VIDEO: Mt. Juliet officials were fired up about being featured in a recent music video from country singer Chase Matthew. The Mt. Juliet Fire Department announced this week that it was featured in Matthew’s new “Holdin’ It Down” music video.

“From inside the fire bays to scenes alongside our apparatus, it was a special opportunity to represent Mt. Juliet on a national stage,” a post from the department said. The video focused on themes of hometown pride and tells the story of a child growing up to become a firefighter in his small town.

A message at the end dedicates the production “to the small town heroes.” “We’re proud of our firefighters and grateful to Chase and his team for highlighting the people who truly are holdin’ it down,” MJFD said.

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VIDEO: A new bill filed in the Alabama Legislature would create a criminal offense for interfering with police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel while they are performing their duties. Senator April Weaver (R) has introduced Senate Bill 293 establishing the crime of “Interference With a First Responder.”

The proposal comes amid what Weaver described as growing concerns about unrest and disruptions targeting emergency personnel in other parts of the country, citing violence and civil unrest in Minnesota. Weaver said she wants to prevent similar situations from occurring in Alabama.

“When our brave first responders are carrying out their duties, they shouldn’t have to worry about zealous agitators or bad actors interfering or inciting trouble,” Weaver said in a press release. “This bill makes it clear that when first responders instruct you to back off, refusing to do so will win you a free ride to jail in the back of a police cruiser while wearing a shiny pair of handcuffs.”

Under the bill, a person could be charged if they remain within 25 feet of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical services worker after being instructed to vacate the area while the responder is engaged in official duties.

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PHOTOS: A pastor and at least four firefighters were injured in an explosion at a New York church that resulted in “catastrophic damage” to the building on Tuesday, according to officials. Abundant Life Fellowship Church is considered “destroyed,” New York State Police said.

According to a preliminary investigation, four people were in the basement of the church when the furnace activated, triggering an explosion. Another firefighter was on the first floor attempting to ventilate the building at the time of the explosion and was thrown against the wall, according to police.

According to state police, those injured in the explosion have been identified as:

• Brandon Pitts, 43, the pastor of the church
• David Pritchard Jr., 60, Boonville Fire Chief
• Allan Austin, 67, a Boonville Fire Department firefighter
• Nicholas Amicucci, 43, a Boonville Fire Department firefighter
• Richard Czajka, 71, a Boonville Fire Department firefighter

They are all currently in critical but stable condition, officials said.

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VIDEO: The first 911 call in the United States was made 58 years ago by former Alabama House Speaker Rankin Fite during a non-emergency demonstration. The emergency system was created through work from Congress, the FCC and AT&T.

Since then, dispatchers have worked to keep people safe during emergencies while technology has evolved to make their jobs more effective. April White, director of the Monroe County 911 Center, said the work remains challenging but essential. “I helped save a life today,” White said, describing what keeps 911 dispatchers motivated.

White was a dispatcher when the Monroe County center first went online around 1993. She said the job looked much different then. “We had to handwrite everything. We had color-coded cards for each department. We had log sheets that we had to fill out,” White said.

Technology improvements have streamlined operations with faster computers, touch screens and the ability to send links to help with CPR. “And within seconds, very few seconds, you click on that link and it will open your cell phone up and we can see what you’re doing. And we can watch you and tell you if you’re doing it right or not,” White said.

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Every day, firefighters play a vital role in communities, working to save lives and property, at times in potentially life-threatening situations. Due to the nature of the job, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), firefighters have a 9 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population.

While in the line of duty, firefighters are exposed to hazardous substances such as smoke and toxic chemicals, increasing their risk of certain cancers. To better understand the link between firefighting and cancer, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) established the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer to study and reduce cancer risk in the fire service.

The NFR collects detailed work history information and links it with state cancer registries to improve understanding of occupational cancer risks and guide efforts to prevent cancer among firefighters. To date, the NFR says more than 40,000 firefighters have joined the NFR, and it is now the largest firefighter cohort in the nation dedicated to understanding occupational cancer risks and advancing prevention efforts to protect firefighters’ health.

