The Victoria Fire Department honored the Victoria Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Hunter for 31 years of service. Fire department employees, city leadership and family members attended Hunter's retirement ceremony on Jan. 28 at Victoria Fire Department Station Four, located at 2007 Salem Road. Fire Chief Tracy Fox thanked Hunter for his service and presented him with a commemorative plaque. Hunter began his career with the VFD in 1991 as an emergency medical technician. He played a leading role during the merging of firefighting and EMS services. Hunter also served as a lieutenant, Administrative Service captain and Training captain. He was then promoted to battalion chief in 2018. As the battalion chief, he oversaw the implementation of the fire department's whole blood transfusion program.  

PHOTOS: At 1:30 a.m. Houston Fire Department (HFD) responded to a house fire that occurred and spread in heavy flames to the house next door. The HFD made a fast attack and managed to get the fire under control. The first house was vacant, but a woman lived in the house next door that also got caught on fire, but she managed to evacuate safely. The incident took place at a vacant home near the intersection of Drew Street and Briley Street. According to the HFD, there were no injuries reported and they are investigating what caused the fire. The Fire Chief suspects that someone went inside the house to set a fire to try to stay warm, but the fire got out of control. It is still under investigation.  

PHOTO/VIDEO: Firefighters are investigating what caused a fire Thursday night in Bryan that displaced several residents of an apartment complex. The blaze was reported just after 6:00 p.m. in the 800 block of Navidad Street near W Villa Maria Road and Finfeather Road. Videos and photos from KBTX viewers show flames and thick smoke pouring out of a second-level window in one of the buildings as firefighters arrived on the scene. It's unclear what started it and how many apartments have been affected but the management group for the complex tells KBTX it is working to get those displaced into temporary housing. The American Red Cross is also providing assistance. They say a dozen people were displaced including 7 children. No injuries were reported.  

VIDEO: A mobile home fire in Southeast Bexar County early Friday morning sent a family of six out into the frigid cold. A man who lived in the home, located in the 5000 block of Trout Lane, told firefighters he woke up to popping noises after 3:30 a.m. Fire crews initially found heavy smoke inside the home, but they say the wind caused fire to spread quickly throughout it. At one point, there were flames shooting through the roof. Firefighters used an aerial ladder truck to pour water on the fire and douse the flames. They say it appears an electrical problem is what caused the fire. Although the family—a couple and four children—all made it out safely, they say they are still missing a puppy. Firefighters say the American Red Cross will be helping the family with shelter and clothing.  

VIDEOS: A fire sparked by a space heater overnight ended up costing a veteran his home, and possibly his pets. Flames were shooting out of a southeast Houston home as firefighters worked to get it under control during freezing temperatures overnight. The fire was reported on Bonner Street near Radcliffe around 10:45 p.m. Thursday. ABC13 reporter Courtney Fischer talked to the homeowner, Mike, as he stood in front of what was left of his house. His dog Stella wouldn't leave his side. His neighbors brought him coffee and a hot breakfast. Mike, a Vietnam War veteran, had lived at the house since 1984. He said every time there is a cold snap, he sets up space heaters. He said he set up a space heater in the back bedroom Thursday around 10:30 p.m. He wanted to keep his pets warm.  

PHOTOS: On wintry, snowy days in North Texas, we're all familiar with pictures showing kids having fun making snow angels. But it's not just for kids. Yesterday, some Grand Prairie firefighters were unwinding after a very busy morning by playing out in the falling snow. Grand Prairie Fire Department's Facebook page posted a picture of firefighter Scott Nolan making a snow angel on the driveway outside Fire Station #1. Not wanting to miss out on the fun, the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office followed suit, with Chief Reyes joining in the fun. Elsewhere, the Fort Worth Police Department decided to have a little fun of their own amidst the wintry conditions. Southlake DPS also took to Twitter to warn the public of the icy conditions, this time going for a gaming theme.  

A massive warehouse fire in northwest suburban Bartlett continues to burn for a second day Friday morning. Intense flames engulfed the 250,000 square foot warehouse in the 1200-block of Humbracht Circle in Brewster Creek Business Park, used by a document storage company called Access. Officials said the warehouse was stacked floor to ceiling with boxes of documents, providing ample fuel for the fire. What workers said began as a few boxes on fire grew into an inferno. "These walls are collapsing on us," said Bartlett Fire Chief William Gabrenya. "We don't want to get any of the firefighters within that collapse zone, so at this point, we're all aerials operations." Gabrenya said Friday morning that they anticipate the fire to be a multi-day event.  

New images of the fire at the fertilizer plant in Winston-Salem have brought back memories for those who lived through the EQ plant explosion in Apex more than 15 years ago. By taking a look back at what happened in 2006, we could get an idea of the massive cleanup still ahead at the Weaver plant. Some who lived in Apex in 2006 still have memories of evacuations and the massive emergency response. "That brought some flashbacks," said Keith Weatherly, who served as Apex's mayor in 2006. "The town manager called me and said, 'We have a serious situation. There has been an explosion, and we are going to start evacuating,'" said Weatherly. The Environmental Quality Industrial Services building on Investment Road was a fireball. There was a plume of smoke rising from the hazardous waste facility – and emergency workers could not be sure if it was dangerous. Around half the town was ordered to evacuate.  

PHOTOS: A new hair salon for kids features character cars for chairs, TVs and video games. Sharkey's Cuts for Kids, located at 2359 Health Dr. SW in Wyoming, aims to create a enjoyable environment for children. "That's the biggest thing that we're trying to do here at Sharkey's, is (to) create a fun atmosphere, a fun experience for kids to come and want to get their hair cut and for parents to enjoy bringing their kids to get their hair cut," Emily Tornblom, co-owner of Sharkey's Cuts for Kids, told MLive on video Thursday, Jan. 27. Character cars as salon chairs include a fighter jet, a fire truck, police car and Disney princess Jeep Wrangler. There are Xbox's and PlayStations for older children to play for free as well as flat screen TVs with access to ESPN, Disney+ and Hulu.  

Many on the front lines in law enforcement, firefighting and emergency response are leaving because of stress, pay and lack of benefits, especially during the pandemic. Now the state's first responders have a stronger voice at the State Capitol to improve conditions. Law officers, firefighters and EMT's were joined by state lawmakers Thursday to introduce a new caucus, a body to better serve first responders during the legislative process. "We've had countless first responders that contracted COVID and ultimately lost their lives," said MS Firefighters Association president Chief John Pope. The Collins Fire Chief said 11 firefighters in the state have died from COVID. He represents 13,500 volunteer firefighters and 3,400 career firefighters. The state does not provide benefits for deaths among first responders from COVID.  

A&E's show Live Rescue was in St. Louis, and they put together a must-watch, most-viewed moments from the show, video on YouTube. A&E uploaded the video to their YouTube channel back in October of 2021, and in the description of the video, they say "Live Rescue" follows firefighters, paramedics and EMTs from across the country as they bravely put their lives on the line responding to emergency rescue calls. Emmy® Award-winner Matt Iseman joins "Live Rescue" with impressive media and medical credentials." I love watching videos like this one for a couple of reasons, first of all, it is fascinating to watch what these first responder heroes go through on a daily basis. I sit here in the nice, warm KICK-FM radio station blabbing on a microphone all morning while these neighborhood heroes are responding to the craziest of emergencies, you gain such an appreciation for what they go through day after day putting their own lives on the line.