Fire officials urged residents at the end of Chena Hot Springs Road northeast of Fairbanks to be prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice as the Munson Creek Fire swelled to an estimated 8,900 acres Thursday. The evacuation notice, which will be re-evaluated on a daily basis, applies to people living east of Mile 48 of Chena Hot Springs Road as well as Chena Hot Springs Resort guests, the Alaska Division of Forestry said in an update Thursday evening. Residents "should have their bags and important items packed and be ready to leave their homes immediately if necessary." After several days of higher humidity and "minimal fire spread," hot, dry weather accelerated the growth of the Munson Creek Fire, which was caused by lightning on June 18. The blaze grew from about 500 acres Wednesday morning to nearly 9,000 acres by Thursday evening, the Division of Forestry said.  

VIDEO: Houston firefighters responded to large fires at two apartment complexes on the southwest side late Thursday. A citizen was burned and two firefighters were treated for medical issues, HFD Chief Samuel Peña later said. One fire was reported at 11675 W Bellfort after 10 p.m. The good news there, no one was seriously hurt, but 30 to 40 people are now homeless because of it. Firefighters believe it started on the first floor and spread to the third. Families, including children, made it out unharmed. It took about 20 minutes to get that fire under control. Less than an hour earlier, another fire was reported at the Inwood Garden Apartments at 6110 Fairdale in the Galleria area. Neighbors there say a man was badly burned, and a firefighter also suffered lesser injuries. The fire chief said another firefighter was also treated.  

Mark Monson's life changed forever while walking his dog near the Savage Fire Department 26 years ago. Monson started chatting with some of the volunteer firefighters who encouraged him to apply. "I don't know how many people can look back at one moment in time and figure out when their life changed for the positive but every positive thing I have in my life came from that moment forward," Monson said. Monson is a captain and paramedic with the St. Paul Fire Department and retired firefighter for the city of Savage. Throughout the years, he has watched as fellow firefighters have battled something other than the flames they confront on the job. "Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was the cancer I had and firefighters get that cancer at a 51% greater rate than the general public," said Steve Shapira, Minnesota state director for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.  

Hundreds of first responders who have responded to the site of the Surfside condo collapse will be able to stay onboard a cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's CEO says. According to Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean, Explorer of the Seas arrived Thursday at PortMiami to serve as a place to stay for first responders. Bayley says up to 600 first responders will stay on the ship for a couple of weeks. First responder K-9s will also be allowed to stay on the ship. As of Thursday, 18 people have been found dead, and 145 people are still unaccounted for after the collapse of the 12-story Champlain Towers South beachfront condominium. Rescue efforts at the site of the partially-collapsed condominium building were halted Thursday out of concern for the stability of the remaining structure after crews noticed widening cracks and up to a foot of movement in a large column, officials said.  

New Orleans Firefighters are always there when the alarm goes off, and now the NOFD has an emergency themselves, and that's their pay, which currently starts at around $11.29 an hour. "I want to get paid more. I want to stay in the city. I want to be a homeowner, and I want to contribute more to the city and I can't and it kills me," Grant Rodriguez with the NOFD said. These New Orleans Firefighters took their concerns to the street, marching from Station 14 to City Hall. The firefighters addressed the City Council directly about a proposed ordinance that would pay contract workers a living wage of $15 an hour. Firefighters support that ordinance, but believe they should be paid the same. "We need them to not just support it with words, but to take action," Aaron Mischler, President of New Orleans Firefighter's Association said.  

PHOTOS: A 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid sedan caught fire Tuesday night in Haverford, Pennsylvania, while the owner was at the wheel, according to Charles McGarvey, chief fire officer for the Lower Merion Township Fire Department. Tesla began deliveries of the Model S Plaid, a new high-performance version of its flagship electric sedan, in June, after CEO Elon Musk had said on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast that they would begin in February. Musk explained in April that development involved "more challenges than expected" and added, "it took quite a bit of development to ensure that the battery of the new S and X is safe." The car owner's attorneys told CNBC that he noticed smoke coming from the back of his 2021 Model S Plaid and tried to unlock and open the doors but had to force his way out of the vehicle, as the locks seemed to malfunction.