If you have an emergency call 911!

National Fire News

Missouri recycling plant destroyed in fire

VIDEO: A De Soto recycling plant was destroyed in a fire Tuesday night. A view from Sky5 around 6:30 p.m. showed massive flames at the Proud Veteran Resources and Recycling. Several fire trucks could be seen spraying water on the flames. By about 7:45 p.m., it appeared firefighters were able to extinguish most of the heavy flames.
- PUB DATE: 12/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KSDK-TV NBC 5 St. Louis

This week in history: Union Stock Yard fire in Chicago kills 21 firefighters

Everyone remembers the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, but the blaze that left over 300 dead and thousands homeless was not the last disaster to scorch the city — not by a long shot. On Dec. 22, 1910, a fire broke out at the Morris and Co. meatpacking plant at the Union Stockyards, burning out of control despite the efforts of many heroic firefighters.
- PUB DATE: 12/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Chicago Sun Times - Metered Site

You can now video chat 911 in New Orleans when having an emergency, city officials say

New Orleans residents and visitors having emergencies can now talk to first responders by video when they call or text 911, thanks to a program city officials say will be a big help for people in crisis. The Orleans Parish Communications District, which handles the city's emergency dispatches and 911 calls, will also be able to better determine a person's location using upgraded software from its private partner, Carbyne, a call handling platform.
- PUB DATE: 12/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Nola.com

North Carolina firefighters put own twist on ‘The Night Before Christmas’

A certain fellow in a red coat has the City of Laurinburg Fire Department to thank after he was stuck in a chimney. Or, at least, that’s what the department said. The department posted a video on Sunday to its Facebook page paying tribute to first responders, detailing a firefighter’s version of the classic “The Night Before Christmas.
- PUB DATE: 12/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WBTW-TV CBS 13 Florence

VIDEO: Two Buildings Destroyed in California Fire

Two buildings were destroyed Monday night in a major emergency fire in North Hollywood that burned for nearly two hours before being extinguished. The fire was first reported around 9 p.m. in the 5400 block of North Tujunga Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The fire was "well developed" by 9:15 p.
- PUB DATE: 12/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KNBC-TV NBC 4 Los Angeles

Florida county recruits most diverse class of firefighter aspirants in history

The 91st class of 65 new Orange County Fire Rescue recruits marks the department’s most diverse class in history. Department officials say more than half of the members in the group are Hispanic, Black or Asian. Recruit Paris Nunn, a graduate of the University of Central Florida, is one of 19 women in the class.
- PUB DATE: 12/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WKMG-TV CBS 6 Orlando

Fatal New York school fire occurred 100 years ago

At 5:15 p.m. today church bells will ring downtown, not for the upcoming Christmas holiday but for a more somber reason — the 100th anniversary of the Lyons Union School fire that killed two young girls and destroyed the school. It will be exactly 100 years to the time when a fast-moving blaze tore through the William Street building, trapping and killing 12-year-old Helen Baltzel and 13-year-old Elizabeth Burns.
- PUB DATE: 12/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Finger Lakes Times - Metered Site

COVID-19 vaccine plan means some states will lag in getting shots to highest-risk groups

As health care workers and nursing home residents await the first syringes of the COVID-19 vaccine, few realize that when they will get a dose depends a lot on what state they live in. Though they’re first in line for the vaccine, some people in those groups may get vaccinated after people in other states who are deemed lower priority.
- PUB DATE: 12/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: USA Today

Texas: Downtown Austin's Iconic Central Fire Station Considers a Careful Upgrade

PHOTOS: Dating back to 1938, the New Deal-financed Austin Central Fire Station No. 1 sitting at 401 East Fifth Street on the northwest corner of Brush Square is an unlikely gem of downtown architecture, one of the few really striking examples of the Art Deco subset known as Moderne or Streamline Moderne in the city’s stock of public buildings — unfortunately, great vintage design doesn’t necessarily mesh with the facilities requirements of modern firefighting, meaning the Austin Fire Department has tolerated a growing list of frustrations with operating out of the the aging structure despite its obvious historic merit to those of us not actually fighting the fires.
- PUB DATE: 12/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: TOWERS Austin

4 Colorado Firefighters Hurt After Fire Engine Rolls Down Embankment

VIDEO: Four firefighters in Routt County suffered minor injuries after the fire truck they were in rolled off 200 feet down a steep embankment. The crash happened on Saturday after the firefighters were leaving the scene of a garage fire. The West Routt Fire Protection District responded to the home on Peak View Court to find the back of a garage on fire.
- PUB DATE: 12/21/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KCNC-TV CBS 4 Denver

