After serving as interim chief since May 2022, Jonathan Killings has been offered the role permanently. His background in serving many ranks within the department makes him the ideal candidate. Killings moved to El Paso when he was two years old with his family as part of the United States Military. They decided to make the city their home where Killings grew up and attended Hanks High School. He went on to the El Paso Fire Training Academy where he graduated in 1998. From there he went on to work all over the city including operations, ambulances, the training academy all the way up to chief. Killings feels that his experience is what prepared him for this role. "I know what the men and women in the operations what they're dealing with and how it feels when you're out there responding and what you need to be successful and what you need to provide that high level of service to the community."  

VIDEO: The smoke detectors woke up Gina Harris around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. There was a smell of smoke in her unit. She called 911 when she couldn't get the detectors to stop. Soon, she was standing in the street watching part of her condo complex burn. Dallas Fire-Rescue said the fire at Parkway Quarter Condominiums, off the Dallas North Tollway between Keller Springs and Arapaho, was out by 5 a.m. Investigators stuck around to determine a cause and some crews stayed on the scene to put out any hot spots. Investigators ruled the fire was electrical and had started in a wall, and DFR crews had cleared out by around noon. Harris was allowed back in her condo. She found water damage, but the fire stopped at her next door neighbor's unit. Suddenly, a familiar smell and sight seeped in.  

VIDEO: A man and a woman died in a house fire in southeast Houston overnight, firefighters confirmed. The fire broke out at a home on Hemlock Street near Floral Street around 2:30 a.m. Thursday. According to the Houston Fire Department, the couple who died were both in their late 70s. A neighbor reportedly called 911 to report flames. When firefighters arrived, they executed a primary search of the property. That's when the front porch of the home collapsed, fire officials said. A firefighter went missing for a short period of time, but was thankfully located and not injured. The man who died was located at the back side of the home, firefighters said. The woman was missing at first -- but officials said she was also found dead a short time later.  

Van Alstyne is making public safety its top priority as the city continues to grow. "The city hired a consultant — Dr. Fred out of the University of North Texas — who specializes in public safety and staffing," said police Chief Tim Barnes. "So he's giving us a five-year plan for patrol." The police and fire departments are expanding along with the city's population. Van Alstyne police say they're preparing for this growth so they're not behind the curve. The fire department is also staying ahead of future growth by boosting staff. "With the growth in population, we see an increase in call volume," said Fire Chief Ryan Dockery. "We need to address that, but also to staff our vehicles, and as we expand in our department and expand in more stations." Dockery added that the department's biggest need is to fill positions for firefighter paramedics.  

PHOTOS: A Salado business has suffered catastrophic damage from a Wednesday morning fire. The Bell County Communications Center received multiple calls at approximately 4:14 a.m. Wednesday reporting a structure fire near the 100 block of Main Street in Salado. Bell County Sheriff's Department deputies responded to the fire – along with the Salado Fire Department, Belton Fire Department, and the Salado Police Department. The Wild Angels Boutique, located at 110 S. Main Street, was fully-involved in flames when first responders arrived on scene. A neighboring structure was also damaged in the fire. There is no suspected criminal activity associated with this event. The investigation into the origin and cause of the fire is ongoing.  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: An early Christmas gift just arrived at the main fire station in Tyler's sister city in Poland. The commander of the fire brigade in Jelenia Góra recently unboxed a customized American-style fire helmet, a symbol of gratitude from Tyler Fire Chief David Coble. In late September, Coble was part of a small group of representatives from the City of Tyler and the Tyler Sister Cities Organization that visited Jelenia Góra on a diplomatic mission. Coble spent time touring the city's fire departments, inspecting fire and rescue apparatuses and other emergency response equipment. "While we were there, the guys just sort of welcomed us into their house. They showed us both of the fire stations there in the city. And I just felt that camaraderie that firefighters feel -- that brotherhood when you are around each other."  

VIDEO: The smoke detectors woke up Gina Harris around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. There was a smell of smoke in her unit. She called 911 when she couldn't get the detectors to stop. Soon, she was standing in the street watching part of her condo complex burn. Dallas Fire-Rescue said the fire at Parkway Quarter Condominiums, off the Dallas North Tollway between Keller Springs and Arapaho, was out by 5 a.m. Investigators stuck around to determine a cause and some crews stayed on the scene to put out any hot spots. Investigators ruled the fire was electrical and had started in a wall, and DFR crews had cleared out by around noon. Harris was allowed back in her condo. She found water damage, but the fire stopped at her next door neighbor's unit. Suddenly, a familiar smell and sight seeped in.  

It is with great sadness that the Fire Engineering/FDIC International and Clarion Events family announces the unexpected passing of Chief (Ret.) Bobby Halton, editor in chief of Fire Engineering and Educational Director for FDIC. Chief Halton passed away at his home in Oklahoma Monday night, December 19th, 2022. Halton served as our editor for the past 18 years. Halton led the editorial team and helped build the FDIC into the largest fire service educational conference in the world. "We are devastated by the news of Bobby's sudden passing. Bobby was a larger-than-life personality who dedicated his life to God, family, and the fire service. Bobby spent his life in service of others and his impact serving as VP of Education and Training for Clarion Fire & Rescue, was a source of great pride and personal responsibility. This is a major loss for the Clarion family and the fire service. In this difficult time, we offer our deepest condolences to Marcia, Dean, Ryan, Evan, and the entire Halton family," stated Eric Schlett, Executive Vice President, Clarion Events – Fire & Rescue.  

VIDEO: Tuesday's train derailment in Collegedale closed roads and created challenges for cleanup crews and motorists. Ten train cars and three locomotives derailed when the train crashed into a truck carrying a concrete beam. It caused a massive diesel spill at the crossing on College Drive East and Apison Pike. Two people who were injured in the crash are out of the hospital. The area looks a lot different than it did just 24 hours ago. The wreckage has been moved out of the way, new tracks have been laid and Norfolk Southern trains are running again at reduced speeds. When the Norfolk Southern train collided with a concrete beam Tuesday afternoon, it caused the locomotive and 10 boxcars to derail spilling gallons of diesel. Hamilton County Hazardous Materials Officer C.J. Davis said there was about 3700 gallons of diesel in the locomotives.  

VIDEO: Sasha, an 8-year-old Czechoslovakian German Shepherd, is the first pet in Beckley to try out a new oxygen mask, made just for pets. Her handler, Jerry Johnson of the Raleigh County Community Emergency Response Team, reached out to the company, Invisible Fence, to get a free mask kit for Beckley Fire Department, through a program called Project Breathe. "They will donate to any fire department a set of oxygen masks, large medium and small," said Johnson. Johnson said the masks fit dogs, cats and even some other animals. They are specially sized and designed to deliver oxygen to pets who are injured during emergencies like house fires. Beckley Fire Department Lt. Chris Graham said the masks will make a difference in the quality of care that pets receive.  

The Air Force has grounded its entire fleet of B-2 stealth bombers following an emergency landing and fire earlier this month, and none of the strategic aircraft will perform flyovers at this years' college bowl games. A bomber experienced an in-flight malfunction on Dec. 10, forcing it to make an emergency landing at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, where it caught fire. The fire was extinguished and there were no injuries. The standdown is significant in that there are fewer than 20 stealth bombers in the entire fleet and the aircraft provides, along with the B-52 Stratofortress, the air leg of the nation's nuclear triad. The B-2 has been regularly deployed to the Indo-Pacific and more recently to Europe as a show of force. During the standdown the entire fleet will be inspected, 509th Bomb Wing spokeswoman Air Force Master Sgt. Beth Del Vecchio said.