One man has been arrested as a result of a Sunday morning fire in the River Oaks Apartment complex in the 1300 block of 65th Drive. Todd Miller, 35, of Lubbock has been arrested and a charge of arson causing bodily injury and death. Lubbock Fire Rescue now reports two people are dead because of this fire. Both died at the scene. One person has also been arrested for arson. Two other people were hospitalized with minor injuries. Lubbock Fire Rescue also reports 16 units were affected by the fire. All residents in the complex are being assisted by the Red Cross because their electricity was cut off.  

VIDEO: Crews are on the scene at SpaceX after an explosion during testing this afternoon. State Highway 4 is currently closed for what should have been a static fire test that resulted in an explosion at about 2 p.m. The fire lasted for about an hour and a half after the explosion which we've been told by visitors and residents could be felt as far as South Padre island and in Port Isabel. Cameron County Public Relations Officer Melissa Elizardi says that county emergency management was on scene to evaluate after SpaceX firefighters put out the fire. She adds that the scene is safe but further details aren't available as the investigation continues. Highway 4 Closures planned for alternate test dates have been revoked by SPACEX opening the route back up once authorities clear the current scene.  

An outbreak of mold at the Katy Fire Station One has forced all office and operations personnel to be moved out of the station, according to Fire Chief Russell Wilson. City of Katy Mayor Bill Hastings said the COVID-19 pandemic has made it harder to get in touch with individuals who can help with the mold issue, but repairs remain a priority. "We have a proposal to have it renovated and that proposal says that it would take three and a half to four months," Hastings said. "Now, we're in the process of trying to go through that. We have a price on it. We're just trying to figure out at this time how to budget for that." The engine and medical crews are currently staged at the Fussell Senior Center on East Fifth Avenue for operating units for the north side of town, about three-fourths of a mile from Station 1.  

Williamson County EMS employees who lose work hours from contracting the coronavirus while on duty now have more protection for their lost pay. A Williamson County spokeswoman said this week seven out of the 28 EMS workers who were, or are currently under quarantine have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease linked to the coronavirus. Three EMS workers are no longer in quarantine and have returned to work, she added. County commissioners on May 26 voted 5-0 to change the county's workers compensation policy to allow affected EMS employees to supplement some of their lost pay through accruals of their paid time off. After commissioners took their vote during their virtual meeting, County Judge Bill Gravell thanked first responders and EMS workers. "This court has got your back. You have worked diligently, you have worked hard, you have risked your lives in the middle of a pandemic and I want to say thank you for doing that," Gravell said.  

An infant girl only a few hours old was surrendered at a fire station in Crosby early Monday morning, deputies confirm. The child was found at about 3:30 a.m. at the fire station in the 2500 block of the Crosby Freeway. The sheriff's office said deputies received a call about the girl being dropped off at the fire station. Deputies and firefighters found the girl a short time later at the station's front door. Lt. Bruce with the Harris County Sheriff's Office said the child's mother will face no legal repercussions because the baby was dropped off in compliance with the state's Baby Moses Law. The little girl is now at the hospital getting checked out.  

El Paso Firefighters extinguished a large fire at an East El Paso ironworks warehouse early Saturday morning after callers reported seeing flames shooting from the building. It happened around 12:07 a.m. at All Precision Sheet Metal Works Inc., located at 3505 Lee Boulevard near Turner Road. El Paso Firefighters responded and quickly upgraded the call to a condition 3 fire, allowing 20 units and 54 firefighters to respond to the scene. The fire was under control at 12:49 a.m., and firefighters began checking for hotspots in the building. El Paso Electric and Texas Gas assisted El Paso Fire at the scene. Fire investigators are looking into the cause of Saturday morning's warehouse fire.  

VIDEO: A huge fire broke out in several residences in South Boston early Saturday morning, and five of the firefighters trying to contain the blaze were hurt. The seven-alarm fire erupted about 3:30 a.m. on Columbia Road and Douglas Street and tore through about seven homes, the Boston Fire Department said. By 6:30 a.m., flames could no longer be seen shooting from windows. Boston fire Commissioner Jack Dempsey said three of the injured firefighters were burned, though not seriously, and taken to the hospital. The other injured firefighters were treated at the scene. "We were concerned about fire spreading up the block," said Dempsey. "We're lucky it wasn't a very windy night." Thirty-eight people were displaced by the blaze, which tore through seven residential buildings, according to the fire department. Damage was estimated at $10 million, though none of the buildings' residents were hurt.  

"Peaceful protests by our neighbors exercising their first amendment rights across America are being interrupted by violence and unrest. In the middle of the challenges and turmoil, I am proud of our IAFF fire fighters, paramedics and EMTs who are once again proving their dedication to keeping their communities safe when they are needed most. "As always, the safety of our members is our top priority. So, it was with disappointment and outrage that I witnessed our members – who are integral to keeping everyone, including protesters, safe — attacked over the weekend. In cities from Atlanta and Austin to Cleveland and Minneapolis and St. Paul, our members were subjected to having bricks or large fireworks hurled their way, simply for doing their jobs. This is inexcusable. "Throwing rocks, fireworks or directing violence toward fire fighters, paramedics and EMTs is never acceptable.  

A coalition of national EMS organizations announced a joint fundraising effort to honor EMS providers who died from COVID-19 through the sale of a custom-designed memorial coin. The coin and fundraising effort were conceived by Paramedic Alan Lieberman, and the coin goes on sale starting June 1, 2020 through June 15, 2020. All proceeds from sales will be donated to the National EMS Memorial Service (NEMSMS). "As a veteran EMS service member for the last 22 years working in New York City and the tri-state area, it was devastating to see colleagues who save lives become the victims themselves," Lieberman said. "This coin is a testament to the men and women whom we've lost and all those who continue to serve on the front lines." To date, there have been almost 40 known COVID-19-related deaths of EMS professionals.  

A disagreement surrounding COVID-19 quarantine protocols has sparked a dispute in Cranston, after the mayor's office ordered firefighters exposed to infected co-workers to return to work while waiting for test results. Four Cranston firefighters have tested positive and at one point about 40 coworkers were in quarantine. That total has since fallen to 17, according to union president Scott Robinson. Based on federal health guidelines, Robinson said the union worked with Fire Chief Stephen McIntosh and the city EMS Director Paul Casey to create a city policy that allows firefighters to quarantine for five days before getting tested. Robinson said the idea is to allow the virus some time to incubate so infected firefighters might start showing symptoms, which would prevent someone who might initially be asymptomatic from rushing back to work and getting others sick.  

They often find interesting things, and sometimes uncover an object of historical value. Recently, artifact hunter Axel Macon and two of his friends fired up their metal detectors at a site near Spring Street in Charleston and aimed their electromagnetic bursts at a promising area in the backyard of the property. After a while the two friends called it quits, but Macon was persistent. He had a hunch something was there — something interesting, something valuable. As soon as he was alone, his Minelab Equinox 800 metal detector beeped confidently. With his hands, he dug down 2 or 3 inches and pulled out a badge shaped like a shield and made of coin silver. On its face was inscribed: Niagara F.Co. No.8 1861 W.P.P. This was significant. The Niagara Fire Company was a brigade of black volunteers, one of many active in the city at the time of the Civil War.