PHOTOS: A Martin County Sheriff’s Office helicopter crew is being credited with spotting a large fire late Sunday night and helping get firefighters to the scene before the flames spread to a nearby home.

The MCSO Air One pilot and tactical flight observer were on patrol around 10:30 p.m. when they noticed flames coming from a detached garage along Southwest Martin Highway, according to the sheriff’s office. The crew immediately alerted deputies and Martin County Fire Rescue.

Firefighters arrived to find the roughly 1,600-square-foot structure engulfed in flames, with its roof already gone. The sheriff’s office said the fire was threatening the main home on the property. Crews were able to contain the blaze before it reached the house.

The homeowners were not home at the time, according to MCSO. No one was injured.

Firefighters found a Class C motorhome and a Jeep inside the structure. The sheriff’s office said the garage and both vehicles were completely destroyed.

MCSO praised the Air One crew and responding deputies and firefighters, saying the helicopter crew’s discovery allowed emergency crews to reach the property in time to keep the flames from spreading to the home. Martin County Fire Rescue said the State Fire Marshal was notified. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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PHOTOS: Grand Prairie Fire Department has contained the parking lot fire that set at least 30 vehicles ablaze.

GPFD was dispatched to what was initially reported as a grass fire in the 1200 block of E Avenue J. at approximately 3:48 p.m.

Upon arrival, crews found at least 30 vehicles on fire with heavy smoke showing, upgrading the call to a full assignment.

“We’ve added some more units since just because of the high heat but no injuries. We’re just dealing with rehab and putting it out right now,” said Batallion Chief Jeremy Ashcroft.

People driving by reported hearing explosions as the flames grew.

“Cars on fire will make a lot of noises, exploding within the units themselves. Our biggest concern was the exposure to the buildings nearby, but we were able to contain it to the parking lot,” he said.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the vehicles and protect neighboring structures.

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VIDEOS/PHOTOS: The Hawk Fire has burned through 15,040 acres and remains 0% contained after starting on Saturday near Somersett.

Damage assessment teams are assessing structures in the affected area and homeowners will be notified directly if their property has been impacted.

Fire officials held a briefing on Sunday morning where they announced that about 42,000 people remain evacuated and/displaced by the fire. Another 90,000 people live within the zone.

Authorities have implored all of them to leave and be prepared to stay away for several days, because shifting and strengthening winds were expected to make the fire even more unpredictable. Over 1,000 first responders and 800 personnel are helping with the fire.

During the briefing, they announced that some ‘structures’ were damaged or destroyed but they did not give any specific numbers, not until an assessment is done.

The fire moved exceptionally fast Saturday night, jumping over fire trucks and making it difficult for responders to get to hotspots while residents were trying to get out, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said.

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Crews with the LaBelle Fire Department, along with the Clewiston and Bayshore Fire Departments, battled a fire involving three boats at the Belle Hatchee Marina on Sunday.

Crews say that the fire has since been put out. Video that a viewer sent in shows dark plumes of smoke billowing from the fire. The owner of one of the boats told Gulf Coast News that he is getting ready to pay tens of thousands of dollars to get his vessel repaired. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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PHOTOS: A historic Cleveland church was destroyed early Friday morning after a massive fire. Before 2 a.m., the old Friendship Baptist Church at East 55th Street and Central Avenue went up in flames.

19 News crews were on the scene as nearly 60 firefighters responded. Flames engulfed the vacant church before the roof collapsed.

Cleveland Fire Lt. Mike Norman estimated the loss at about $500,000 and said that the building is “irreplaceable.” The church was first built back in the 1890s and has been abandoned for years. There have been no injuries reported.

Norman told 19 News that the cause is still under investigation. “Crews did a nice job protecting a building next door on the south side of E.55. It was unaffected by the inferno,” Cleveland Fire said.

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VIDEO/PHOTOS: Three months after a deadly fire and explosion at a lumber mill in Searsmont, one Maine woman is providing first responders with comfort.

Althea Walker of Hartland donated 20 quilts Thursday to Searsmont firefighters. She says she wanted to take action after Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Woodbury died from his injuries, so she called on fellow quilt makers from Maine to Florida.

Officials in Searsmont say the donation demonstrates just how strong the community is. “It was one of those experiences that I probably will never forget because so many people wanted to let the people who responded that day know that even though they don’t know our name, we’re out there, and that we love them, and we’re hoping these help them heal,” Walker said.

Searsmont Fire and Rescue Chief James Ames says the quilts will serve as a reminder of that support. “I’m going to put my quilt beside my recliner where I sit. Our community’s always been fairly close, always helping one another. I think that will always continue,” Ames said.

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Two firefighters were injured while crews battled a blaze near the campus of Jackson State University, according to the Jackson Fire Department.

Jackson Fire Department units responded to Florence and Rosemont Avenues, at approximately 3:28 a.m. for a report of two vacant, abandoned structures on fire.

Six houses were engulfed in flames when they arrived, and five of those homes were destroyed.

