Severe thunderstorms containing a suspected tornado raked across Ellis County on Monday night, resulting in damage and contributing to a major accident on Interstate 35E south of Waxahachie. At least three tractor-trailers were overturned on I-35E near Johnson Road at about 8:50 p.m. Television footage from storm chasers showed the big rigs in the southbound lanes having pushed the center barrier into the northbound lanes, with one overturned trailer completely blocking the northbound lanes. Some cars were able to bypass the wreck by driving onto the grassy shoulder. Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Sara Warren said a preliminary investigation shows there were two trucks and a van effected on the southbound side and one truck effected on the northbound side.  

Running towards the things most run away from, volunteer firefighters were one of the first on the lines facing the COVID-19 pandemic. In El Paso, about 200 firefighters are volunteer, and according to data from the U.S. Fire Administration, about 70% of the country's firefighters are unpaid. "Everybody here is here because they want to be here, they're here because they want to be part of the solution," Manuel Maldonado, the assistant fire chief of West Valley Fire said. The West Valley fire department in Vinton, TX services Anthony, Vinton, Canutillo, as well as offers mutual aid to El Paso and parts of New Mexico, covering nearly 26.1 square miles. "One of our goals is to always make it seamless, the person calling 911 should never know the difference between paid and volunteer, we're all professional firefighters first and foremost," Maldonado said.  

VIDEO: Authorities are investigating what caused a Taco Palenque restaurant to go up in flames. The fire happened on Monday at around 6 p.m. when fire crews were called out to a structure fire at the 9800 block of McPherson Road. Fire crews arrived and immediately evacuated customers and employees. According to the Laredo Fire officials, the AC unit on the roof was the point of origin. The roof and interior ceiling sustained damage and the inside sustained water damages as a result of the efforts to put the fires out. AEP disconnected the electrical services and gas was shut down as a precautionary measure. A crane company was called in to remove the AC unit on the roof. Management was informed that the property cannot be accessed until it is safe. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.  

Harris County Emergency Services District No. 11 is accepting applications for 150 positions to staff ESD 11 Mobile Health Services, its new emergency medical services. ESD No. 11 announced in December its plan to self-operate as an EMS provider. ESD 11 aims to hire 150 employees across 12 positions, including paramedics, emergency medical technicians, supervisors and 911 telecommunicators, according to April Arias, public relations manager for Androvett. The district launched its hiring effort in late April and held a virtual job fair April 29-30 to attract candidates. At a Feb. 25 meeting, ESD No. 11 Commissioner Kevin Brost said the district planned to budget "about $29 million to put 28 ambulances on the street," Community Impact Newspaper previously reported. The district's ambulances will begin servicing residents Sept. 4 after ESD No. 11's contract with Cypress Creek Emergency Medical Services expires, according to the April 29 Androvett release.  

The El Paso County Commissioners Court may implement an outright ban on sales of fireworks this summer but vendors are asking for some leeway. Fernie Viramontes, who owns fireworks businesses in the county, said the industry is prepared to stay in business this year. And vendors are requesting the county to allow fireworks sellers to operate for one week — between June 28 and July 4 — even with a ban on missiles and rockets. Viramontes said residents are able to venture to New Mexico and buy fireworks, which would negate any effect from a ban. "Last-minute bans only serve to hurt the vendors and do little to prevent fires," he said. "An outright ban is just devastating." Officials are concerned fireworks may lead to some dangers this summer as the region is experiencing a drought.  

Three people were taken to the hospital following a crash involving a VIA Metropolitan Transit bus and three other vehicles Monday in the Southtown area. According to VIA, a bus was struck from behind by a vehicle before noon while it was stopped in the 800 block of South Flores Street, not far from Guadalupe Street. Two other vehicles then crashed behind it, VIA spokesperson Lorraine Pulido told KSAT. The San Antonio Fire Department said three people were taken to the hospital. Their conditions are unknown at this time. Pulido said 15 passengers and a driver were aboard the bus at the time of the crash, and a "few minor injuries were reported among them." They were treated at the scene, she said. Firefighters used a tool to tear away part of an SUV to rescue its passengers.  

