The Tyler Fire Department responded to a fire at the Ye Olde City Antique Mall in downtown Tyler that went up in flames Tuesday morning around 8 a.m. The building was over a hundred years over 70 vendors inside. "This happened before we opened, before we had customers in the building, workers in the building so God is good," said Sandra Herring, the manager. One woman living upstairs was able to escape the blaze uninjured. A GoFundMe has been set up to help after the loft apartments that she rents were destroyed from smoke and water damage. Paul Findley, the Tyler Fire Marshal, said that firefighters had checked the second floor and found that there was no damage to the upper floor. "Thankfully even though the fire was going, it fairly progressed whenever we got here. We did get early notification and lots of resources to get a handle on it quick," said Findley.  

These days sterilization of emergency equipment is more important than ever before. And the Longview Fire Department has a new device that sterilizes an ambulance in less than half an hour. The device is just one more aspect of the Next Normal. It's called AeroClave, and its entire purpose is hands-free sterilization. Longview Fire Marshal Kevin May said first, after transporting a known or suspected COVID-19 case: "Everything gets wiped down. The ambulances do have UV lights built in to the air conditioner units. So that does help protect it. And then they're allowed to air dry to kill the virus," May said. But to add an extra layer of protection, ambulances are the treated with the AeroClave. It's similar to a fog machine.  

The Fort Worth Fire Department has begun dispatching calls for the Lake Worth and Saginaw fire departments. Previously, both departments were dispatched by the Tarrant County Fire Alarm 911 dispatch center. "These regional partnerships enhance the safety of our residents and firefighters," said Fort Worth Fire Chief Jim Davis. "We are excited about what this means for the future and the ability to strengthen our relationships with other departments." Saginaw Fire Chief Doug Spears said: "We have been provided a tremendous opportunity to partner with the Fort Worth Fire Department for fire dispatch, elevating the delivery of emergency services to our citizens. It is a great example of the fire service's persistent commitment to combine efforts and resources where possible for the good of the communities we serve."  

Lone Star Beef Owner John Cross donated $350,000 to the San Angelo Fire Department (SAFD) to help pay for a new fire engine. The City Council passed a resolution to accept the donation at its meeting on June 2. Cross heard about the department's request for a new fire engine at a recent City Council meeting. "Lone Star Beef and its 760 employees, managers, and cleanup crew, are pleased to be able to assist in the purchase of the new ladder firetruck for the San Angelo Fire Department," the company stated in a release. The total cost to replace the 25-year-old ladder truck, which recently failed the non-destructive testing, is estimated to be just over $697,000. The National Fire Protection Agency recommends Aerial Apparatus 25 years and older to be retired and replaced. The new fire engine will be purchased from Siddons Martin Emergency Group, LLC. Fire Chief Brian Dunn expressed his gratitude to Lone Star Beef during today's meeting.  

Island favorite Bronco Burritos sustained damage from an electrical fire early Wednesday morning, according to the Galveston Fire Department. The fire department responded to calls about a fire at 4917 Broadway about 5:30 a.m., Chief Charles Olsen said. Flames made it all the way up to the roof and firefighters had to open up the walls to put out the fire, he said. The source of the fire appears to have been electrical equipment in the walls, Olsen said. No one was hurt, no surrounding buildings were damaged and everyone had already evacuated the restaurant by the time firefighters arrived, Olsen said. The shop will likely have to close for some time to repair the damage, he said. The fire department put out the flames by 7 a.m., he said.  

City officials are setting aside $11 million in their 2021 budget to cover unused leave time payments for police officers and firefighters who may retire during the coming year. About $6 million would cover retirement payments for 46 police officers eligible for retirement during the 2021 fiscal year, according to information provided during a city budget hearing last week. That amounts to about $130,000 per officer. Councilman Flavio Rivera, chairman of the finance committee, said Paterson needs to set some type of limit on the payouts. "The city will never be able to come out of this hole," Rivera said during last week's hearing. Police Chief Ibrahim "Mike" Baycora noted that Paterson already has cut back on the payouts. The chief seemed to be referring to a change in the compensation known as "terminal leave" provided to Paterson's cops and firefighters under their union contracts.  

Three people died after a helicopter crashed down into Solano County, officials said. A Bell 206 helicopter crashed near Lyon Road and Soda Springs Road around 1:30 p.m. near Fairfield, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Ian Gregor. PG&E spokesperson Brandi Merlo said the helicopter was contracted by PG&E. It hit a high voltage transmission line which started a fire in the area. The fire grew to about seven acres. The helicopter caught fire after it crashed, and three responding Cal Fire firefighters received minor injuries after an engine rollover while they were heading to the site. Those firefighters were taken to hospital. 38,000 PG&E customers lost power after the crash happened, according to the Solano County Sheriff's Office. PG&E turned off power to de-energize the line after a request from Cal Fire.  

Many measures implemented initially in reaction to demands associated with the COVID-19 pandemic likely will become long-term components of public-safety communications, particularly in the 911 arena, public-safety representatives said during a recent webinar. Mel Maier, captain of the emergency communications and operations division of the Oakland County (Mich.) Sheriff's Office, said the COVID-19 situation has illuminated the need for interoperability between public-safety answering points (PSAPs) that allows for efficient transfers of information and resources. In addition, requirements for social distancing and health safety have caused many entities to accelerate adoption of cloud-based and remote-working solutions, he said.  

PHOTOS: A day after he ran 80 miles to raise money for colleagues struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, former Woodstock firefighter and paramedic Ryan Mains was sore, tired and thankful. "I don't know how I can express my gratitude," he said from his home in Huntley. "The support we got in the months leading up to it and yesterday was so incredible." Mains' 21½-hour odyssey Saturday was meant as a tribute to the 130 firefighters and EMS personnel who took their own lives in 2019 — he ran 1 km for each of them — and as a way to bring visibility and funds to a cause with which he has painful personal experience. Mains, 40, an Iraq War veteran and a longtime first responder, left his job with the Woodstock Fire and Rescue District last year to be treated for PTSD, and is still trying to secure disability benefits.  

The health effects of COVID-19 pose an extra danger to people with underlying health conditions — like the thousands of workers who sprang into action on September 11, 2001. Michael Barasch is an attorney who represents members of the 9/11 community, including the rescue workers and cleanup crews who spent months in the pile of rubble after the World Trade Center towers collapsed in New York City. Barasch said 9/11 first responders have developed a wide range of illnesses because of the toxins they were exposed to at Ground Zero. "We have a host of respiratory illnesses such as asthma, reactive airways disease, pulmonary fibrosis," Barasch said. "We're seeing so much skin cancer, but after that we're seeing so much prostate cancer, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, kidney, brain, liver cancer." Now, Barasch has noticed a disturbing trend these past few months, as the coronavirus pandemic claims their lives.