometer, as well as first aid supplies.

According to Yarno Basten, partnerships manager of Solar Team Eindhoven, the project serves twin goals of advancing sustainability and improving access to healthcare, and was developed in collaboration with international health organisations including Amref Health Africa.

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A wildfire in Oklahoma City caused several structures and a bridge to burn on Thursday afternoon.

At about 4 p.m., multiple fire crews were called to the area of Reno Avenue and Council Road for a grassfire burning near the OKC Outlets and Lake Overholser.

Sky 5 was over the scene, where at least four structures caught fire. The Oklahoma City Fire Department said at least three of the structures were trailer homes and the fourth was a shed that caught fire near Lake Overholser.

A railroad bridge also broke out in flames due to the wildfire. Union Pacific said it has closed train traffic due to the fire.

“Union Pacific is aware of today’s brush fire near our tracks in the Oklahoma City area. Train traffic is currently stopped as a precaution. The cause of the fire is under investigation by local authorities,” the railroad company said in a statement.

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VIDEO: Each year in the U.S., more than 350,000 people suffer cardiac arrest, and fewer than 10% survive. The primary obstacle is time. When a heart stops, every minute without treatment reduces survival odds by about 10%. Despite decades of medical advances, that survival rate remains stagnant. Now, researchers are testing a first-of-its-kind, high-tech way to close that critical gap.

Drones, once associated with combat zones and fireworks shows, are taking on a new mission: saving lives. “We’ve discovered that the first five minutes matter the most for survival,” Dr. Monique Starks, a physician at Duke University School of Medicine said.

Researchers at Duke Health are testing whether drones can deliver automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, faster than emergency crews can respond. “If we can get treatment within five minutes for a patient with a shockable arrhythmia, survival can be about 50%,” Starks said.

If a bystander uses an AED within two to three minutes, survival rates rise to 70%. However, average ambulance response times range from seven to 12 minutes in urban areas and can exceed 20 minutes in rural communities.

When a 911 call happens, a drone takes off at the same time as paramedics. “Once they arrive, the drone flies at about 200 feet, it lowers to 100 feet, and then it winches the AED safely to the ground,” Starks said.

As the device reaches the ground, a 911 dispatcher guides a bystander through the steps to use it. “The AED drone overview is probably one of the greatest things since sliced bread. I say that because it’s a whole nother level of patient care,” Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr. said.

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VIDEO: A nursing home in Rockland gifted their fire department a brand-new, fully equipped SUV as a thank you for rescuing residents during a fire at the facility last November.

Rockland firefighters rescued more than 100 people during a fire at the Webster Park Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center on November 29, 2025.

“Rockland Fire Department responded not only with professionalism, expertise, and disregard for their own safety, but with compassion, patience, leadership, and an incredible commitment to the safety of our residents,” said Todd Funk, Administrator at Webster Park Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center.

The SUV joins the department’s fleet of emergency vehicles, and is equipped with radios and other life-saving equipment.

“Our budgets are thin. They are stretched. We aren’t always able to afford the luxuries that make our job that much easier,” said Rockland Fire Chief Scott Duffey.

Webster Park Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center staff said the firefighters went the extra mile, and even sang to the residents while carrying them out of the building during the fire. No one was hurt.

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A massive four-alarm fire tore through two homes in Belleville early Thursday, lighting up the night sky and sending residents fleeing.

The fire broke out on Crescent Terrace just before 3:15 a.m. and spread to an adjacent home on the dead-end street.

One home, which appeared to have been under construction, collapsed, while flames tore through the roof of a second home.

Burning trees and downed wires hampered firefighters and caused the flames to threaten adjacent homes on Maier Street, where two backyard sheds were damaged.

Firefighters also faced low water pressure as they battled the flames. Downed power lines created additional challenges for crews at the scene.

Police went door to door during the night to alert residents. The residents of the homes were preliminarily reported to have escaped the flames.

One neighbor said they heard “popping noises” before seeing “a house up in flames and a huge plume of smoke.”

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VIDEO: Homeowners in Spokane’s Westgate neighborhood came face to face with the firefighters they credit with saving their homes during an emotional community gathering.

The residents organized a block party as a way to express gratitude to members of Spokane Fire District 8, who worked tirelessly during last week’s fires to protect as many homes as possible in the neighborhood.

For many residents, the past month has been a difficult journey. Families were evacuated as fires swept through the area, leaving them uncertain about whether their homes would survive. Some residents searched desperately for news footage or photos that might show their properties still standing.

