Firefighters had a hard time putting out the flames at a house fire north of downtown early Wednesday morning. The fire started around 3:30 a.m. on West French Place. There were no injuries and everyone made it out safely. Firefighters were able to save the family's pets as well. But, fire crews say it was difficult to fight the fire due to the home's metal roof. The cause of the fire is not known. Crews estimate the fire caused about $100,000 worth of damage.  

VIDEO: The Corpus Christi Fire Department had to battle a stubborn brush fire Tuesday night in the Molina neighborhood thanks to fireworks. The flames kicked up just before 8:30 p.m. off Cliff Maus and SPID. Many nearby homes were threatened, but fire crews were able to keep the flames from reach the homes. Investigators said illegal fireworks within the city limits were the culprit. A 3News crew at the scene could still see fireworks being set off nearby as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.  

The Frisco Fire Department recently unveiled its newly purchased Truck 3, which features a Dallas Cowboys paint scheme. In addition to being decked out with Cowboys logos and colors, it is the first Pierce Ascendant 100-foot Aeriel Mid-Mount Ladder Truck in the state. Truck 3 made its Frisco debut Dec. 21 during the Christmas at the Star event. Truck 3 will operate out of Frisco Fire Station 3, which is located at the corner of Warren Parkway and Legacy Drive. The truck was purchased for $1.47 million, with funding coming from the city's 2015 voter approved bond package. City officials said the Cowboys colors and graphics, which were added by Pierce Graphics in Appleton, Wisconsin, did not increase the cost of the truck.  

Officials are investigating after they say two people were seen running away from a Port Arthur home after it went up in flames on New Year's Day. Port Arthur firefighters were called to the house in the 2600 block of 31st Street on Wednesday afternoon. According to officials, the house was vacant. The fire marshal is investigating after video showed two people running away shortly after. This is a developing story. Stay with 12News for updates.  

VIDEO: Multiple fire departments responded Wednesday to a fire that destroyed a home in rural eastern Brazos County. The fire was reported just before 3:00 p.m. in the 8500 block of Elmo Weedon Road between Steep Hollow Road and Grassbur Road. A caller to 911 first reported flames coming from the back of the house and into the attic. The first firefighters to arrive on the scene reported heavy smoke and flames coming from the structure and immediately requested a mutual aid response from area agencies. Almost an hour after the first call was made, fire crews were still working to extinguish the fire that has destroyed most of the house. No injuries have been reported. It's unknown what started the fire.  

The number of people who died in fires fell by 25% last year, even as emergency crews responded to a record number of medical emergencies, the FDNY said Wednesday. Sixty-six people died in fires across the five boroughs in 2019, 22 fewer than the 88 victims in 2018, officials said. Yet the number of medical emergencies jumped by more than 2,300, bringing last year's total to 1,531,870 — the second highest in the FDNY's history, officials said. More than a third of the medical calls were for life-threatening emergencies such as heart attacks, people who fell unconscious or choking victims, officials said. "Thanks to the brave work of every FDNY member, and despite a growing number of medical emergencies our members face, fewer New Yorkers lost their lives in fires in 2019," FDNY Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said in a statement Wednesday.  

A Birmingham firefighter who says the conditions at an East Birmingham fire station made him sick has now filed a lawsuit against the City of Birmingham and Mayor Randall Woodfin. Michael Horsley who started with Birmingham in 2006 claims he, former and current employees of the City of Birmingham Fire Department ("BFD") have been forced to work in dangerous conditions at Fire Station 27 in the Huffman area. Horsley says when he went back to work at Station 27 he started suffering from sinus infections, chest congestion, dry cough, increased blood pressure and chest palpitations. The station which recently reopened was closed during the summer of 2019 because of health concerns, but the city says those problems have been fixed and the station is safe for employees.  

Tuesday night saw the end of a 73-year-old tradition. The Burlington Rescue Squad, a volunteer emergency medical service that has covered the City and Town of Burlington since 1946, officially disbanded when the clock struck midnight. "It's bittersweet," said Burlington Rescue Squad Chief Jeff Koenen, who frequently refers to the volunteer service as a tight-knit family and bonafide lifestyle. "Basically, it's grief." With the end of one era begins another. The City of Burlington Fire Department will now run EMS calls in the town and city, picking up where the Rescue Squad left off. "The city is prepared to assume the responsibilities that come with providing EMS services to the city and the township," city Fire Chief Alan Babe said Tuesday morning in his office. "We'll be staffed accordingly." The writing was on the wall for the Rescue Squad's dissolution for quite some time. Volunteerism is down and call volume is up.  

Detroit's fire commissioner says he will investigate the circumstances of a social media photograph posted on New Year's Eve showing 18 firefighters posing in front of roaring house fire, according to media reports. The photo was posted on the "Detroit Fire Incidents Page" on Facebook along with the caption "crews take a moment to get a selfie on New Years!" In the background is a house engulfed in flames. The post has since been taken down. Detroit Fire Commissioner Eric Jones told WXYZ-TV in a statement that if the photo "is verified," then "discipline will be in order." "There are a lot of ways to celebrate a retirement," Jones said in the statement. "Taking a photo in front of a building fire is not one of them." Sources told the TV station the engulfed house and the neighboring house were vacant, and that firefighters could not go inside the house to battle the blaze, only attack it defensively.  

A week after passing a measure to set up what's called a 401(a) plan, tax-deferred retirement saving accounts for retiring public safety employees, the City Council on Monday afternoon rescinded the resolution. Members of the City Council approved the repeal without opposition in an emergency meeting. Municipal officials cited a pair of reasons for rescinding the measure. "Numerous" retiring police and fire employees "objected" to their unions' plan to channel a portion of their payouts into tax-deferred accounts. Under the approved plan, retires "lack discretion" as to how much of their funds get directed to the accounts"It just didn't look good to me, didn't sound good," said Flavio Rivera, councilman at-large, chairman of the finance committee.