VIDEO: Three people were hospitalized late Monday after vehicles collided as a tornado crossed Interstate 35E near Waxahachie, authorities say. The incident involved a "possible fatality" and happened at I-35E and Johnston Road, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The drivers of three tractor-trailers involved in the crash were taken to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Waxahachie. One of the drivers was seriously injured, a DPS spokesman said. Both sides of the interstate were closed for about five hours. All lanes were reopened shortly after 3 a.m. The crash came on a night in which severe weather moved across the southern half of North Texas. NBC 5 Meteorologist Grant Johnston said a tornado that was visible on the S-Band Radar was confirmed to have crossed I-35E at that location.  

PHOTOS: Arlington County firefighters answer the call when someone is in need of help in Arlington. This weekend they provided an assist to a group of legendary Rosslyn area residents cast in bronze. Friday's windstorm tangled the flag atop the Marine Corps War Memorial, also known as the Iwo Jima memorial. To help fix it, the fire department at neary Fort Myer requested the assistance of ACFD and its extra-long ladder truck. "Captain Shawn Pendo, officer in charge of Tower 104, was called on Sunday morning by the Fort Myer Fire Department requesting assistance to fix the flag at the Marine Corps Memorial in Rosslyn," fire department spokesman Taylor Blunt tells ARLnow. "Captain Pendo quickly rounded up his crew for the special mission." "Once they arrived, Firefighter Kristin Pardiny positioned the bucket for her crew to disentangle and inspect the flag's halyard," Blunt continued. "The operation was done in under 30 minutes with no damage found."  

Not long ago, many of the fire departments in the county relied heavily on volunteer firefighters to handle operations. The cost to train a firefighter even on a volunteer basis, however, isn't cheap. That has caused many departments in the county to drop their volunteer programs while their full-time staffs have grown along with the population. Officials with Sugar Creek Township Fire Department made the decision recently to no longer use volunteers or train them after figuring the practice was not cost-effective. "We got tired of paying thousands to train firefighters and watching them leave and go elsewhere around the state," Chief Brandon Kleine said. "I joked around at one point saying ‘we were the best farm system in the state of Indiana.'" Twenty years ago, the department, made up of mostly volunteers, had about 700 runs per year.  

VIDEO: A tool has landed at Miami-Dade and Broward Fire Rescue and it's proven to be a gamechanger for emergencies in South Florida. Drones have really proven to change the dynamic for firefighters in our area. It's something we could only see more of in the future. "It's been completely a blessing for the fire department," said Chief Andres Liriano with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. "It's a huge change, we're talking about an increase in accountability, they can track personnel throughout the scene. It also gives them another view of the scene they've never seen before," said Sean Quitoni, an engineer and drone operator for Broward Fire Rescue. It's a view of an emergency that includes 4K cameras, optical zoom, infrared capability and allows rescue crews both in Miami-Dade and Broward to get up close and personal. "Well, with remote areas we are huge for that. There have been cases where there have been missing jet skiers in the mangroves that air rescue can't get a view of because of the mangroves," said Miami-Dade Fire Captain Derek Foster.  

A bill that would help first responders suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) is closer to becoming law in South Carolina. Unlike a physical injury, mental illnesses or mental injuries are not covered under workers' compensation. House bill 3939 will allow first responders like firefighters and law enforcement to receive workers compensation if diagnosed with a stress-related and mental illness caused by a traumatic event while on duty. State Rep. Tommy Pope of York County introduced the bill. He's a former law enforcement officer and prosecutor. Pope said his initial proposal focused on PTSD stemming from deadly force incidents. "From my experience in law enforcement, what often happens is several of us could be involved in the same incident, but it may affect you differently than it affects me," Pope said. "Some people could go right on and some people may never be able to work again."