San Antonio firefighters say burglar bars kept them from getting inside a home south of downtown where they later found a man dead early Monday morning. They found flames and smoke already coming from the backside of a building in the 4300 block of S. Flores Street when they arrived just before 5 a.m. "They attempted to make entry but the fire was so large that the battalion chief called the crews out," said Woody Woodward, a public information officer for SAFD. Fire crews continued battling the fire from outside. The building, which appeared to be an old storefront with a home attached to the back of it, was supposed to be vacant. However, once they made entry into the building, firefighters found a man dead on the floor near his wheelchair. Woodward said he appeared to be in his 40s or 50s.  

An arson investigation is underway after a 2-alarm fire erupted at a southwest Houston shopping center, according to the Houston Fire Department. Fire officials say this is the third time this strip mal has caught fire. The fire started around 4:06 a.m. at a shopping center at 9402 Richmond Avenue. When firefighters arrived, they say they saw heavy smoke coming from the shopping center and quickly upgraded it to a 2-alarm fire. Firefighters say the fire was centered around a business called Dominican Grocery y Deli. Firefighters say they performed an offensive attack and were able to put out the fire just around 5 a.m. The fire took longer to put out due to HFD having to force entry into each of the businesses, according to firefighters. About eight other businesses were affected by the fire, but no injuries were reported in the incident.  

PHOTO: Payne Springs Fire Rescue responded to a house fire on Sunday at 3:21 p.m. in the Bushwacker subdivision, officials say. Upon arrival, PSFR said they found heavy fire showing in a third of the structure. Fire officials say that an "interior attack" was made to put out the fire. Gun Barrel City, Eustace and Malakoff fire departments assisted on the scene. A passerby called in the fire and assisted in the rescue by getting the resident out of the house and into safety, according to PSFR. Authorities say that EMS transported the resident with minor injuries. The American Red Cross responded to assist the resident. TVEC also responded to secure power to the structure. There were no injuries to any of the firefighters.  

No structures have been lost as of Monday morning in three wildfires that broke out Easter Sunday in the Abilene area and burned about 2,000 acres combined. Easter Blues Fire: White smoke southwest of Abilene could be seen Sunday afternoon from the Easter Blues Fire, located on Farm to Market 89 a few miles west of U.S. Highway 277 and Coronado's Camp. The wildfire was about 200 acres and had zero containment when the Forest Service reported at about 5:45 p.m. that it was responding with air support and other assets. As of about 1:45 a.m. Monday, the wildfire in rough terrain had grown to 300 acres with 50% containment, according to the Forest Service wildfire map. The fire was moving north/northeast.  

Multiple fire crews responded to a blaze in Orange Grove on Easter Sunday, Apr. 17 around 11:00 a.m. That fire broke out at the Orange Grove Area Museum on South Eugenia St. Officials said the museum is a total loss and they believe the fire started in the back of the building. Fortunately, the fire was contained before it spread to other buildings. Because the museum was closed for the holiday, no one was inside the building and no injuries have been reported. In total, seven fire departments were needed to extinguish the blaze. The Orange Grove, Alice, Annaville, Bishop, Kleberg, Sandia, and San Diego departments answered the call. Officials say that they were able to save a few books, but everything else in the museum was lost. We spoke with Orange Grove Fire Chief Jeff McFatter about the loss.  

When fires at Fort Hood in late March burned out of control and even resulted in the evacuation of the community of Flat, local fire departments responded in a big way in helping to contain the threat. Nine volunteer fire departments in Coryell County, as well as the Copperas Cove Fire Department, were all involved in responding to a massive blaze on the U.S. Army base that scorched more than 38,000 acres and was named the Crittenberg Complex Fire. The volunteer fire departments involved were from Coryell City, Evant, Flat, Gatesville, Jonesboro, Levita, Oglesby and Turnersville. Coryell County Judge Roger Miller said he appreciates all the effort and sacrifice made by local firefighters in responding to the massive fire, and he is thankful for those who served on the frontlines of the blaze to help avert tragedy.  

A fire that destroyed a beloved historic church in Englewood reignited overnight. Bystanders Saturday morning thought to have seen smoke coming from the church, but fire officials confirmed that it was steam from the extinguished fire. The extra-alarm fire destroyed the historic Antioch Missionary Baptist Church on Good Friday afternoon. The fire broke out around 2:30 p.m. Fire Department called a 2-11 alarm, and later a 3-11 alarm, for extra equipment and manpower at the church at 6248 S. Stewart Ave., at the intersection with Englewood Avenue. By 2:48 p.m., the Fire Department reported the roof caved in. CBS 2's Kris Habermehl reported the fire was easily able to accelerate in high spaces that are not readily accessible to hose lines. Between that and the heavy timber construction of the roof, the fire was easily able to grow out of control.  

The New York City Fire Museum ("the Museum") opened a new exhibition, Unmasking Our Heroes, which celebrates the valiant efforts of the Emergency Medical Service workforce – the Paramedics, EMTs, and other officers of the New York City Fire Department – during the pandemic. The exhibition, Unmasking Our Heroes, will be on display from Friday, April 15, until late August 2022. The exhibition features dozens of poignant images – including a moving video in which FDNY EMTs and Paramedics reflect on their service during the last two years – as well artifacts curated from the public (including giant "thank you" signs) and other items that showcase the heroism and extraordinary efforts of New York City's Paramedics, EMTs and Firefighters.  

"Loudoun County firefighter to compete in Miss USA pageant" — there's a headline you don't write every day. But a big congratulations to Ashburn's Kailee Horvath, who won the Miss Virginia pageant over the weekend. And yes, she's also a volunteer firefighter. The Ashburn Volunteer Fire Rescue Department celebrated Horvath's victory with a post Sunday: "Congratulations go out to Kailee Horvath, FF/EMT on being crowned Miss Virginia USA 2022. Kailee has been a volunteer with AVFRD since her senior year in high school in 2017," the announcement read. "We are so very proud of you!!" According to various news reports, Horvath is a graduate of Broad Run High School, studied nursing at Marymount College, and has been a certified medical assistant at Broadlands Family Practice.  

A New Jersey firefighter has started teaching classes to firefighters, and other first responders about what to do if they respond to a situation where a person, more specifically a child, is on the autism spectrum. Donald Colarusso, president of All Hands Fire Equipment and Training in Neptune City, said it's important to make first responders aware of certain encounters where a person with autism may not welcome what the firefighters would consider a routine engagement. Colarusso had taken a class on how to deal with these delicate situations at the Monmouth County Sheriffs Department years ago. Having someone in his family with autism, Colarusso really took this class to heart. But the class is not offered anymore, so Colarusso decided to create his own class called "Autism Awareness for First Responders." He said firefighters need to be aware of the different challenges they may face when confronted with someone with autism.