One firefighter suffered minor injuries when multiple Henderson County fire departments joined forces to fight a house fire in Malakoff early Saturday morning. According to a post on the Payne Springs Fire Rescue Facebook page, PSFR volunteers were called to assist in fighting a house fire in Malakoff at 1:28 a.m. Saturday. "Units arrived on scene to find a single-story family dwelling with heavy fire involvement," the Facebook post stated. The fire departments at the scene included the Malakoff Volunteer Fire Department, Payne Springs Fire Rescue, the Athens Fire Department, Trinidad VFD, and Southside VFD. EMS personnel transported one firefighter to the ER in Athens to be treated for minor injuries, the Facebook post stated. "The cause of the fire is under investigation," the Facebook post stated.  

A pregnant woman is hospitalized and her family's home is completely destroyed following an overnight fire, according to the San Antonio Fire Department. The fire happened around 12:26 a.m., Sunday, in the 3900 block of S. Pine Street. Firefighters said the fire started in the back of the home in the kitchen or bedroom area. Five people were inside at the time—two adults and three kids—and two dogs. The flames quickly spread to the rest of the home and fire officials said a pregnant woman had to break a window to escape. All five people made it out of the home safely, and the woman was taken to an area hospital for minor injuries, according to SAFD. Officials said one of the two dogs died and the home was deemed a complete loss. Damages were estimated at $60,000.  

A Central Texas family returned from vacation to find their dream home devastated by fire, but the community is helping lessen the pain and loss. Andrew Owens and his family came home after receiving a call from a neighbor that their home was on fire. Even as a veteran and a volunteer firefighter, Ownes says this was unlike anything he's experienced. "It just takes your breath away," Owens said. "Everything you have worked so hard for is just gone." There is fire damage in the living room, smoke damage touching nearly every corner of the home. Beyond the damage, the family lost their beloved pets, a cat and two sugar gliders. "You can replace stuff, you can't replace that," Owens said. The family has inspectors and a restoration crew assessing the damage and looking for a cause.  

Firefighters have contained a five-acre brush fire that began Saturday off State Highway 21 in Bastrop County. The Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management said one structure was involved near 2434 State Highway 21. The fire was moving northeast, which is toward Legend Oaks Drive. Bastrop County officials said the Texas Forest Service helped to construct a containment line with a dozer. As of about 11:30 p.m. Saturday, the fire was 100% contained, according to the office. The community was asked to avoid the area and to be aware of their surroundings. The office also said be ready to leave if needed, for those who live in the area. Travis County first responders also helped at the scene.  

Gun Barrel City firefighters and police officers rescued the occupants of a capsized boat on Cedar Creek Lake Saturday with the help of private citizens. "Cedar Creek Lake was extremely rough today due to the high winds," said Gun Barrel City Assistant Fire Chief Raney, who was in command of the water rescue. "The victims were exhausted from being in the water and trying to hold onto their boat in high waves. I truly appreciate the citizens who responded with their boat today and aided our department in this water rescue." According to a post on the Gun Barrel City Fire Department Facebook post, the water rescue took place near Tom Finley Park. GBC firefighters, GBC police officers, and UT Health EMS personnel responded to a 911 call about a capsized boat.  

Following an onslaught of false alarms in 2020, the Humble City Council unanimously voted at its June 24 meeting to amend several city ordinances related to emergency response services in hopes of mitigating the trend. According to City Manager Jason Stuebe, out of a total of 290 fire suppression-related alarms the city's fire department responded to in 2020, 284 were false. Additionally, out of a total of 1,900 burglar/hold-up/panic-related alarms the city's police department responded to in 2020, 1,417 were false. "We're spending a lot of time and resources answering false alarms, so we're trying to get a better handle on the situation," Stuebe said during the June 24 meeting.  

VIDEO: Crews rescued residents and knocked down flames at the scene of a five-alarm fire at a Salt Lake City apartment building Monday morning. Residents on the fourth and fifth floors of the Incline Terrace Apartments near 1000 East and 400 South reported the fire about 2 a.m., according to Salt Lake Fire Capt. Anthony Burton. When crews arrived they found heavy smoke and flames on those floors and used ladders to rescue some people. Other residents were escorted from the building's hallways. Fire officials went through the building and believe everyone is accounted for, Burton said. Resident Alex Sallade told KSL he and another man knocked on people's doors and yelled "fire" to alert other residents. No major injuries were reported, but two people were taken to local hospitals for evaluation, according to KSL NewsRadio.  

City detectives are investigating a shots-fired incident near the Fire Department's Central Station that resulted in a firefighter being grazed by shrapnel or pavement. Police said that about 8:45 a.m. Saturday, someone fired a handgun from inside a vehicle traveling in the area of 6th Avenue and Jacob Street. The suspect appeared to be targeting another occupied vehicle, police said. A city patrol officer was in the area at the time, heard the shots and notified a police dispatcher while trying to locate the suspect. Police were also getting 911 calls about the incident as well as radio reports from Troy firefighters. A firefighter standing in the front of the station was struck by a piece of shrapnel or pavement caused by the suspect's gunshot. She sustained no lasting injury, police said.  

If your childhood dream was to own a fire truck, then it might come true. The Pennsylvania National Fire Museum in Harrisburg is hosting a raffle to provide one person with a chance to win a vintage fire truck. Tickets are $100 to enter the raffle. Museum officials say they plan to sell 200 tickets before closing sales. John Bruetsch, who is on the museum's board of directors, says if they can sell the 200 tickets, they will raise $20,000 to fix the building's air condition system. Anyone with a license and proper insurance can drive the truck. No commercial driver's license (CDL) is needed. The 1989 Mack Truck is still in new condition, runs and pumps water properly, according to Bruetsch. "They were workhorses," said Bruetsch. Mack Trucks were discontinued in 1990.  

There has been a lot of recent movement in the upper ranks for the Manchester Fire Department, including the departure of Fire Chief Dan Goonan. Whenever that happens, a reshuffling takes place as people move up in rank. That means that several city firehouses saw new captains this year. Captains run the firehouses. They work out schedules, make sure equipment and the building are maintained. And they address what may be the most far-reaching and sensitive issue of their tenure — the fire company patch. Every MFD station has its own patch, and at least one has expanded into a mascot. The emblem attempts to capture the setting, the psyche, the spirit of the firehouse, and the focus ranges from muscle-bound flamingos to cigar-chomping skulls. Some patches have endured for decades. Others are new this year, the work of a new captain, who either by whim or consensus initiates a new aura for the firehouse.  

VIDEO: The pandemic caused a lot of events and activities to transition to virtual platforms. Sioux Falls Fire Rescue got creative when the pandemic hit, taking their fire education program virtual. "We weren't allowed to get into the classrooms. So we've got a virtual program now. So we sit down with the kids virtually, they watch a short program and then we interact with the kids. We answer questions, they ask us questions," Sioux Falls Fire Rescue fire inspector Tyler Tjeerdsma said. First through 4th graders across KELOLAND participated in the program that covered topics including escape plans all the way to how to call 9-1-1. And the takeaway has been great.