Alaska wildfires have already burned 1 million acres, crossing that threshold earlier in the summer than in any summer in recent decades. The milestone was driven by large and plentiful fires in a region of the state that, until recently, had only modest burning – the tundra-rich delta in southwestern Alaska that lies between the lower Yukon River and the Kuskokwim River. Already, the 163,533-acre East Fork Fire near the Yup'ik village of St. Mary's, sparked by lightning on May 31, is among the biggest tundra fires on record in Alaska. And the nearly Apoon Pass Fire, reported at 72,499 acres Monday, now ranks as the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta's second-largest tundra fire on record, said Rick Thoman, a climate specialist with the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.  

Governor Mike Dunleavy signed House Bill 209 "An Act relating to emergency firefighters" yesterday in Fairbanks that will help build the State's mostly rural-based firefighting crews, strengthen local economies, and provide enhanced public safety to Alaska communities. "This important change lets the State put local fire crews to work more consistently and grow our rural firefighting capabilities," said Governor Mike Dunleavy. "And with more flexibility to prevent wildland fires through fuels reduction projects, not just fight active fires, it's another tool in our toolkit to keep Alaskans, their homes, and our State's critical infrastructure safe." Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seated, signs House Bill 209 "An Act relating to emergency firefighters" Monday, June 20, 2022, on the Alaska Division of Forestry Fairbanks Area helipad.  

Dangerous dead trees that may cause a fire or falling hazard are being removed along many Anchorage trails. The spruce bark beetle-killed spruce trees have posed a hazard across Southcentral Alaska for more than a decade, and federal American Rescue Plan Act funds are being used to help remove the dangerous trees from trails along the Anchorage Hillside. Parks and Trails Safety Foreman for the Anchorage Department of Parks and Recreation Mike Braniff said that the city is spending nearly $4 million in ARPA to remove dead spruce trees this summer and next, so Anchorage residents may hear the sound of chainsaws along while traversing trails. "If we don't address beetle kill — this fuel situation — and also the falling hazard the trees present in certain areas, are two dangers that we just can't afford to let get away from us," Braniff said. "Left standing dead, eventually this material is going to burn. Our goal is to remove it before it does burn."  

A plane carrying 126 people caught fire after landing at Miami International Airport Tuesday, leaving three people hospitalized with minor injuries. Red Air Flight 203 from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, had landed around 5:30 p.m. when the landing gear in the nose of the plane collapsed, Miami International Airport officials said. Footage showed the plane skidding down the runway on its belly before catching fire, sending large plumes of black smoke into the air The MD-82 jetliner was carrying 126 people, and three were taken to the hospital for minor injuries, officials said. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials said when crews arrived they found one of the plane's wings on fire. Firefighters were able to quickly get the fire under control and searched the plane to make sure no one was left onboard.  

Every traffic light in St. Charles County will soon automatically turn green for first responders heading to emergencies — the latest move in a $17 million effort to create "smart intersections" across the county. Emergency vehicles now get priority at 210 of the more than 350 traffic lights in St. Charles County, but that number should expand countywide in the coming months, said Amanda Brauer, the county's manager of roads and traffic. "It's designed to be seamless, so most drivers shouldn't notice a difference other than that some lights might be slightly longer when an emergency vehicle passes by," Brauer said. The goal, she added, was to make it safe for everyone when first responders need to travel quickly. Here's how it works: When lights and sirens are activated, GPS units installed in the county's fire trucks, ambulances and some St. Charles County police vehicles will alert the county's network of traffic lights about the unit's location.  

An important event for first responders is scaling back this year. Texas A&M Extension Service (TEEX) announced their Spanish Fire School will no longer be happening in-person. The loss of this year's Spanish Fire School is a disappointment for TEEX as well as tourism officials. The school not only provides valuable training to firefighters, but also brings big money to the area. Sign-ups for the 56th annual Spanish Fire School have been down this year and since registration did not meet the minimums for safe and effective delivery, the in-person training was canceled. Instead, they will have five online courses. "It is unfortunate and I think that that's something that we look forward to hosting them every year. And right now international travel is just difficult and these events, they are planned months and sometimes even years out and up until a few weeks ago we actually still had a COVID test restriction to come into the country," said Jeremiah Cook, Visit College Station Tourism Manager.  

Bob Shank's mother asked him to help run Shank's Tavern in Marietta in 1968, which got him involved in the family business and Lancaster County's oldest tavern established in 1814. Four years later in 1972, Shank had to deal with the aftermath of the destruction wrought by Tropical Storm Agnes. Shank recalled in detail what the tavern looked like in the wake of the storm. Whiskey bottles lay broken on the ground instead of neatly displayed on the shelves. The piano collapsed in the corner where it once stood. The floodwaters managed to lift the bar and drop it into several inches of mud and oil sludge that coated the ground when the waters subsided. "It's a memory that's burned into my brain," Shank, 74, said. "When the reality sets in that you've been in a major flood, you just take a deep breath, put your bathing suit on and go to work."  

Starting July 7 through August 25, ten talented home cooks will grace our screens and compete in Rhode Island PBS's search for "the Great American Recipe." Amongst those chosen to share their signature dishes with the world is Rhode Island's very own Dan Rinaldi. We caught up with the Providence firefighter by day and meal maker by night ahead of the premiere to learn a little more about his Italian cooking roots, his time on the show and his favorite Rhode Island eats. I'm from Providence; I grew up in the city and now I live just one street over the city line in Cranston. So, I'm pretty much still in Providence. I grew up in a three decker right across the street from my grandmother's three-decker. It was nice because my aunt was on the first floor, my uncle was around the corner and my other uncle lived three houses down in another three-decker. We grew up in three-decker-ville.