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PHOTOS: More than 50 people remained away from their homes on Monday afternoon following a house explosion and a gas leak in Centreville the night before, according to a spokesperson for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.

That number is down from the 65 houses Washington Gas reported were evacuated as a precaution Monday morning. Crews spent Monday afternoon helping evacuated residents pick up necessary items from their homes or help return them to their homes.

Fire crews responded around 9:48 p.m. Sunday to the 14300 block of Quail Pond Court for a house fire after multiple callers reported hearing a loud explosion and flames engulfing the residence. Crews confirmed Monday morning that there was an explosion.

So far, investigators have not said whether the gas leak caused the explosion or if the two are linked at all. They are working to determine the cause. The house next door caught fire, too, but fire officials said crews got it under control, and the family living there got out.

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VIDEO: A rare weather report in Fresno County, as residents reported a potential tornado had ripped the roof off a fire station. Witnesses said Tuesday that they spotted a small funnel cloud touchdown in the town of Tranquility.

“Rarely does one actually touch down and cause damage. With this job, just like with the public, you always have to be ready for everything. Fire Department, we’re not exempt from disasters happening, so we’ve got to respond and react,” said CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Matthew Mosley.

Moments after the report, pieces of the roof of CAL FIRE Station 95, on West Morton Road, were sent flying in several directions, with some even landing across the street in an almond orchard.

Chief Mosely told Action News that his crew was responding to a call in Mendota when the initial reports came in. He’s now thankful they weren’t inside when those wicked winds swept through.

“There’s no damage to the residents or barracks of our station crews, and we just want to reiterate to the communities that our services aren’t affected by this damage. We’re still going to be here and doing our job,” Chief Mosley said.

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PHOTOS: A wind turbine in Breckenridge caught on fire on Saturday morning. At around 7:36 a.m., on February 14, crews responded to a wind turbine on fire near the intersection of FM 717 just south of FM 207. Firefighters believe the fire was caused by a lightning strike. No injuries or deaths were reported at the fire.

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PHOTOS: Sevierville Firefighting crews responded to a fire at SkyLand Ranch that was discovered early Friday morning. According to Sevierville Fire Chief Matt Henderson, a 911 call reported the fire around 2:20 a.m., after people driving through Sevierville spotted a glow on the ridge.

When crews arrived, they found two large barn structures on fire. City of Sevierville spokesperson Bob Stahlke said the barns housed horses and small animals.

Sevierville Police were the first officials to arrive on the scene, and officers assisted in getting animals away from the area of the fire when firefighters arrived, Henderson told 6 News around 6 a.m. He said the fire was already advanced when firefighters arrived, and the higher elevation of where the barns are located led to struggles to get an adequate water supply.

Henderson said both barns a total loss. Firefighters continued working on the remaining wooded area. Henderson said no people or animals were injured in the fire.

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VIDEOS: Firefighters in Eau Claire are trading their helmets for bouquets this Valentine’s Day weekend, delivering flowers door-to-door as part of a 15-year partnership that helps provide warm coats for children in the community.

The Eau Claire Firefighter Community Charity has teamed with Eau Claire Floral for the annual Valentine’s delivery program. This year, 10 firefighters are volunteering their time to hand-deliver arrangements throughout the weekend.

Genny Hay, who has owned Eau Claire Floral since 2008, said the partnership began when a firefighter approached her about bringing the program to the Eau Claire area.

“The city that he used to firefight in, they did the same thing,” Hay said. “So, he wanted to bring it to the Eau Claire area. So, I just jumped on the chance to have the opportunity to have the firefighters help us deliver and the extra just fun element for Valentine’s deliveries of it.” The flower shop typically handles a few hundred deliveries but expects that number to double this Valentine’s Day due to the firefighter delivery option.

