San Antonio would spend about $72 million of its federal coronavirus relief money on expanding local testing, contract tracing, education efforts, and emergency training while acquiring more medical and protective gear to combat the spread of the coronavirus under a proposal presented to City Council on Tuesday. The federal dollars will also cover cost associated with the San Antonio Fire Department's expansion of its Mobile Integrated Healthcare Program, purchase of decontamination gear, telemedicine, and other medical equipment. Part of this effort will be to train 100 firefighters and paramedics on how to properly test for the coronavirus going door to door as well as best practices for handling future outbreaks. SAFD is also starting to prepare for how to deal with other natural disasters, such as hurricanes, during a pandemic, Fire Chief Charles Hood said. "We'll be even better prepared for the next outbreak, whenever that comes," he said.  

Officials are investigating an early morning fire at a local plastics plant. According to the Tyler Fire Department, crews responded to the blaze at the Trinity Oaks division of New Hope Energy, located at 1775 Duncan Street, around 5:30 a.m. According to their website, New Hope Energy converts plastic waste into renewable chemicals using a patented process which converts 100% of the waste plastic into useful renewable chemicals. When first responders arrived on scene, fire and smoke could be seen coming from the facility. The fire was brought under control around 6:30 a.m., and no injuries were reported. Fire Marshal and Public Information Officer Paul Findley tells CBS19 the building did have smoke and fire damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.  

Crews spent several hours fighting a brush fire in Lumberton on Tuesday, not far from the high school. It happened near FM 421, with heavy smoke visible in the surrounding areas. It's possible more than 1,400 acres in total were burned on Tuesday according to the Texas Forest Service. It happened not far from the Saddlebrook Apartments. The fire didn't damage any homes, and crews were still working on some small sections around 7:30 p.m. Lumberton Fire Department, the Texas Forest Service and Silsbee Police Department were all on the scene.  

An overnight fire has damaged a car repair shop and a window tint business that occupied the same South Side building. A passerby noticed the flames around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday and called 911, according to the San Antonio Fire Department. Within minutes, more than a dozen fire units had arrived at the site along the Interstate 35 access road near W. Mayfield. "The first unit found heavy fire coming out of a commercial building," said Battalion Chief Andy Deason with SAFD. "They fought the fire from the outside." Deason said they were able to make quick work of knocking down the flames. The fire erupted in a building that houses Car Land Automotive as well as a window tint shop. Both were closed at the time.  

A Mother's Day weekend fire displaced a mom and two children, Cooke County Fire Marshal Ray Fletcher said. At 11:05 a.m. Saturday, May 9, firefighters with Gainesville Fire-Rescue were dispatched to a mobile home fire at 183 County Road 199, according to information provided by GF-R. GF-R spokeswoman Tamara Sieger said emergency personnel made entry into the 840-square-foot home and "extinguished the fire quickly." There were no reported injuries, she said. Callisburg and Whitesboro volunteer fire departments provided mutual aid. Fletcher, who investigated the fire since it was in the county, said nobody was home at the time of the blaze. He said a passerby reported the fire to authorities. The blaze started outside in a trash can on the outside wall of the home, according to Fletcher. He said oil-soaked rags, brushes and rollers from a wood staining project "spontaneously combusted."  

The Longview Fire Department found a special gift outside of the fire administration building Tuesday. Chief J.P. Steelman found a Seed of Love rock encouraging the finder to hide the rock again and help spread love. The rock even had a mask when Chief Steelman found it. The department hid 'Rocky' again to encourage others to spread love to others.  

The University of Nebraska Medical Center has signed an agreement with a New York-based testing company to provide large-scale antibody testing, the kind intended to determine whether a person has been infected with the novel coronavirus. The partnership between UNMC and COVAXX, a subsidiary of United Biomedical, launched with last week's testing of Omaha firefighters. "There is an immediate need in the United States to provide trusted lab-based antibody testing and processing on a massive scale to help our society develop important strategies against COVID-19, so that our communities can return to work safely and with confidence," Dr. Jeffrey Gold, UNMC's chancellor, said in a statement. "We are pleased to partner with COVAXX for this important work." The intent is to provide large-scale testing — expected to begin "in the very near future" — for other health care workers, first responders, members of the military, schools, ag enterprises, businesses and other groups across communities in Nebraska and throughout the United States, according to university officials.  

What is red and white and shows up with flashing lights and sirens sounding in times of need? The answer is York Ambulance Association, celebrating its 48th year serving the communities of York, South Berwick and Rollinsford, New Hampshire. May 17-23 is national EMS Awareness Week, which, according to the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians' website, "brings together local communities and medical personnel to honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine's ‘front line.'" The YAA wants to remind people that it continues to provide emergency medical services to residents in need and raise awareness of the services provided. "People see the ambulance and assume we're part of the hospital or the fire department," said YAA Board member Marc Alterio.  

The call comes over their radio — the patient is having trouble breathing, they need an ambulance. Then, "call the center for special patient information," says a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The paramedics know it's likely they're heading toward the invisible threat that everyone else is trying to stay away from — the coronavirus. But for a few at Mutual Aid in Greensburg, the potential danger doesn't faze them. "At this point, we get the information and we go," paramedic Shawn Penzera said. "You just take the necessary precautions. We've done a great job so far." Paramedics and EMTs across the state for two months have been on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, connecting those in need of treatment with hospitals. Many say it's all part of the job — the increased measures and gear necessary to keep themselves and patients safe amid a trying time.  

Facing criticism from the Mansfield firefighters union, the city announced Tuesday that two fire stations will not be closed at the same time when not enough personnel are available to work. "Speaking to the mayor, he would prefer to have one maximum closed," said Safety-Service Director Lori Cope, referring to Mayor Tim Theaker. The city, facing a 20% reduction in revenue due to the pandemic, last week ordered the fire department to eliminate "non-emergency" overtime, which halted the practice of backfilling positions so that at least 19 personnel were on duty across all five stations. Firefighters and paramedics were routinely paid overtime to fill in for others who were out sick or on vacation, which Theaker has claimed costs the city about $80,000 a month. Station No. 2 on Brookwood Way has been closed for three days and operated at half capacity on Monday because there had been less than 16 personnel on duty.  

As one of the country's first cities impacted by COVID-19, Kirkland was initially given the undesirable distinction of being the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States. Yet, the way in which the city has handled the crisis has garnered positive press, launching Kirkland into the spotlight as a role model. Mayor Penny Sweet says that her city's response has been a natural progression, and she feels grateful for the solid infrastructure that was already in place. "We were fortunate that it hit a city with an established emergency medical system," Sweet said. Even after a significant number of firefighters were forced to quarantine at home, there was never a time when Kirkland didn't have a full response team available.