A firefighter is recovering after injuring himself while saving one of his own during a fire Thursday night in northwest Houston, according to the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office. Both firefighters were responding to a burning home in the 4600 block of Gaston Street. Heavy flames were coming out of the roof when firefighters arrived. One firefighter was on a ladder when he started to fall, but fortunately, one of his comrades was there to catch him. "He caught him, but he got injured saving him. He did a good job. I am very proud of him," Aldine Fire and Rescue Chief Joe Leggett said. Officials said the second firefighter dislocated his shoulder. He was taken to the hospital for treatment. As far as the fire, investigators said it was accidental and most likely caused by some kind of electrical anomaly in the attic.  

The Austin Fire Department affectionately calls it "The Tollhouse." It's a two-story TxDOT facility on State Highway 130 that's really just been sitting there. "This building was not really being used but a lot of desks and office equipment were in the building," said AFD Division Chief Tony Haden. Former Austin firefighter and current Mayor Pro-Tem Delia Garza has been working for years to get more fire stations built in the city because some areas are under-served, her district included. "The issue that popped up in this part of town was that they were experiencing higher insurance rates because they didn't have a fire station close to them," Garza said. So just around the corner, a permanent fire station for the Del Valle-Moore's Crossing area is under construction. It's expected to be finished next summer.  

As we watch news reports of areas of our state and country impacted by tornadoes, floods and wild fires, it reminds us of the need for emergency planning. Natural disasters can strike anywhere and as the needs of our customers change, it is important to ensure we are reaching the communities we serve with safety programming that is tailored to the specific concerns and challenges they face. To ensure we meet the challenges, Lake Travis Fire Rescue has rolled out the Community Emergency Preparedness Series. The three two-hour sessions are designed to provide the community with safety programming in a convenient and packaged manner allowing the residents to receive an over view of training and available services.  

A Houston area firefighter is putting out an urgent call to the public to help his son beat leukemia. Eli Muller, 1, has been battling the childhood cancer since May. He had a setback this week with an infection. Now, the clock is ticking to find a white blood cell donor. Eli is the son of Community Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Eric Muller, and Eli's photos have been making the rounds on Facebook through his "Fight Eli Fight" page. His parents shared on the page Thursday night that Eli is still febrile and continues to spike fevers every four to five hours. The message was coupled with a photo of Eli in a diaper on the bed with his mom. Eric says the only way for his son to beat his latest infection is by making white blood cells.  

An historic building in downtown Amarillo that is in the process of being demolished is on fire. Fire crews are responding to the fire at the building located on the corner of 10th Avenue and Taylor Street. The demolition began last month. The building was built back in the 1940's and formerly housed AIG and Western National Life.  

A man who allegedly falsified his entry into multiple law enforcement classes, including one in California last month, was arrested Wednesday. Luis Alberto Lopez, 34, is charged with tampering with government records and impersonating a public servant. His bail totals $8,250. Lopez allegedly identified himself as a firefighter with the "Bexar County Fire Department," which does not exist, in order to register for a law enforcement class hosted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department on Oct. 11, according to his arrest warrant affidavit. A Bexar County Fire Marshal's Office investigator found that Lopez was previously with the St. Hedwig Volunteer Fire Department, but had been discharged one year ago and was not active with any other departments in Texas.  

The FDNY is making the social media rounds with a public service announcement warning the public against attacks on paramedics and emergency medical technicians. The PSA, posted on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram Thursday, comes in the wake of a brutal attack on an EMT last month, and includes tough talk on the penalty for punching a paramedic. "EMTs and paramedics respond to 1.5 million calls each year," an announcer says in a voice over accompanying the spot. "These men and women are highly trained and prepared to save your life at a moment's notice. FDNY EMS helps protect our city by providing the highest level of pre-hospital emergency care. They face many dangers while on duty, including assault, and are protected by New York State Law. Assaulting an FDNY EMT or paramedic is a felony punishable by 7 years in prison."  

Within the space of 24 days, firefighters have been evacuated from the two of the town's seven stations, highlighting growing concerns about the safety of living quarters for those who put themselves in harm's way to save others. Fire Chief Ed Bradley called the situation "unacceptable" and said he is responsible for the public's safety and feels helpless. Firefighters and a pump truck were evacuated from Station 7 Thursday when chunks of the concrete floor in the bay showered into the basement, exposing a disintegrating rebar beneath. Located on Spooner Street and built in 1908, the town is in the process of replacing Station 7 with a new building on Hedge Road. Firefighters and Engine 7 will be stationed at a Kingston firehouse in the interim.  

The idea to transform an Orange County fire engine into a canvas to honor America's military veterans actually started about a year ago with the inspiration of Battalion Chief Scott Egan. On Monday, after weeks of rough sketches and measurements, veteran Orange County firefighter Sotero Martinez III went to work to bring the idea to life. Martinez secured the beige camouflage and symbols of the five branches of the armed forces on the sides of the 30-foot engine, much like a giant jigsaw puzzle. By Wednesday afternoon, the first side of the vets' engine had been completed. News 6 was invited to join a handful of Orange County firefighters for a sneak peek of the ambitious Veterans Day project. Orange County Firefighters Union President Andres Perez had seen photos but said seeing it in person was thrilling.  

Doug Sloan remembers the silence. After California's deadliest and most destructive wildfire raced through the Sierra Nevada foothills one year ago, all but destroying his hometown, everything went silent. No birds chirped. No car engines roared. No tree leaves rustled in the wind. While evidence of the Camp Fire remains in the charred and blackened trees that dot the landscape, in the rubble of buildings not yet cleared and in store signs that lead to empty parking lots, residents and officials say they are working hard to rebuild this rural community 170 miles northeast of San Francisco. Nearly all the debris from the fire has been cleared from Paradise, which once had a population of 26,000, and the amount of debris hauled away is said to be the equivalent of four Golden Gate Bridges.  

First responders are the true heroes in emergency situations. They are the ones who don't hesitate when something bad is happening. Twist reporter, Peyton LoCicero tell us that there is one local fire department that shines brighter than the rest. Well known for sugar cane, rice fields and crawfish ponds, Thibodaux citizens also have another specialty, fighting fires. Did you know that Thibodaux has an abundance of fire fighters? With almost 500 fire fighters, Thibodaux Fire Department the largest unpaid, volunteer fire department in the entire state of Louisiana. "It's made of people who care about people... and that's why we get into this business," explained Benton Foret. "I joined way back in 1994. I was 18 years old. It was a family tradition." Following in his family's footsteps, the Foret family's commitment to fighting fires stretches back four generations.