Firefighters say a Chugiak homeowner was lucky to have gotten out of his home before it went up in flames Sunday morning. The Chugiak Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department responded to the home near Birchwood Loop and White Birch road shortly before 8 a.m. The intersection was closed while firefighters worked to put the fire out. Assistant Fire Chief John Della Croce said the homeowner called it in after noticing smoke coming from the attic. He adds the man tried to put the fire out himself with a fire extinguisher. Thankfully everyone got out and there were no injuries but Della Croce said it could have been much worse. "The homeowner was lucky to get out, that he was awake. there were no working smoke detectors, so he was lucky enough that he was awake, saw smoke and fire, and knew enough to get out and call for help," Della Croce said. "It's a good reminder to check your smoke detectors and make sure they're working."  

VIDEO: A fire at the Lone Star Brewery late Saturday night seems "suspicious," according to San Antonio Fire Department Chief Charles Hood. The incident happened inside of the commercial brewery located at 600 Lone Star Boulevard. According to Hood, firefighters arrived at the building, saw the fire through the building's roof and called for a second alarm. A total of 40 units were able to respond to fight the fire in the 6-story structure to prevent it from spreading. Hood said that the building was unoccupied at the time of the incident, but investigators found items left behind by one or more homeless people at the scene and a smaller warming fire may have started the fire. "The fire is going to be undetermined right now," Hood said. "We're pretty sure it's probably suspicious. It could be a warming fire or something like that." No one was injured during the fire, Hood said.  

For more than five years now, the Vail Police Department, the Eagle County Sheriff's Office and the Gypsum Fire Department have worked with a national company called FirstNet to evaluate its high-speed broadband emergency communications platform. Now other agencies can view their testimonials regarding the service and associated equipment in a series of YouTube videos produced by the company to promote its product. The videos were filmed in February and went live on YouTube in late March. In the segments, Vail Police Chief Dwight Henninger, Eagle County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Kromer and Gypsum Fire Chief Justin Kirkland share their experiences with using FirstNet, Built with AT&T — a public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority. FirstNet offers dedicated internet access — for department-issued smartphones, vehicle-based computers, routers, and frontline apparatuses — for public safety agencies to ensure bandwidth during emergency situations.  

Healthy, balanced meals were harder to come by for firefighters in the D.C. region until Food on the Stove came along. But starting next month, the nonprofit will beta test a new app that will pave the way for a healthier lifestyle among firehouses in Prince George's County and beyond. Jonathan Tate founded the organization in July 2017 to help firefighters live healthier lives through nutrition and exercise. In 2019, the National Fire Protection Association reported that 48 deaths occurred among line-of-duty career and volunteer firefighters nationwide. Almost half of all fatalities were sudden cardiac deaths; and a 2015 study conducted by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation tracked 485 sudden cardiac deaths among line-of-duty firefighters from 2005 to 2014. Even Tate has experienced loss within his own family. His father, James Tate Sr., a former D.C. deputy fire chief died from heart disease and cancer just nine years after retiring from a 32-year career in the fire service.  

VIDEO: "The camaraderie on this thing was fantastic, we spent a lot time busting each other's chops and a lot of emotion when we got to the top." Chief Tom Shannon, along with a group of Scottsdale firefighters and a few close friends, wanted to pay tribute to Austin Peck. Peck was a former crew member who lost his battle with occupational cancer. This journey to Mount Everest was emotional for those close to Austin, plus the mission is to continue being mindful of the threats, beyond flames that fire crews face. This trip was affectionately known as "Peck's Trek", honoring both Austin Peck and Phoenix Pub Manager, Dave Grefka who hosted Austin's wake at the Dubliner. "Sadly, Dave Grefka was the bar manager there and he passed shortly after Austin did, so we were able to kind of make it a Dave Grefka/Austin Peck memorial trip," he added.  

Nearly 60 years ago, 100 homes were destroyed, as three different fires simultaneously burned through multiple Staten Island neighborhoods. On April 20, 1963, also known as Black Saturday, a total of three large brush fires began in Rossville, Tottenville, and Mariners Harbor. In their wake, the fires caused more than $2 million of property damage and left over 500 people homeless. It was dry and windy outside when the first and largest brush fire ignited at around 10:00 AM on Arthur Kill Road in Rossville. Powerful 50 mph winds spread the fire east through Annadale and Huguenot, reaching as far as Hylan Boulevard. At around the same time, a second fire began near the Tottenville beachfront, ravaging houses, a restaurant, and the South Shore Swim Club before stopping near Mount Loretto.