The Brazos County Precinct 4 Volunteer Fire Department announced veteran firefighter and former interim College Station fire chief Joe Don Warren as its new fire chief in a Monday afternoon Facebook post. Warren served 10 years as a rescue specialist with Texas Task Force 1, one of 28 federal teams under FEMA's National Urban Search and Rescue system. In more than three decades with the College Station Fire Department, Warren has worked in a variety of roles as a firefighter, operator, lieutenant, captain, battalion chief and as assistant chief of administration. Warren lives in Bryan with his wife, Lona, according to the Facebook post from the Precinct 4 fire department. "Chief Warren stresses the importance of family, community and safety," the post says.  

An 85-year-old man was hospitalized Monday after inhaling a dangerous amount of smoke during a Round Rock house fire, officials said. Firefighters responded at 5:07 p.m. to the 300 block of South Kenney Fort Boulevard. By 6 p.m., the fire was contained, Round Rock city officials said. The man was still inside the home when crews arrived, and he was removed and taken to the hospital to be treated for potentially life-threatening smoke inhalation, officials said. Multiple animals were loose on the property at the time of the fire, officials said. Animal Control secured two dogs, two dogs are reported missing, three horses remained on the property and one cat was found dead at the scene. The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.  

Hopkins County Commissioner Court and Fire Chief Andy Endsley Monday recognized Tira Volunteer Fire Department for 44 years of service to the community. "This is ongoing as part of the 20th year celebration of Hopkins County Fire Department to recognize each one of the volunteer fire departments. We all work hand in hand together wither with Hopkins County Fire Department. Tira is one of those now 11 departments within Hopkins County," said HCFD Chief Andy Endsley. "I know these guys. I see John and Shawn pretty regularly at the courthouse doing everything that they do. The big thing that you do is out there in the community. I appreciate, we appreciate your service," Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said during Monday's regular commissioners court session.  

VIDEO: The Webb County Fire Department is getting extra help to battle fire. During Commissioners, County Fire Chief Rick Rangel asked permission to submit a grant to the Governor's Office to buy a skid unit. The unit carries water and can be attached into certain vehicles. The department has a military truck they are hoping to place it in. With over 100 fire calls they respond to every year, they say the purchase is extremely necessary. "We're trying to enhance our water supply within the county," said Chief Rangel. "As you know, our water supply is very scarce and these trucks with the rough terrain are very resourceful in putting out these fires." Chief Rangel goes on to say it will cost more than $50,000 to buy and install the skid unit. The deadline to receive the grant is December 2nd.  

Michael Anthony Horton Jr., 29, who is accused of posing as a San Antonio firefighter twice in one day at the University of Texas at San Antonio, remains in the Bexar County Jail. Horton is accused of impersonating a public servant, a third-degree felony. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison. Horton is being held under a $10,000 bond on the most recent charge, but he's also jailed on an earlier second offense, assault-family charge, from 2018. UTSA Police Capt. Tom Calucci said Horton showed up to the campus on Nov. 7 in street clothes and a fake SAFD badge around his neck. Calucci said Horton claimed he was there to do fire inspections and check fire extinguishers at the direction of "Senator" Greg Brockhouse, who is a former San Antonio City Council member.  

Making 911 as "smart" as your cellphone. That's the goal of first responders meeting Monday to learn more about Next Gen 911. This new system is already online in parts of three counties, Kittitas, Snohomish and King counties. It's called RAADAR, Real time Agency Activity Display and Reporting. What that means is from right here, NORCOM can see what police and fire are doing in those three counties. Seattle's fire chief says they could have used a system like this when disaster struck on the Aurora Bridge. It remains the worst mass transit disaster in Seattle history. In 2015, a Ride the Ducks amphibious vehicle loaded with tourists lost its axle and plowed into a bus filled with North Seattle College international students. Five people died, 70 were injured. When the call went out, Seattle first responders needed help fast.  

The Greenwood City Council is considering a new food and beverage tax to bolster staffing levels at city departments, specifically the police and fire departments. The plan for a 1% food and beverage tax was made possible earlier this year when state lawmakers passed a bill that authorizes Greenwood and several other communities to impose such a tax. Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers and other city leaders hope the money raised by the tax will ultimately help increase the number of police officers and firefighters working throughout the city. "The revenue generated – much of it from our city's growing number of visitors – will provide critical funding for quality of life, economic development and public safety initiatives," Myers said in a statement.  

The Brighton Fire District in the Town of Tonawanda is being called out by the state Comptroller's Office, for improper use of taxpayer money. A new audit says money was wrongly used on trips for members of the fire company and spouses. The Brighton Fire District protects roughly 7 square miles within the Town of Tonawanda and charges a fire tax on residents who live within the district. A state audit reveals between 2011 and 2016 members of the fire department used a district credit card to take themselves and spouses on trips to conferences, with taxpayers picking up the tab. So how much money are we talking here? The Comptroller's Office looked at credit card and travel expenses totaling $274,000 and that they found $30,000 in questionable spending for the secretary and treasurer.  

The story begins in 1736, when Benjamin Franklin founded the Union Fire company. By 1871, a Union Fire Company was launched in Centreville, Illinois with 32 members. This is where the story gets a bit confusing, because the town 10 miles south of Centreville also named themselves Centreville. Incredibly, this went on for about 50 years before the southern Centreville realized they had a problem, so in 1890 they changed their name to Millstadt, and the Centreville Fire Department eventually evolved into the Millstadt Union Fire Company. Millstadt is a proud, historic town of German ancestry. German was taught in schools for many years. A drive through town will still take you past Wolfmeier Trucking, Reinrdhart's Lounge, and the Muskopf garage. As other fire departments came and went, Millstadt stayed the course. Today, the Union Fire Company of Millstadt is the oldest continuous volunteer fire department in Illinois.  

The Eureka Fire Protection District is testing technology designed to keep drivers and emergency responders safe. Division Chief Scott Barthelmass said his department sees dangerous driving nearly every time they respond to a call. "A vehicle approaching at 60-70 miles per hour when there's an emergency ahead is dangerous," he said. "We park engines farther back to be blockers just because of the fact we're trying to protect our personnel who are helping somebody whose life may already be at risk." That's one reason the Eureka Fire Protection District is testing MakeWay. It's a device that's been installed on emergency vehicles and is automatically activated when the emergency vehicle's lights and sirens are activated. The activation triggers a verbal warning to nearby drivers through their phone before it's too late for them to slow down and move over.