If you have an emergency call 911!

National Fire News

'Blue Collar Brawler' wrangles nuisance gator at Florida fire station

VIDEO: The Blue Collar Brawler has struck again – but this time inside a Florida fire station. Video sent to FOX 35 from the gator trapper whose name is Mike Dragich, shows him barefoot inside a Jacksonville fire station. Firefighters called the trapper to the station because a gator wandered inside.
- PUB DATE: 7/17/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WOFL-TV FOX 35 Orlando

West Virginia Department of Health releases new protocols for EMS

VIDEO: The West Virginia Department of Health has released new protocols for emergency medical services to empower first responders and provide them with faster decision-making capabilities. The new protocols, developed by EMS leaders across the state, took effect on July 1st. According to officials, the protocols address many of the modern-day challenges faced by first responders in the state.
- PUB DATE: 7/17/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WDTV CBS 5 Weston

NASA map captures extent of punishing heat in U.S.

The U.S. has contended with unrelenting temperatures this summer, and a map from NASA paints a dire picture of the scale of those persistent heat waves. The map, which consists of a snapshot of temperatures nationwide for July 10, used satellite images — along with a complex mathematical model known as the Goddard Earth Observing System — to create a kind of color code, with dark red showing areas that reached highs of 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the NASA Earth Observatory, a program that examines the impact of climate change.
- PUB DATE: 7/17/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CBS News

Michigan firefighters battle recycling center blaze for 11 hours, confirm lightning strike caused fire

VIDEOS: Firefighters battled a blaze for over 11 hours on Grand Rapid's west side at PADNOS' Front Street Recycling location. Investigators have now confirmed the fire was caused by a lightning strike. A PADNOS Company manager said that one employee had arrived to work early, saw the smoke and immediately called 911.
- PUB DATE: 7/16/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WZZM-TV ABC 13 Grand Rapids

Online fundraiser for family of former Pennsylvania firefighter killed at Trump rally raises $1 million

VIDEO: An online fundraiser for the family of Corey Comperatore, the man who died shielding his family from gunfire at Saturday's Donald Trump rally in Butler, has raised $1 million. Jason Bubb, the owner of Three Fit Six gym in Cabot, organized the fundraiser. He said Comperatore's daughter Allyson has been a member of his gym since day one.
- PUB DATE: 7/16/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTAE-TV ABC 4 Pittsburgh

Black Fire Brigade training next generation of Chicago area firefighters and EMTs

VIDEO: A South Side organization is paving the way for the next generation to become first responders. The Black Fire Brigade recently celebrated its 6th anniversary by opening a new educational center in Washington Park. All of the students who have gone through the program have gotten jobs as firefighters or EMT's.
- PUB DATE: 7/16/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WBBM-TV CBS 2 Chicago

'Emerging Threat' Xylazine Use Continues to Spread Across the United States

Illicit use of the veterinary tranquilizer xylazine continues to spread across the United States. The drug, which is increasingly mixed with fentanyl, often fails to respond to the opioid overdose reversal medication naloxone and can cause severe necrotic lesions. A report released by Millennium Health, a specialty lab that provides medication monitoring for pain management, drug treatment, and behavioral and substance use disorder treatment centers across the country, showed the number of urine specimens collected and tested at the US drug treatment centers were positive for xylazine in the most recent 6 months.
- PUB DATE: 7/16/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Medscape

VIDEO: Firefighter injured after blaze torches stacked pallets, vehicles, trucks and trailers in California

PHOTOS: A firefighter was injured while putting out a massive pallet yard fire in San Bernardino County, authorities said. According to the San Bernardino County Fire Department, firefighters were dispatched to the 15000 block of Whittram Avenue in Fontana around 8:15 p.m. Saturday. When they got to the scene, crews observed a “stacked pallet yard well-involved with fire,” officials said.
- PUB DATE: 7/15/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTLA-TV CW 5 Los Angeles

FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh to step down, help find replacement

The head of the New York City Fire Department has notified Mayor Eric Adams that she intends to step down from her post in order to explore other career opportunities, officials familiar with the commissioner's plans told News 4. "My dedication to the FDNY has never and will never waver. It has been the honor of a lifetime to devote the last 10 years — five as first deputy commissioner and more than two as commissioner — to advocating for the men and women of the FDNY," Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said in a statement.
- PUB DATE: 7/15/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WNBC-TV NBC 4 New York City

2 fire tanker trucks heading to large Pennsylvania warehouse blaze crash, injuring 7 firefighters

PHOTOS: Authorities say seven firefighters were injured when two tanker trucks crashed while responding to a large blaze in York, Pennsylvania. Officials said the crash occurred shortly before 11 p.m. Friday in Spring Garden Township, about a third of a mile from the large warehouse fire in the city.
- PUB DATE: 7/15/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Bedford Gazette

