A massive fire was still raging on Sunday night after it broke out in a New Jersey warehouse around 3 p.m. and spread rapidly, reaching 11 alarms.

Strong winds pushed the flames from the warehouse off Cortlandt Street in Belleville to multiple nearby buildings, forcing families from their homes. Thick black smoke filled the sky and was visible for miles.

Belleville Mayor Michael Melham declared a State of Emergency. “I had to leave my house because it’s going to be dangerous,” said Jeff Oliver.

The industrial building houses a mattress warehouse as well as a textile manufacturing business. Neighbors heard explosions.

“I heard some pops and I saw the smoke and I received many calls from throughout the area and like many Belleville residents I went to see, and it’s truly horrific,” said Belleville Township Councilman Frank Velez.

The fire sent chunks of debris, ash and sparks into the sky as a gusty wind fanned the flames. “And then it just started growing and growing — it just kept growing,” said Jonathan McCann.

The entire block seemed to melt and collapse — fueled by industrial materials inside. “Chemicals such as helium have been mentioned and that could contribute to the fire and the blaze and how extreme it’s been,” said Velez.

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Over the past two years, UAFA has been collaborating closely with the Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) to guide technology development and its practical implementation in wildland fire operations.

While the WFCA has successfully tested and implemented fire tech products at the local fire department level, this new joint initiative applies technological integration on a much larger state and federal scale.

Recently, this ongoing collaboration brought UAFA to the forefront of a major national initiative designed to address systemic barriers in fire management. On April 2 and 3, 2026, UAFA representatives, including Executive Director Paul Petersen, participated in Phase 2 of the National Wildland Fire Technology Summit in Boise, Idaho.

Joining nearly 100 subject matter experts from government, partner agencies, and various other organizations, UAFA provided critical input on the specific capabilities and tools needed to effectively support the on-the-ground firefighter.

This event built directly upon a Phase 1 roadmap previously established by top executive leadership from the Department of the Interior (DOI), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and the National Association of State Foresters (NASF).

The overall initiative focuses on six strategic national outcomes: unified interagency coordination, integrated strategic planning and workforce development, a cultural shift toward proactive fire management, integrated technology and data for intelligence, strengthened community resilience, and post-fire recovery.

Through its summit participation, UAFA is directly helping to translate these high-level priorities into the operational capabilities and requirements that will guide federal and state governments moving forward.

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VIDEO/PHOTOS: Jacksonville marks 125 years since the Great Fire of 1901, a blaze that leveled much of downtown and reshaped the city’s future — and historians say its conditions echo what crews are facing in wildfires burning today in Southeast Georgia.

“It was a day very much like our May 3 that we’re living in, the contemporary moment here in 2026,” said Dr. Alan Bliss, CEO of the Jacksonville History Center.

The fire erupted on May 3, 1901, and became the most destructive event in Jacksonville’s history. Historians estimate that about 90% of downtown was destroyed, including large homes and hotels.

Much of Jacksonville at the time was built with timber, Bliss said, a conveniently available supply found in the pine flatwoods of Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. “If you know anything about burning pine, you know that it burns very cheerfully,” Bliss said.

Historians say the fire started when a spark landed on dry Spanish moss at the Cleveland Fibre Factory. The University of North Florida’s Thomas G. Carpenter Library has noted that the fire burned for nearly eight hours, cutting a path through more than 150 city blocks and destroying about 2,400 structures.

“It caused a lot of people to lose everything, displaced from their homes for months and years afterwards,” Bliss said. “It destroyed businesses.”

A grim reality that is all too familiar in recent days in Brantley County, Georgia. After digging through the numbers, Meteorologist Michelle McCormick says April 1901 and April 2026 both had hot and dry conditions, less than two inches of rainfall, and winds that affected the fires.

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PHOTOS: Portland Fire & Rescue was on the scene of a two-alarm fire in the Belmont neighborhood. Crews were dispatched to the 400 block of Southeast 30th Avenue near Stark Street just after 4:45 a.m. Friday. A second alarm was added shortly after 5 a.m.

“This is a defensive fire with too much fire to make entry,” Portland Fire said on X. Downed power lines also made it difficult for firefighters to attack the blaze.

Neighboring homes were evacuated as firefighters were concerned about the fire spreading. Portland Fire removed the siding from a nearby home to check for any possible fire extension. KATU’s Darryl Burke reports that one firefighter has suffered minor injuries. Fire officials believe the home had been abandoned.