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VIDEO/PHOTOS: An 11-year-old girl with autism was rescued on Wednesday after she ended up dangerously close to freezing water at Bramble Park, prompting an urgent response from Cincinnati firefighters.

Cincinnati Fire Department Rescue 9 responded, with Lt. Collin Grove overseeing crews at the park. “When we hear somebody’s in the water, we’re going to step things up a little bit,” Grove said.

He described the terrain crews faced: “We had about a 20-foot-tall ravine, and at the bottom of the ravine was the child, who had maybe a two-foot-wide path between the steep hill and the water.”

Firefighter Taylor Kuhlmann, with Cincinnati Fire Department Rescue 9, said crews could see the girl when they arrived but had concerns about the conditions.

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Emergency crews safely rescued a trucker whose big rig crashed partway off a rain-slick freeway bridge in Oceanside early Wednesday, leaving the driver suspended some seven stories above the San Luis Rey River.

The non-injury accident took place at about 5 a.m. Wednesday on northbound Interstate 805, just south of Harbor Drive, according to the Oceanside Fire Department.

Emergency crews arrived to find the cab of the tractor-trailer hanging off the edge of the San Luis Rey Bridge with the driver trapped inside about 70 feet above ground level, the city agency reported. Firefighters stabilized the vehicle, then removed its rear cab window, allowing them to pull the trucker to safety.

“The Oceanside Fire Department reminds motorists to exercise caution during wet-weather conditions,” OFD officials noted in a prepared statement. “If possible, avoid unnecessary travel during rain [and otherwise] reduce speed and maintain safe following distances behind other vehicles.”

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VIDEO: It’s a first for the city of St. Louis. The St. Louis Fire Department makes a historic move. Five Black women have been promoted to the rank of Fire Captain.

Promoted in order, the newly appointed Captains include:

• Licole McKinney
• Jessica Jackson
• Pamela Saunders-Isaac
• Elizabeth McCormick
• Cicely Tucker

“It’s just unbelievable and it’s a pleasure and joy to share it with my sisters,” said Fire Captain Cicely Tucker. The St. Louis Fire Department said it hired its first female firefighter on Aug. 31, 1987.

Since then, the department has hired 33 women as firefighters. Of those 33, ten have been promoted to Fire Captain, and two have advanced to the rank of Fire Battalion Chief.

These five women will join Fire Captain Carolyn Moore, a 35+ year veteran of the department, bringing the total number of Black female Fire Captains in the department to six.

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An investigation is underway after a fire destroyed a beloved bakery in New Bedford. Crews responding to Sunrise Bakery & Coffee Shop off Bolton Street around 10 p.m. Wednesday found flames and smoke shooting from the roof.

Fire Chief Brian Medeiros said crews tried to fight the flames from inside the building when they first arrived on scene, but after 45 minutes, it became unsafe and they had to switch to an exterior attack.

Firefighters were eventually able to get the fire under control, but it left behind heavy damage.“My niece, who’s 9 years old, saw what happened tonight and cried because one of our favorite places to go and get a sweet treat is gone,” said Chelsea Silva. “It’s going to be a big loss that the community feels.”

The fire was contained to the business and did not spread to any buildings nearby. The house behind it only sustained minor damage to the vinyl siding. No injuries were reported and the cause remains unknown.

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PHOTOS: Firefighters went to a structure fire in Irmo early Tuesday morning, according to the Irmo Fire District. Crews from the West Columbia Fire Department, Lexington County Fire Service, and the Columbia Fire Department helped at the scene in the 100 block of Garden Path Lane at Woodland Village Apartments.

The first arriving units reported that heavy fire was coming from several windows, and the flames quickly spread into the attic and through the roof. The building had extensive damage, officials said.

“Once we got here, we noticed the rear of the structure on the second floor was compromised, so we pulled everyone out, and indeed it collapsed in the back, the second floor fell into the first,” Fire Marshal for Irmo Fire District Brian Haley said.

