The city of Edinburg confirmed the passing of Edinburg Fire Chief Shawn Snider Tuesday morning. The city's news release said Chief Snider passed away from cancer on May 1, he was 58 years old. "Chief Snider was an exemplary public servant who dedicated his life to protecting the people of Edinburg. He was a true leader who inspired his team to be the best they could be, and his legacy will always live on in the Edinburg Fire Department," said Mayor Ramiro Garza Jr. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Chief Snider's family and his other family at the Edinburg Fire Department during this difficult time." Snider joined the Edinburg Fire Department in January 1991 and became chief in 1999. As chief, he worked tirelessly to improve the department's response times, increase training opportunities for firefighters, and enhance public safety in the community, said the city's news release.  

Residents in the southeast Houston area this week may see a larger presence of military personnel, aircraft and people in protective equipment, but it's part of a weeklong training exercise and poses no risk or interference for residents. From May 1-5, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security will conduct nuclear incident training exercises in and around NRG Park, Hwy. 288 to Hwy. 145, I-10 to Hwy. 225, and in and around Ellington Field. Several state and local law enforcement, fire, emergency management and public health agencies, including the Harris County Sheriff's Office and the Houston Police Department, will also participate, according to a city of Houston news release.  

A two-story abandoned home was fully engulfed in flames on Houston's West Side. Firefighters arrived at the scene around 10:30 p.m., Sunday, on Rustling Leaves near Beechnut. According to officials, the flames spread very quickly leaving the home at a total loss. The house collapsed and hit the neighbor's home. The neighbor's house sustained fire and smoke damage, along with water damage. They were able to evacuate safely. No injuries were reported. Harris County fire officials are investigating the cause of the fire.  

One person has died in an early morning house fire in Groesbeck. City Administrator Chris Henson says Groesbeck Police and Fire crews were dispatched to the 600 block of North Grayson Street at approximately 12:34 a.m. Monday for the reported structure fire. The initial investigation revealed there were three people home at the time of the fire. Two people were able to escape before the home became fully engulfed. Once crews were able to extinguish the fire, the third person was found and confirmed to be dead. The name of the victim is being withheld. An investigator from the State Fire Marshal's Office was assisting on scene.  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: A huge fire totally engulfed and destroyed a Bedminster Florist this past weekend. The Far Hills-Bedminster Fire Department was called to the fire at 15 Tuttle Ave. at the corner of Route 2o2 in Bedminster on Saturday, April 29 at 12:10 a.m. Firefighters arrived at 12:16 a.m. to a fully involved structure fire and two partially involved secondary structures, according to Far Hills-Bedminster Fire Department. Firefighters worked to quickly control the fire and limit damage to exposed buildings. Bedminster Florist, Inc. was completely destroyed and two neighboring businesses had fire damage to the exterior siding. The florist shared some photos of their last floral job adding it was the last for awhile as the "horrendous fire closed us down indefinitely... pray for us."  

The Kittitas County Fire Chiefs Association has raised their concerns about existing road variance procedures within Kittitas County's government. According to a letter obtained by a Daily Record public records request sent April 13 to Kittitas County's Dan Carlson, the director of Community Development Services and the Variance Committee from the Kittitas County Fire Chiefs Association President Brandon Schmidt, the fire chiefs are seeing variances granted "strictly for aesthetic or economic reasons with no consideration as to mitigation of risk." While the letter was solely signed by Schmidt as the association's president, he said the districts' fire chiefs approve of the letter. He declined to say who drafted the letter's text. "We seek enforcement of the fire code as adopted by Washington State and Kittitas County," the letter signed by Schmidt said.  

VIDEOS: A dust storm in central Illinois led to a pile-up crash of more than 70 cars that killed six people and injured more than 30 others Monday. Crushed vehicles lined the expressway south of Springfield, closing a nearly 20-mile stretch of I-55. Authorities continued to work to clear that stretch of the expressway, which they said was back open to traffic shortly after 6 a.m. Tuesday. Illinois State Police have released the identity of one victim, 88-year-old Shirley Harper of Franklin, Wisconsin. Police said three other people have been identified, but their names have not yet been released. Two of the people identified were from Champaign, Illinois and one was from Florissant, Missouri. A total of 72 cars crashed into each other, with drivers describing the burned and mangled metal as surreal.  

VIDEO: Manchester Fire Department paramedics and EMTs can now fill in as substitute school nurses, via a partnership with the Manchester School District. The agreement aims to alleviate shortages being experienced in the district. Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Gillis explained in a press release that filling all nursing positions continues to be a challenge, so the district has had to fill these gaps from outside staffing companies. "We are grateful for this continued partnership with the Manchester Fire Department," Gillis said. "Chief Cashin and his team stepped up immediately when we floated this idea. While this agreement does not solve our long-term staffing concerns, it gives us flexibility and puts less of a strain on our staff nurses," said Gillis.  

VIDEO: Gov. Katie Hobbs has signed legislation that allows Arizona's 911 dispatchers to receive free trauma therapy. Police officers and firefighters already qualify for a program that funds therapy sessions for public safety workers who undergo traumatic experiences while on the job. State law allows an officer or firefighter to get 12 free counseling sessions if they witnessed a person's death, was subjected to deadly force, or were involved in a case where children were victimized. House Bill 2717 ensures 911 dispatchers can also qualify for this benefit if they encounter a traumatizing experience while on duty. Hobbs announced Monday she had signed the bill after it passed through the Arizona Legislature with broad bipartisan support. HB 2717 prohibits employers from forcing dispatchers to use their vacation or sick time to attend therapy sessions.