A former member of the Killeen Fire Department has passed away after a battle with cancer. Former FRO Patrick Bergman passed away peacefully over the weekend after a long and courageous battle with cancer, according to the Killeen Fire Department. Killeen Fire said at 2pm today, personnel from Station #3 reported to Central Texas Mortuary in Temple and transported Bergman's remains to Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen. Bergman's life will be celebrated and honored with a visitation service followed by a funeral service. Bergman served the Killeen Fire Department honorably for nearly fifteen years from 2005 to 2020 and will receive fire department honors at both services. Patrick also served as a member of the Killeen Fire Department Honor Guard and dedicated countless hours of his own time honoring the lives of other fallen brothers and sisters.  

After a nationwide search and over 44 qualified applicants, the City of Bryan has named Richard Giusti the next Fire Chief of the Bryan Fire Department. Throughout the process, the city says each candidate was vetted by representatives from BFD, Bryan Police Department and other city departments. Eight finalists were interviewed, and Giusti was unanimously chosen to succeed retired Fire Chief Randy McGregor, according to the city. Giusti is expected to begin as fire chief in early April. "It is a distinct honor to be selected as the Fire Chief for the City of Bryan and to represent such an excellent organization. I look forward to working hard to keep our citizens and firefighters safe while becoming part of this remarkable culture and living ‘The Good Life, Texas Style'," said Giusti.  

The Edinburg Fire Department responded to an 18-wheeler that caught fire Tuesday morning. Fire Chief Shawn Snider said there are no reported injuries. The 18-wheeler is off I-69 and Alberta northbound in Edinburg. Officials say the exit is currently closed. Please be advised an 18 wheeler is on Fire, off I-69 and Alberta north bound. This exit is closed, drivers can exit on Owassa. Drivers are asked to avoid the area. No other details were provided.  

The investigation is heating up Monday after a massive fire in Atascosa County Saturday. While a large collection of tires burned, witnesses reported seeing the smoke plume rising from more than fifty miles away. The fire consumed much of a six-acre family compound on Verdi Road just west of I-37 near FM 3006. Property owner Lupe Gonzales says the parcel was home to 16 of her family members, who all lost almost everything they own. Gonzales said her home and two large RVs burned into nothing but ash and a bit of twisted metal. Another home, Gonzales says, has been called unsafe because fire ate through portions of the floor and the interior of the structure is saturated with the remains of thick smoke. With regard to how the fire started, several family members say they had been barbequing, but the fire was not left unattended and they were shocked at how fast the fire spread in spite of their initial efforts to contain it.  

Though Gov. Greg Abbott's statewide mask mandate will expire on Wednesday, City of Odessa employees will still be required to wear face coverings while interacting with the public and while inside city buildings. City of Odessa city manager Michael Marrero told the Odessa American on Monday morning that city employees include members of the Odessa Police Department and Odessa Fire Rescue. "When they are in contact with citizens that they will continue to wear their masks," Marrero said. "That's probably the safest bet for not only the protection of the firefighter or the office, but also the resident as well." Marrero said the city council doesn't need to vote on this matter that the city would be following in line with what Ector County Independent School District and Medical Center Health System are doing.  

Multiple Coastal Bend fire units battled a fast-moving brush fire Saturday afternoon in Fulton. Firefighters responded to a large grass fire which they say was moving fast. Units were able to save the occupants home and homes near the location fire however, two cars and four storage buildings were lost. Several agencies assisted with battling the blaze including the fire departments from Rockport, Lamar, Aransas Pass, and Ingleside as well as the Aransas County Sheriff's Office, DPS, Allegiance EMS, and Aransas County Road and Bridge.  

VIDEO: The Delaware Air National Guard has a new piece of emergency equipment ready to roll in the event of an aircraft emergency at the Wilmington Airport. The Rosenbauer Panther 6x6 Airport Rescue Fire Fighting unit (ARFF) is 39-feet long, 12 ft. high, and 10 ft. wide, weighs 77,000 lbs., and carries 3,000 gallons of water, 400 gallons of foam, and 500 pounds of dry chemical. The new rig is part of a major United States Air Force contract for 71 Rosenbauer crash trucks authorized in November, 2018, at a total cost of almost $50 million and replaces a nearly 25-year old unit at Wilmington Airport. Ronald Stanton, Assistant Chief of Operations for the Guard's fire department at Wilmington Airport, said the truck has all of the latest technological tools for fighting aircraft fires. "It uses ultra-high pressure for discharging its water," said Stanton, "which means the water comes out in smaller droplets which allows it to absorb heat more efficiently.  

As more women join the fire service, it's imperative to understand the occupational risks involved for these women. And thanks to $1.5 million dollar grant from FEMA that will be possible. The funding will help support research to examine how being a firefighter affects women's health. "There's the fires, the smoke that we breathe in, but it's also the exhaust from the fire trucks, the ambulances that we get exposed to on a daily basis," said Captain Liliana Pesqueira, the Tucson Fire Department. The study will be in partnership with the university of Arizona College of Public health, The University of Arizona cancer center and TFD. The study will include 200 firefighters in total from across the country that will take part in the study, both 100 new recruits and 100 incumbent firefighters. The study will take 3-years to conduct. As someone who has been on the force for two decades, Captain Pesqueira said a study like this makes her feel heard in a field where the vast majority are male.  

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday that $29 million is available to support essential workers and first responders through the Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund program. Cuomo says the program was created to help reimburse out-of-pocket childcare, transportation, lodging, and other qualifying expenses that enabled workers to perform their duties. Applicants that qualify include health care workers, first responders, and many multi-industry workers. In addition, families who earn up to 500% of the federal poverty level or $125,470 for a family of four are eligible to apply. Qualifying applicants are eligible to receive up to $1,000 per household. Workers will need to be recommended by employers, unions, or social service providers who can verify employment during the pandemic. Applicants will also need to submit the required supporting documentation for expenses to be awarded.  

The main leaseholder of an Oakland warehouse that caught fire during a party in 2016, killing 36 people, was sentenced Monday to 12 years in prison but may spend the remainder of his term at home as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. Derick Almena, 50, will serve one-and-a-half years at home with a GPS ankle monitor due to credit for time already spent behind bars while awaiting trial and good behavior. He will also be required to complete three years of post-custody supervised release. The defendant was already on house arrest after being released from jail last year due COVID-19 concerns. Almena pleaded guilty in January to all 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter in exchange for the 12-year split prison sentence, which marks the end to a case that was first derailed by a hung jury and then the coronavirus pandemic. Relatives of those who died in the blaze had urged the judge to refuse the plea deal and have another trial instead.  

Emergency workers and local officials are responding to news of a 28-year-old paramedic from Staten Island who was allegedly bitten on the face early Friday morning by an emotionally disturbed teenager in Brooklyn. Jenna Piscitello, of Great Kills, could have permanent scarring on her cheek from the attack, which occurred as medics were attempting to lay the female patient on a stretcher, according to a statement issued by the union representing city EMS workers. "We're all familiar with the fictional killer Hannibal Lecter; for Ms. Piscitello, that horror became a reality," wrote Local 2507 President Oren Barzilay. "No one should come to work having to fear getting assaulted or possibly killed." Piscitello and the teen — who was believed to be under the influence of drugs — both were treated NYU Langone Hospital Brooklyn, the Daily News reported.