It now takes about half as much time for police dispatchers to answer 911 calls as it did during recent peaks just a couple years ago, officials with the Anchorage Police Department said this week. Wait times began to rise after 2015 and peaked in late 2018 and mid-2019, when it took up to 21 seconds on average for dispatchers to answer incoming 911 calls, according to data provided by the department. The average wait time has steadily decreased since last summer and was about 8.6 seconds in February, according to APD. "If you're the citizen and someone's having a heart attack in front of you, or your baby's not breathing, or your house is on fire, you expect to call 911 and have a voice on the other end of the phone. ... The quicker we can answer the call, the quicker we get the help that people need," said Amy Foraker, the department's dispatch manager.  

VIDEO: Pasco County rescue crews got a unique training experience Wednesday aboard the historic American Victory Ship docked in Tampa. Pasco County Fire Rescue Special Operations Division bought all three shifts of crews to do some advanced confined-space training 60 feet down in the ship's hull – training they might not otherwise be able to get at home. "It's amazing to me because we're on part of living history right here, on board the American Victory Ship," offered Carry Epperson with PCFR. "To get to train on their ship that's been through so much, it's just amazing." It's very critical for Pasco County Fire Rescue be able to have this kind of training because they can encounter some very unique situations. The scenario that the firefighters faced Wednesday aboard the ship was a victim who was overcome by fumes down in the ship's hull.  

VIDEO: A fire caused heavy damage Wednesday morning to an apartment complex on the city's North Side. When firefighters arrived at the complex in the 3200 block of Nacogdoches Road, they found heavy flames and called in a second alarm. San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said between 60 to 100 occupants will need to find another place to live. The Red Cross will help them find temporary shelter, Hood said. No injuries were reported but firefighters rescued about 10 pets, Hood said. This is at least the third large fire reported at the complex since September 2019. A lightning strike caused a fire at the complex last April. The cause of Wednesday's fire is under investigation.  

Some associate post traumatic stress disorder with members of the military, but those on the frontlines at home also deal with it. "I'm a retired firefighter myself, and after 20 years on the job I've seen two of my brothers lost to suicide and two other suicide attempts," Robert Coleman said. After several years, one bill finally passed through the West Virginia Legislature that lawmakers believe will save lives. The bill is inspired by Coleman's son, who took his own life after being diagnosed with PTSD from work-related trauma. "After I retired, my oldest son, Chris, joined the fire department," Coleman said. "He had five years on the job and two and a half years ago he took his life." In 2018, Coleman took time off in an attempt to get help, but used up all of his vacation and sick time. "Then he was on no-pay status and he didn't have much of a choice, he had to go back to work," Coleman said. "He wasn't quite ready for it."  

Seven volunteer fire companies in Niagara County are signed up to take part in the 12th annual Recruit NY Weekend organized by the Firemen's Association of the State of New York. Recruit NY Weekend is April 24-25. Participating companies include Rapids, Middleport, Terry's Corners, Shawnee, Adams, Active Hose and Wendelville. "Hundreds of volunteer fire departments across New York will be participating in Recruit NY. We invite all New Yorkers to attend an open house and safely experience what it means to be a volunteer firefighter," FASNY President John Farrell said in an announcement. "After the year we have been through, Recruit NY weekend can provide people with the opportunity to interact with the responders who are dedicated to protecting them." FASNY reports that firefighters are responding to more calls now than ever, and the calls are increasingly diverse.