On a dreary, drizzly late-summer evening, Homer's annual Burning Basket lit up the Spit on Sunday. Artist Mavis Muller coordinated the construction of the 19th annual basket, "Breathe: A Basket of Rembrance & Unburdening," and she and volunteers offered it to the community on Sept. 11. As twilight fell, people interacted with the basket, placing notes, origami cranes, small works of art and other mementoes. Some honored people who had recently died. One note read "prepare for opportunity disguised as loss." A smaller basket attached to Breathe, Sphere of Love, honored Anesha "Duffy" Murnane, the Homer woman who went missing in October 2019. Homer Police have charged a former Homer man with Murnane's abduction and murder.  

After a nearly two-hour long firefight, crews in Stockton have gotten a handle on a two-alarm fire that destroyed a shuttered warehouse in downtown Stockton Thursday. Around 11:30 a.m. Thursday, flames erupted inside of a building, formerly an auto shop, near Hunter and Oak Streets in Stockton, officials with the Stockton Fire Department said. First responders from across San Joaquin County raced to the building Thursday as it became engulfed in flames and sent off a large plume of thick black smoke. "Upon arrival, (crews) had heavy smoke showing from what you can see is now mostly burnt up. They initially attempted an interior attack, did a quick search to make sure there weren't any victims inside then we pulled crews out," said Alex Steinheimer, a battalion chief with the Stockton Fire Department.  

For the first time since the pandemic's start, firefighters from across the United States and Canada will gather in Colorado Springs to memorialize those lost due to service to their communities. This weekend will mark the 2022 IAFF Fire Fighter Memorial and it will be a big one as the International Association of Fire Fighters is inviting all the families impacted by cancellations in 2020 and 2021 to join in person for the event. The names of 469 fallen firefighters will be added to the Memorial Wall of Honor at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs, including the names of those lost in the line of duty during 2020 and 2021. Gregg and Jody Sunday traveled from Pennsylvania to honor their son, Stephen Sunday, who was killed in the line of duty in 2020.  

The Westchester County Volunteer Firemen's Association swore in its first female president Thursday night. The gathering of volunteer firefighters at a small banquet hall in Cortlandt also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Mohegan Volunteer Fire Association. New President Angela Outhouse's instinct to respond to emergencies was also on full display. About an hour before being sworn in and right after speaking with News 12, Outhouse noticed a fellow firefighter not feeling well. She treated him on the spot right as other firefighters ran to their cars to get their medical bags. The firefighter was then taken to a hospital. Outhouse is a volunteer EMT and firefighter with the Buchanan Engine Company. She said that there were few women in the male-dominated field of firefighting and still are.  

VIDEO: Sometimes fire departments run across what could become a future employee at the scene of a fire, but that doesn't happen very often. Well, that's just what happened at a recent Longview fire. But, it may be a while before he receives a paycheck since he's six years old. When there's a fire, it catches the neighborhood's attention, but six-year-old Spencer Laster, who was home sick, was absolutely fascinated by the firefighters putting that fire out. "They come to fires, and they help out people whenever there's a fire," Spencer said. He says he's been interested in firefighters since he was two years old. That's well over half his life. "They have big trucks, and I love heights," Spencer said. No fear of a ladder truck here or fear of the pressure of a fire hose. His reaction was pretty much the opposite. "Pretty fun actually," Spencer said.  

Opioid related overdoses continue to rise in Milwaukee County. The county's medical examiner reports that 80% of confirmed drug deaths this year involved fentanyl, with the county on track for 700+ drug related deaths this year. Now, local law enforcement agencies like the Oak Creek Fire Department are working to slow down those numbers by handing out Narcan Hope Kits. Milwaukee County is on track for 700+ drug related deaths this year. ioid related overdoses continue to rise in Milwaukee County. The county's medical examiner reports that 80% of confirmed drug deaths this year involved fentanyl, with the county on track for 700+ drug related deaths this year. Now, local law enforcement agencies like the Oak Creek Fire Department are working to slow down those numbers by handing out Narcan Hope Kits.