Garland firefighter Brad Hargrave died on Nov. 14 from complications of COVID-19 after fighting the disease for the last two months. "Brad had a huge personality and the ability to put a smile on your face, even on the worst of days," the fire department shared on Facebook. A veteran firefighter, Hargrave was praised for his friendliness, professionalism and dedication to helping others. "We will not be able to think of Brad without a smile coming to our faces. Regardless of the situation, Brad was able to find a way to ease the tension and make everyone in the room smile. Brad's intelligence was vast and it showed in his professionalism and dedication to the job," the Garland Firefighters Association posted. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.  

VIDEO: "Sad to see memories go up in smoke." That's the feeling many longtime Mineral Wells residents are going through after a large fire at a historic building Sunday evening. The fire happened at the old Mineral Wells High School building. Crews began responding at around 7:30 p.m., according to the city's police chief, Dean Sullivan. "Structure is a total loss," Sullivan told WFAA. He said there were no injuries reported. Multiple agencies also responded to the fire, including the Weatherford Fire Department and other departments from Parker County. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. "It's a historic landmark to the city, where so many people in the older generation have memories of their childhood. To have a true old landmark like this disappear is hurtful," longtime resident Dustin Cage said.  

Lubbock County Commissioners are designating $60 million as a part of the American Rescue Plan Act, and Commissioner for Precinct 2 Jason Corely explained that part of it is going to local fire departments. Around $2 million is going towards several departments, according to the plan. "That's going to be for the personal protective equipment," Corely said. The commissioner explained that fire gear is costly, especially the bunker gear. "The bunker gear averages around $3 thousand per suit," the commissioner said. "We are going to use $2 million to buy all of our firemen bunker gear."  

One person died in a house fire on the city's South Side overnight, according to the San Antonio Fire Department. The fire happened around 10:15 p.m., Saturday, in the 1500 block of Flanders Avenue. Fire officials said when they responded to the call, the home was fully engulfed in flames. Crews worked to extinguish the flames and when they were able to get the fire under control, firefighters made entry into the home. One person was found dead in one of the bedrooms, according to SAFD. No other injuries were reported. The home was heavily damaged in the fire, and firefighters said the damages are estimated at $80,000. Arson investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire.  

The 9-year-old boy who was injured at the Astroworld Festival died Sunday, according to family attorney Ben Crump. The death toll from the chaotic concert now stands at 10. Funeral services for some of the victims began over the weekend as dozens of lawsuits have been filed over the tragedy. The boy, identified as Ezra Blount by his family, had been in a medically induced coma in an attempt to overcome brain, liver and kidney trauma, according to a statement from Crump. "The Blount family tonight is grieving the incomprehensible loss of their precious young son. This should not have been the outcome of taking their son to a concert, what should have been a joyful celebration. Ezra's death is absolutely heartbreaking. We are committed to seeking answers and justice for the Blount family. But tonight we stand in solidarity with the family, in grief, and in prayer," the statement from Crump said.  

The Amarillo Fire Department extinguished two structure fires on Sunday night near the downtown area. Fire officials said the first fire happened at about 6:06 p.m. at an abandoned one-story apartment complex in the 100 block of S. Monroe. Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire coming out of two apartments. Crews were able to quickly knock down the main body of fire and complete a search. The fire was confined to only the two apartments and no injuries were reported. The Amarillo Fire Marshal's Office determined this fire was accidental. Firefighters responded to a second fire at about 10:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of N. Lincoln. The first arriving unit found heavy fire coming from two medium-sized outbuildings on the back side of the property. Crews attacked the fire from the outside and were able to quickly get the blaze under control.  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Dozens of firefighters were called to battle a massive apartment fire that left several families displaced early Monday in Pineville. The fast-moving flames broke out just after midnight at the apartment complex along Plum Creek Lane. Channel 9 crews on the scene could see intense flames shooting from the apartment units and second-floor balconies as firefighters tried to get the blaze under control. Tenants were forced to flee their homes but officials told Channel 9 that no injuries were reported. "I probably would have ended up dead if they hadn't knocked on my door and woke me up, baby," said resident Barbra Burch. "I'm going to my girlfriend's house. I guess you got to take me shopping or go shopping for me because I ain't got no clothes except for my gown. Oh Lord, have mercy."  

A new $6 million state-of-the-art fire station on Des Moines' northeast side will cut travel times in half but will cost the city of Des Moines thousands of dollars in overtime every week due to an ongoing staffing shortage in the Des Moines Fire Department. Fire Station 11 opened Nov. 1, despite the department facing 19 staff vacancies — a number that's expected to rise to about 23 by the end of the year due to retirements. The department's hiring cycle took a hit at the beginning of the pandemic, Des Moines Fire Chief John TeKippe said Wednesday. "We literally had to freeze our testing process to rework it to make it COVID-19-acceptable because it's a licensed process that we use on the physical," TeKippe said. The freeze delayed the department's hiring process for about seven months. The fire department also experienced an increase of injuries on and off the job last year that resulted in additional unforeseen vacancies.  

The minimum hourly wage for a new firefighter recruit is $12.33. New police recruits make around the same. That wage now qualifies these first-responders for subsidized housing in Knoxville. "It's been going on for decades," said Kevin Faddis, the President of The Knoxville Firefighters Association. In August 1978, more than 200 police and firefighters in Knoxville marched to City Hall to push for more pay. In 2021, they aren't marching with signs; however, the issue is still prevalent. Faddis has been in the industry for 26 years. He worked up the ladder from new recruit to a Battalion Chief. According to a job posting for an entry-level firefighter position, the starting salary is around $35,000. After two years, that recruit can work up $38,000. Then, a senior firefighter moves into the $42,000 range. "I wanted to know what low income meant. I because I truly didn't know. So I looked it up. And when I looked it up, lo and behold, we fall into that.. our starting pay is around 35,000 dollars," Faddis said.  

Local first responders had some extra help Friday morning while battling a fire at Pier 77 Seafood restaurant on Thomas Drive. For the first time in about 30 years, Naval Support Activity Panama City Fire and Emergency Services worked alongside our local first responders to put out a fire that started in the kitchen of the popular seafood joint. "It's really important that we all work together as multiple agencies because it takes us all when something happens and I'm really proud that everyone pulled together," said Panama City Beach Fire Rescue Chief, Ray Morgan. Assistant Chief of Operations for NSA Panama City Fire and Emergency Services, Joseph Scaglione, said it was an opportunity for them to practice working together. "Bringing the resources and the equipment to help support our community not only in installation was groundbreaking," Scaglione said.  

The seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases — which had been on the decline nationally since September — first plateaued and is now ticking upward, with states in different regions experiencing the most pronounced increase in cases. The seven-day average of COVID-19 cases in the United States remained below 80,000 since Oct. 18. As of Nov. 14, it sat at 86,778, according to Johns Hopkins University's worldwide case tracker. The upward trajectory precedes the Thanksgiving holiday, which is expected to involve greater travel and congregation than in 2020. "Well, look, we're going to see a post-holiday spike, there's no question about that," Scott Gottlieb, MD, former FDA commissioner and current Pfizer board member, told CBS News on Nov. 14. Thanksgiving travel is expected to be near pre-pandemic levels this year, with a rebound in air travel making the greatest difference.