Crews responded to a fire at the Columbia Co. recycling center Monday morning, according to county dispatchers. NBC15 previously reported a fire at the same location on Hwy. 16 on May 14 and May 26. According to officials, the Portage Fire Department was dispatched to the Pardeeville-based recycling center just after 11:30 a.
- PUB DATE: 5/29/2023 9:03:00 PM - SOURCE: WMTV NBC 15 Madison

...ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH TUESDAY... Very dry conditions, with relative humidity falling into the 15 to 25 percent range, will result in elevated wildfire potential this afternoon and Tuesday afternoon. The areas of greatest concern are the sandy soil regions of northern and central Wisconsin. Persistent dry weather over the past week and Special Weather Statement 2023-05-29T03:40:00-05:00 2023-05-29T19:00:00-05:00 Actual Alert Met Expected Minor Observed Brown; Calumet; Door; Florence; Forest; Kewaunee; Langlade; Lincoln; Manitowoc; Marathon; Menominee; Northern Marinette County; Northern Oconto County; Oneida; Outagamie; Portage; Shawano; Southern Marinette County; Southern Oconto County; Vilas; Waupaca; Waushara; Winnebago; Wood FIPS6 055009 055015 055029 055037 055041 055061 055067 055069 055071 055073 055075 055078 055083 055085 055087 055097 055115 055125 055135 055137 055139 055141 UGC WIZ005 WIZ010 WIZ011 WIZ012 WIZ013 WIZ018 WIZ019 WIZ020 WIZ021 WIZ022 WIZ030 WIZ031 WIZ035 WIZ036 WIZ037 WIZ038 WIZ039 WIZ040 WIZ045 WIZ048 WIZ049 WIZ050 WIZ073 WIZ074 VTEC

...ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND... Very dry conditions, with relative humidity falling into the 15 to 25 percent range, will result in elevated wildfire potential through the Memorial Day weekend. The areas of greatest concern are the sandy soil regions of northern and central Special Weather Statement 2023-05-28T02:38:00-05:00 2023-05-28T18:00:00-05:00 Actual Alert Met Expected Minor Observed Brown; Calumet; Door; Florence; Forest; Kewaunee; Langlade; Lincoln; Manitowoc; Marathon; Menominee; Northern Marinette County; Northern Oconto County; Oneida; Outagamie; Portage; Shawano; Southern Marinette County; Southern Oconto County; Vilas; Waupaca; Waushara; Winnebago; Wood FIPS6 055009 055015 055029 055037 055041 055061 055067 055069 055071 055073 055075 055078 055083 055085 055087 055097 055115 055125 055135 055137 055139 055141 UGC WIZ005 WIZ010 WIZ011 WIZ012 WIZ013 WIZ018 WIZ019 WIZ020 WIZ021 WIZ022 WIZ030 WIZ031 WIZ035 WIZ036 WIZ037 WIZ038 WIZ039 WIZ040 WIZ045 WIZ048 WIZ049 WIZ050 WIZ073 WIZ074 VTEC

...ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND... Very dry conditions, with relative humidity falling into the 15 to 25 percent range, will result in elevated wildfire potential in the sandy soil regions of northern and central Wisconsin this afternoon, and Sunday and Monday afternoons. Special Weather Statement 2023-05-27T03:10:00-05:00 2023-05-27T16:00:00-05:00 Actual Alert Met Expected Minor Observed Florence; Forest; Langlade; Northern Marinette County; Northern Oconto County; Oneida; Southern Marinette County; Southern Oconto County; Vilas; Waushara; Wood FIPS6 055037 055041 055067 055075 055083 055085 055125 055137 055141 UGC WIZ005 WIZ010 WIZ011 WIZ012 WIZ013 WIZ019 WIZ021 WIZ035 WIZ045 WIZ073 WIZ074 VTEC

