Four firefighters and a teenager were hospitalized when the driver of a BMW crashed into a Houston fire truck blocking traffic for a separate crash Sunday night. The crew from Engine 52 was stopped on the northbound main lanes of the Gulf Freeway near Bellfort Street to block traffic for a hit-and-run crash around 9:30 p.m. All four firefighters were inside the engine, which had its emergency lights activated. The BMW driver was northbound in the main lanes and struck the front left side of the engine, causing heavy damage to the car and fire truck. A 15-year-old girl who was in the front passenger seat was seriously injured in the crash but is expected to survive, according to Houston Police Department Sgt. David Rose. The four firefighters were also taken to the hospital but are in good condition. The BMW driver could face felony charges for the crash.  

A Houston firefighter is in ICU after testing positive for COVID-19, announced the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association on Sunday. The union said another crew member at his station also tested positive for the virus. "We are in contact with the hospitalized member's family," wrote the union in a tweet. "Please keep him, his family and friends, and his crew in your thoughts and prayers."  

Oak Ridge resident Carla Rickert-Gonzalez believes God has a way of putting people in the right place at the right time. Friday morning, June 19, Rickert-Gonzalez was on her way to work in Pilot Point when she stumbled upon a fire sometime between 7 and 7:30 a.m. at the Gray Hill Apartments, 915 E. U.S. 82. "I never go that way," she said of how she commutes to work, explaining she had to make a stop at the U.S. Post Office on California Street in Gainesville. She said she saw the blaze, pulled over and began banging on doors and windows because Gainesville Fire-Rescue had not yet arrived to the scene. Rickert-Gonzalez said she helped three elderly people out of their homes who were "all still asleep." She said she wasn't the only one who helped the residents of the apartment complex escape the fire. Two men were also assisting her, she said.  

The threat of a lawsuit lingers above the Mission firefighter's union unless they issue a retraction to public comments made against the city's contracted grant-writing firm. On Friday, the union decided no apology would be forthcoming. Questions about a missed deadline on a grant application for firefighters in December ignited a public dispute between the union for Mission firefighters and Hollis Rutledge and Associates, HRA, Inc. Mike Silva, a firefighter and a member of the Mission Fire Fighters Association, calculated the department lost out on $500,000. He shared those concerns with city council members on January 13. "We won't be getting any of that money. And why?" Silva said. "Because the city of Mission contracted Hollis Rutledge who does all your grants and failed to do a deadline of December 2 and decided to submit his December the 20th," Silva said. He ended by urging council to consider terminating the HRA, Inc.'s contract.  

An early morning fire guts an East Texas home and has a firefighter and resident overcome by smoke. Longview fire crews were called around 5:30 Sunday morning to the corner of 'Victor drive and Hollers street', on Longview's east side. Investigators believe the fire started in the attic area, and quickly spread through the home. "5:20 am the Longview fire department responded to number 24 Victor drive for a reported structure fire, when crews arrived they did find that fire was in the attic of this residence," said Longview fire marshal Kevin May. Flames spread quickly and the roof collapsed as a result. "They were able to get the fire extinguished quickly," the fire marshal said.  

A family will return to a destroyed and charred home on the East Side after it unexpectedly went up in flames. Firefighters were dispatched to the house fire, located in the 1200 block of Kayton Avenue, around 6:30 Saturday morning. The front exterior of the home was completely destroyed, giving sight to the damage inside. According to fire captain, Brandon Schultz, by the time fire crews arrived, flames had fully engulfed the front porch and burnt through part of the roof. Firefighters were able to quickly take control and extinguish the flames. No injuries were reported, as no one was inside of the home during the fire. Schultz said that family will be displaced due to the extent of the damage. Damages to the property are estimated to be around $50,000. Arson investigators will take over the case to determine a cause.  

VIDEO: Drone footage shows the aftermath of the massive fire that ravaged the former Strathmore Paper complex and destroyed Mill Number Two. The footage was taken Saturday by Samuel Mazzaferro, the owner and operator of West Branch Aerial Photography located in Chester. Mazzaferro made sure to follow all rules and regulations and avoided any interference as firefighters continued to work the scene. The cause of the fire inside the vacant mill in Russell is considered suspicious by investigators, who are now offering a reward for information that helps identify those who are responsible. The fire was reported around 8:30 p.m. Friday and burned for more than 12 hours. More than 125 firefighters responded to the scene on 34 Valley View Ave.  

A national nonprofit that's been monitoring the spread of COVID-19 says Michigan is one of three states "on track to contain" the novel coronavirus, but officials still warn the fight here is far from over. COVID Act Now, a group of technologists, epidemiologists, health experts and public policy leaders, tweeted Tuesday that Michigan had moved to its lowest risk category on its warning dashboard for states. "Cases are steadily decreasing and Michigan's COVID preparedness meets or exceeds international standards across our key metrics," the site tweeted. COVID Act Now says Michigan has a low infection rate, widespread testing in place and sufficient contact tracing. The state has experienced seven straight weeks of declines in new deaths linked to the virus, according to tracking from the state Department of Health and Human Services.  

Four Rapid City Fire Department firefighters retired Friday as a result of budget concerns and to help prevent possible layoffs in the department. Capt. Joe Tjaden, Training Section Chief Matt Culberson, Battalion Chief Tim Daly and Fire Chief Rod Seals have a combined 111 years of experience under their belts, according to a RCFD press release. "Each one of these individuals leaves a legacy of excellence," said Lt. Jim Bussell, public information officer for the RCFD, in an email to the Journal. "They were among the most highly trained, well-rounded firefighters in the business. They care deeply about people. They care deeply about their peers and the community they serve. They have served faithfully and with great dedication. Their impact on our organization is profound."  

About 60 firefighters with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department cannot work right now. They either have COVID-19 or may have been exposed. That's according to Randy Wyse the President of the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters. It comes after Action News Jax confirmed a firefighter at station 21 tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday. Wyse says fire stations in Arlington and northwest Jacksonville also have firefighters sidelined due to the pandemic. Action News Jax is working to learn the other fire stations are impacted. Fire Chief Powers told Action News Jax in May about the process of protecting firefighters and preventing the spread. "Out of an abundance of caution to protect the men and women they work within the fire station and to protect the public that we respond to, we pull them out. Put them in self-quarantine for that 14 days." Chief Powers said.