A Grant Aviation flight crashed during takeoff and slid off the runway in Hooper Bay on Tuesday. Grant Aviation Vice President of Operations Dan Knesek confirmed that the flight left the end of the runway in Hooper Bay late Tuesday afternoon. National Transportation Safety Board officials separately confirmed that aircraft involved was a Cessna 208 with eight people on board. Knesek and NTSB Alaska Chief Clint Johnson say no injuries have been reported by passengers or the pilot. "We're taking care of the pilot and all the passengers and getting all that taken care of and working with the NTSB," Knesek said. The NTSB is investigating.  

With climate change spurring intense and longer wildfire seasons, fire safety and preparation is no longer an option. As seen in the United States and across the world in Australia and the Amazon, wildfires are devastating and can dramatically affect the economy of a region. With the growing frequency and severity of wildfires, firefighters are needed more than ever to protect cities and communities. It's also important to note that today's firefighters do much more than fight fires. These brave men and women are often the first to be called on to respond to medical, environmental, and chemical emergencies. In 2018, there were 332,400 jobs for firefighters, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for firefighters is expected to grow by 5% over the next ten years. With so many areas in need of firefighters, where are the best cities for firefighters to work in the United States?  

"Gray Death" is a particularly dangerous mixture of heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil and other synthetic opioids, and it has made its way to Indiana. Carfentanil, which is used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and other large mammals, is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl, according to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. They say a persistent increase in opioid overdoses tied to carfentanil have been seen around the country. Carfentanil and other fentanyl-related compounds can be absorbed through the skin or accidentally inhaled, making them dangerous to first responders and other medical personnel. Indiana Department of Homeland Security reports the following: State medical personnel and responders are sounding the alarm on a continuing drug trend that could overdose, or potentially kill, Hoosiers and responders with minimal contact.  

York City's Fire Chief had to make a choice. So, he chose his home. But because of that decision, he could lose his job by the end of this month. Residency requirements in the city of York require the fire chief to live within the city limits. Deardorff lives in West Manchester Township with his children and wife. "I'm less than, less than 3 and a half miles outside the city," said Deardorff, who adds he's never missed a call where he was needed on scene. He adds "I don't see the difference whether or not if I'm responding from my current house or in the city." Deardorff said he told the Mayor of his decision not to move late last summer after the city granted him an extension last year to discuss a possible move with his family. But, city council claims the Mayor did not tell them of Deardorff's decision until January. At a meeting late last month, council didn't approve the waiver that would have rid Deardorff of the requirement to move within the city limits.  

VIDEO: According to the National Fire Protection Association, firefighters are 9 percent more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than the average American. The Toledo Fire and Rescue department is teaming up with Cancer Dogs, a Canadian company that uses dogs to detect possible cancer in someone's breath. Cancer Dogs is currently running screening trials all across the U.S. More than 100 fire departments have taken part in the screenings. The goal is to detect cancer early. Here is how it works: you put on a surgical mask and breathe into it for 10 minutes. The mask is then put into a bag and shipped off to a lab in Nova Scotia. Specially trained dogs then sniff the samples and determine if they believe cancer is present.  

An interim report on conditions at the fire station include plenty of reasons for alarm. Consultants have documented problems with airflow. No ventilation air is being introduced into the apparatus and rescue vehicle area, and two exhaust fans "do not appear to be functional," MacRitchie Engineering, Inc., of Braintree, wrote. The presence of union-purchased exercise equipment in the same location "is leading to some serious health concerns" as the only apparent source of ventilation is opening the door, "which is not practical during the winter months." The interim report labels this "an extreme health hazard." The MacRitchie report on HVAC systems and an overall facilities analysis conducted by The Galante Architectural Studio (TGAS), Inc., of Cambridge, which were presented to the selectmen last night (Feb. 4), detail a building plagued with problems that still manages to deliver services but is too small to continue to meet modern expectations.