Alaska Department of Law Chief Assistant Attorney Anne Nelson received the Bronze Smokey Bear Award for her contribution to statewide wildfire prevention efforts. The National Association of State Foresters issued a press release Wednesday announcing the names of the five 2021 award recipients, which includes Nelson. "Wildfire prevention remains as relevant today as it was 77 years ago when the Smokey Bear campaign began," said Ad Council Chief Campaign Development Officer Michelle Hillman. "Keeping our forests safe from unplanned and unwanted fires takes exceptional dedication, and we congratulate this year's awardees for this well-deserved recognition." Nelson is recognized for her role in the passage of House Bill 355 by the Alaska Legislature in 2018. The bill modernized Alaska's Wildland Fire Prevention Statutes and Regulations.  

VIDEO: Firefighters in Niagara Falls responded to the scene of a large fire early Sunday morning on Niagara Street, near 20th Street. Massive flames and a large plume of smoke could be seen around 6 a.m. from 2 On Your Side's camera on top of the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino. City of Niagara Falls Fire Chief Joe Pedulla says upon arrival, the fire was venting through the roof of the former Frosted Mug bar and restaurant. Pedulla says no people were hurt in the fire. However, several animals were killed in the blaze. He added that at least two buildings were damaged from the fire. One of those buildings was the house next door that Laureen Peterson, Randi Eckelberger, and their families called home. "We lost everything," Peterson says. The neighbors say someone knocked on their door at around 5:30 a.m. That's when they went outside and called 9-1-1.  

More than 10.3 million acres of land were scorched by wildfires nationwide in 2020. Firefighters battling the harrowing flames often work shifts that exceed 24 hours, and they stay in close quarters in remote locations for weeks at a time, offering a prime opportunity for COVID-19 to spread. In addition, firefighters in urban areas as well as in wildlands routinely are exposed to smoke, carbon monoxide, toxins from structure fires and other hazards to lung health. Although there isn't much data to indicate whether smoke inhalation affects the infection rate or severity of COVID-19 in firefighters, some experts are voicing concerns about lessened lung capacity upon recovery and other health issues. "There's definitely the question of whether or not those firefighters who are severely impacted will have trouble regaining lung capacity," said Luke Montrose, an environmental toxicologist at Boise State University. "They're already at risk for diseases like camp crud and lung cancer."  

VIDEO: Two people were killed Saturday night in a fiery crash involving a Tesla, according to Harris County Pct. 4 Constable Mark Herman. This happened at about 11:25 p.m. in the Carlton Woods Subdivision on Hammock Dunes Place. Constable Herman said the 2019 Tesla Model S was traveling on a roadway and at some point, the vehicle, which deputies said was traveling at a high rate of speed, came to a slight curve. Deputies say the car went off the roadway, crashed into a tree and burst into flames. Herman said it took firefighters nearly four hours and more than 30,000 gallons of water to extinguish the fire. "Normally when the fire department arrives, they have the vehicle fire in control in minutes, but this went on close to four hours," said Herman. At one point, crews had to call Tesla to ask how to put the fire out, Herman said.  

The 1906 earthquake in San Francisco struck on April 18 at 5:12 a.m., registering a massive 7.9M on the Richter scale — killing more than 3,000 and leaving a trail of fires that destroyed 80% of the city. Sunday morning, San Francisco erupted in celebration to commemorate the day but to also usher in hope. Without context, San Francisco's annual celebration of the 1906 earthquake appears to be an ass-backward event. (The second-largest tremor to ever be recorded in California killed thousands; left entire city blocks either completely charred or buried in rubble; 250,000 San Franciscans became homeless overnight; survivors camped out in Golden Gate Park and the dunes west of the city... or fled to outlying towns.) But at its core, the carousel of levity that spins every year at 5:12 a.m. in downtown is meant to mirror San Francisco's inherent resilience — all while serving as a reminder to hold on to hope in difficult times.