VIDEO: Sometimes the smallest member of the team can make the biggest impact. One local firehouse has a new member who’s already become part of the family.

It’s now been over a month since Rufus the dog found his new home at Liberty Township Fire Department.

“The girl was like, ‘Do we want to see another dog?’ and I was like, ‘Nope, this is the dog. We’re going to give him a shot,’” said Captain Philip Lucarell.

In that short time, he’s already become an important part of the crew. “He’s an ambassador for the fire department, and he’s our morale officer,” Lucarell said.

Rufus spends his days around the firefighters, becoming part of their routine and bringing a little something extra to the station.

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PHOTOS: The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) has identified the two people who were killed in a fiery plane crash Thursday morning.

The crash happened around 8:15 a.m. in a wooded area near U.S. 301 near the Southwest Florida Water Management District office, according to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. Officials said multiple 911 calls came in reporting an aircraft had gone down. When firefighters arrived, they found the small plane fully engulfed in flames and were able to put out the fire in less than 10 minutes.

The pilot, who deputies identified as David Siambanes, 59, as well as the passenger, Dawn Stone, 53, were both killed in the crash.

Both victims worked in the medical and healthcare field. Stone was a nurse practitioner with AdventHealth, specializing in bone health for adults.

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PHOTOS: Multiple crews continue to be on the scene Thursday morning, September 3, after a massive fire in downtown Du Quoin.

Flames and smoke are still visible from where the fire started at the Home Lumber Co. on Wednesday afternoon. According to city leaders, the fire continued to rekindle throughout the night. The public is urged to avoid the Main Street area as crews continue to battle the fire.

On Wednesday, our crew on scene said the lumber company building is a total loss. According to Du Quoin Mayor Josh Downs, along with the lumber company building, BJs Garden Inn, Croessmann Wholesale Co. and an auto parts store were destroyed by the fire.

Mayor Downs is asking everyone to avoid downtown Du Quoin until otherwise notified. Governor JB Pritzker said his administration is continuing to monitor the ongoing fire. Mayor Downs went on to thank all of the fire, police and EMS crews from surrounding communities who responded to help.

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A recent state-of-the-art review in the journal Textiles by researchers at Oklahoma State University, USA, examines the use of nanotechnology to advance thermal protective clothing (TPC) for firefighters working in extreme thermal and hazardous environments.

The review highlights nanotechnology as a promising approach to developing lighter, multifunctional, and breathable firefighter clothing, while also addressing challenges related to scalability, durability, cost, and safety. Firefighters work in environments where intense heat, flames, steam, hot liquids, smoke, and toxic particles can cause severe injuries.

Thermal protective clothing (TPC) provides an essential barrier against these hazards, but conventional clothing often involves a difficult trade-off between protection and comfort. Increasing garment thickness or insulation can reduce heat transfer but also increases weight, limits breathability, and adds to physical strain.

In contrast, lighter and more breathable garments may provide less protection during intense thermal exposure. Nanotechnology offers new opportunities to address these challenges because nanoscale materials can provide high porosity, controlled surface chemistry, and tailored thermal and barrier properties.

Nanofibers and aerogels can reduce heat transfer, while inorganic nanoparticles can improve flame resistance and surface protection. Two-dimensional materials, metallic nanostructures, and phase-change materials can collectively provide functions such as sensing, infrared reflection, and thermal energy storage.

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A fire burned through a homeless camp on Fourth Way in North Fort Myers on Wednesday afternoon, according to the North Fort Myers Fire District.

Video from the scene shows smoke billowing from the lot. The fire was visible for miles across the area. North Fort Myers Fire officials said the flames were burning at approximately 1:30 p.m., and no people or pets were hurt. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office was on scene to assist.

The fire has since been put out, and the cause is under investigation. It has been ruled as accidental.

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PHOTOS: Crews are investigating after a seafood warehouse in Kent caught fire early Wednesday morning. Puget Sound Fire sent out the initial alert on social media at around 2:13 a.m., saying crews were on the scene of a two-alarm warehouse fire in the 20400 block of 80th Avenue South.

When firefighters arrived, flames were coming through the roof. Crews immediately set up a defensive approach, using three aerial master streams and portable monitors to control the flames.