Thomas Clouse, an evacuee, recalled the moment he learned his home had survived. “Monday morning, I finally made it back and I ran into Bob who lives in the house right here,” Clouse said. “I said, ‘How did our homes survive?’ and he said ‘my wife saw a video on the BBC of a firefighter hosing down my house’ and I said, ‘Well Bob, I’m going to find that firefighter.'”

That firefighter was Captain Todd Wood of Spokane Fire District 8. Wood was among the crew members who fought the fires in the Westgate neighborhood, and his efforts to protect homes did not go unnoticed by residents.

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PHOTOS: Firefighters have contained a three-alarm fire that engulfed a shoe factory Wednesday afternoon, sending a massive plume of smoke into the air and prompting the brief closure of nearby Fullerton Municipal Airport.

Fullerton Fire Department officials received a call at 12:04 p.m. reporting a fire inside a building in the 3600 block of Commonwealth Ave.

Firefighters were able to rescue some scared kittens in the area, but no injuries were reported. The smoke from the fire could be seen for miles, which was especially concerning for residents who live right across the street from where the fire started. The fire was at Capri Shoes, which sits just outside of airport property.

“Due to the heavy volume of fire and smoke, the airport was precautionarily shut down due to visibility,” said Fullerton Deputy Fire Chief Michael Meacham. Employees who were inside said they were evacuated as firefighters arrived and began efforts to put the fire out, which was made all the more challenging by the summer heat.

“The biggest challenge today is just the weather conditions, the heat and the stress on the firefighters operating with a stubborn fire like that,” Meacham said.

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PHOTOS: One person is dead following a home explosion in Portage, Indiana, according to the area police department. Despite reports that the Northwest Indiana home explosion may have occurred in connection with severe weather threats that passed through the area, authorities said investigators are still working to determine the cause of the blast.

“During the severe weather event, the Portage Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire on the north side of the city,” Portage police said in a news release. “Due to widespread storm damage, debris, and hazardous conditions, emergency responders experienced an extended response time while attempting to access the incident location.”

Authorities have not yet released any information concerning the person killed or additional injuries. Locals are asked to avoid the area while officials continue to investigate. SkyCam9 flew above the scene, at Harrison and Jefferson, where a gas flame was still visible. Aerial shots captured emergency crews on the ground canvassing the area. Debris from the blast could be seen on the property of a nearby neighbor’s home.

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VIDEO: Recent tragedies in the community have increased public awareness of the threat of residential fires, and requests from the community for resources to head off preventable emergencies.

Public safety officials have responded in a big way.

Westchester County has launched a fire safety campaign aimed at helping residents reduce the risk of fires in their homes, with a series of four public service videos set to roll out over the coming weeks.

The Department of Emergency Services announced the effort Monday in White Plains, where County Executive Ken Jenkins introduced the campaign during his weekly news briefing.

According to the county, the videos focus on major causes of home fires and steps residents can take to lower their risk.

The campaign also includes practical information on maintaining smoke detectors and preparing a family evacuation plan if a fire happens. The videos are available on the Westchester County Government YouTube page.

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The Houston Fire Department has left the scene of a large recycling plant fire in the 1900 block of Goodyear Drive in southeast Houston on Tuesday.

The fire, which was visible along Texas State Highway 225 for much of the morning, broke out at Ironman Metals, according to HFD.

“We did get a call for a fire at this plant at 6:49 a.m.,” HFD Chief Thomas Munoz said. Munoz said HFD had 60 firefighters at the scene, including members of its hazardous materials team.

Ironman Metals states on its Facebook page that it recycles everything from copper to auto parts. Officials with HFD said they monitored air and water in the area for any potential environmental impacts.

“We’ve checked with our HAZMAT specialists,” Deputy Chief Isaac Garcia said. “They say it’s good.” Eyewitness News wanted to ask HFD additional questions about what chemicals might have been burning into the air as a result of this fire, but the follow-up call to the department went unanswered.

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A salvage yard in Uvalde sustained severe damage after a fire broke out on Sunday afternoon. According to a statement by Uvalde County Constable Precinct 6 Emmanuel Zamora, the fire started around 3:45 p.m. on 3725 East Main Street at Hacienda Salvage.

Zamora says multiple departments were needed to put it out. In addition to the Uvalde Volunteer Fire Department, the Knippa Volunteer Fire Department, the Sabinal Fire Department and Concan Fire and EMS were called in for mutual aid.

