An influx of fentanyl into Alaska in the last two years has vexed law enforcement, overwhelmed health systems and deeply affected struggling Native communities. In 2020 and 2021, the synthetic opioid was a major contributor in a spike in overdoses – the nation's largest, according to Alaska's public health department. In 2021, overdose deaths jumped by 74% in one year, with fentanyl deaths spiking by 150%, the report said. Drug traffickers have carved out a lucrative market for synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl in Alaska, since they can extract higher profit margins in a remote region. Fentanyl has become a national crisis in recent years, but Alaska faces unique challenges due to its location, size and limited law enforcement resources, Alaska's High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program said in its annual report to Congress.  

While the Hughes Springs Volunteer Fire Department waits for the insurance company to give them answers, one firefighter says he can give them all the answers they'd ever want. "It's a slow process; I'm impatient," said volunteer fire chief and full-time police sergeant Jay Cates. "It's depressing to see." He says the visual reminders make it hard to forget. Assistant Chief Randy Jones wonders how in the world he made it through that night alive. Randy had raced to the fire station to respond to a call for help after a tornado touched down in the neighboring town of Daingerfield when it hit. "The wind and rain started, so I shut the door," Jones said. A second tornado then dropped from the sky with little warning. "By the time I walked back, the doors flew in and the walls started shaking," he recalled.  

PHOTOS: A 1920 Seagrave Ladder Truck used in parades and popular with residents is undergoing extensive repairs before returning to the road. Athol Fire Capt. Eric Jack said the truck is being repaired at Gasper Automotive Restoration in Manchester, CT. According to the company's web site, it specializes in restoration of vintage trucks, cars and antique fire apparatuses. Because of the age of the ladder truck, finding parts can be difficult, so some came from collectors while others were custom-built at Gasper Automative. One of the truck's cylinders had to be replaced and was taken from another vehicle at Gasper. "It's kind of a lost art," said Jack of the restoration. It's estimated the work will cost between $20,000-$25,000, and paid for by the Athol Firefighters Association.  

VIDEOS: Ryan Feeney has a lot of irons in the fire. The full-time Indianapolis firefighter spends his free time as a metal worker at Indy Art Forge, the metal working company he's owned for 20 years. "Like all firefighters, you've got to have something to do on the side," Feeney said. That side job stems from a lifelong interest in art. "I think I did my first oil painting when I was 8," Feeney said. While in college, Feeney began exploring metalworking. In addition to residential jobs like fences and furniture, Feeney's pieces can be found throughout central Indiana. Feeney's Peace Dove statue can be found at the Indianapolis Central Library. The 750-pound statue is made from weapons seized from the streets of Indianapolis. It was unveiled in 2014. After three interviews, the Indianapolis Colts hired Feeney to craft the Peyton Manning statue outside Lucas Oil Stadium. Feeney said the project was, "like a dream."  

VIDEOS: The tornado in Norman on Sunday night caused serious damage to buildings. First responders had to get creative when they saved several people at a postal service training center. Power lines had people trapped inside the building so a deputy had to think quickly to get patients out. "We came up with the idea, that we should load up my car, that way we can get medical attention to patients inside the building," said Deputy Jacob Overling with the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office. Norman got hit by a tornado on Sunday night, injuring people in the postal service training facility. Two people were seriously hurt. Overling and the medics didn't have much time. Body camera video showed him helping paramedics get the patient in the cruiser.  

VIDEOS: According to the American Heart Association, although 65% of people in the United States say they've received CPR training at some point in their lives, only 18% of people are up to date on their CPR training. Captain Justin Pinkley with the Springdale fire department visited 5NEWS to demonstrate how CPR procedures should be performed on both infants and adults. "Every minute that's going by without CPR being done, your chances of survival are going down by 10%. so it's very important to get adequate chest compressions and get AED defibrillation." The department has also partnered with PulsePoint, an app used to help public safety agencies inform and engage their citizens. In the event of emergencies where CPR is needed, the dispatch center immediately alerts CPR-trained individuals about nearby cardiac arrest events through the free PulsePoint Respond mobile app, and also lets them know the location of the closest AEDs.