Plant officials said approximately 100,000 pounds of acetic acid was released in a chemical leak at a La Porte facility Tuesday night that left two people dead. In an update from LyondellBasell officials Wednesday morning, site manager Stephen Goff said 30 workers had to be taken to local hospitals following the chemical leak. The two people killed in the leak were contractors for the plant, according to LyondellBasell. Out of the 30 workers who were hospitalized, one person suffered burns while the rest suffered from respiratory complications. Goff said all other employees and contractors at the La Porte facility had been accounted for. Officials did not immediately release the identities of the two contractors killed. As for the cause of the leak, company officials said there is still much they don't know.  

The Luper family is mourning the loss of two loved ones who died from COVID-19 within hours of each other. Retired Dallas firefighter Lt. Randy Luper passed away at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 23 at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Grapevine. Six hours later, around 10 p.m., his daughter-in-law Vanessa Luper passed away four doors down on the same floor of the hospital. Both of them were hospitalized on July 11. Six members of the family tested positive more than two weeks ago and three were hospitalized, according to David Lindsey with the Dallas Fire Fighters Association. Lindsey was a former colleague of Lt. Luper. Lt. Luper's younger brother, Steve Luper, said, "We expected everybody would make it home, and two people didn't."  

Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, or TEEX, wraps up their annual fire training schools at the end of this week. This week is the annual TEEX Municipal Fire school, where students from communities across Texas are in town ready to learn.... and lodge. Soaking up life-saving knowledge to take back to their own communities... all while helping our own right here, these courageous men and women are making an impact. "What they are doing is very important. They take that back and they are serving their community. The training happens here and we are really proud to be a part of that," Greg Stafford, Brazos Valley Hospitality Association President/GM shared with KRHD 25 News. Stafford, General Manager and President of Brazos Valley Hospitality Association and the General Manager at the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center, says, hospitality is the biggest export industry.  

Fourteen Dallas firefighters call Station 33 in South Dallas their home away from home. "This is our home for a third of our lives. We're away from our families for 24 hours at a time, and we're at the fire station," said Jim McDade, President of the Dallas Fire Fighters Association. But when the thermostat reads in the mid 80s, they're sweating through their shifts. "It affects their sleep when they do have a little bit of time to sleep at night. Who can sleep when it's 85, 90 degrees inside the fire station? It affects every aspect of their life without a doubt," he said. McDade says it's one of at least five Dallas fire stations with air conditioning problems. At Station 33, sources said it's been broken for around six weeks. It does have five portable a/c units, but sources said they're ineffective at cooling the station down. They also said the units cost around $500 each per day.  

Family and friends gathered to remember a father, a friend and a servant. Pictures of a smiling and happy Elijah Snow flashed across the screen at Rush Creek Church in Arlington. Friends say that's who he was. "He was the life of the party," said Nick Zelinski, an Arlington firefighter, Zelinski spoke at the funeral. He and Snow were in the same academy class together and worked side by side for nine years. Zelinski shared pictures of Snow, along with other members of his crew. He said they were like family. "He was constantly smiling and poking fun of the guys. You knew if you were working with Elijah it was going to be a good day, because he loved being a firefighter," said Zelinski. His friends shared stories and the pastor spoke of hope. "He says let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God."  

Retiring Stephenville Fire Chief Jimmy Chew says he started working at age 11 when he had a newspaper route for the Empire-Tribune. Now, after several other jobs, including an impressive 50 years with the fire department, Chew's response when asked what he was going to do in retirement was simple: "I don't know," he said with a chuckle. A retirement event for the longtime chief is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday at the City Hall at City Limits, 1907 E. Washington St. Dress is casual (no uniforms, please). Those planning to attend are asked to let organizers know ... by the end of the day on Wednesday. Chew — stating that everyone in Erath County has heard the story — said his career with the fire department started by accident. He said the department recruited him to fill in for another firefighter on a three-month absence and "I just never did leave."  

VIDEO: An underground explosion engulfed a Queens sidewalk, sending flames shooting several feet into the air and injuring a man who happened to be standing on the grate at the precise wrong moment, surveillance video exclusively obtained by NBC New York showed. Barry West was walking along Farmers Boulevard in St. Albans around 5:30 p.m. on July 22 to pay a cellphone bill when the sudden blast occurred without warning. It knocked the 57-year-old father to the ground on his chest, video shows, but he was able to get away before he was burned any worse. He appeared shaken up, and friends told NBC New York that West suffered second-degree burns. He was said to be in good spirits as he recovers at Nassau University Medical Center, but still stunned by what happened.  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: People have called Pat Aust crazy, and he's fine with that. The retired Redondo Beach Fire Chief's passion for collecting has him living atop a custom built 2,400 square foot garage in his Redondo Beach home. It's crammed with 13 vehicles from mostly another place and era, like a vintage Fire Chief's 1938 red Ford from Pomona. His 4,000 square foot home has over 35,000 collectibles, mostly related to fire fighting, classic cars, gas stations, soda pop signs and other relics of another era. Aust also has a separate facility in Gardena for the rest of his vehicle collection, including a 1921 American LaFrance fire truck and 17 vintage cars. "Yeah, people call me crazy," says the 72-year-old former fire chief. "It's insanity to a degree, but my children and grandchildren will be happy that I'm crazy." The collection "is worth a lot of money," and it will all go to them one day.  

VIDEO: It's summertime, the season of getting things done around the house. If you're looking for some help with your yard work or moving furniture, look no further than your local firefighters! You can find them on a new app called "Hidrent," designed to connect you to local firefighters who are eager to help their community and make a few extra bucks along the way. "Through Hidrent, we do odd-and-end jobs," said firefighter Tim Hoberg. Hoberg is not stranger to using a drill, power saw and ladder, and he's utilizing Hidrent to use these talents to make some extra cash when off-duty. Most firefighters work 24 hours a day, followed by 48 hours off. During those 48 hours, some seek out side jobs. Dave Heimbuch, CEO of Hidrent, came up with the idea for the app when looking for an easy way for the community to reach out to off-duty firefighters to help with work around the house.  

VIDEO: The Pittsburgh Pirates visited Pittsburgh Fire Bureau Station 20 Tuesday — the engine company that is mourning firefighter Lee Weber. Weber died in a drowning accident on Lake Erie over the weekend. A family member said Weber got caught in the tide and went under. The 38-year-old was a husband, father of two and an Army veteran. "It's been awesome to go to see all the first responders and come here and pay our respects and on behalf of the Pirates organization, just show how appreciative we are of what they do on a day-to-day basis," Pirates pitcher David Bednar said. The Bucs' visit comes on the first day of the First Responders Appreciation Days at PNC Park. The Pirates are distributing thousands of free tickets to firefighters, police, paramedics and other first responders for their games Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers.  

VIDEO: By this time of the summer, nearly every year, many fire and police departments start receiving panicked calls from people about children or pets trapped inside hot cars. It's enough of a concern one local fire department actually purchased new equipment to help reach victims faster and safer. Whether it's a day that makes you beg for air conditioning, or it's just a beauty from mother nature, it's not always the temperature outside that's a concern for firefighters. "The statistics show the outside temperature can be as low as 57 degrees out, which isn't very warm, and the car can heat up enough if a child is left alone in there," says De Pere Fire/Rescue Assistant Chief of Training and Safety Eric Johnson. He has been on the calls. He's seen parents frantic because their child got locked inside a car, or a dog somehow hit the lock button.