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VIDEOS/PHOTOS: Dallas Fire-Rescue and Dallas Love Field have unveiled the first fully electric aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle in the world – marking a step towards cleaner technology and enhanced public safety for both passengers and fire crews.

The new 91,000-pound vehicle, a PANTHER 6×6 built by Rosenbauer, will operate at the airport’s Station 21 following a six-month testing phase. Officials said the truck combines faster response times, greater firefighting capability, and lower environmental impact.

“Innovation and new technology are a critical part of Dallas Fire-Rescue’s overall mission of rapid response, excellence in care, and the highest standards of safety,” Fire Chief Justin Ball said.

The show-stopping aspect of the electric vehicle is its speed, as it can accelerate from 0 to 50mph in less than 15 seconds, giving fire crews the ability to head to a scene faster. “When it comes to airport firefighting, speed is a big issue,” he said. “Every second counts.”

The truck also delivers 40% more water pressure, extending its reach from about 190 feet to 250 feet. That added distance allows crews to fight fires more safely and effectively. “They would be able to, if need be, fight fire from more of a distance, which makes it safer for them,” Ball said. “And just being able to put that much water on something that quickly makes a big difference.”

In addition to the performance improvements, the vehicle produces zero emissions. “These vehicles – they don’t run a lot,” Ball said. “They don’t make a lot of runs because they’re at an airport, even though they have to be ready and capable, so with the diesel ones, our members come in every day, and obviously, they have to start the vehicle, and that’s when the most issues for emissions come out – is when they start the vehicles.”

Another shining aspect of the neon green fire truck is how quiet it operates; its electric motor offers about a 50% noise reduction, which officials said will be helpful for communication during airport emergencies.

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VIDEO: Captain Jake Stuart leads dozens of people each year down a long winding driveway to the Fallen Heroes Memorial at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, a role rooted in personal loss.

Stuart’s connection to the honor guard began in childhood. His father, also a firefighter, died when Stuart was 8 years old.

“When I was a kid my father was also in the fire department. He passed away when I was 8 years old,” said Stuart.

“One of the distinct memories I have at all of my father’s services when I was a kid was the honor guard being there and present,” said Stuart.

Stuart joined the Baltimore County Fire Department at 19. Shortly after, he lost a mentor, Mark Falkenhan, in the line of duty.

“Gentleman by the name of Mark Falkenhan passed away in the line of duty in this area. Mark was very close with my father. I knew Mark my entire life, and again, one of the distinct memories I have about that service was the presence of the honor guard,” said Stuart.

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A house collapsed in a fifth alarm gas fed fire in South Ozone Park, Queens, that appears to have started as a domestic dispute. The house on 130th Street exploded in a roar of flames just before 3 a.m. Thursday.

Police officers had responded to a 911 call of a domestic dispute at the home, and a suspect armed with a knife. As they arrived, they smelled gas coming from the structure and were met by a woman, who gave them the keys to her basement apartment.

The officers were attempting to enter the apartment to look for her estranged husband when the house exploded. Seven police officers and a police sergeant were injured in the blast.

The NYPD officers sustained minor burns. The most serve injury was a laceration to the head that required stitches. Police reviewed body worn cameras that showed the explosion was so severe it blew several officers off their feet and into a fence.

“They stood up, they got up, they ran into the burning home, because that’s what the job required, and that’s what they do every day. They run through danger. They do not run away from it. Cops confront these situations every day, not knowing if luck will be on their side. Thankfully, today, luck was on their side,” said Assistant Chief Christopher McIntosh, NYPD Commanding Officer Patrol Borough Queens South.

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A Virginia Beach teacher and her firefighter husband are celebrating what they call a “new beginning” after a successful liver transplant surgery.

Casey Williams, a second-grade teacher at New Castle Elementary School, recently underwent the life-saving procedure at UVA Health Medical Center.

Her husband, Virginia Beach Fire Department Captain Neil Williams, donated 60% of his liver in a surgery that lasted several hours.

The couple says Casey is now recovering and beginning the next chapter of her health journey together with her family. “This now marks what the couple calls ‘Casey’s New Beginning.’”

The transplant represents a major turning point after years of serious health challenges. For more than a decade, Casey has battled liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, and complications that required frequent hospital visits and multiple surgeries.

