Texarkana, Texas now has a new fire chief. Chris Black, who served as the interim fire chief, is a 26-year veteran of the Texarkana Texas Fire Department, and has now been named its chief. City Manager David Orr made the appointment the week of Aug. 14, pending confirmation by the city council. "Chief Black is an exemplary leader, and we are fortunate to have such a wealth of experience taking the helm and leading TTFD forward," Orr said. "I am proud of the work of our firefighters and first responders to keep our city safe and am confident in Chris' ability to manage this important city function." Black started his career with the fire department back in 1997 after graduating as the valedictorian of his class at the Kilgore College Fire Academy. In 2003, he was promoted to driver/engineer and earned the rank of captain.  

VIDEOS/PHOTOS: Firefighters on Thursday afternoon contained a massive fire along U.S. Highway 190 in San Saba. The blaze was reported at about 2:15 p.m., according to San Saba Police Chief John Bauer, who said investigators are still working to determined how the fire erupted. "Foul play is not suspected at this time," Bauer said. The structure fire was burning in the 2700 block of West Wallace (U.S. Highway 190) across the highway from the Chase Pecan company, and near the Heart of Texas Propane facility. Lee Murray, the assistant chief with the San Saba Volunteer Fire Department, said they are not yet sure what type of structure burned to the ground. Murray said firefighters encountered a "large, black blob of smoke" when they arrived at the scene. He said cardboard boxes and plastic bags were torched at the property.  

Tragedy struck Thursday morning as Houston firefighter, Chase Fleming died from injuries in an off-duty motor vehicle accident. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner made the announcement on Twitter. Chase Fleming's passing is not only a loss for his immediate family, but also resonates deeply with his extended firefighter family and the community he served. As the news spread, thoughts and prayers are directed towards his mother, Lisa Brown, his entire family, and his fellow co-workers. Details surrounding the accident are yet to be fully disclosed.  

It's been more than a week since the Parmer Lane Fire displaced dozens of residents at the Bexley at Silverado Apartment Complex in Cedar Park. The fire destroyed at least 24 units and a handful more with fire damage. Many will have to start over, including Ruben Telles, a firefighter in Hutto. He and his girlfriend lived in building 10, the part of the complex that got hit the hardest. He said they lost everything. "In my line of work, it's like sometimes we say we see people go through the worst day of their life," said Telles. For Ruben Telles, the roles of firefighter and survivor were reversed when dozens of local and state agencies got a call to the place he calls home on August 8. "I see people deal with stuff like this, you know, a lot in my career, and now I'm also dealing with it," said Telles.  

PHOTOS: More than a dozen apartments were destroyed by fire Thursday afternoon in Greenville County, South Carolina. The fire started just before 1 p.m. at the Stoneledge Plantation Apartments at the corner of Roper Mountain Road and Garlington Road. The Boiling Springs Fire Department said 16 apartments were burned and two other buildings were damaged by heat. The fire started toward the front of building 17, melting siding on surrounding buildings. Everyone made it out. A few residents were treated for minor injuries, and one firefighter was taken from the scene by EMS for minor injuries, fire officials said. Residents say at least one person had to jump from a second story balcony to escape. A fire official said the flames progressed quickly through the attic space.  

VIDEO: According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, a man has been arrested after a video showed a car racing around a fire truck with lights and sirens on in April. Deputies said 25-year-old Elijah Grove-Thomas faces felony and misdemeanor charges. According to Orange County Fire Rescue, the incident happened near Sand Lake and Winegard as they responded to a car fire. When they arrived, they say the crew "encountered large crowds" and cars "involved in street racing." The trouble started when the truck tried to leave after finding no car fire. Orange County Fire Rescue says as the truck tried to leave, someone driving recklessly around it prevented the truck from returning to service. They say once the sheriff's office arrived, the cars left.  

PHOTOS: Anthony Cardiff knows exactly where he was on Aug. 21, 1963, even though it was nearly 60 years ago. It was the day he lost a leg; 19 other people were injured, and three Ashland firefighters were killed by an oil tank explosion at the Centre Coal Company off Route 9 in Framingham. "I remember there was no pain and I sat up," said Cardiff, who was 12 at the time. "I sat up and remember grabbing my pant leg and seeing the blood and my foot was gone. I think I passed out after that." The 60th anniversary of the deadly fire is Monday. Ashland Fire Chief Charles Moran, Lt. Norman E. Barry and firefighter John Rebenacker died while fighting the fire. Cardiff and his then 8-year-old brother, Michael, saw the smoke from the porch of their 11 Merriam Road home just before 7 p.m.  

There were an estimated 42,795 fatalities due to motor vehicle crashes in 2022, down by 0.3% from the year prior, according to early estimates released in April 2023 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While a reduction in crash-related deaths, even one as slight as this, is generally positive, the facts remain deeply concerning: Crash-related deaths rose more than 10% in 2021 and more than 7% the year before that, marking a disturbing trend leading into and persisting through the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the most recent full year of traffic-death data available, drunken driving fatalities rose by 14% from 2020. Monge and Associates cited data from NHTSA to identify states with the highest rate of fatalities from car accidents involving at least one drunken driver.