A fire Friday night destroyed a long existing home and shop on Souhrada Road near Northern Pike. Fire crews were dispatched about 5 p.m. for the confirmed structure fire. Upon arrival, fire crews reported heavy flames coming from the 100 by 100-foot shop and adjacent home with other structures being threatened. Rural Deltana Fire Chief Tim Castleberry said when crews arrived both the shop and home were completely gone and firefighters turned their attention to keeping the fire from spreading to a nearby mobile home and other items. "We had a lot of heavy flames coming from the structure," Castleberry said, "Some were more than 50 feet high." Castleberry said 24 firefighters from Rural Deltana, City of Delta Junction, and Fort Greely responded to the call. It took about 45 minutes to bring the fire under control and to prevent possible spread, he said. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Castleberry said it was reported to have started in a well pumphouse adjacent to the structure that contained a heater.  

Two Jacksonville firefighters stabbed by a patient in their ambulance are back on the duty and speaking about the ordeal for the first time. Three and a half months after a violent attack, Capt. Latorrence Norris and Engineer Vincent Harper said they were dangerously close to losing their lives at the hands of someone they were trying to help. The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department partners, assigned to Rescue 2 in Springfield, were taking a patient to the hospital in October when they said he started attacking them. The patient, whom the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office identified as 38-year-old Tony Harris, grabbed a box cutter from Norris and began to stab him with it, the firefighters said. First responders often carry box cutters or knives on emergency calls, in case they need to free someone from a seat belt or a rope.  

More than a handful of firefighters shared personal, powerful stories about the challenges they've faced while diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Their families and mental health experts joined them in asking Nebraska state senators to champion first responders and a new bill, which they say will help them better serve communities by providing guarantees and options for mental health treatment. Nebraska state Sen. Tom Brewer, who introduced LB 963, wrote the following language in the bill he introduced to the Business and Labor Committee at Monday's public hearing: "First responders face unique and uniquely dangerous risks in their sworn mission to keep the public safe. It is imperative for society to recognize occupational injuries related to post-traumatic stress."  

VIDEO: Operators at 911 centers across southern Arizona are screening calls for possible cases of coronavirus. The Arizona Department of Health Services confirmed the state's first case of the illness on Sunday, Jan. 26. The following day, experts offered resources and guidelines from NHTSA Office of EMS for first responders to limit their exposure to coronavirus. Before those emergency crews respond to a situation, 911 operators will ask some additional questions to people who mention respiratory issues. "There's already been one case here in Arizona and we're doing this for our providers safety as well," said Mike Thompson, Communications Center Manager for American Medical Response in southern Arizona. He said AMR teams across the country rolled out the safety measure Friday following a recommendation from the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch and local medical directors.  

This Wednesday, Jan. 29, KRDO will once again team up with Shield 616 for an all day telethon. This time, it's to buy rifle-rated vests for Colorado Springs firefighters. KRDO has been working hand in hand with Shield 616 for years. Tonight, we're looking back at what the non-profit stands for, where it came from and what's next. A former Colorado Springs police officer, Jake Skifstad, had a vision. As a first-responder himself, he knew what they needed. As an officer with CSPD, Jake responded to two active shooter situations -- New Life and Planned Parenthood. "I tell people, when we strip off that badge, we're the same as you. We have the same stresses, the same emotions. We have families at home but we just have to train ourselves to go against human nature. And that's still hard. And it is terrifying sometimes."  

Pelham author Jeanne LaSala-Taylor has written a just-released children's book, "Just Bunny and the Great Fire Rescue." Based on a true story of her daughter's stuffed bunny being rescued from a burning building, this book provides a special thanks to firefighters everywhere for saving lives – and stuffed bunnies, too. LaSala-Taylor was also rescued from a fire in her apartment building in 2007, and wrote this book in recognition of the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women of the FDNY. Part of the proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit the New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation. "Just Bunny" is Francesca's right-hand stuffy who has been with her through thick and thin since day one. Nothing can tear these two apart – except, maybe, a fire. Thankfully, one of New York's bravest is on the scene to prove that selfless acts of kindness happen every day.