Twelve smokejumpers are working to protect historical structures and assess three nearby Native allotments along the south side of the Teedrinjik River, formerly known as the Chandalar River, from the Schilling Creek Fire (#294). The allotments are between 4 and 13 air miles from the fire perimeter. The Schilling Creek Fire (#294) is pictured from the air on June 29, 2022. The fire is currently staffed by 12 smokejumpers. The fire is moving east, about 7.5 miles upriver from the confluence of the Teedrinjik and East Fork rivers and about 30 air miles northwest of Venetie. The fire has been very active in the past 24 hours, burning through thick stands of black spruce. The fire is causing smoke in the area, resulting in limited visibility. There is a possibility the smoke may lift, allowing for better visibility in the afternoon.  

The Alaska Interagency Coordination Center reports that the Preparedness Level is increasing from Level 4 to Level 5 Thursday morning. According to a press release issued by the Multi-Agency Coordination Group, the measure will increase to its highest level Thursday at 7 a.m. "Preparedness Level 5 (PL5) is assigned when large fires that require incident management teams are occurring in several areas simultaneously and is the highest level identified in the Alaska Preparedness Plan," the release said. "PL5 status means most of the initial and extended attack resources are committed to new and existing fires." There were 10 new fires that started Wednesday, according to the Bureau of Land Management's Alaska Fire Service. A total of 157 fires are currently active across Alaska out of the 364 that have been reported this year, and over 1.6 million acres have burned so far this season.  

VIDEO: Sunday, June 19 saw the largest fire in 25 years in the City of Las Vegas, and it happened in the middle of the night and in a populated neighborhood. And yet, nobody died. Call it a miracle, but the new bodycam footage shows just how heroic the work of first responders was that night as they evacuated residents just feet from the relentless flames. "Alright watch out," said one officer, attempting to evacuate a condo as the flames roar nearby. He kicked down the door. "Metro police!" Las Vegas fire officials previously said the cause of the fire is not suspicious. They declined to provide any further updates as of this publishing. Still, they said they believe it originated in a vacant construction site, and they are investigating for the potential of arson. "You guys gotta go!" shouted officers, who knocked on doors and busted them down to get people out while the flames raged on.  

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is releasing the largest update to its mobile application in a decade, the agency announced today. FEMA is releasing the app at the beginning of a hurricane season that experts predict will be above average and a wildfire season that's already devastating, for example, In New Mexico. The update makes the app more like social media and includes options for users to personalize the information they get when disasters hit. It also makes the app more user friendly to people with disabilities. "We are better helping communities plan, protect and recover from disasters through clear, effective and relatable communication," FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell said in a statement. The previous version of the app had a list of categories for notifications and looked like a directory or listserv. In the updated version, users can customize what they see based on their preferences and location.  

Days after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, hospitals, clinics, and even fire departments are preparing to navigate the ruling. After the abortion ruling, the Port Arthur Fire Department is prepared for an uptick in newborn drop-offs. According to Port Arthur Fire Chief, hardly anyone uses their Safe Haven resource, but that could change after the Supreme Court ruling. Perhaps you've seen signs showing that fire stations are a "safe baby site." Safe Haven laws have been in place for decades. "I'm not sure everybody knows that fire stations are Safe Haven facilities," Port Arthur Fire Chief Greg Benson said. Since 1999, the Texas Safe Haven law has protected moms who feel they cannot take care of their newborn babies. Benson said they are prepared for a ripple effect following the court's ruling. "Well, it certainly is a possibility. One of the things that I advocate for is that we've been being proactive," Benson said.  

A portrait filled the last vacancy on the photo wall at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum on Wednesday, concluding the almost 16-year-long project to memorialize the hundreds killed as a result of the terrorist attacks of 2001. Antonio Dorsey Pratt's portrait, provided through Voices Center for Resilience, an organization started after 9/11 that is dedicated to remembering the victims, was hung on the wall. Pratt was an employee of Cantor Fitzgerald Forte Food Service on the 101st floor of the north tower of the old World Trade Center. "This is a chapter in the sense that we were able to provide the last missing photograph for the exhibit," said Mary Fetchet, director of Voices Center for Resilience. Alice Greenwald, CEO of the memorial and museum, said Pratt's photo marked the completion "of a process that began almost 16 years ago when we began work on just even imagining what the 9/11 Memorial & Museum would be and what it would contain."  

Fireworks on the Fourth of July date back all the way to the nation's founding. On July 2, 1776, John Adams wrote to his wife that signing the Declaration of Independence—which would happen in two days—should be met with celebrations that included "illuminations," the 18th-century word for "fireworks." The pyrotechnic marvels have illuminated the skies since. In the modern-day U.S., consumer fireworks are a $1.9 billion dollar business. Most of that consumption occurs right around the Fourth of July—and in all states but one (Massachusetts), some types of fireworks are legal to buy. Several states have additional restrictions on airborne fireworks, but allow sparklers and other, less powerful fireworks. Americans' love of fireworks isn't limited to Independence Day, though: "Display fireworks," which are used in commercial displays rather than set off by consumers, amounted to $262 million in revenue in 2021. Even in states in which consumer fireworks are tightly regulated, fireworks shows still happen regularly at sporting events, festivals, and concerts.