Paragliding Santa Rescued After Getting Caught In California Power Lines

VIDEO: A paraglider dressed as Santa Claus was rescued after being caught in power lines in Rio Linda on Sunday. Santa was removed safely from the power lines near 7th Avenue after being trapped for over an hour, according to the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District. SMUD, the Sacramento Fire Department and California Highway Patrol units in North Sacramento were called to the scene for assistance.
- PUB DATE: 12/21/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOVR-TV CBS 13 Sacramento

Fire hits church rectory in Massachusetts; priest treated for burns to hands

VIDEO: Flames tore through the rectory of a Townsend church early Monday morning, sending a priest to the hospital with burns to his hands, officials said. The rectory of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, at 20 Highland St., still had flames shooting from the roof just after 5 a.m. and fire crews from several towns were called in to help as the fire, which started just before 2 a.
- PUB DATE: 12/21/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Telegram & Gazette

Century-old fire engine a reminder of the dedication of Washington firefighters

On Dec. 14, 1920, a shiny, new, red truck rumbled into Mount Vernon. It wasn’t Santa’s sleigh come to spread early holiday cheer, but was instead the newest addition to the Mount Vernon Fire Department — Skagit County’s first motorized fire engine. “It was something new and different than what a lot of people had,” said retired Mount Vernon firefighter Terry Hill.
- PUB DATE: 12/21/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Skagit Valley Herald

Florida: Surveys find many Tampa Bay first responders will not get the coronavirus vaccine

Many first responders in the Tampa Bay area say they won’t take the coronavirus vaccine. Local fire and police departments conducted surveys about the coronavirus vaccine, and a significant number of first responders say they are not taking it or are undecided. “It’s just so new and it’s been so highly publicized and so highly politicized, I think for a lot of our members,” said John Klinefelter, Clearwater Fire & Rescue Division Chief of Health and Safety.
- PUB DATE: 12/21/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WFTS-TV ABC 28 Tampa

Texas fire department now has its first-ever all-female day crew

VIDEO: History has been made in League City! The city's volunteer fire department now has it's first-ever all-female day crew. A photo of the five women, seen posing in full gear, was posted on the department's Facebook page on Wednesday. "These ladies are proudly representing Stations 3, 4 and 6! Way to represent and make history ladies," read the post.
- PUB DATE: 12/18/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTRK-TV ABC 13 Houston

Prosecutors: 15-year-old charged in murder of retired Chicago firefighter was part of ‘calculated’ carjacking attempt

A 15-year-old boy faces a murder charge in the fatal shooting of a retired Chicago firefighter earlier this month outside a Morgan Park popcorn shop. The teen, who is not being identified because he is charged as a juvenile, was unarmed at the time of the shooting. He was with two other people who had guns when they confronted 65-year-old Dwain Williams Dec.
- PUB DATE: 12/18/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Chicago Sun Times - Metered Site

Retired California firefighter honors first responders with reindeer display

VIDEO: Instead of Dasher, Dancer, and Prancer, a retired Redding firefighter has created his own handmade reindeer display in honor of first responders. Patrick Westrip created the eight not-so-tiny reindeer out of cardboard and paper-mâché and painted blankets on each one to honor different first responders such as firefighters, law enforcement, and medical workers.
- PUB DATE: 12/18/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KRCR-TV ABC 7 Redding

Police: 1 dead, 2 paramedics injured after shooting in Arkansas

One person is dead, two paramedics injured after a shooting Thursday morning in Pine Bluff. Officers were dispatched to the 1400 block of West 23rd Avenue at 4:30 a.m. and discovered the two paramedics suffering from gunshot wounds. According to Pine Bluff investigators a third individual, 22-year-old Kevin Curl Jr.
- PUB DATE: 12/18/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KARK-TV NBC 4 Little Rock

Fire trucks made just north of South Dakota town featured in a new video game

VIDEO: Fire trucks made at Rosenbauer USA, just north of Sioux Falls, are now featured in a new video game– and the company is giving away 250 free downloads this holiday season. Firefighting simulator The Squad just launched on Steam in November. This new worldwide video game features fire trucks made right here in South Dakota.
- PUB DATE: 12/18/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KELO-TV CBS 11 Sioux Falls

Pages

How can you help?

We are volunteer organizations and are funded primarily through generous donations from the community.  We also need help at our fundraising events.

We welcome new firefighters and EMT's.  We can provide you with training through the Wisconsin Technical College System.

To find out more about joining or other ways to help contact us or come to a meeting!