Bristol Bay Police say a 22-year-old Eagle River man broke into the King Salmon Fire Station and hopped into a fire truck, drove through the bay door, turned on the lights, and drove the truck 15 miles to Naknek, Alaska. Police say Dawson Cody Porter used a piece of lumber to break a window, get into the building, and took possession of a fire truck. Police didn't say what time this happened Saturday. Police say while driving to Naknek, Porter activated the emergency overhead lights. He was taken into custody in front of Fisherman's Bar in Naknek by two Bristol Bay Officers. Porter is charged with Burglary, Vehicle Theft, Criminal Mischief and two counts of violating his conditions of release from a previous arrest just several weeks prior. "Porter caused approximately 10,000 dollars in damage and rendered a 100,000 piece of fire apparatus inoperable until repairs can be made," said police in a release.  

A family boating near Juneau on Saturday collided with a humpback whale, injuring some of those on board, according to a report from NOAA Fisheries. The boat was on the west side of Coghlan Island just outside of Auke Bay when it crashed into the whale, according to the agency. Four people were onboard at the time, said Travis Mead, assistant chief of Capital City Fire/Rescue, which responded to the crash. The whale unexpectedly surfaced in front of the boat, Mead said. "The whale surfaced in front of the operator and he tried to avoid it," Mead said. The boat's operator was able to steer the boat back to Auke Bay on its own power and someone onboard called the emergency line for help, alerting the fire department, Mead said. The injured were then taken by ambulance to the hospital, he said.  

It's not just cops' disciplinary records that should be shared with the public -- firefighters' and correction officers' histories should be posted online too, Mayor de Blasio said Monday. Now that the state has repealed a part of the 1976 state civil rights law known as 50-a, there is no reason for any city agency to shield relevant records from the public, de Blasio added. "I want transparency across the board," the mayor said in response to a question from the Daily News. The NYPD for roughly 40 years had made short summaries of cops' disciplinary records available to reporters. But in 2016, the department began to withhold even that meager information, and argued that the 50-a clause prevented them disclosing such details -- a position that was widely criticized by police reform advocates and the media.  

VIDEO: A fire at an asphalt processing plant resulted in a hazmat situation and evacuations in Camden County, New Jersey early Tuesday. Officials said a large tank containing asphalt began to smolder around 12:45 a.m. at Blueknight Energy Partners on the 200 block of Water Street in Gloucester City. Neighbors said they woke up to a loud bang and their homes shook. Kathy Geiser said she spent all morning in her car with her son worried about their home and neighborhood. "He came running downstairs screaming that he heard an explosion and the asphalt plant around the corner caught fire," said Geiser. "It's scary. It's only a block away." The Gloucester City Fire Department responded to the blaze along with other fire crews. A hazmat unit was also on the scene.  

A total of $3.5 million was awarded to 154 fire departments, districts and EMS providers through the Small Equipment Grant Program. The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal and Gov. Pritzker announced the OSFM received 540 applications, requesting around $12 million in funding during this grant period. The Small Equipment Grant Program was established to provide grants of up to $26,000 for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment. The purpose is to allow eligible applicants the opportunity to purchase small equipment that they may otherwise not be able to purchase, according to an announcement on Monday. Most Illinois fire departments, fire protections districts, township fire departments, and stand-alone, nonprofit ambulance service providers were eligible to apply.  

The United States has long prided itself as the world's shining beacon. But its current status is a much darker one: the globe's leader in coronavirus cases. More than 125,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the US, and more than 2.5 million Americans have been infected. American life has been irrevocably altered by the worst pandemic in a century. And as the country struggles to reopen, cases of COVID-19 have surged again -- this time in young people and in states that had previously avoided the brunt of the virus. Here, in dollars, percentages and — most tragically — lives, is the pandemic's devastating toll on the US. The US death toll is more than twice as high as that of the country with the second-highest death rate, Brazil. That South American country has reported more than 57,600 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University's global case count.  

PHOTOS: City officials invite area residents to join them next week in a celebration of the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department's new fire engine. City officials used $530,000 in half-cent sales tax money to pay for the 2020 engine, which can pump 1,500 gallons of water per minute and carries a full complement of firefighting, rescue and emergency medical tools and equipment. The public celebration for the engine is set for 9 a.m. July 11 at Station 6, which is at 5 Hollywood Blvd. NE. The event will include a ceremonial wash down and push in of the vehicle, as well as a dedication to a special guest. Attendees will be required to wear face coverings, which will be provided to those who don't bring their own. Fort Walton Beach officials said in a news release that the new engine will be fully staffed with four firefighter-EMTs and paramedics each shift and is licensed to provide advanced life support medical care.