“We would encourage people to give us the room that we need down here, because we do have fire hoses stretched across the road,” said Pat Pawklak with Puget Sound Fire. “Please adhere to those because of firefighter safety.”

No one was inside at the time of the fire and no one was hurt. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. Crews will continue to put out hotspots and then make the call if it is safe for an investigator to enter.

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While FDNY firefighters are continuing to perish from 9/11 related illnesses nearly 25 years after the terrorist attack, new Department data released on Tuesday shows that despite an insurmountable loss, there could be a silver lining.

The Fire Department suffered its greatest one-day loss in history on Sept. 11, 2001, when 343 members, including much of its leadership, were killed while responding to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

But in the nearly 25 years since then, they have also lost more than 600 other firefighters from illnesses they contracted due to their work in the rescue and recovery operations at Ground Zero, the pile of rubble from the collapsed Twin Towers and nearby buildings. In that respect, as Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore noted, 9/11 “was not a one-day event for our department.”

“It is a day that continues to sicken our members, with many of them eventually succumbing to the disease related to the heroic work in the rescue and recovery efforts,” Bonsignore said during the Sept. 1 press conference at the Fire Department’s headquarters in Downtown Brooklyn. “Our members are still getting sick, and sadly, they are dying.”

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AI is already helping detect and monitor wildfires. Now, researchers are exploring how it could help fire officials decide where to deploy crews across multiple fires.

Studies show climate change is contributing to longer, more intense wildfire seasons, forcing officials to make high-stakes decisions about how to prioritize limited resources.

AI could help them process information to make those decisions faster. Jason Fallon, the U.S. Wildland Fire Service’s division chief for wildland fire intelligence, told Axios that AI is ingrained in many areas of wildfire management nationally, including monitoring, detection, information dissemination and data transfer.

• AI-powered cameras, satellite systems and weather-prediction tools are helping agencies in Western states detect wildfires and deploy crews sooner.
• For satellite data triage, AI can “help us quickly work through a workflow to separate noise from reality,” Fallon said.

Léonard Boussioux, an information systems professor at the University of Washington Foster School of Business, is part of a team researching how machine learning and optimization could assist fire officials in deciding where to send crews when multiple wildfires are burning.

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A fire broke out at Howard Industries in Laurel after a paint booth next to a tanker truck caught fire, according to the Laurel mayor.

The fire sent thick smoke into the air and prompted people near the plant to leave. A Facebook Live video posted by Brandon Herford Brewer shows flames burning at the facility as multiple fire trucks arrive. Several loud booms can be heard in the video as Brewer describes the situation escalating.

“Everybody’s gotta leave,” Brewer says. The video also shows people running from the area while firefighters work near the plant. At one point, Brewer describes the heat as unbearable.

“My face is melting,” Brewer says. “It’s Howard industry and I’m about to get out of here. I am sweating down.” Brewer later says the building had been cleared and everyone had gotten out.

The mayor said the fire started in the paint booth near the tanker truck. It was not immediately clear whether anyone was injured or how much damage the fire caused.

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The International Association of Fire Fighters has warned that the growing use of GLP-1 weight loss drugs among firefighters raises important occupational health questions, particularly because no studies have yet examined how the medications or their side effects affect firefighters on the job.

GLP-1 receptor agonists, a class of prescription drugs used for type 2 diabetes and weight loss, can help some patients lose significant body weight by lowering blood sugar and reducing appetite. However, the IAFF said members taking or considering the drugs should speak with a physician before starting or stopping treatment.

The union highlighted several potential concerns for firefighters, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and reduced thirst. These side effects can increase the risk of dehydration, which is already a major concern in firefighting because of heat exposure, heavy personal protective equipment and intense physical exertion.

According to the IAFF, dehydration can impair endurance and physical performance and may contribute to heat-related illness, urinary and kidney problems, seizures and other serious complications. The organization said more research is needed to understand whether GLP-1 use creates additional risks for firefighters working in high-heat, strenuous environments.

The IAFF also cautioned that weight loss and fitness are not the same. Some studies suggest that a portion of weight lost while using GLP-1 drugs can include lean body mass, rather than fat alone. The union said firefighters using the medications should maintain exercise routines to protect strength, endurance and operational readiness.