Despite those struggles, her family says she remained deeply committed to her students and rarely showed the extent of her illness in the classroom.

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PHOTOS: D.C. Fire and EMS crews responded early Thursday morning to a boat fire at James Creek Marina in Southwest D.C.

Around 5 a.m., crews said they were called to the marina in the 2100 block of 2nd Street SW, where one boat was found fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters launched a two-pronged attack, using both land-based units and two fireboats to bring the blaze under control.

Authorities said the fire also caused damage to neighboring boats on both sides of the vessel. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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The roof of an apartment building that erupted in flames in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles collapsed as firefighters were responding Tuesday morning.

Crews were called to the fire burning in the two-story, garden-style apartment building in the 3200 block of James M. Wood Boulevard around 7:20 a.m. Heavy smoke was showing from the attic as firefighters arrived, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Sky5 was over the scene around 8 a.m., where nearly a dozen firefighters could be seen working on the roof of the building. “Firefighters, they’ve been working this fire for about 30 minutes and have made some really good progress,” KTLA’s Rich Prickett said. “I’ll tell you, it was really going, and it actually collapsed the roof.”

Crews declared the fire had been extinguished at 8:20 a.m., about an hour after the blaze was reported. There were no initial reports of injuries resulting from the fire, but the Red Cross was notified to assist with 18 displaced individuals, the Fire Department said.

James M. Wood Boulevard and Irolo Street were closed for about a block in each direction during the firefight. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation

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Dallas Love Field and Dallas-Fire Rescue are teaming up to unveil the first-ever fully electric aircraft firefighting vehicle in the world. The City of Dallas released details about the new vehicle and the unveiling event in a Monday press release.

According to the bulletin, Dallas-Fire Rescue and the Department of Aviation are advancing safety, innovation, and sustainability with the unveiling of the world’s first all-electric aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle at Dallas Love Field on Wednesday, April 29, from 10:30-11:30 a.m.

In addition to providing fire protection and emergency medical services across the city, Dallas-Fire Rescue oversees the specialized fleet of ARFF vehicles stationed at the airport. As part of ongoing modernization efforts, the two entities will deploy the new E-PANTHER 6×6 electric vehicle for the media at the airport’s ARFF Station 21.

The vehicle is manufactured by Rosenbauer International and the city hopes it will enhance both operation capability and environmental performance. Key features of the new vehicle include:

• 91 pounds of pure electric acceleration from 0 to 50 mph in under 15 seconds, under 20 seconds in “Boost Mode,” compared to 28 seconds for diesel.
• Increased master stream reach 40%, extending from 190 feet to 250 feet, allowing crews to engage fires from a safer and more effective distance.
• Quiet electric motors delivering approximately 50% noise reduction during emergency responses compared to diesel.

The new vehicle is expected to establish a new benchmark in airport firefighting: delivering high-performance response capabilities while significantly reducing environmental impact. After the completion of a six-month test phase, it will be integrated into the fleet as a regular operational vehicle.

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A home caught fire Monday night in Oldham County due to a lightning strike. According to the North Oldham Fire Chief Jim Sohan, a call for a house fire came in about 7 p.m., and crews arrived at 7:15 to the home on Harbor View Court in Prospect. The roof collapsed onto the second floor, which then collapsed onto the first floor.

“When we first arrived, the homeowner said his house was struck by lightning and he called 911,” said Sohan. “Upon arrival, the fire was already burned through the roof from one side of the house to the other.”

It took 46 firefighters to put the fire out, and a crew remained on scene throughout the night in case there was another flare up.

All occupants of the home were able to escape. No injuries were reported.

A strong line of severe storms rolled through the region about between 7 and 9 p.m. Widespread damage was reported, including several trees down and thousands of homes left without power.

A portion of I-264 in Jefferson County was shut down about 10 p.m. due to a vehicle that stalled out in standing water.

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PHOTOS: A raging fire erupted at an abandoned mill in Haverhill, prompting a large emergency response. According to Haverhill Fire Chief Christopher Cesati, a call came in around 3:30 a.m. from a passerby who spotted the flames at the Stevens Street mill.

“I smelled the smoke and I heard the sirens,” said Krissy Fraczek, who lives nearby. “I turned the corner and saw the big plume of smoke and I’m like, oh my God.” The building itself carries more than a century of history—some sections date back to the late 1800s. It’s also no stranger to disaster because in 2015, the mill caught fire in a massive blaze that led to the arrest of four teenagers.