During suppression of the fire, two firefighters were injured. One sustained a burn to the leg, and the other experienced dehydration. Both firefighters have been treated, released, and are expected to make a full recovery.

WLBT crews were on the scene around 4 a.m. and witnessed flames shooting high into the air, along with smoke and debris, with multiple fire crews working.

After the fire was brought under control, a fire investigator was requested. JFD says that the fire will be classified as ‘incendiary’ and is believed to have been caused by some type of human involvement.

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PHOTOS: Bellevue firefighters battled a large fire at an office building at 14670 NE Eighth St. on Wednesday, prompting a full closure of a stretch of the roadway, according to the city.

Firefighters confirmed that everyone inside the building had evacuated the building as Bellevue Fire and several neighboring agencies responded to the incident at the office building between 142nd and 148th Avenues in the Crossroads neighborhood.

Crews were dispatched to the fire at around 11:30 a.m. in response to reports of a fire on the first floor of the business, according to fire officials.

The fire quickly spread to the 2nd floor, and crews worked for a while to put out the flames and hot spots, fire officials said. Two firefighters were transported to local hospitals as a precaution for smoke and head impact, fire officials said.

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The New York City Fire Museum will reopen to the public Thursday after two years of repairs.

The museum, located in a renovated 1904 firehouse at 278 Spring St., has been closed since May 2024 because of concerns about the building’s structural integrity.

The reopening comes ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, the deadliest day in FDNY history. Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore will attend.

The museum houses historic FDNY firefighting artifacts and memorabilia, including items dating to the era of horse-drawn apparatus. Despite the repairs, thousands of artifacts on display remained in place.

Visitors will enter through a new glass entrance featuring new flooring decorated with enlarged patches from FDNY and EMS houses across the city.

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VIDEOS: Investigators were out at the scene Thursday after a fatal midair crash left a pilot dead and two Pennsylvania state troopers injured.

They will be looking into what caused a small plane and a state police helicopter to collide midair in Central Pennsylvania Wednesday night.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are both investigating. The crash happened at the Carlisle Airport in Cumberland County, southwest of Harrisburg, around 7 p.m.

When first responders arrived at the scene, a Pennsylvania state police helicopter was on its side and a small plane was in pieces.

The acting commissioner of the state police said the helicopter crew, based out of Harrisburg, had been conducting routine training exercises.

“The pilots would not have been able to even see that airplane approaching them,” said Pennsylvania State Police Acting Commissioner Col. George Bivens, adding that it was a “very violent crash.”

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A beachgoer partially buried in the sand on Cape Cod was rescued after nearly an hour of digging on Tuesday afternoon, police said.

It took the first responders from around the area to pull the person out after he became stuck in a hole in Sandwich, between Sagamore and Scusset beaches, Bourne police said.

The person, an 18-year-old, was buried up to the middle of his chest and said he was sinking further, according to the Sandwich Fire Department. When help arrived, it caused more sand to collapse on him.

Heavy rescue equipment was brought in from around the area, along with the Barnstable County Technical Rescue team, according to the fire department. In all, about 25 first responders worked together to get the teenager out, while paramedics started life support.

When he was pulled out, the teenager, conscious and alert, was driven to a nearby school and then flown in a medical helicopter to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was in stable condition, fire officials said. Another person was evaluated at the beach but didn’t want to be taken for treatment.

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An Oregon congresswoman is proposing a new grant program to support the mental health needs of firefighters and emergency medical services staff.

U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, a Tigard Democrat representing Oregon’s Willamette Valley-based 6th Congressional District, is seeking to establish a grant program that would fund $7.5 million a year in nationwide suicide prevention programs, peer support and counseling for first responders and firefighters.

The bill is similar to a 2017 law directing the U.S. Department of Justice to fund mental health and treatment programs across the U.S for law enforcement, except Salinas proposes the first responder program be administered through the Office of Emergency Medical Services, a branch under the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Studies show that first responders experience negative mental health outcomes at a higher rate compared to the general population, including higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempts than the general population. Additionally, stigmas behind mental health keep many firefighters and responders from seeking mental health support.

“Just as we ask our first responders to be there for us, we, as Congress, must be there for them,” Salinas said at a press conference at a Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue station near Lake Oswego Monday morning.

The proposal comes as Oregon faces a record-breaking wildfire season, and as state officials explore the impacts between wildfire and mental health. Last year, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service announced a new program aimed at addressing the mental health of wildland firefighters, providing up to 16 free therapy sessions a year regardless of whether they are in permanent or temporary positions.

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VIDEO/PHOTOS: Drone video captured the flames on top of the North Union Apartments in Midvale — the fire displaced hundreds of people. Firefighters responded to the fire that broke out on Friday, July 31.

Unified Fire Authority officials said crews responded to the building just before 8 a.m. Upon arrival, flames and smoke were visible from outside the building, with pieces on fire falling from the roof. Drone video from Unified Fire Authority shows a bird’s-eye view of the flames.

The building was evacuated safely, and displaced residents were directed to find shelter at a school nearby. Officials said there were 220 occupied units in the building.

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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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