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VIDEO/PHOTOS: Two volunteers firefighters are recovering after their fire truck overturned while responding to a field fire in Obion County.

“So Samburg just rolled their tanker on a call that they were responding to on our behalf, so they were coming to help us,” said Chief Karl Ullrich with the Union City Fire Department. The Samburg Volunteer Fire Department was responding to a mutual-aid call from the Union City Fire Department when the crash happened on Walker Tanner Road.

“The conditions are good. The driver sustained a laceration on his ear and was taken to the hospital and sewn up and the second firefighter, was flown to Memphis, regional one center, and they ran tests and did not find any broken bones or anything and was actually released from the hospital,” said Chief Mike Hogg with the Samburg Fire Department.

Hogg says the driver was traveling on a road he had never been on before when the truck reached a curve and the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to overturn. While both firefighters recover, Hogg says other fire departments across the county are ready to help if the department needs additional resources.

“All they have to do is call and we’ll respond with whatever equipment we have available, that they would need. I’m concerned that Samburg, I don’t know how they’re gonna be able to replace that tanker. Fire apparatus are extremely expensive, and very few communities who you know, have the cash on hand to replace that,” said Hogg.

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A large grass fire that spread across about 10 acres and involved two structures remained under control Sunday evening in the Sand Branch area of Dallas County.

Dallas Fire-Rescue responded to a mutual aid request from Dallas County Fire Rescue at 10:29 p.m. Saturday for a large grass fire at 206 Burns Drive.

The first Dallas Fire-Rescue battalion chief to arrive found a fire spanning about 10 acres that had spread to two structures, officials said.

Firefighters worked through the night and into Sunday afternoon to contain the blaze. The fire is now contained within an area with multiple brush, trash and debris piles.

Crews were using an excavator to expose hot spots burning within the piles. Firefighters used aerial ladders and hand lines to extinguish flames as they were uncovered.

Fire departments and agencies from Dallas County, Forney, Rockwall, Seagoville, Kaufman County, Red Oak, Ovilla, Ellis County, Bristol and Combine assisted with the response. Dallas Fire-Rescue engines and water tankers from surrounding counties helped supply water.

No injuries have been reported. Fire personnel were expected to remain at the scene for about another 24 hours to ensure the fire remained out.

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VIDEO: Firefighters in St. Johns are working to protect themselves from toxic chemicals in smoke and soot that can cling to their gear and skin long after a fire is extinguished. Officials say that exposure can lead to cancer over time.

Jim Brown served more than four decades as a firefighter with the Ovid-Middlebury Fire Department. In 2022, his son, Cpt. Eric Brown, said a hospital visit for COVID-19 led to an unexpected discovery.

“They did an MRI. And that’s when they found the cancer in his lungs, his liver, his pancreas, his spine, his ribs. It was everywhere. He was already stage four,” Eric Brown said. Five weeks later, the cancer took Jim’s life.

Stories like Brown’s led Chief Douglas to equip his fleet of fire trucks with Post-Fire Decon Kits. The kits include wipes for the face, neck, helmet and mask, along with trash bags for safe disposal and transport back to the station.

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VIDEO: Firefighters from across the region gathered in Hazard this weekend for the 48th Annual Hazard Fire School. While the three-day event is known for its intense, hands-on training, this year’s kickoff focused on a sobering piece of Kentucky history.

Chief John Beatsch of the Southgate Fire Department in northern Kentucky traveled to Hazard to share his firsthand account of the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire. On May 28, 1977, the fire swept through the club in Southgate, Kentucky, claiming the lives of 165 people and injuring hundreds more. It remains the third deadliest nightclub fire in United States history.

At just 21 years old, Beatsch was a firefighter on the first-arriving engine company. He witnessed the chaos and took part in the rescue operations that night. For decades, he says he didn’t feel comfortable talking about it. “Eventually, I came to the point where I felt like I needed to talk about it for myself, for my own healing,” Chief Beatsch said. “And, again, so that people could understand, you know, that it could happen.”

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PHOTOS: The floor of a church building collapsed Thursday morning after it caught fire Wednesday night.

