Fire activity is minimal, but still present on the Sinnott Fire despite several days of cooler, wetter weather near Eagle. Crews are finishing up work on building fire breaks along the American Creek to protect properties and Eagle if warmer weather returns to the area. Using chainsaws, Chugachmiut's Yukon Crew and Denali Wildland Fire Module are putting in a mile-long fire break around a Native allotment west of the American Creek. Crews also constructed shaded fuel breaks on the north end of the line and in a few spots west of American Creek, just north of where the indirect crosses American Creek. Meanwhile, the Village of Eagle's masticator has completed work to reopen old dozer lines running parallel to American Creek south from Mission Creek.  

Senate Bill (SB) 67 was passed into law on the morning of July 22, phasing out the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams in Alaska. Since the governor did not sign or veto the bill within the given 22-day period, the bill was automatically passed into law without the governor's signature. We express our gratitude to Senator Jesse Kiehl for his sponsorship of the bill and his commitment to protecting the health of Alaskans. We also thank all the co-sponsors of SB 67 and the committee chairs who held hearings and guided the bill toward passage in the legislature. Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is a type of firefighting foam containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are used on fuel and chemical fires, primarily on military bases and airports. PFAS are a class of more than 12,000 chemicals used in consumer products, industrial applications, and industrial firefighting foams.  

VIDEO: Seventeen firefighters suffered heat-related injuries and were treated at the scene of a fire Tuesday afternoon at a business plaza in Monroe Township. One firefighter was hospitalized and is described as being in "stable condition," according to a press release from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. The City of Monroe Fire Department responded to the area of Jones Avenue and South Monroe Street around 1:30 p.m. after receiving reports of a vacant building next to the Michigan College of Beauty. Heavy black smoke was seen coming from the building, according to the sheriff's office. Multiple other area fire departments assisted the Monroe fire and the public safety departments at the scene. It is unclear at this time how the fire started or what the extent of the damage is. The fire is under investigation.  

VIDEO: A new program at the University of South Florida aims to better protect first responders from infectious diseases. The multi-million dollar project is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Firefighters and EMS personnel risk their lives every day to protect people. The program is researching ways to better protect them. "There are unique challenges that sometimes are really basic but haven't been considered for that setting," Tine Mcguire-Wolfe said. Mcguire-Wolfe is an assistant professor involved in this program and a retired firefighter. She knows the vulnerabilities first responders face daily. "They don't have, for example, running water, so there are certain pathogens where we know hand sanitizer doesn't work as well," she said.  

The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) will open the doors to all 24 fire stations across the city, welcoming the community to meet their neighborhood firefighters, as part of Mayor Yemi Mobolade's 1,000 Neighborhood Gatherings Initiative. "Mental Health is an important topic in my department. I understand the heaviness mental health can bear on our community and fully support Mayor Yemi's initiative in helping our neighbors feel less alone," said Fire Chief Randy Royal. "I think I can speak for all of my crews when I say we are very excited to welcome our community into our firehouses and meet some new faces, build new relationships, and be good neighbors." Every Saturday, starting August 3 and going through September 7, CSFD will host open houses, when locals are encouraged to find their neighborhood fire station and stop by to meet the crews.