The City of Kodiak decided this week where to build their new fire station. They settled on a lot at 1240 Mill Bay Road, which the city purchased a few months ago. According to Fire Chief Jim Mullican, the location will work. "I can support this site, 100%. It's outside the inundation zone which is a huge thing for us. Response time wise, it's closest to the location that we need to be. It gives us almost equal response time to both ends of the city and both sides of the city." Chief Mulligan did ask that they build six bays, instead of the initially proposed five bays, for the department's vehicles. That would add $700,000 to the project's cost, which is hovering around $25 million. So the city is looking to Alaska Representative Don Young, who said the project is a candidate for federal funding, and to the state to alleviate the costs.  

Firefighters are making good progress in containing two human-caused fires burning in Southwest Alaska, one near the village of Pilot Point on the Alaska Peninsula and one near the village of Akiachak on the Kuskokwim River. The Kiktak Island Fire (#112) burning near the village of Akiachak did not increase in size on Wednesday and was still estimated at 180 acres as of Thursday morning. No containment percentage was listed on the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center's daily situation report. The fire is burning along the south bank of a slough of the Kuskokwim River, about 2 miles south of Akiachak. The fire destroyed a total of 10 structures in a fish camp along the slough before 12 BLM Alaska Fire Service smokejumpers arrived on scene.  

VIDEO: At least one firefighter was hurt in a crash involving a fire engine responding to a call along Girard Avenue in North Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon. Police said firefighters and civilians were injured when Engine 29 crashed about three blocks from its Girard Avenue station. At least one firefighter could be seen getting removed from the rubble. Civilians, possibly inside another vehicle that also crashed, were also injured. The crash happened at Seventh Street and Girard Avenue, and the fire truck nearly smashed through the entire first floor of the building. A cause for the crash was not immediately known. The crash occurred about 4 p.m. The engine was headed to a report of a house fire when the crash happened, police said. The truck had its lights and sirens on at the time. Engine 29 is stationed at Fourth Street and Girard Avenue.  

VIDEO: A huge fire broke out Thursday night at the site of the former "Just For Fun" roller rink in north suburban McHenry. The roller rink at 914 N. Front Street closed last fall. The rink closed last fall after more than 70-years in business. It started out as a dance hall and was converted into a roller rink a few years later. At this time, there are no reports of any injuries. In a statement posted on Facebook, the former owners of "Just for Fun" roller rink said the building was historic and that they were "deeply saddened" by its loss.  

VIDEO: It's not the oldest fire station in the Buffalo Fire Department but it is one of the most spectacular. Firefighter James Rice says "It was built during Buffalo's industrial era. They were very proud of their fire service and fire departments." The structure was built in 1897. In those days it was horses that pulled the engines. Captain Jeff Szalay says "They used to have competitions back in the day to see how fast they could get the teams ready." The stalls which once held the teams of horses here are now gone, but the doors to those stalls remain. There are hoof marks on some of them, according to James Rice the horses "would get excited-so these are hoof marks, and then hit the door and try to get the door open." Upstairs where they used to store hay and feed for the horses there is now an exercise room and Captain's quarters.  

VIDEO: A Manitowoc teenager donated metal American flags to the Green Bay Metro Fire Department and Police Department Wednesday. Justis Henderson started making metal art with his father in their garage when he was 10 years old. What was a hobby turned into a business. He's 17 now and just branched off of his dad's business, Metal Art of Wisconsin, to start his own metal art company - Flags by Justis. "I feel like I fulfilled his dream, that's for sure, and definitely making him proud is all I care about, really," Henderson. "Apple of my eye," said his father Shane when asked how proud he was of his son. Henderson wanted his first act as a business owner to be one of giving. He decided the first flags he'd make he would donate to local first responders in the Wisconsin area. Green Bay Fire Chief David Litton said the gesture will lift spirits. "I can tell you it made my day," Litton said.  

As a veteran Allen firefighter and paramedic, Jason Denton knew the signs of a stroke. He just never expected to experience those symptoms himself. He and his physicians are bringing attention to the warning signs and lifesaving treatment for National Stroke Awareness Month. In early March, after helping with a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Allen, Denton called his brother as he was leaving. During that conversation, his brother immediately noticed Denton didn't sound normal. His brother called Denton's wife, Jennifer, who encouraged him to turn around and seek help. "From my truck, I got the attention of a co-worker who helped me get back into the vaccine clinic. It was obvious. I was having a stroke," Denton said. "I had facial droop and I knew what I wanted to say, but I couldn't get the words out." Allen firefighters at the COVID-19 clinic called an ambulance and brought Denton to Medical City McKinney, a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center. Stroke symptoms can be identified by the acronym FAST.