VIDEO/PHOTO: A truck carrying frozen chicken caught fire late Wednesday night in Mesquite. The driver pulled over on Interstate 20 near Lawson Street and sprayed a fire extinguisher on the engine. But he couldn't stop a fire from spreading. The truck was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. Parts of I-20 were shut down for several hours while crews worked to clean up the incident. No one was hurt.  

The City of El Paso on Thursday recognized El Paso public safety personnel who responded to a call of an individual standing on an I-10 west overpass, with the presumed intent to jump into traffic, according to the city. Officers from the El Paso Police Department, the El Paso Independent School District Police Department, and staff from the El Paso Fire Department responded to the incident. The officers arrived on scene and were successful in talking with the individual and de-escalating the situation. El Paso Firefighters assisted transported the patient to medical care, the city said. "Once I saw the subject over the ledge first thing that went through my mind was 'oh no she's gonna jump.' Once she turned her back I was even thinking I just reacted, you know just grabbed her and pulled her over the ledge to make sure she doesn't jump," said El Paso Police Department Officer Michael Carnera.  

VIDEO: A mother, father and their nine children who live near Dayton lost everything in a house fire Wednesday. "I'm going to be okay. I just wish my kids didn't have to go through this," mom Jerene Buckles said. Some of their children have special needs and take medication. The walls are the only thing left standing at Jerene Buckle's home. "I think I'm still in shock. I think I'm still numb," she said. Jerene and her husband have nine children. Their youngest is six and the oldest is 20 years old. On Wednesday, their lives were forever changed. "This was our dream home," Jerene said. "We had finally found a home that was going to work for not only just what we wanted but also for our three non-ambulatory children. It was big and had the land." Jerene shared pictures of the intense flames that destroyed the two-story home.  

The Kilgore Fire Department and city council members recognized two firefighters last week for promotions. Firefighter Brandon Miller was promoted to captain, and Firefighter Mason Barrett was promoted to driver. Fire Chief Mark Henderson presented both firefighters with their new rank pins and thanked them for their hard work and service to the department. The two promotions are the last in a series of six promotions the department approved as part their most recent budget.  

The Fritch Volunteer Fire Department is battling a soaring number of fires. Last year, they responded to 327 fires. They're already close to eclipsing that mark this year. Firefighters from multiple agencies tell ABC 7 News, some of the fires could have been prevented or wouldn't spread so fast to other properties if homeowners would follow property mitigation. "So 302 calls in five months that's a lot for a city our size," said Zeb Smith, Fritch VFD chief. The drought combined with extreme heat can make the job of putting out a house fire tougher than it needs to be. Firefighters encourage property owners to help. "The rate of spread is very minimal whenever the property is maintained well," said Smith. "Keeping your grass mowed short keeping a rock barrier just something or some sort of barrier between the out grass and beside your house making sure there is no debris beside your property."  

PHOTOS: A fire that started at the former Manor Down Racetrack on Wednesday has been ruled an arson, according to Travis County ESD 12. Around 12:40 p.m. on June 1, ESD 12 responded to the structure fire call at 9200 Hill Lane. Crews say they arrived to see fire coming from the third floor. Firefighters brought the fire under control within 40 minutes after having water supply issues due to the lack of hydrants in the area. Two firefighters were treated on scene for heat exhaustion. ESD Fire Marshal determined the fire was started by a group of juveniles. It is unclear whether they will face charges. Fire officials reiterated the building was not under demolition despite rumors. The Pflugerville Fire Department, Travis County Fire Rescue, Hutto Fire Department, and Round Rock Fire Department also responded to the scene.  

VIDEO: Fire crews battled a large fire in a Port Richmond junkyard Thursday afternoon. Crews were called to Aramingo Avenue and Wheatsheaf Lane about 4:30 in the afternoon. They were met with heavy flames. Plumes of thick, black smoke could be seen billowing across the river and into New Jersey by drivers along northbound I95. A PennDOT camera also managed to capture the flames as the fire raged. Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control just after 5:30 p.m. There is no word on any injuries or a cause of the fire. In response to the fire, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health issued a warning to residents in the surrounding area of the fire. Health officials advised people should avoid the area or stay indoors. No specific hazardous substances were found, but health officials urged the precautions, just to be safe.  

As more and more electric vehicles hit the road, first responders are preparing to adapt to the unique emergencies the new technology could bring. Huntington firefighters had the opportunity on Thursday to get hands-on training in this and became the first career department in the country to do so with West Virginia University's unique program in high demand. This was led by the WVU Fire Service Extension, which took lithium AA batteries and lit them on fire to give firefighters a taste of the punch these kinds of batteries can pack. "At this moment, this technology is on the road," instructor Tim Miller said. "And we as first responders have to be prepared to deal with the threats posed by this technology." Lithium ion batteries that ignite can create a spark effect, shoot out shrapnel and give off toxic gases.  

Within the past week, four more members of the FDNY have died of 9/11-related illnesses. Supervising Fire Marshal John McCauley and firefighter Robert Reynolds passed away on Saturday. Firefighter Michael Verzi died Sunday, and Deputy Chief Vincent Mandala died two days after that. Each served at least twenty years with the fire department, according to service records. Mandala served for 42 years, having joined the FDNY in 1979 and retiring in 2021. McCauley also joined in 1979, and retired in 2007. Verzi joined in 1984 and stayed with the department for 25 years. Reynolds joined in 1985, and retired months after the 9/11 attacks. The terror attacks have now taken the lives of more than 600 members of the FDNY, including those who died the day of the attacks and those who have died of illnesses linked to their time on the pile at Ground Zero.  

Wake County is teaming up with Wake Tech Community College and six other fire departments to recruit more people to work for them. The program is called "Career in a Year." The goal is to increase racial and gender diversity within its fire departments. The county says right now 97 percent of staff with Wake County Fire Services are male. 94 percent are white. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says nationally around 95 percent of career firefighters are men and 85 percent are white. For the first time, candidates a part of this program can apply with no experience to be able to earn a salary while being trained. The county says they hope to break down barriers that may have prevented women and other minorities from considering careers in fire services. The money comes from $2.3 million the county received from the American Rescue Plan Act.  

VIDEO: On June 2, 1983, 23 passengers died in a fire onboard Air Canada Flight 797. The flight was coming from Dallas, Texas, and heading to Toronto, Canada, when the cabin crew discovered smoke in a rear lavatory. According to the aircraft accident report, the crew attempted to extinguish the hidden fire before contacting air traffic control and declaring an emergency. As smoke filled the plane, pilots made an emergency landing in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the Greater Cincinnati International Airport. The fire disabled virtually all cockpit instruments, forcing the pilots to land the plane while flying blind. The airport's fire department immediately began firefighting operations after the plane landed. Passengers and flight attendants quickly exited the forward doors while the captain and first officer exited through their cockpit sliding windows.