As a veteran Allen firefighter and paramedic, Jason Denton knew the signs of a stroke. He just never expected to experience those symptoms himself. He and his physicians are bringing attention to the warning signs and lifesaving treatment for National Stroke Awareness Month. In early March, after helping with a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Allen, Denton called his brother as he was leaving. During that conversation, his brother immediately noticed Denton didn't sound normal. His brother called Denton's wife, Jennifer, who encouraged him to turn around and seek help. "From my truck, I got the attention of a co-worker who helped me get back into the vaccine clinic. It was obvious. I was having a stroke," Denton said. "I had facial droop and I knew what I wanted to say, but I couldn't get the words out." Allen firefighters at the COVID-19 clinic called an ambulance and brought Denton to Medical City McKinney, a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center.  

Amarillo firefighters extinguished a house fire in southwest Amarillo on Thursday morning that damaged the home but no one was hurt. According to Fire Department officials, crews were called to a structure fire in the 6100 block of Princeton at about 10:30 a.m. Firefighters found smoke venting from the attic and made entry into the house to search for active fire but found none inside. No occupants were inside the home at the time of the fire. A repairman on scene was heating up a pipe to remove an outside spigot from the home. The heat transferred into the exterior wall and smoldered. Firefighters removed some bricks from the outside of the house to check for extension and fully extinguish the fire. The fire was called under control at 10:45 a.m.  

Texas Motor Speedway is honored to host the $1 million-to-win NASCAR All-Star Race on June 13 and, in turn, will honor and host a very special group of Fort Worth all-stars. The Great American Speedway is partnering with the "All-Stars of the Fort Worth Police & Fire Departments", where 24 of the city's finest will be honored during pre-race ceremonies and throughout the NASCAR All-Star race (live coverage begins at 7 p.m. on FS1, the Motor Racing Network, Sirius/XM NASCAR Ch. 90, 95.9 The Ranch). Each department will be represented by 12 individuals chosen to honor the thousands of heroes that make up the two entities. The Fort Worth Fire Department will select 12 firefighters from their staff. The Fort Worth Police Department, working with Texas Motor Speedway, will allow a public nomination of personnel to represent their department.  

As the City of Lubbock counts down to the ERCOT switch, local first responders want the public to know that they are prepared. "Both Saturday and Sunday the emergency operations center will be activated for the city, which means that representatives of every department of the city will be staffing the [emergency operations center] and be on call to make sure they're monitoring their own area of interest," said Matt Rose, spokesperson for Lubbock Power & Light. Phillip Grandon, Captain at Lubbock Fire Rescue, said they have been doing little things such as keeping their bay doors open when power in a particular area is out. Grandon said they also have generators they test weekly they plan to use. "911 is still going to be good to go," he said. "Our operations are still maintained by a lot of back up systems so we are not really worried about going away."  

Amarillo firefighters are participating in a fundraiser walk for an organization that helps first responders and wounded warriors tomorrow. The walk is for Wind River Ranch, an organization that offers camp stays for first responders and vetereans in Estes Park, Colorado. Amarillo Fire Department will join the walk, starting at Station 13 and walking along the sidewalks to the Texas Panhandle War Memorial near S. Georgia Street and Interstate 27. The event begins at 4:00 p.m. at Fire Station 13, located at 6383 SW 45th Avenue. AFD said the public is welcome to join the walk. "As First Responders, we deal with some highly stressful situations," wrote Jeff Justus, public information officer for AFD. "Some of us, in one way or another, suffer from the stress...the Wind River Ranch in Estes Park, CO is the perfect place to unwind and de-stress."  

A local UPS driver was honored by the Longview Fire Department for saving the life of a family during a fire. On May 3, around 8 p.m., Daniel Carmical was delivering a package in the 100 block of Primrose Lane and saw fire and smoke coming from the roof of a nearby house. Carmical broke into the house and rescued homeowner, Ben Slater, who was asleep. "(He) yelled UPS and I thought, wow they're really delivering their packages on point now," Slater said. "But anyways, he said, 'Is anybody in here... because your house is on fire." Thanks to Carmical's actions, Slater was able to get out of his home, grab his dog and move his car away from the blaze. He said without Carmical, he's unsure how much of his family home would be standing. "It's been in my family since the 50s," Slater explained.  

VIDEO: At least one firefighter was hurt in a crash involving a fire engine responding to a call along Girard Avenue in North Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon. Police said firefighters and civilians were injured when Engine 29 crashed about three blocks from its Girard Avenue station. At least one firefighter could be seen getting removed from the rubble. Civilians, possibly inside another vehicle that also crashed, were also injured. The crash happened at Seventh Street and Girard Avenue, and the fire truck nearly smashed through the entire first floor of the building. A cause for the crash was not immediately known. The crash occurred about 4 p.m. The engine was headed to a report of a house fire when the crash happened, police said. The truck had its lights and sirens on at the time. Engine 29 is stationed at Fourth Street and Girard Avenue.  

VIDEO: A huge fire broke out Thursday night at the site of the former "Just For Fun" roller rink in north suburban McHenry. The roller rink at 914 N. Front Street closed last fall. The rink closed last fall after more than 70-years in business. It started out as a dance hall and was converted into a roller rink a few years later. At this time, there are no reports of any injuries. In a statement posted on Facebook, the former owners of "Just for Fun" roller rink said the building was historic and that they were "deeply saddened" by its loss.  

VIDEO: It's not the oldest fire station in the Buffalo Fire Department but it is one of the most spectacular. Firefighter James Rice says "It was built during Buffalo's industrial era. They were very proud of their fire service and fire departments." The structure was built in 1897. In those days it was horses that pulled the engines. Captain Jeff Szalay says "They used to have competitions back in the day to see how fast they could get the teams ready." The stalls which once held the teams of horses here are now gone, but the doors to those stalls remain. There are hoof marks on some of them, according to James Rice the horses "would get excited-so these are hoof marks, and then hit the door and try to get the door open." Upstairs where they used to store hay and feed for the horses there is now an exercise room and Captain's quarters.  

VIDEO: A Manitowoc teenager donated metal American flags to the Green Bay Metro Fire Department and Police Department Wednesday. Justis Henderson started making metal art with his father in their garage when he was 10 years old. What was a hobby turned into a business. He's 17 now and just branched off of his dad's business, Metal Art of Wisconsin, to start his own metal art company - Flags by Justis. "I feel like I fulfilled his dream, that's for sure, and definitely making him proud is all I care about, really," Henderson. "Apple of my eye," said his father Shane when asked how proud he was of his son. Henderson wanted his first act as a business owner to be one of giving. He decided the first flags he'd make he would donate to local first responders in the Wisconsin area. Green Bay Fire Chief David Litton said the gesture will lift spirits. "I can tell you it made my day," Litton said.  

As a veteran Allen firefighter and paramedic, Jason Denton knew the signs of a stroke. He just never expected to experience those symptoms himself. He and his physicians are bringing attention to the warning signs and lifesaving treatment for National Stroke Awareness Month. In early March, after helping with a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Allen, Denton called his brother as he was leaving. During that conversation, his brother immediately noticed Denton didn't sound normal. His brother called Denton's wife, Jennifer, who encouraged him to turn around and seek help. "From my truck, I got the attention of a co-worker who helped me get back into the vaccine clinic. It was obvious. I was having a stroke," Denton said. "I had facial droop and I knew what I wanted to say, but I couldn't get the words out." Allen firefighters at the COVID-19 clinic called an ambulance and brought Denton to Medical City McKinney, a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center. Stroke symptoms can be identified by the acronym FAST.