Grand Rapids Fire Department (GRFD) crews responded to a fire at a 133-year-old, non-operating LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church near southeast Sheldon Boulevard and southeast Oakes Street for about seven hours after it ignited Wednesday night around 11 p.m.

Pastor Peter M. Jonker said Christian Reformed Church bought the building in 2017 and planned to turn it into a community “respite center” for people struggling with housing.

“We were a long way down the road with plans to renovate. We spent money. We we’ve had drawings. So we were on the cusp of starting that,” Jonker said. “When we came down, there was just a little smoke, but pretty soon it was fully engaged. Tragic loss for the city.”

By 6 a.m. Thursday, GRFD Battalion Chief Kathleen Thompson said they contained about 90% of the fire. A total of 19 fire crews responded after multiple alarms came in just before 11 p.m., one person even going to GRFD to pound on the door and alert them.

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The Mobile Fire Rescue Department Ladies Combat Challenge Team represented well at the Southeast Regional Firefighter Challenge Classic last weekend, according to the MFRD.

According to an MFRD Facebook post, Captain Jennifer Nelson and Firemedic Amber Dean represented the department in the Firefighter Championship League, not only bringing home awards, but setting Alabama records.

“The ladies crushed their runs and currently hold the Alabama state record for Women’s Tandem,” the post said. Additionally, Nelson placed first overall for women in her age division and set the Alabama record.

“These ladies have trained hard all year to prepare, and we could not be more proud of the hard work, teamwork, and dedication they continue to show while representing Mobile,” the post said. “True inspirations!”

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VIDEO/PHOTOS: It has been 30 years since a South Portland fire claimed the life of a fire department captain.

On August 27, 1996, a fire broke out at the Portland Welding Company. The South Portland Fire Department calls it one of the most challenging fires in its history. The four-alarm fire drew crews from across York and Cumberland counties.

During the response, South Portland Fire Department Capt. Robert Wallingford suffered a heart attack at the scene and later died. The department says Thursday’s anniversary is a time to honor Wallingford’s sacrifice and remember all the crews who responded that day.

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One person is dead and another is critically injured after a massive explosion at a Sand Springs business complex early Thursday morning. The explosion happened around 1 a.m. in the Morrow-Gill business complex near South Lincoln Avenue. Firefighters said the explosion originated at a marijuana grow facility.

Surveillance video from a nearby building captured the explosion, showing a bright flash and a large boom. Sand Springs Fire confirmed one person was killed in the explosion. A second person was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

Multiple emergency crews responded to the scene, including Sand Springs firefighters and police, PSO and Oklahoma Natural Gas.

Drone video from Osage Drone 6 showed crews searching through the rubble and debris scattered throughout the area. Fire Chief Jeremy Wade said the damage affected multiple businesses in the area.

“Multiple businesses have been affected. We’re going to get them in as soon as we can, but we have to make sure everything’s safe before we allow people to go back into businesses,” Wade said.

Firefighters said debris from the explosion was found blocks away from the site. Wade said crews are working to establish an area where business owners can receive information about the situation and learn when they can safely return to their businesses.

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VIDEO: Colorado Springs Fire Department and Colorado Parks and Wildlife are reminding the public to keep their belongings and trash secured after a bear walked into a fire station and grabbed a gear bag.

Colorado Springs firefighters said they believe the bear was “Smokey the Bear,” who walked into the bay at Station 16, grabbed one of their gear bags and ran away.

If you encounter a bear, Colorado Parks and Wildlife says to make loud noises to scare them off and make any encounter with humans “uncomfortable for them.” Colorado Parks and Wildlife has provided more ways to stay safe around bears as more encounters appear across the state.

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Three people, including two firefighters, were injured when a fire tore through two homes in the Ozone Park section of Queens early Thursday morning.

Authorities said the blaze broke out just before 4:45 a.m. on 110th Street. Video from the scene showed flames engulfing both houses as firefighters worked to contain the fire. The cause was not immediately known.

Officials said all three injured people, including the two firefighters, are expected to recover. Firefighters remained at the scene Thursday morning, extinguishing hot spots and investigating what sparked the blaze.

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