Joining Alaska's first all-women wildland fire crew further kindled an interest in ecology and firefighting for one Wittenberg University senior. "There aren't many women in wildland firefighting," said Olivia Lawrence, a Clark County native and 2019 graduate of Springfield High School. Lawrence and six other women spent last summer in Alaska, hosted by the National Park Service in a program through the Student Conservation Association. The crew trained for weeks to acquire skills and certifications, including CPR, wilderness first aid and firefighting. The roving crew traveled throughout the state, including Anchorage, Fairbanks, the Aleutian Islands and Denali National Park. Lawrence also was sent to an active wildfire in the northern part of Alaska, within the Arctic Circle.  

A Queens house fire that killed one person and injured 10 others was sparked by a lithium-ion battery, the fire department said Saturday. It adds to a series of battery blazes that have caused concern in the city. The latest ripped through two floors of a home on 89th Street, a few blocks from LaGuardia Airport, around 11 p.m. Friday. One occupant was pronounced dead at a hospital after being found on the home's second floor, suffering from smoke inhalation, police said in a release. The fire department said 10 other people, including four firefighters, were taken to hospitals for treatment, at least seven of them with minor injuries. Fire marshals later determined that a lithium-ion battery caused the blaze, the fire department tweeted Saturday.  

VIDEO: A local fire department celebrated a huge milestone for their fire chief. The Van Buren Volunteer Fire Department celebrated 60 years of service for Fire Chief Pete Taylor. Taylor started working with the department when he was just 18 years old. The department held an open house at the station. Taylor was able to visit with old and new friends and coworkers. Chief Taylor hopes to continue to serve the community. "Well I hope that we continue serving this community as well as we have and we get more volunteers in here to help," said Taylor. Chief Taylor also received a couple of awards and gifts on this special day.  

With her red-painted nails, matching bandana and fire hat, Molly the Dalmatian earned a special spot in the hearts of children nationwide through fire safety education. Since 9 weeks old, Molly helped Arkansas-based retired firefighter Dayna Hilton teach kids about home escape maps, crawling low under smoke and everything in between. "Molly could test the smoke alarm with her nose," said Hilton, who lives in the state FEMA ranked fourth for fire deaths. "We wanted them to recognize the sound and purpose of a smoke alarm." Copper storage disease claimed the 10-year-old dog's life in December, a week and a half shy of reaching children in her 50th state of Idaho. Molly's fire safety legacy lives on through her younger brother, Boden, who completed Molly's goal earlier this month. "I know Molly was looking down on us that day," Hilton said.  

VIDEO: A local fire department in Beaver County is going back in time after getting a very special delivery over the weekend. The Conway Volunteer Fire Department has its 1938 Darley Fire Engine returned to its station on Sunday after being without it for more than 50 years. The fire chief tells KDKA that the truck was donated in the 1970's when it was replaced with a newer truck. He says he received a phone call about six months ago, asking if he knew who originally owned the truck. The department that has had the truck is from Satellite Beach, Florida. The chief there said he would donate it back, and Tow-Tegrity from New Brighton generously offered to bring the truck back for free.