The Girdwood Fire Department chief is saying enough is enough, and it is no longer acceptable for the department to be using old equipment. The Girdwood Fire Department responds to about 30 to 35 traffic accidents on the Seward Highway each year, and during a recent extrication incident the tool known as the Jaws of Life, which are used tools used to cut and spread and get people out of vehicles, broke and failed during the incident. "This could be very easily killed or injured a patient," Fire Chief Michelle Weston said. "The piece of metal that came off of this very closely almost killed two of our firefighters, or very severely injured our firefighters, and it's unacceptable." She adds her department's extrication equipment has a life span of 10 years, but the actual age of the equipment is 25 to 30 years old.  

A dramatic video of a firefight in Sherman Oaks shows the moment when a Los Angeles firefighter falls through the roof of a garage that had caught on fire. Remarkably that firefighter was not hurt, according to officials. Advertisement The fire broke out at a home in the 4500 block of N. Sunnyslope Avenue just before 6 p.m. It took 26 firefighters about 14 minutes to put out the fire, the L.A. Fire Department said. Firefighters were seen working on the roof of the home's smoldering garage when it suddenly collapsed, and that firefighter rode the roof down into the interior of the garage. Fellow crew members rush inside to help. Moments later, they were all seen coming out unharmed. The fire was contained to the garage, and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.  

VIDEO: This week marks 20 years since a prank at a student apartment complex turned deadly in Greensboro. Janet Danahey, a UNCG student, set outside items on fire at a Campus Walk apartment. She said she was trying to get back at an ex-boyfriend. The fire spread to the entire building. Four people, sisters Rachel and Donna Llewellyn, Elizabeth Harris and Ryan Bek, died, and many others were injured. It was the deadliest fire in Greensboro history when it happened. David Douglas was the chief fire investigator when it happened. He said he thinks of it every year. "I feel sad for the people who lost their kids," Douglas said. "I obviously always think about that but also for all the other people impacted, as a firefighter, how fire traumatizes people." Danahey was sentenced to life in prison without parole.  

VIDEO: Gabriel Shaffer had just gone back inside from watching Krewe du Vieux when he says he saw the bright light from a flame thrower out his back window. According to police this happened Saturday evening in the 900 block of Royal St. "It was dumb and disrespectful at the same time in my head," said Shaffer. The New Orleans fire code states a permit is needed for the use of any "open flame device" for display, entertainment, amusement or non-food warming purposes. The gallery owner who posted the video to his Instagram says he wished he would have gone over to tell them to stop, but he froze in disbelief of what he was witnessing. "There was a lot of obvious flaws in the logic that was happening there…let alone the disrespect to the block," said Shaffer.  

With less than a week to go before it stops accepting applications, the Dayton Fire Department says it could have its most diverse pool of fire recruit applicants ever. The fire department is overwhelmingly white but has become more diverse in recent years. Officials say new, enhanced and ongoing initiatives to reach minorities and women seem to be working. "While there is more work still to be done, the Dayton Fire Department is making clear progress in achieving a more diverse and inclusive workforce," said Dayton Fire Capt. Brad French. The fire department started accepting applications for its recruit classes in early January, and the deadline to apply is Sunday, Feb. 20. The city has received more than 680 applications, and early data suggest this could be the most diverse group of applicants in the department's 159-year history, officials said.  

PHOTOS/VIDEO: Waukon firefighters used hundreds of thousands of gallons of water to fight the fire, running through Waukon's water supply. Schools in the community held virtual class Monday and businesses had reduced hours due to the water issues. City officials say the issue was too much water going through a strained system. "So we were constantly, constantly pumping to maintain water levels to fight the fire as well as pressures throughout the city," said Gary Boden, Waukon's City Manager. "And over time those pumps took a hit." Firefighters were fighting the fire downtown until late Sunday night around midnight. They have continued to try to put out the smoldering wreckage through the morning. Boden said firefighters will have to continue monitoring the debris for re-ignitions until the site is totally clear.