The Uvalde Volunteer Fire Department, in another post, added that the La Pryor Volunteer Fire Department, City of Uvalde, Uvalde EMS, Uvalde County Sheriff’s Department, and Texas DPS were also called in. The owner of Hacienda Salvage, Robert Rowland, posted on Facebook around 6:45 p.m. to confirm there was a fire.

“It looks like it burned about 100 cars so far,” Rowland said. “We believe the fire is contained, but there is still a lot of work to be done.”

The owner thanked the departments who responded for their service in putting out the flames and added that there were no injuries reported.

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VIDEO: Massachusetts is moving forward with a proposal that would make it the first state in the nation to require building owners to identify and replace recalled sprinkler heads, a move that comes in the wake of last year’s deadly fire at the Gabriel House assisted living home in Fall River.

The Massachusetts Board of Fire Prevention Regulations voted last week to support the proposal. A final vote is expected in October, meaning the new code change could take effect as soon as next year. Tens of millions of recalled sprinkler heads are believed to be in place nationwide, according to the National Fire Sprinkler Association.

The code change would add a requirement during annual sprinkler inspections for a list of all installed sprinkler heads to be checked for any recalls. If the list doesn’t exist, as is the case in many buildings, the code change would require each installed sprinkler head to be inspected.

As previously reported, sprinklers at Gabriel House had been recalled decades earlier, including the one in the room where the fire started.

Following the tragedy, Fall River Fire Department Capt. Joshua Hetzler discovered there was no requirement in Massachusetts or the nation to check for recalled sprinklers during inspections. He proposed the code change to address this issue.

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VIDEO: A new mural in Bridgeport honors two firefighters who were killed in the line of duty more than a decade ago. It’s painted on the side of the Engine 11/Ladder 11 Fire Station on Ocean Terrace Avenue.

There are three panels of the mural: the local firehouse patch, the city of Bridgeport Fire Department patch, and a panel with two firefighter helmets honoring Lt. Steven Velasquez and firefighter Michel Baik who were killed on duty in 2010. There were battling a house fire on Elmwood Avenue.

“We pledge every July 24, when we remember both Lt. Velasquez and firefighter Baik to always remember and never forget. This will allow everyone that drives by to always remember and never forget,” said Mark Cody, acting fire chief. It was painted by Connecticut artist Ryan Christenson, also known as ARCY.

“I got a picture of this mural as it was completed, and I did send it to the family. They are impressed and they are happy. It brings tears to their eyes. It brought tears to my eyes when I saw it,” Cody said.

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PHOTOS: A fire at a Birmingham apartment complex displaced at least 20 residents Sunday afternoon, with the American Red Cross responding to assist those left without a home.

Officials said no injuries were reported. Birmingham Fire & Rescue Service responded to the blaze at the 2700 at Homewood apartment complex on Temple Crest Drive just after 4 p.m.

Birmingham Police Department officers were also on scene, knocking on doors to help residents and their pets evacuate. Residents were quickly forced outside and stood for hours watching the fire spread from unit to unit.

One resident said smoke was visible from more than ten miles away. Vittorio Corey, who has lived at the complex for three months, said he initially thought a neighbor was grilling before realizing the building was on fire.

“I was standing on the end of my bathroom and I saw smoke. I thought someone was barbequing. But there was a fire, so I walked down to the end and had some officers down there, and as soon as they kicked the door open, the flames just erupted,” Corey said.

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VIDEOS: Two helicopter pilots assigned to the Widemouth 2 Fire died after a helicopter crash, according to the Sevier County sheriff and interagency partners of the Great Basin Geographic Area.

The pilots worked for Helicopter Transport Services, a Forest Service exclusive-use contract aircraft company. Officials said the pilots’ families had been notified. Their identities have not yet been released.

A Sikorsky Skycrane helicopter carrying a pilot and a crewmember crashed at about 10:40 a.m. Aug. 7, 2026, officials said. The crash sparked a fire in the surrounding vegetation.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox mourned the loss of the two pilots in a statement posted on social media. “Today we mourn two helicopter pilots who lost their lives while fighting the Widemouth 2 Fire,” Cox wrote.

“They put themselves in harm’s way to protect our state and gave their lives in that service. Abby and I are heartbroken. Our prayers are with their families and the entire wildland fire community.”

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