...PATCHY FROST POSSIBLE ACROSS NORTHERN WISCONSIN LATE TONIGHT... The combination of cool temperatures, clear skies and light winds may allow for patchy frost to develop across northern Wisconsin late tonight, especially over low-lying areas or near river valleys. Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Even though the Special Weather Statement 2023-05-26T22:33:00-05:00 2023-05-27T06:00:00-05:00 Actual Alert Met Expected Minor Observed Florence; Forest; Langlade; Lincoln; Northern Marinette County; Northern Oconto County; Oneida; Southern Marinette County; Southern Oconto County; Vilas FIPS6 055037 055041 055067 055069 055075 055083 055085 055125 UGC WIZ005 WIZ010 WIZ011 WIZ012 WIZ013 WIZ018 WIZ019 WIZ021 WIZ073 WIZ074 VTEC

...PATCHY FROST POSSIBLE ACROSS NORTHERN WISCONSIN LATE TONIGHT... The combination of cool temperatures, clear skies and light winds may allow for patchy frost to develop across northern Wisconsin late tonight, especially over low-lying areas or near river valleys. Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Even though the Special Weather Statement 2023-05-26T11:03:00-05:00 2023-05-26T22:00:00-05:00 Actual Alert Met Expected Minor Observed Florence; Forest; Langlade; Lincoln; Northern Marinette County; Northern Oconto County; Oneida; Southern Marinette County; Southern Oconto County; Vilas FIPS6 055037 055041 055067 055069 055075 055083 055085 055125 UGC WIZ005 WIZ010 WIZ011 WIZ012 WIZ013 WIZ018 WIZ019 WIZ021 WIZ073 WIZ074 VTEC

...ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS FAR NORTHERN WISCONSIN TODAY AND SATURDAY... Very dry conditions, with relative humidity falling into the 15 to 20 percent range, may lead to elevated wildfire potential across northern Wisconsin this afternoon and again on Saturday. Outdoor burning should not be attempted. Visit the Wisconsin DNR Special Weather Statement 2023-05-26T01:00:00-05:00 2023-05-26T16:00:00-05:00 Actual Alert Met Expected Minor Observed Florence; Forest; Northern Marinette County; Northern Oconto County; Oneida; Southern Marinette County; Vilas FIPS6 055037 055041 055075 055083 055085 055125 UGC WIZ005 WIZ010 WIZ011 WIZ012 WIZ013 WIZ021 WIZ073 VTEC

Eau Claire's police and fire commission has named Matt Jaggar the city’s new fire chief. Jaggar said he is grateful, thankful and excited for the opportunity. He succeeds previous chief Chris Bell—who retired last month. Service can be a calling. "It is held by my beliefs. In that, we should pay things forward and we should leave things better than they were previously," Jaggar said.
- PUB DATE: 5/26/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

VIDEO: Crews say the day a person needs to call 911, it’s one of the worse days of their life. Charlotte Fire didn’t get that call for help right away. “There was some sort of delay in dialing 911, a five-to-six-minute delay, so we were already behind the eight ball with that,” a CFD communications officer described Thursday, a week removed from the 5-Alarm fire in the SouthPark community.
- PUB DATE: 5/26/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WJZY-TV FOX 46 Belmont

The roles and responsibilities of firefighters have changed significantly over the past few decades. Firefighters must perform structure firefighting, search, rescue, mitigation of hazardous materials, and disaster response. Also, increased calls for firefighters to respond to potentially violent emergencies, such as active shooters these conditions demand better physical protection.
- PUB DATE: 5/26/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Inceptive Mind

Front Range Fire Rescue Chief Michael West pictures mental health for first responders as a bucket filling with water. Each difficult call a first responder takes, every high-stress response and struggles outside of work all add water to the bucket. If first responders don’t have a way to dump some water out once in a while, the water, or stress, will overflow the bucket.
- PUB DATE: 5/26/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Greeley Tribune

VIDEO: The Elmira Heights Fire Department is rolling out a piece of history for Memorial Day. A restored 1938 Ward LaFrance fire engine will be taking part in Memorial Day parades in Elmira Heights and Horseheads. “I don’t know if people are drawn to it because it looks different or just because they believe it’s a part of history, but it always attracts attention no matter where it goes,” said First Assistant Chief Jason Mitchell.
- PUB DATE: 5/26/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WETM-TV NBC 18 Elmira

...FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CDT FRIDAY... * WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 31 expected. * WHERE...Vilas, Florence, Forest, and Northern Marinette County Counties. * WHEN...Until 7 AM CDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other Freeze Warning 2023-05-26T01:00:00-05:00 2023-05-26T07:00:00-05:00 Actual Alert Met Expected Moderate Likely Florence; Forest; Northern Marinette County; Vilas FIPS6 055037 055041 055075 055125 UGC WIZ005 WIZ011 WIZ012 WIZ013 VTEC /O.CON.KGRB.FZ.W.0002.230526T0600Z-230526T1200Z/

...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 7 AM CDT FRIDAY... * WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 31 expected. * WHERE...Vilas, Florence, Forest, and Northern Marinette County Counties. * WHEN...From 1 AM to 7 AM CDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other Freeze Warning 2023-05-26T01:00:00-05:00 2023-05-26T07:00:00-05:00 Actual Alert Met Expected Moderate Likely Florence; Forest; Northern Marinette County; Vilas FIPS6 055037 055041 055075 055125 UGC WIZ005 WIZ011 WIZ012 WIZ013 VTEC /O.NEW.KGRB.FZ.W.0002.230526T0600Z-230526T1200Z/

...ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS FAR NORTHERN WISCONSIN FRIDAY... Very dry conditions, with relative humidity falling into the 10 to 20 percent range, will lead to elevated wildfire potential across northern Wisconsin on Friday. Fortunately, south winds will be sustained at 5 to 10 mph range with gusts of 10 to 15 Special Weather Statement 2023-05-26T01:00:00-05:00 2023-05-26T04:00:00-05:00 Actual Alert Met Expected Minor Observed Florence; Forest; Northern Marinette County; Northern Oconto County; Oneida; Southern Marinette County; Vilas FIPS6 055037 055041 055075 055083 055085 055125 UGC WIZ005 WIZ010 WIZ011 WIZ012 WIZ013 WIZ021 WIZ073 VTEC

VIDEO/PHOTOS: It was an action-packed graduation ceremony in Green Bay for 17 firefighters. The Green Bay Metro Fire Department held its Fire Academy Graduation demonstration on the NWTC campus Thursday. In March, 17 recruits began an 11-week course on fire and EMS skills, specific to the department and the city of Green Bay.
- PUB DATE: 5/25/2023 4:58:38 AM - SOURCE: WLUK-TV FOX 11 Green Bay

...ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS FAR NORTHERN WISCONSIN THIS AFTERNOON AND FRIDAY... Very dry conditions, with relative humidity falling into the 10 to 20 percent range, will lead to elevated wildfire potential across northern Wisconsin this afternoon and Friday. Fortunately, winds will be light and generally in the 5 to 10 mph range. Special Weather Statement 2023-05-25T01:00:00-05:00 2023-05-25T16:00:00-05:00 Actual Alert Met Expected Minor Observed Florence; Forest; Northern Marinette County; Northern Oconto County; Oneida; Southern Marinette County; Vilas FIPS6 055037 055041 055075 055083 055085 055125 UGC WIZ005 WIZ010 WIZ011 WIZ012 WIZ013 WIZ021 WIZ073 VTEC

Firefighters put out a massive fire that broke out in a large pile of rubber pellets in North Portland. A TriMet driver called 911 after spotting the fire near the east end of the Steel Bridge at 2:45 a.m. The fire was next to the grain silos of the Louis Dreyfus Dock. Portland Fire & Rescue said crews had a difficult time putting out the flames because it was far away from fire hydrants, so they had to stretch out their hoses thousands of feet.
- PUB DATE: 5/25/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KPTV FOX 12 Portland

Back in February, we told you about legislation that would help Indiana firefighters become what’s known as “covered persons.” The bill has now been signed into law. Becoming a covered person basically means that firefighters, both paid and volunteer, can apply to be removed from the public record.
- PUB DATE: 5/25/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WFIE-TV NBC 14 Evansville

An injured Philadelphia firefighter and aspiring musician is getting his big break. Randy Ballinger was severely injured when he fell 25 feet from a roof, fighting a fire back in February. Ballinger is an aspiring musician and plays guitar in his punk band Jersey Calling. After hearing about Ballinger's story, Geoff Gordon, the president of Live Nation Northeast, invited his band to open for the upcoming Adjacent Music Festival.
- PUB DATE: 5/25/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KWY-TV CBS 3 Philadelphia