A Juneau ambulance decorated on both sides with Northwest Coast formline art was unveiled to the public on Tuesday morning. The project was a collaboration between Capital City Fire/Rescue and the Unity Group, an organization that represents Alaska Native groups from across Juneau. "The goal of the new ambulance art is to be more inclusive and representative of the community that CCFR serves," said Beth Weldon, mayor of the City and Borough of Juneau, at the unveiling ceremony that was held online. The cost of refurbishing the ambulance at $10,000 was paid by the Unity Group. "It's important because we are behind those who are the first responders who come to the rescue of our people," said Barbara Cadiente-Nelson, a council member of the Douglas Indian Association. "Our children are watching and they're listening."  

The only store the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta village of Kasigluk burned down on the night of Sept. 10, leaving residents without a place in town to buy groceries, clothes, and other supplies. The community is locked down to prevent the coronavirus from spreading, which meant that Kasigluk couldn't get help from nearby villages to fight the flames. Kasigluk Police Chief Brian Noratak's long night began around 7 p.m. on Sept. 10. He was in the police station when he heard the store's fire alarm go off. "And [it's] only less than a minute to walk to the store from the police station," Noratak said. When Noratak arrived, he saw smoke billowing from the building. The store had been closed for less than an hour. "It started in the office. I know the office area, the entrance, and then it worked its way back towards the back of the store," Noratak said.  

VIDEO: Two workers stuck 10 stories above the ground after their scaffold malfunctioned were saved in a daring rescue by FDNY firefighters who rappelled down the side of an Upper West Side building, heart-stopping video showed. Terrified onlookers watched after the two workers, who neighbors said were doing facade work on the building at the corner of West 78th Street and Broadway, were left clinging to the building high above the ground around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. It was not clear what caused the scaffold to malfunction, but it was left dangling on the side of the building, nearly perpendicular to the ground far below. One of the workers was still on the scaffold, the other on a window ledge, holding on for dear life. Firefighters repelled down from the top of the building to the workers, a man and a woman, one of whom was able to be brought inside through a window.  

The Town of Beloit Fire Department may become part of a collection of fire departments lead by Janesville Fire Chief Ernie Rhodes. The Town of Beloit Fire Chief Hiring Committee interviewed Rhodes Tuesday morning as it seeks to address the vacancy to be left by retiring Town of Beloit Fire Chief Gene Wright. Discussions indicated Rhodes could remain Janesville's fire chief while leading the town fire department. Janesville also has been discussing having the Milton Fire Department join the Janesville Department in sharing services and reducing costs. The town committee is looking closely at the option of forming stronger countywide partnerships in fire services for the future. The matter of addressing the town fire chief position is expected to be on next Monday night's Board of Supervisors agenda, along with a public hearing.  

VIDEO: Bob Halberstadt, an 80-year-old resident of Blairstown, New Jersey, is redefining life after retirement. While many at his age sit back and enjoy life after years of hard work, Halberstadt is just getting started; becoming the oldest volunteer firefighter at Blairstown Hose Company No. 1. "I didn't give it a second thought. I can do it. I have the will, I have the want, and I have the time," said Halberstadt. Before becoming a firefighter, Halberstadt worked delivering newspapers for the NY Daily News and as a volunteer EMT for the Blairstown Ambulance Corps, where he remains an active member. One of his earliest and fondest memories on the job is when he helped deliver a baby in the Holland Tunnel. His passion to serve his community and help others was taken to a whole different level when he signed up for the Firefighter 1 class at the Warren County Firefighter Academy back in January 2019.  

VIDEO: September 16, 2020 marks one year since the Farmington community experienced an incident that would change life for some forever. An explosion at LEAP Inc. in Farmington killed one firefighter, injured six others, and also injured a building supervisor. Now, Maine state law looks different as a result of an effort to keep Mainers safe in the future. A report released in January by the Maine State Fire Marshal's Office indicated a propane leak caused the explosion. That's because crews severed it when they were drilling posts into the ground near the building, about a week before the explosion happened. As a response to the explosion, Rep. Seth Berry (D-Bowdoinham), the House chair of the legislature's energy, utilities, and technology committee, introduced L.D 1892, "An Act To Make Changes to the So-called Dig Safe Law".  

VIDEO: For more than ten years now, the Ocean City Fire Department has been able to take their life saving efforts to the water thanks to a larger fire boat they have. However, that fire boat is currently in need of repairs so they have a new vessel that's allowing them to continue saving lives. "We've seen a tremendous response this summer with our fire boat being staffed and being able to provide that rapid service," says Ryan Whittington, an Ocean City firefighter and medic. On Tuesday, the Ocean City Fire Department demonstrated just one of the ways their fire boat saves lives by offering a dramatization of how they respond to patients experiencing a medical emergency in hard to reach areas offshore. "The Fire Department responds to various calls on the water some of them could be due to boating accidents, jet ski accidents, rental boat accidents, anything like that," says Whittington. Officials say this type of response vessel is equipped with some impressive tools.