A new partnership is helping to keep firefighters healthy in East Texas. They will now be monitored after battling blazes... At no cost to these brave men and women. "They fight the fire, we provide the medical," explains Dr. Yagnesh Desai, Medical Director, UT-Health East Texas EMS and Air 1. Starting now, UT-Health East Texas is helping firefighters manage the demands of their job. It's part of a partnership between u-t health East Texas, and five of its surrounding area county fire departments' they serve. "If their heart rate is beyond what their max heart rate should be that's very concerning that you know that they're at risk for a bad outcome and they need to cool down, get some rest, and let their heart rate normalize," explains Dr. Desai. Before Dr. Desai, there was no strategic plan in place for prioritizing firefighter's health.  

A woman has died following a mobile home fire in the northeastern portion of Anderson County early Wednesday. Anderson County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Ginger Lively said firefighters were called out to the 2000 block of County Road 397 around 2:05 a.m. but not in time to save a woman. Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace James Todd said the woman has been identified as Dusty Gray, 33. Lively said the state fire marshal's office has been called in to investigate the cause. Lively said there are no suspects involved but there was not yet enough evidence to call the fire accidental or intentional. Volunteer firefighters from 84 East, Neches, Southside and Slocum responded to the fire.  

For more than a year, the East Texas 100 Club has helped to raise money and support for the brave men and women who serve East Texas as first responders. The money they raise plays an important part in helping to care for the families of first responders killed in the line of duty. It also helps to care for those who are seriously wounded. The importance of caring for those who serve our communities cannot be understated, especially in the tragic shooting death of Panola County Deputy Chris Dickerson. Originally, the East Texas 100 Club on served law enforcement. However, that changed with the beginning of the New Year. Now the organization supports firefighters, EMS, jailers, detention officers and prison guards as well.  

Compensation for the city's firefighters was the topic of extensive discussion at a Jan. 6 briefing on fire department operations to City Council. The presentation was given by Chief Curtis Poovey at the Fire Training Center in Richardson. It covered staffing, training, compensation and benefits as well as an overview of equipment, daily tasks, operational statistics, what is next for the department and more. The subject of firefighter pay sparked a lengthy debate between council and staff. Each year, staff compares Richardson's compensation package to that of nearby cities to ensure Richardson is staying competitive, according to Jose Moreno, director of human services. "We strive each year to review and maintain our competitive compensation package," he said.  

A federal appeals court on Thursday rejected a legal challenge by a Leander firefighter who lost his job in 2016 after refusing to be vaccinated for religious reasons. Brett Horvath, who also was an ordained Baptist minister, argued that Leander's action violated his First Amendment right to freely practice his religion, which opposes vaccinations. But the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed, ruling that the Williamson County city properly tried to accommodate Horvath's religious objections by suggesting alternatives that the firefighter rejected before he was fired. "Once an employer has established that it offered a reasonable accommodation, even if that alternative is not the employee's preference, it has satisfied its obligation," Judge James Dennis wrote for the court's three-judge panel.  

Dry weather conditions are leading to fires across Texoma. The combination of warmer-than-usual temperatures, dry air and strong winds resulted in a highly elevated fire risk. The absence of moisture is drying out vegetation, making it easier to fuel a flame. Fire marshals advise not to toss lit cigarettes on the ground. Also: Avoid parking vehicles in tall grass. "People believe that it's safe to burn in a fire barrel close by," said Sherman Fire Marshal Billy Hartsfield. "The vegetation around it is so dry that just the radiant heat off that barrel can ignite the vegetation around it." Rain is in the Texoma forecast, so the fire danger threat should decrease by Thursday.  

Amy Quinn has been a paramedic for years. She will be the first to tell you she would not trade it for anything. "It's really nice to be able to help the community and it's nice to make those one-on-one connections with the people who really want your help," she said. Quinn has been working at the Scappoose Rural Fire District as a single-role paramedic. On Wednesday, Quinn and the other single-role paramedic found out they were being laid off. "Losing a job you love kind of blows," said Quinn. "It hurts your heartstrings and makes your stomach ache a little." "It is kind of unprecedented," added Ron Morgan of the Tualatin Valley Firefighters Union. Morgan believes the two layoffs will negatively impact the Scappoose community. "The fire department will go back to having to down-staff their engine to run medical calls and transport patients in the area," he said.  

VIDEO: On a gloomy morning in downtown Los Angeles, the crew at Los Angeles Fire Station 10 meandered about the firehouse, checked the equipment and swapped playful jabs at one another. Then the bell rang out. The loudspeaker blared out orders for a rescue: Someone was on top of a two-story building, possibly threatening to jump. Firefighter Steve Schaller, 39, rushed into his yellow jumpsuit. He hopped into the front driver's seat of Tiller Fire Truck 10. His captain jumped in next to him. A third firefighter joined them in the cab. Sixty feet in the back, firefighter Robert Bobadilla climbed up the side of the truck and into a glass and metal cab the size of a small fridge, alone. He pulled his headset on as the engine in front roared to life. As the truck took off, Bobadilla, 32, was tugged along, steering in conjunction with the firefighter up front driving, the engineer – his partner.  

Buena Vista Charter Township no longer is considering a proposal to merge its police and fire departments after hearing public backlash to the plan, the township superintendent said. The proposal considered by Buena Vista's Board of Trustees would have created a new public safety department with some police officers cross-trained to respond to fires, eliminated some fire jobs and hired more part-time, on-call firefighters to maintain services. "As of right now, the Board of Trustees is taking that (proposal) off the table," township Superintendent Torrie McAfee said. The township currently is negotiating with its police union, McAfee said. To fix the budget issues that prompted the proposal, the hope now is that something changes at the bargaining table, she said. The proposed merger was tabled after community concern at a recent board meeting, after which a town hall was scheduled to explain the proposal and solicit ideas. Those in attendance were strongly opposed to the plan.  

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will investigate a Dec. 29 crash on I-70 that killed a 23-year-old. Jenna N. Monet, of Prescott Valley, Arizona, was a passenger in a 2019 Tesla Model 3 when it crashed into the back of a firetruck parked in the passing lane of I-70, Indiana State Police said. Monet and her husband, 25-year-old Derrick N. Monet, received serious injuries and were taken to Terre Haute Regional Hospital, where Jenna N. Monet died. No firefighters were injured in the crash. The firetruck had its emergency lights on, State Police said. Indiana State Police have not yet been able to determine if Tesla's Autopilot feature was activated at the time of the accident, Sgt. Matt Ames of the Putnamville post told IndyStar. The feature allows the car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically. The company says Autopilot does not make the vehicle autonomous.  

VIDEO: For more than a year, the East Texas 100 Club has helped to raise money and support for the brave men and women who serve East Texas as first responders. The money they raise plays an important part in helping to care for the families of first responders killed in the line of duty. It also helps to care for those who are seriously wounded. The importance of caring for those who serve our communities cannot be understated, especially in the tragic shooting death of Panola County Deputy Chris Dickerson. Originally, the East Texas 100 Club on served law enforcement. However, that changed with the beginning of the New Year. Now the organization supports firefighters, EMS, jailers, detention officers and prison guards as well.