Directors of TEEX, Texas A&M Forest Service, and the governor of Luxembourg, Belgium, met in Aggieland Thursday to learn more about how to control forest fires in the province. "We are hosting the Belgium, Luxembourg governor here to talk about emergency response fire schools and how we do it in Texas," said Texas A&M Forest Service Director Tom Boggus. An outbreak of forest fires in the province led to the governor reaching out to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Texas A&M and Belgians made a connection 15 years ago, but today it expanded. They signed an agreement today, making their working partnership official. The partnership will exchange experience and information regarding public emergency response to wildland fires.  

VIDEO: A funeral service was held on Thursday at Community Bible Church to honor fallen officer, Greg Garza, who was killed in the line of duty on October 15. Two processions in his honor made their way through San Antonio streets leading up to the funeral. The funeral was not open to the general public, but retired and active public safety personnel were invited to attend. Rev. Father Jimmy Drennan of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, Dr. Ed Newton of Community Bible Church and Deacon Jerome A. Whitley presided over the funeral mass. "Thank you to the beautiful people of San Antonio for the outpouring of love," his brother Joe Garza said in a speech at the funeral service. His close friend David Gibson, an engineer at the San Antonio Fire Department, also spoke in his honor.  

Drivers along Highway 281 Thursday morning saw a show of support for Greg Garza. Fire and tow trucks stationed on bridges above the highway as firefighters, law enforcement and family took part in processions paying tribute to the fallen firefighter. Crews came from across Texas, including Pleasanton and Poteet, in a procession to Community Bible Church. As they drove up 281, fire trucks and tow trucks parked by supporters like Marine Corps Veteran Mike Benjamin raised flags and stood watch. "When one of them falls, it's just like being in the military—when you have a fallen comrade, you honor him to the best of your ability," Benjamin said. "We work with them on a daily basis and they protect us while we're out there doing what we're supposed to be doing: cleaning up vehicles." Benjamin says the tow truck drivers give this farewell each time a first responder dies in the line of duty.  

A 50-foot fire hose scheduled to be used in the ceremonial opening of Waco Fire Station No. 5 on Friday was stolen from the new station. Jeffrey Stephens, of Waco, was arrested after he allegedly stole a fire hose out of the new station house at 4515 Bagby Ave., shortly before 4:30 p.m. Thursday. The hose is scheduled to be used in a hose uncoupling ceremony — a unique take on a ribbon cutting ceremony for firefighters — on Friday morning during the dedication of the recently completed fire station. Waco fire Battalion Chief Chris Ballew was working at Station No. 5 when a family member of a firefighter visiting the station saw a man had entered the engine bay. Ballew said he looked outside and a man was walking east on Bagby Ave. carrying the 25-pound fire hose.  

October is fire prevention month and one group took a unique approach to make sure Groves residents had working smoke detectors. The method they chose to use is quite remarkable. George Geisel, known as 'The Domino Man' in Groves, says his heart is always with his community. "It's all about the community, trying to keep the community safe," Geisel said. Like an ordinary day, orders poured into Domino's on Thursday, but customers got a lot more than what they ordered. Groves firefighters partnered with the local Domino's to deliver pizza. The catch: people would get it for free if their smoke detectors worked properly. This unique partnership has been a fun way to educate the community for the last four years.  

After coming to the United States from Mexico City as a teenager in 2001, Jessica Stavinoha worked for years to get to the day she was set to be sworn in as a U.S. citizen. Stavinoha told 13 Investigates' Ted Oberg recently that getting to the end of the process was a relief. "It was like good, now I can go do something for myself and give back to the country." Stavinoha and her husband worked to gather referral letters from friends, documents of all kinds and pass a 100-question history and civics citizenship test. When she passed that test in September, her husband was one of the first people she told, "I passed my test." She said, "He's like, 'I told you, I don't know why you're so worried about.' He was so happy." Stavinoha was scheduled to be sworn in a month later.  

On Wednesday, October 23rd, the Wamsutter Volunteer Fire Department was working an accident scene of a single vehicle rollover off the north side, westbound Interstate 80 at mile marker 170. The pickup truck involved in that incident had just been towed away and the driver had escaped with minor injuries. At around 8:30 pm, while the Wamsutter Volunteer Firefighters were working around their new Engine 1 to clean up from the scene, a westbound convertible Ford Mustang slid off the highway at highway speeds and rear ended the unoccupied fire engine. However, the five crew members were all standing in close proximately to the fire engine and two of them were impacted by the Mustang, one by the fire engine which was hit with such force it skidded forward several feet striking the firefighter in the process.  

A raging wildfire that forced massive evacuations in Northern California scorched thousands of acres in hours -- and is expected to keep growing. The Kincade Fire ignited Wednesday night in Sonoma County, and burned 16,000 acres by Thursday night. It was fueled in part by high winds that had already prompted California electric utilities to intentionally cut power to thousands of residents. The blaze had claimed 49 structures by Thursday afternoon, Cal Fire said. It was unclear how many of those lost were homes. Approximately 1,300 personnel are fighting the fire, which was 5% contained. While the winds had started to die down by Thursday afternoon, officials said, an estimated 2,000 residents were still under evacuation orders. Among the communities under mandatory evacuation order was the entirety of Geyserville, about 80 miles north of San Francisco. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office told residents Thursday morning to leave after the fire crossed Highway 128, heading west.  

VIDEO: Firefighters came face to face with a man holding a machete during an early Thursday morning house fire call. Police said crews were called out around 3 a.m. for a fire at Crestview Terrace. Firefighters found 51-year-old Edwin Aviles outside the home carrying a knife and a machete. According to police, the man seemed to be suffering from mental health issues, and refused to drop the weapons. He also told them the house was going to explode. Police used a stun gun on the man, and he was taken to the hospital for evaluation. Police said no one else was in the home, which was seriously damaged by the fire. Aviles has been charged with resisting detention, but police said he may face further charges. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.  

Directors of TEEX, Texas A&M Forest Service, and the governor of Luxembourg, Belgium, met in Aggieland Thursday to learn more about how to control forest fires in the province. "We are hosting the Belgium, Luxembourg governor here to talk about emergency response fire schools and how we do it in Texas," said Texas A&M Forest Service Director Tom Boggus. An outbreak of forest fires in the province led to the governor reaching out to Texas A&M Forest Service. Texas A&M and Belgians made a connection 15 years ago, but today it expanded. They signed an agreement today, making their working partnership official. The partnership will exchange experience and information regarding public emergency response to wildland fires. "I'm here to see all the procedures, all the courses that they organize for all the firefighters in Texas," said Governor Olivier Schmitz. Choosing Texas A&M to train them was not a difficult choice. "It's because they are the best," said Governor Schmitz.