VIDEOS: 3 injured, roughly 50 displaced after 4-alarm fire destroys apartment building in Philadelphia

PHOTOS: A massive four-alarm fire destroyed an apartment building in Philadelphia's Rhawnhurst neighborhood. The call came in around 9:24 p.m. Thursday for flames showing from the roof of the property located on the 7400 block of Roosevelt Blvd., just north of Cottman Avenue. "On arrival companies found heavy smoke conditions emanating from the fourth floor.
- PUB DATE: 7/12/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WPVI-TV ABC 6 Philadelphia

Florida fire & rescue company the first in the country to use new technology

VIDEO: Southern Manatee Fire & Rescue is the first in the country to use a one-of-a-kind piece of equipment that aids in emergencies. In collaboration with NASA and the company Squishy Robotics, the robot device is designed to reduce response time and keep first responders safe. The co-founder of Squishy Robotics says the robot was initially intended for planetary exploration, but an alternative use was found.
- PUB DATE: 7/12/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Spectrum Bay News 9 - Metered Site

New York governor enacts law targeting lithium-ion batteries and here's what it does

VIDEO: Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill on Thursday aimed at getting dangerous lithium-ion batteries off the streets and out of homes. According to FDNY data, this year alone in the city there have been 110 investigations connected to lithium-ion battery fires that resulted in 50 injuries and one death.
- PUB DATE: 7/12/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WLNY-TV CBS 55 Riverhead

Kentucky firefighter put on leave over photo posted to social media

VIDEO: A firefighter in Powell County has been put on administrative leave after a social media post circulated showing him hanging out of the window of a car. The Clay City Fire Department shared this photo from someone in Estill County. It shows a man hanging out of the window of a moving car they say almost hit one person.
- PUB DATE: 7/12/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WKYT-TV CBS/The CW 27 Lexington

Greatest fire dog: Meet Smokey, who saved lives and melted hearts as a fearless mascot in Ohio

PHOTOS: Her name was “Smokey,” and she belonged to the firemen of Companies 1 and 2 at the fire station at Webster and Ford streets during the 1930s and ‘40s. On Memorial Day 1935, a stray 3-month-old puppy showed up at the station, tired and thirsty. Capt. John Murphy couldn’t resist helping her. “She sat up on her haunches, looked up at us and we looked back at her and in about three minutes, she took over the place,” he said.
- PUB DATE: 7/12/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Dayton Daily News - Metered Site

VIDEO: Large fire destroys old high school in Indiana

PHOTOS: A historic building went up in flames, breaking many hearts for residents in Decker, Indiana. The fire destroyed the former Decker high school. The old Decker school holds many memories to the community. "We used to roll, skate, jump rope, hopscotch, and play in the trees. There's still one tree left over there that we used to play on," said Decker resident Yolanda Lane.
- PUB DATE: 7/11/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTHI-TV CBS/FOX/MyNetworkTV/CW+ 10 Terre Haute

Biden signs Fire Act, sending millions to departments across the U.S.

President Joe Biden signed the Fire Grants and Safety Act this week, reauthorizing millions of dollars in grants for fire departments across the United States. Biden reiterated his view of the crucial role fire fighters play in communities big and small. “The only thing that saves fire fighters is more fire fighters,” he said in an Oval Office signing.
- PUB DATE: 7/11/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: IAFF.org

VIDEO: Washington fire department shows off new mural

The Spokane Valley Fire Department is showing off a new art addition inside the training facility. Time lapse video captures the mural's creation by local artist Daniel Lopez.
- PUB DATE: 7/11/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KXLY-TV ABC 4 Spokane

Florida fire trucks will soon have blue rear lights and here’s why

Until this month, only police and prison vehicles could use blue lights. Large fire trucks throughout the Sunshine State will soon have blue rear lights in addition to the red tail lights seen on practically all vehicles nationwide. There’s a good reason. This past Legislative Session, state lawmakers unanimously approved a bipartisan bill (HB 463) to allow government-owned fire department vehicles weighing more than 12 tons to have blue lights on their rears.
- PUB DATE: 7/11/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Florida Politics

VIDEO: Behind Phoenix Fire Department's new 'firefighter with a sign' safety campaign

The Phoenix Fire Department is hoping a new social media campaign will help keep residents and visitors safe around the Valley. You may have already seen their online posts featuring a firefighter with a big handlebar mustache holding up a sign that offers a public safety reminder. They're simple photos, but the messages are hugely important.
- PUB DATE: 7/10/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KNXV-TV ABC 15 Phoenix

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!