“We went to three alarms on this,” said Haverhill Fire Chief Cesati. ”We have plenty of mutual aid in.” Chief Cesati says firefighters never went inside, only spraying water from the outside, knowing it was an abandoned mill ever since it caught fire in 2015.

After that incident, the department created detailed plans in case the mill ever burned again, and those preparations are now being put to the test. Cesati says crews will likely remain on-site for days to fully extinguish the fire, given how deep it is inside the building.

The mill has been vacant and boarded up since the previous fire, and officials say no one was inside when this latest blaze broke out. “But when there’s a will, there’s a way,” said Fraczek. ”People will get in, unfortunately. A lot of the homeless go in there trying to find heat and trying to find shelter.”

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PHOTOS: While there are no statistics citing how many first responders play golf, firefighters in hundreds of departments, organizations and charity events across the nation often flock to the course. With flexible 24-hour work schedules, they can play more often than almost anyone.

Some even fashion their own work area at stations to make golf clubs. Hoping for uneventful shifts as they report for duty between 7 and 8 a.m., they’re also preparing for the worst, confirming everything is in working order: trucks with proper fuel and water levels, safety equipment, hoses, medical supplies, personal gear and more.

They must be ready at a moment’s notice. One of those moments came on Feb. 17, 2022, on what dawned as a foggy and mild Michigan winter morning. Little did the golfing members of one Detroit area fire department know they were about to make golf history … by saving golf history.

Looking forward to a day off after a rough week, Oakland County’s Bloomfield Township fire chief John LeRoy normally hears alerts coming in 24/7. The one from 3951 Maple Road was especially troubling when the kitchen staff in the clubhouse at the legendary Oakland Hills Country Club smelled smoke.

At 9:17 a.m.—which sounds more like a tee time—the first call rang in and as the radio calls intensified, the chief rushed to the scene. “We get smoke calls all the time,” LeRoy says. “You can often tell by specific odors whether it’s electrical or something else and then discover its source; but the smell and location of this one was hard for anyone to define.”

The elegant 100-year-old wooden clubhouse was designed by Charles Howard Crane, an OHCC member and famous Detroit architect whose credits included the Fox Theatre, Detroit Opera House and the original Olympia Stadium, opened in 1922.

Extensive renovations had been made since 1968, including a major project in 1999, adding numerous club amenities and a memory-laden galleria along the second-floor hallway with more than 200 pictures of the early clubhouse, grounds, and tournaments past. Oakland Hills has hosted six U.S. Opens, three PGA Championships and a Ryder Cup.

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More than 55,140 acres have burned and at least 120 homes were destroyed as firefighters battle massive wildfires across southern Georgia as of Monday evening.

Fires in Clinch and Brantley counties are now considered the most destructive in the state’s history, according to Gov. Brian Kemp. The flames have wiped out more than 120 homes since starting more than a week ago.

On Sunday night, isolated thunderstorms brought between 0.4 and 0.8 inches of rain to the area, providing a brief break from extreme fire behavior. However, officials warned the rain would not extinguish the fires completely. FEMA has authorized federal money to reimburse the state for 75% of the costs to fight these fires.

Hundreds of people have been forced to leave their homes, staying in hotels or emergency shelters like the Red Cross in Brantley or Selden Park in Brunswick. While some families were escorted back into certain areas Monday to check for damage, many are still waiting to see if they have a home to return to.

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PHOTOS: A home in Warsaw caught fire Saturday afternoon and ended up completely burned down. At around 3:45 p.m. Saturday, a helicopter from a local radio station in Warsaw, WIOE, captured video of a home on fire located in the Barrington Hills subdivision just off the intersection of N 100 E and 350 N.

In the video, the flames emitting from the home are visible as it becomes completely engulfed in smoke. Emergency vehicles can be seen speeding through the neighborhood streets to quickly respond to the fire.

After the helicopter pilot took off from the Warsaw airport, he told WANE 15 he saw black smoke coming from his right. About an hour and a half later, the pilot flew over the area again and snapped a photo of what was left of the home.

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VIDEO/PHOTOS: The Smokey Bear Historical Park will celebrate its 50th year May 1-2, 2026, in Capitan, New Mexico, birthplace of Smokey the Bear.

