The highly transmissible Omicron variant is now dominant in the United States, according to new data released by the CDC on Monday. The variant now makes up more than 73% of new infections, a nearly six-fold increase compared to the week before. Omicron makes up the highest share of new cases in the South, Central Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and the New York area.
- PUB DATE: 12/21/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CBS News

One man was injured Sunday morning after a house fire in Lincoln County. Fire crews responded around 8:30 a.m. to a structure fire on County K in the town of Merrill, according to the Merrill Fire Department. Fire department officials said a man who lived in the home was able to get out before firefighters arrived, and he was taken to Aspirus Merrill Hospital for injuries.
- PUB DATE: 12/20/2021 5:14:46 AM - SOURCE: Wausau Daily Herald

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Firefighters were still responding to hot spots and smoke on Monday leftover from a deadly weekend fire at the QVC distribution facility in Rocky Mount. The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office said search and rescue members located a body on the outbound side of the loading dock at the distribution facility on Sunday morning.
- PUB DATE: 12/20/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WRAL-TV NBC 5 Raleigh

VIDEO: As a devastating tornado rolled through Rudd Wednesday night, a local resident went above and beyond to protect his neighbors from what was to come. With heavy winds and rain bearing down on the town, Volunteer Firefighter Tyler Hicks answered the call when asked to sound Rudd's tornado siren system by hand.
- PUB DATE: 12/20/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KIMT-TV CBS 3 Mason City

Bruce Sams is no stranger to fighting for his life and fighting to save others’ lives. As a McMinnville firefighter, it’s right there in his job description. But the North Albany resident didn’t expect to be fighting for his own life against one nasty case of COVID-19. Fortunately, for Sams, 55, landing in the intensive care unit of Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center meant being admitted to one of the few hospitals in the country using a brand new treatment.
- PUB DATE: 12/20/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Albany Democrat-Herald - Metered Site

VIDEO: You can find a lot of things at Faneuil Hall. From Keytar Bear to Ned Devine’s and even John Legend. The past few years, you may have even caught Buddy the Elf. And while the notable Christmas character is known for spinning around turnstiles and eating already chewed gum off railings in New York City, this Boston-based Christmas elf has one goal in mind: pillow fights.
- PUB DATE: 12/20/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Boston.com

Quinlan Roe remembers his first lecture in Missoula College’s new paramedic program. He said it was from the director of the program, Dave McEvoy, who shared a story about being handed a newborn baby struggling for breath. McEvoy told his students he still remembers the fear and trust in the mother’s eyes.
- PUB DATE: 12/20/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KSEN-AM 1150 Shelby

An evaluation of Hartford Fire and Rescue showed that the department is currently faring better than many fire departments are with national shortages in fire and emergency medical service personnel, but that is not likely to last forever. The Common Council heard a presentation this week from Dan Williams from Strategic Management & Consulting.
- PUB DATE: 12/19/2021 4:46:30 AM - SOURCE: Greater Milwaukee Today

Marshfield Fire Chief Scott Owen celebrated his last day on the job on Friday. Chief Owen has been at the Marshfield Fire Station for over 25 years. Owen said it's the people at the station who have made the job what it is. He said that while he is looking forward to retirement, it is bittersweet to say goodbye to his second family.
- PUB DATE: 12/18/2021 5:01:02 PM - SOURCE: WAOW-TV ABC 9 Wausau

A commercial structure in Sun Prairie caused $15,000 worth of damage Saturday morning. Sun Prairie Fire & Rescue said the fire started after discarded rags were left near flammable materials. The fire happened on the 2000 block of Terra Court. A delivery service saw smoke inside the building and called Dane County Public Safety Communications around 9:30 a.
- PUB DATE: 12/18/2021 2:59:53 PM - SOURCE: WKOW-TV ABC 27 Madison

Elected officials in both Mequon and Thiensville this week approved creating a joint working group to explore consolidating the fire departments of each community. The Mequon Common Council Tuesday approved it unanimously, but without comment. The Thiensville Village Board Monday did the same, after hearing from about a dozen people during an open house.
- PUB DATE: 12/17/2021 5:15:40 AM - SOURCE: Greater Milwaukee Today

VIDEO/PHOTOS: An effort to make the holiday season brighter for children's hospital patients is reaching new heights. Members of the Green Bay Fire Department delivered gifts collected by members of the Central Church in Green Bay to patients at St. Vincent Children's Hospital Thursday. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, firefighters could not go inside and visit with the children but they were able to bring a special surprise to their windows.
- PUB DATE: 12/17/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WLUK-TV FOX 11 Green Bay

Thick, black smoke from an eight-alarm fire coated a Boston neighborhood Friday morning, significantly cutting down visibility, and forcing firefighters to enlist the help of a drone to spot flames spreading inside the building. The fire began early Friday at 185 Corey Road in Boston, just north of Brookline’s Washington Square, the Boston Fire Department said.
- PUB DATE: 12/17/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Mass Live

The City of Seattle announced Thursday that it will expand a unique program that pairs firefighters with social workers. Mayor Jenny Durkan says it will play an important role in the fight against homelessness. Seattle Firefighter Roger Webber has decades of experience on a ladder truck but the Health One mobile unit he is assigned to is far from a typical fire engine.
- PUB DATE: 12/17/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KCPQ-TV FOX 13 Seattle

Only four percent of the firefighters in our country are women, according to the Women in Fire organization. The town of Fairfield has hired its first female firefighter in a quarter-century. The woman at the center of this story is no stranger to breaking glass ceilings. It was a simple swearing-in full of smiles and a daughter pinning her mother, newly sworn-in firefighter Caitlin Clarkson Pereira.
- PUB DATE: 12/17/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTNH-TV ABC 8 New Haven

The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office is, yet again, reporting an increase in drug related crime throughout the county. Although drug arrests fell slightly last year, the Sheriff’s Office says things are once again on the rise. They say a huge part of the problem is the addiction and repeat offenders of those who abuse methamphetamine, making up 70-percent of arrests in 2019.
- PUB DATE: 12/17/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOTA-TV ABC 3 Rapid City

A National Transportation Safety Board report released Thursday says a failure to properly disconnect and secure vehicle batteries led to the 2020 fire aboard vehicle carrier Höegh Xiamen in Blount Island. The June 4th fire resulted in $40 million worth of damages and sent nine Jacksonville firefighters to the hospital.
- PUB DATE: 12/17/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: First Coast News

One person was hurt and a number of cats killed in a fire in the town of Montrose Thursday night. Firefighters from a number of departments were called to the multi-occupancy building in the 6700 block of Henry Road around 8:50 p.m. All residents were able to evacuate. One person was transported to the hospital with minor burns and smoke inhalation.
- PUB DATE: 12/16/2021 9:51:31 PM - SOURCE: WKOW-TV 27 ABC Madison

U.S. and Wisconsin flags in the state will fly at half-staff Friday in honor of a Milwaukee firefighter who died of cancer over the weekend. Batallion Chief Sean Slowey, 68, died Saturday after battling brain cancer related to his service, according to Gov. Tony Evers’ executive order lowering flags.
- PUB DATE: 12/16/2021 8:40:06 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV CBS 3 Madison

Firefighters were dispatched to Madison’s south side Wednesday night after a fallen tree cut power to area residents, two of whom needed help with their oxygen supplies. According to a Madison Fire Department incident report, crews responded to the 900 block of Moorland Road around 9:45 p.m. after winds knocked over a large tree in the area, prompting power outages.
- PUB DATE: 12/16/2021 10:45:26 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV CBS 3 Madison