The Irmo Fire Marshal said the building is a complete loss. The building that caught fire served as the leasing office for Woodland Village Apartments.

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VIDEO: Last year, ABC7 introduced you to Patrick McDermott, a retired firefighter who was in desperate need of a kidney. On Tuesday night, we are happy to report that he now has one. Patrick underwent kidney transplant surgery a few weeks ago, and he is doing well.

He is crediting his wife for encouraging him to put his story out there and ABC7 viewers for stepping up to help save his life. “My faith is always with me,” Patrick said. “I have to look to God every time I get up before I put my feet on the ground.”

Overcome with gratitude and a new appreciation for life, Patrick has a new organ in his body. His kidney transplant surgery was a success. “I’m feeling better than I felt, and that’s a blessing,” Patrick said. “I feel like it’s a second chance.”

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This weekend at the DAYTONA 500, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, in partnership with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety and Carvana will wear a new “Helmet of Heroes” honoring America’s fallen firefighters.

Often when asked what he might have become from a profession standpoint if not a racecar driver, Johnson points to firefighting—a calling shaped by his upbringing in El Cajon, Calif., a community deeply impacted by major wildfires. That lifelong respect for courage, service, and sacrifice is at the heart of this weekend’s tribute.

“Growing up in El Cajon, I saw firsthand how much firefighters mean to their communities,” said Johnson. “I’ve always said that if racing hadn’t worked out, I would have wanted to be a firefighter. The courage, selflessness, and commitment it takes to do that job is something I deeply respect. The ‘Helmet of Heroes’ is about honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice and standing with the families who continue to carry their legacy every day.”

Through the Helmet of Heroes program, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is honoring the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), which was created by the U.S. Congress to honor fallen firefighters, support their families, and reduce line-of-duty deaths and injuries.

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PHOTOS: A massive four-alarm fire tore through a Queens home Monday, killing a woman and injuring eight others, including a young man left fighting for his life, according to local authorities.

The raging inferno broke out around 6:44 p.m. on the first floor of a residential building on Dongan Avenue between Poyer Street and Broadway in Elmhurst, according to the FDNY.

A 34-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene of the blaze and a 22-year-old man was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition, police said. Five other New Yorkers and two firefighters suffered minor injuries, according to police and fire officials.

Firefighters’ battle to quell the flames continued into Monday evening, with photos showing towering orange flames consuming the building and powerlines and spreading smoke to neighboring homes.

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PHOTOS: The New Hope Eagle Fire Company has announced the return of its 1951 Mack LS85 engine following a 10-month “frame-up” restoration by Lee’s Emergency Equipment.

The 75-year-old truck, which the company voted a Life Member, is now fully functional and capable of driving and pumping water, the company reported on its Facebook page.

The Mack engine will be used at company and community functions starting this spring, the firefighters said.

The initiative to restore the Mack was championed by Eagle Fire Company Life Member Fred Williamson, who wanted to see the engine restored as close to its original delivery appearance as possible. Williamson passed away last January and never got to see the restored engine.

The New Hope Eagle Fire Company expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to its “Bring Back the Mack” fundraising efforts. They also thanked everyone who assisted with the project and noted Williamson’s dedication to the effort.

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VIDEO: Two Hollywood firefighters —usually known for fighting fires and saving lives —are also cooking up some delicious meals to serve their community. The duo from Fire Station Number Five is getting quite the reputation at the firehouse, as they are feeling the heat in the kitchen when it comes to cooking for their colleagues.

“This is the best job in the department. I get to come in and cook for these guys. I’ve been in the kitchen my whole life,” said Michael Donadio. Donadio, one of the fire truck drivers, goes all out, whipping up meals and feeding his crewmates lunch and dinner every day.

But he’s not alone. He gets some help from his sous chef, Perry Colato. “So at our station, Station Five, we’re downtown, we have 13 guys every day, sometimes we have a lot of big eaters, so we gotta make sure we have enough food for everybody,” said Colato.

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