The free, two-day festival will also celebrate Smokey the Bear’s birthday with fire prevention and conservation exhibits, a parade, the annual firefighter challenge, food, vendors, game, and family-friendly activities.

Events are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the park, 118 Smokey Bear Blvd., Capitan, about 166 miles from El Paso.

Smokey Bear was the living symbol of fire prevention for more than 25 years. The American black bear was orphaned during the May 1950 Capitan Gap Fire in Capitan. The months-old cub was found and rescued by U.S. Forest Service workers.

The Capitan Gap Fire started May 4, 1950, likely from a carelessly tossed cigarette, and burned for a week. Authorities said 14,000 acres of mostly federal land burned in the fire.

The original reporting of the bear cub’s story referred to him as Hot Foot Teddy as in this May 12, 1950, article: “Hotfoot Teddy,” the almost well-browned brown bear cub, is going to be all right.

HFT, about a month old, was flown here Wednesday in a private plane after Forest Service men found him on a rock slide, all four of his tiny feet badly burned in a forest fire on Capitan Mountain.

Dr. Edwin J. Smith, Santa Fe veterinarian who carefully bandaged HFT’s blistering paws, said the cub will be hospitalized until his seared footpads heal, then turned back to the Forest Service. Eventually, Hotfoot Teddy is expected to be released in some wilderness area.

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PHOTOS: Santa Fe Drive was closed in Littleton as firefighters with South Metro Fire Rescue extinguished a fuel tanker fire Monday morning.

The fire began around 5:30 a.m. Monday in the 4800 block of South Santa Fe Drive, according to Littleton Police. That’s near South Santa Fe Drive and West Belleview Avenue.

South Metro Fire Rescue said the fire involved a fuel tanker on northbound Santa Fe Drive, just north of Belleview. The fire involved a potential hazmat component and a hazmat team was on scene, according to South Metro Fire.

South Metro Fire Rescue said they were letting the fire burn out, but monitoring to ensure the fire did not reach any structures, including a U-Haul business.

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Six firefighters were injured, including one seriously, while fighting a blaze in Queens on Thursday. FDNY officials say the fire broke out around 6:45 p.m. in a vacant, two-story rectory, then spread to a vacant church next door. Both are over 100 years old.

Officials say 84 units and 270 fire and EMS personnel responded to the five-alarm fire. A thick wall of smoke swallowed the neighborhood as the firefighters tried to knock down the raging flames, but the flames were relentless.

Debris rained down on top of New York’s Bravest after part of the roof collapsed. Six firefighters suffered non-life-threatening injuries, including a firefighter who was struck in the head by falling debris from the collapse. He is conscious and alert, and is expected to be OK.

“Once the fire gets into these old churches behind the walls and into the roof space, it’s very difficult to extinguish, and there was major collapse danger to our members,” said FDNY Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods.

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VIDEO: A North Carolina diver found a firefighter’s gold necklace after he lost it in Myrtle Beach. Firefighter Marshall Marler and his wife, Shannon, were on their annual trip to Ocean Lakes Family Campground earlier in April.

Marshall took off his necklace to put on some sunscreen, but he forgot to put it back on before leaving the beach. “I called her, and I was like, ‘You didn’t, by chance, happen to put my necklace in your bag, did you?’” Marshall said. “She was like, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ So, I was like, ‘Well, it’s probably in the sand.’”

So, Shannon posted in an Ocean Lakes Facebook group, hoping someone would find the necklace. “I put it out there, just in hopes,” Shannon said. “He was just like, ‘It’s gone. I’m done. I don’t want to talk about it. I’m sad.’ I just felt like, ‘Hey, it’s worth a shot.’”

Recovery specialist John Connor, who loves diving and metal detecting for what he calls “treasure,” saw that post. He drove all the way from Calabash, North Carolina, to Myrtle Beach to help Marshall.

Connor searched for hours, in the middle of the night and into the morning, until he went closer to the water. “Right at the water’s edge, it was just a dusting over,” Connor said. “Anybody could’ve kicked it, and it would’ve shined right out into the sun.”

Marshall said he is grateful Connor found the necklace, especially because his parents gave it to him almost 30 years ago.“It was a gift from my parents for making the commitment to wanting to join the fire department,” Marshall said. “So, my mom even called me the other day, and she was pretty excited about me getting it back.”

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