Mariners in distress are without a decades-old means of contacting the Coast Guard in much of coastal Alaska. The federal search and rescue agency says its VHF signal is down, making communication on Channel 16 unreliable. The issue had been going on all summer and there's no solution in sight. As Sitka fishermen go, Matt Donohoe is somewhat of a veteran. This summer he was trolling for salmon when he heard a distress call over his VHF radio. "A boat called mayday, but it was on Channel 16, and I expected the Coast Guard to respond and they didn't," he said. It turns out it wasn't too serious — the skipper had broken down and was drifting. Donohoe continued to try and reach the Coast Guard over his radio as well with little luck. He was relieved that nobody's lives were at risk that day. "But there's a problem with the infrastructure and it needs to be addressed before somebody dies," he said.  

The FDNY is making the social media rounds with a public service announcement warning the public against attacks on paramedics and emergency medical technicians. The PSA, posted on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram Thursday, comes in the wake of a brutal attack on an EMT last month, and includes tough talk on the penalty for punching a paramedic. "EMTs and paramedics respond to 1.5 million calls each year," an announcer says in a voice over accompanying the spot. "These men and women are highly trained and prepared to save your life at a moment's notice. FDNY EMS helps protect our city by providing the highest level of pre-hospital emergency care. They face many dangers while on duty, including assault, and are protected by New York State Law. Assaulting an FDNY EMT or paramedic is a felony punishable by 7 years in prison."  

Within the space of 24 days, firefighters have been evacuated from the two of the town's seven stations, highlighting growing concerns about the safety of living quarters for those who put themselves in harm's way to save others. Fire Chief Ed Bradley called the situation "unacceptable" and said he is responsible for the public's safety and feels helpless. Firefighters and a pump truck were evacuated from Station 7 Thursday when chunks of the concrete floor in the bay showered into the basement, exposing a disintegrating rebar beneath. Located on Spooner Street and built in 1908, the town is in the process of replacing Station 7 with a new building on Hedge Road. Firefighters and Engine 7 will be stationed at a Kingston firehouse in the interim.  

The idea to transform an Orange County fire engine into a canvas to honor America's military veterans actually started about a year ago with the inspiration of Battalion Chief Scott Egan. On Monday, after weeks of rough sketches and measurements, veteran Orange County firefighter Sotero Martinez III went to work to bring the idea to life. Martinez secured the beige camouflage and symbols of the five branches of the armed forces on the sides of the 30-foot engine, much like a giant jigsaw puzzle. By Wednesday afternoon, the first side of the vets' engine had been completed. News 6 was invited to join a handful of Orange County firefighters for a sneak peek of the ambitious Veterans Day project. Orange County Firefighters Union President Andres Perez had seen photos but said seeing it in person was thrilling.  

Doug Sloan remembers the silence. After California's deadliest and most destructive wildfire raced through the Sierra Nevada foothills one year ago, all but destroying his hometown, everything went silent. No birds chirped. No car engines roared. No tree leaves rustled in the wind. While evidence of the Camp Fire remains in the charred and blackened trees that dot the landscape, in the rubble of buildings not yet cleared and in store signs that lead to empty parking lots, residents and officials say they are working hard to rebuild this rural community 170 miles northeast of San Francisco. Nearly all the debris from the fire has been cleared from Paradise, which once had a population of 26,000, and the amount of debris hauled away is said to be the equivalent of four Golden Gate Bridges.  

First responders are the true heroes in emergency situations. They are the ones who don't hesitate when something bad is happening. Twist reporter, Peyton LoCicero tell us that there is one local fire department that shines brighter than the rest. Well known for sugar cane, rice fields and crawfish ponds, Thibodaux citizens also have another specialty, fighting fires. Did you know that Thibodaux has an abundance of fire fighters? With almost 500 fire fighters, Thibodaux Fire Department the largest unpaid, volunteer fire department in the entire state of Louisiana. "It's made of people who care about people... and that's why we get into this business," explained Benton Foret. "I joined way back in 1994. I was 18 years old. It was a family tradition." Following in his family's footsteps, the Foret family's commitment to fighting fires stretches back four generations.