Residents of Western Alaska communities in need of help following the devastation left behind by the massive mid-September storm will be receiving over $1 million in recovery funding. The Alaska Community Foundation announced Monday that over $500,000 will be dispersed this week to towns that need it most, with the rest of the $1.25 million total to be handed out starting in early November. The foundation, which works with philanthropic organizations and people, credited over 2,400 "generous individuals," as well as numerous businesses, corporate sponsors and Alaska Native organizations for the funding, which was put into the Western Alaska Disaster Recovery Fund, established Sept. 17 by the foundation.  

PHOTOS: Bay District Schools is reporting an explosion that happened during the lighting of a traditional homecoming bonfire at A. Crawford Mosley High School. BDS officials said they are investigating the cause of the fire and they followed their customary safety protocols. "We know that many people who live close to A. Crawford Mosley High School probably heard a loud and disturbing noise a short time ago. Everyone is safe and no students were in danger at any time. While lighting our traditional Homecoming bonfire, something in the fire caused an explosion. Deputies and firefighters were already on hand, in line with our customary safety protocols, and so they immediately jumped in to ensure the fire remained contained. We are investigating the cause of the explosion because we did not deviate from our usual bonfire lighting procedures."  

VIDEO: For the last year, Suffolk Fire and Rescue has been training a new class of heroes. In that class is a one-of-a-kind recruit. When he graduates from training, there will be no other firefighter like him in Hampton Roads. In three weeks, Chris Heater will become a Suffolk firefighter. "I actually grew up watching Backdraft, so, I don't know... it was just always a calling," Chris said. At 33, Chris is the oldest member of his recruit class. "It makes it a little rougher trying to compete with the young guys." The trainees are put in challenging, and uncomfortable, situations. "We put them in confined spaces. We put them at heights where they have probably never been, 100 feet on a ladder," said Lieutenant Durand Coltrane, who oversees Suffolk Firefighter Recruit Training.  

Ventura County Fire Department's pump pod system now being adopted by other agencies for huge water savings during training. We're at Camarillo Airport, and at first glance, it looks like the scene of a fire. There are four Ventura County Fire trucks, hoses everywhere, and some firefighters pumping water. But, it's actually a training mission for some future fire department engineers, who drive and operate fire trucks. In the past, leaning how to operate trucks meant actually hooking up hoses to hydrants, and shooting out tens of thousands of gallons of water onto the ground. That's not practical during a drought. Ryan Burkett is an engineer with the Ventura County Fire Department, who is overseeing today's training project. He says the department came up with an idea.  

In December 2020, a Tompkins High School football player fought for his life in the intensive care unit after a devastating crash. Now, two years later, he is aiming to help others. Samuel "Sam" Mills was ejected from his vehicle on Dec. 26 after losing control and hitting a curb while driving home from his job at Chick-fil-A on Pin Oak Road. According to the Fort Bend Sheriff's Office, Mills' car flipped over at least twice. He was 17 years old at the time. "Whenever I saw a hard thing, I didn't run away from it; I ran towards it," Mills said. Mills' road to recovery wasn't easy in the slightest. He underwent physical therapy and speech therapy. The support of his loving family, the community, and God, he credits, is what helped him get through it.  

A unique property recently hit the market on the westside of Grand Rapids. The multi-unit property originally housed the Grand Rapids Fire Department Engine No. 8 back in the early 1900s. The home, located at 40 Lexington Ave. NW and listed for $899,999, is MLive's House of the Week.