The Two Rivers Lodge along Chena Hot Springs Road was decimated by a fire around midnight Sunday. This recent event marks the third structure fire to occur along that road in less than a week. The previous two have been confirmed as arson investigations, and on Monday the Alaska State Troopers confirmed the fire that destroyed the lodge is also being investigated as an act of arson. "It is too early in the investigation to determine if this morning's fire is connected to the string of arsons that occurred earlier this summer in the Two Rivers area," said Austin McDaniel, a public information officer with Alaska State Troopers, via email Monday morning. He noted that no one was injured in the fire. "The structure is believed to be a total loss," troopers wrote in their Monday online dispatch report. "The structure was occupied at the time the fire started, however, all occupants were able to escape without injury."  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: At least one person was hospitalized, and multiple properties were damaged as a mansion went up in flames in Upper Saint Clair Monday morning. Emergency crews were called to the home, which was still being built on Scarlett Drive, shortly after 11 a.m. "It sounded like this big thud, it must have been some type of explosion in the garage," said neighbor Bryan Mathews. Within minutes, the structure was fully engulfed. Mathews is among a handful of homeowners who faced property damage as strong winds sent embers flying all across the neighborhood. "The coals were dropping down on people's mulch beds, smoldering," said neighbor Tanner Murray. Officials reported one person being transported to the hospital. Neighbors shared video of one man seen with burns.  

PHOTOS: Every fire department has its own customs and traditions that have been carried on through the years. Some have different colored badges to distinguish officers or different colored turnout gear, but DeFuniak Springs firefighters wear theirs on their helmets. Stickers in the shape of an extrication tool known as the "jaws of life" can be spotted plastered around the black, empty spaces of their helmets. Fire Chief Ross Sheffield said the stickers are awarded to firefighters who have worked hard to safely remove a vehicle from around a person who has been in a collision. The tradition began almost 20 years ago, long before Sheffield took over as chief in 2020, but continues to be a symbol of "honor" at the department.  

A Kentucky lawmaker plans to file a bill that would help the families of first responders who died from COVID-19. Rep. Thomas Huff, a Republican from Shepherdsville, said his proposal is a result of the twin tragedy that occurred at the Zoneton Fire Department. Chief Rob Orkies died in December 2020 after a battle with both cancer and COVID-19. Then in February, acting Chief Gary Key also fell to the virus. But the families were denied Kentucky's death benefit of $80,000 given when first responders die as a result of their jobs. Zoneton's new chief, Kevin Moulton, said he was told by the Kentucky Fire Commission that the families were not eligible because of the way the state law is worded. "In the KRS, it does not state COVID-19 or anything like that," Moulton said.  

VIDEO: Lucas Oil Raceway brought the heat on Saturday as the racetrack hosted the world finals for Beat the Heat, Inc. But behind the wheels of these drag cars weren't professional racecar drivers. Instead, the "heat" burning rubber up and down the raceway were police officers and firefighters from across the nation. Some of the cars used in the racing were even converted police cars. "This is another way to kind of get in touch with the youth, and the community and just kind of show them that hey we're here, we're not just the ones in the police car taking people to jail, you can come out, have fun with us, hang out with us, relax," said Beat the Heat Vice President Gary Fitzgerald. Along with being a community relations bridge and a program to help connect and educate youth, Beat the Heat is a non-profit organization comprised of police officers and firefighters who use racing to draw attention to programs that combat the proble of street racing, drunk driving and distracted driving.  

On September 11, 2001, members of the Islamic extremist group Al Qaeda coordinated four attacks using hijacked commercial airliners in the United States. Two iconic towers fell. The Pentagon sustained major damage. Nearly 3,000 victims lost their lives. Countless more suffered immediate injuries and long-term health issues that are still being felt to this day. The 9/11 attacks changed America, and the world, forever. Here's what it looked like on the ground, from the streets of New York to the Pentagon to a field outside of a Pennsylvania town, from the point of view of people who were there. The first attack: The first tower was struck at 8:46 a.m. on September 11, 2001. Five attackers, armed with box cutters, crashed American Airlines Flight 11 into the north face of the north tower of the World Trade Center complex in lower Manhattan.