The Alaska Type 1 Incident Management Team, two Alaska hotshot crews and more than a dozen Alaska Smokejumpers have been mobilized to the Lower 48 to assist with wildland fire management in the western United States. The Alaska IMT, which consists of approximately 70 highly trained wildland firefighting personnel from multiple Alaska state and federal agencies, flew out on a chartered jet from the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) on Tuesday. The Team will be prepositioned in Boise, Idaho, home to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), to await an assignment. In addition to the Alaska IMT, two Alaska hotshot crews and 17 Alaska Smokejumpers have departed Alaska to the Lower 48 to support fire suppression and management efforts. Judging from the level of wildfire activity currently in the western U.S., the Team won't have to wait long for an assignment.  

PHOTOS: A beat-up, rose-red-and-gray metal bucket with a rounded bottom dangles from an iron hook at the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company Museum. In black capital letters, it bears the word "F-I-R-E." Because of its rounded bottom, it teeter-totters and spills its contents if you try to sit it upright. The bucket has this design to deter thefts, in case a 1941 firefighter left it unattended. It is one of hundreds of firefighting artifacts displayed in the museum by the company, established in 1892. There's more: a 1940s breathing apparatus for surviving in a smoky building and several alarms from pre-siren days. In 1910, a firefighter stomped on a pedal on a 1909 Howe truck's floorboard to sound a gong.  

The 59th Annual TEEX Industrial Fire School began this week. This week alone, around 500 students are gearing up at the TEEX Brayton Fire Training Field. They are gaining hands-on experience within the fire industry, including leadership and communication skills. "We are so blessed to have this facility so close to us," a student said. Since 1929, the Annual Fire Training Schools have trained thousands of fire service and emergency personnel. This week, the focus is on industrial workers. "These students are primarily from the energy sector... refining polymer plants... chemical plants.. Tank farms... They are people who produce a product," Gordon Lohmeyer, TEEX ESTI Division Director said. "So far it's been great... got world-class facilities, world-class instruction. A lot of learning opportunities," Joel White, a student with the TEEX Industrial Fire School said.  

VIDEO: Black smoke could be seen billowing from across the Mississippi River late Tuesday afternoon as firefighters responded to a warehouse fire in East St. Louis. The fire happened near the intersection of E. Broadway and N. 17th Street. The smoke began to be noticed around 5:30 p.m., though it's unclear exactly when the fire started. According to the East St. Louis Fire Department, scores of tires are ablaze inside the building.  

A D.C. firefighter who spent the night responding to emergency calls returned to the fire station Tuesday morning to find his car was gone. Engine 21 in the 1700 block of Lanier Place NW in Adams Morgan is one of the District's busier fire stations and spent the night responding to back-to-back emergency calls. At 5:30 a.m., firefighters discovered someone stole a Chevy Cruze that had been parked on a concrete pad in front of the station. The car thief entered the station and removed the victim's keys from his locker, according to the police report. The firefighter's car was the second car stolen in that same block of Lanier Place in three days. On Saturday evening, a driver who left her Toyota Camry running while making a delivery watched as someone drove away in her car.  

A rescue-turned-firedog in Orange County now has a book written about him - after the popular pooch became an internet sensation last year. Nick, the Newburgh firedog, is not only one of the guys at the city fire department, he's also an internet sensation on TikTok. His fame is due to Assistant Chief Tim Dexter, who posted Nick on TikTok last year, which got 86,000 views - and gave Dexter the idea to write a children's book about him. Nick's story began in 2016 when firefighters found him - ironically, tied to a fire hydrant. "He was just really kind and got along with all the firemen working. He ended up staying here forever," says Dexter. Nick goes on calls and helps firefighters teach kids about fire prevention. He's well known locally, but the book may take his stardom to the next level.