VIDEO: The City of Corpus Christi has a new fire chief. Brandon Wade, a 24-year-veteran of the Austin Fire Department, was named the city's top fire official Friday morning during a news conference. Wade currently commands the Austin Fire Department's Operations Division -- also known as their Emergency Response Division -- a team of more than 900 employees, according to city manager Peter Zanoni. He also is responsible for 51 fire stations in Austin, more than double the number of all Corpus Christi fire houses. Zanoni said Wade has held every rank on his journey to assistant fire chief, including experience at the helm of communications and dispatch, special operations -- which includes hazardous materials -- medical operations, technical response, water rescue, recruiting and fleet management.  

VIDEO: A firefighter in Baytown is fighting for his life after authorities said he suffered injuries while putting out flames at a home Sunday morning. According to Chambers County Sheriff's Office, they received reports of a structure fire at a two-story home in Mont Belvieu's response area of the Country Meadows subdivision on State Highway 146 around 9:40 a.m. Mont Belvieu Fire Department, Baytown Fire Department, Beach City Volunteer Fire Department, and Cove Volunteer Fire Department all responded to the home. Crews found the home covered in flames and began working to put the fire out. At some point, Baytown FD says a firefighter suffered a "medical emergency" and a "mayday" was declared. The unidentified firefighter was taken to Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital by Mont Belvieu EMS and Baytown personnel.  

VIDEO: Saturday marked one year since the Das Goat fire broke out in Medina County. Over 1,000 acres were burned, including three homes on March 25, 2022. "This is an ATV that is, you know, mocked up to be a fire truck and also a rescue vehicle," Fire Lieutenant Ramon Martinez with Medina County ESD 1 said. The vehicle Martinez showed us can get where fire trucks cannot, through the thick brush in the rural land across Medina County. It was a donation from a community grateful to their fire department. "That's a fire that's going to affect this community for a long time," Clint Cooke, fire chief for Medina County ESD 1, said. Last year, a car sparked the Das Goat fire that burned for eight days, three homes were destroyed in the High Mountain Ranch Subdivision, and 1,092 acres are still left in ashes.  

VIDEO: The Bullard Fire Department is teaching youth 14 to 17 years old what it takes to be a firefighter. "We bring in the youth to give them the opportunity to see and do the things that we do in the fire and EMS field," said Captain Grady Grammer, Bullard Fire Department. They meet once a month to practice drills like EMS, and firefighter combat. "We are here, we are doing our drills, we are training for the fire games and a lot of it is a lot of learning," said 15-year-old Devin Nelson, Lieutenant Public Information Officer, Bullard Junior Fire Department. During their training, they learn how to assess a scene, calm a patient down and how to perform CPR. "I really enjoy doing the EMS drill because you get like hands-on, you can do hands-on stuff," said 14-year-old Addyson Michel, Bullard Junior Fire Department.  

An investigation is underway in the Deer Park area after a woman was found dead inside a home after a small fire, officials said. On Friday at about 11 p.m., crews with the Deer Park Fire Marshal's Office responded to a house fire in the 2800 block of Pickerton Street. Firefighters said the small fire was contained in an upstairs bedroom, where a woman was found dead. The woman was the only occupant inside the home at the time, investigators said. Investigators are determining the cause of the fire.  

VIDEOS: No firefighters were injured after a truck fire led to an explosion overnight in west Houston. Crews with the Houston Fire Department were responding to the truck fire just before 3 a.m. Saturday at a shopping center along the West Loop and Old Katy Road. When they arrived, we're told the big rig's engine was engulfed in flames. As crews were working to put out the fire, an explosion from the engine area occurred. Thankfully, we're told none of the firefighters were injured in the explosion. The driver of the truck was not inside the vehicle at the time of the incident and officials did not say what started the fire.  

PHOTOS: Seven people are dead and several others are injured after an explosion at a chocolate factory Friday in West Reading, Pennsylvania, police and city officials said. Two additional bodies were recovered from the rubble at the site of the factory Sunday night, West Reading Police Chief Wayne Holben said at a press conference. While they still need to identify the victims, it's believed they're the two people who were previously considered missing, the chief said. One person had been found alive overnight in the rubble, officials said earlier. Tower Heath said earlier its hospital in West Reading received 10 patients from the explosion. Of those, two were admitted and are in good and fair condition and six have been discharged. Two others were transferred to other hospitals, it said.  

VIDEO: If there is one thing each community in the Ohio Valley has in common, it's a big heart. In Newell, the volunteer fire department is honoring its members with special banners. New banners picturing both past and present Newell Volunteer Firefighters line the power poles throughout the city. The new program hopes to promote growth for the fire department within the community of Newell and beyond. That's the mission Newell Volunteer Firefighters strive for each and every day. Mike Nixon, who was born and raised right here in Ohio Valley, has been a part of the department since 1974. He says volunteer firefighters are the forgotten heroes of our communities. This new banner program honors the sacrifices and hard work each volunteer member gives to uphold the mission of protecting life and property. Volunteers are a vital part of any community, and Nixon says Newell's department has been struggling to get new members.  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: The Dayton Fire Department was on scene for more than 12 hours after a fire broke out at a historic Wright Brothers site early Sunday morning. According to Montgomery County Regional Dispatch, crews were called to the area of Inland Avenue near West Third Street in Dayton around 2:28 a.m. on Sunday. Mutual aid from area departments was requested around the same time crews were dispatched. Officials confirm the fire was at one point a 3-alarm fire. A release from Dayton Fire identifies the building as historical, which was once the Wright Brothers' manufacturing facility. "It is listed on the National Historic Register as the first aircraft manufacturing facility founded by the Wright Brothers, and currently stands as the oldest aircraft manufacturing facility in the world," the release says.  

Illinois is facing a shortage of volunteer firefighters, but a new plan from State Senator Patrick Joyce may help address this issue. On Friday, Joyce advanced a plan out of the Senate that would allow for more people to complete firefighter training. Senate Bill 1611, also known as the Firefighter Training Leave of Absence Act, would provide state employees with leave from their job to attend firefighter training courses. This would allow more people to gain proper firefighter training and become experienced volunteers in their communities. "The number of volunteer firefighters has been declining for almost a decade," said Joyce. "From administering first aid to maintaining equipment to responding to calls, volunteer firefighters help out our communities tremendously. It's crucial that we take action to address this shortage to ensure fire departments have enough people and resources to continue protecting our community."