Three volunteer firefighters from the Moffett Volunteer Fire Department were flown to Hermann Memorial Hospital following a woods fire in Lufkin. Richard Brunk, President of the Moffett VFD said they were assisting other departments with a woods fire off Old Hwy 59 in Lufkin and the Fire Chief, Eddie Sweet, collapsed. Sweet was taken for treatment and his wife, Marie Sweet, also a volunteer firefighter with Moffett VFD and the chief's sister Holly Klock, also a volunteer firefighter followed the chief to the hospital. While in the waiting room both women passed out, according to Brunk. All three were flown to Hermann Memorial in Houston by helicopter and put on ventilators. The doctor said Chief Eddie Sweet's lungs and esophagus were burned and said something was in the smoke that caused this.  

VIDEO: Local firefighters worked hard during the recent wildfires across the Big Country, but the work doesn't stop once the flames are contained. "We have a lot out here at our training division," explained Abilene Fire Department's (AFD) Captain Ben Cotton. "We bring cars out, too, and we spend a lot of time where we do different extrication techniques and tactics that we go through." Abilene Firefighters learn a lot of different things at their Training Facility, including heat safety. "Where we are this year and the extreme heat and the temperatures that we're having, it's something we've really got to be aware of," Capt. Cotton said. According to Cotton, 52 deaths happened last year across the nation, where children were locked in hot cars. According to Capt. Cotton, AFD's goal is to arrive to the scene of a distress report within four minutes. When a child is in danger every minute counts.  

The Corpus Christi City Council approved an ordinance establishing a fee for fire protection services outside the city limits. The ordinance also creates a rate schedule and collection procedures to recover the fees in cases where they are not paid. Fees will be charged based on four components. Economics Professor Discusses Impact of Federal Reserve Rate Hike As described in an attachment to the council agenda, the first component is a Response Readiness Fee, which is based on the total cost of providing service, divided by the number of taxed parcels within the city limits. Next, there is a fee for service, which is based on personnel costs and the tyoe of call. This information will dictate the type, and number, of responding units, and the costs will be multiplied by the number of hours engaged in the response.  

The City of Sherman currently has five fire stations around the city, but that may soon change. "We need more people on initial response", says Sherman Fire Chief Danny Jones. The Sherman Fire Department is drafting the idea to combine station one and station two. "We know that there's a lot of overlap in the covered areas between station one which is downtown and station two which is out by the municipal airport", says Sherman Communication Manager Nate Strauch. Strauch tells News 12 that funding also has a role in the merge, "We're spending a lot of money on two different stations when we might be able to spend less money and get the same results for just one station". The city budgeted this into three parts. "We're thinking about probably $2 million next year to work on renovations on station one and then of course the money associated with hiring the new firefighters", says Strauch.  

Two hotels burned down in East Texas in only two days. The historic Hotel Ritual in Jacksonville and Kilgore's Best Western Inn both caught fire back to back. These fires combined with an early heat wave have worn out first responders. The last time East Texas experienced a bad fire season was in 2011 and Smith County fire officials are comparing this season to that time. With temperatures reaching triple digits already in June, first responders can't fight fires for as long as they would in cooler weather. "It really starts to break us down whenever we are on these scenes for extended periods of time," said Caleb Snider, a Smith County Fire Lieutenant. First responders also said it's difficult for them to wear their gear for a long time.  

The rise in heat also brings up the number of water rescues along the American Canal. In anticipation, the water rescue team held its monthly training session in a strategic spot. The training location was at the same spot along the canal where the team responded to a double rescue call last week. One person made it out of the water, while the second one wasn't so fortunate. A captain with the El Paso Fire Department and coordinator of the Water Rescue Team, Kris Menendez, said that compared to the total of 28 incidents reported along the canal last year, this year's number could potentially go higher. "This year we've had nine here in the city, we've had three in the county involving the canal," Menendez said.  

The Gianforte Administration has declared a statewide disaster due to destructive flooding in southern Montana. The announcement came from Gov. Greg Gianforte's social media Tuesday morning and an email to press. The executive order was signed by Lt. Governor Kristen Juras as acting governor. MTN has learned that Gianforte is out of the country and gave Juras delegated authority to act on his behalf in response to flooding in the state. It is unclear at this time where the governor traveled to, or when he is expected to return. "With rapid snowmelt and recent heavy rains, communities in south-central Montana are experiencing severe flooding that is destroying homes, washing away roads and bridges, and leaving Montanans without power and water services," Gianforte said in a release.  

VIDEO: As communities try and go green, Acton is making a big investment in the environment at their fire station. One look at the brand new station in town and you can see why it's already a big hit. From the gym to the private bunk rooms, station number four has all the newest features. The glass bi-folding garage bay doors even look cool. But it's not just the look, it's actually the goal. "It also gives the driver a clear view of sight from floor to ceiling as the doors open." Fire Chief Robert Hart told WBZ-TV. This is a totally green, fully electric station. And these doors are actually more energy efficient, safer and waste less heat inside when opened. It's one of many things that makes this building environmentally-friendly.  

The crowd, the noise, the powerful engines in cars that exceed 200 mph can overwhelm the senses of just about anyone at a NASCAR race. When an emergency hits, such as a car flipping in the air from an accident, the sounds come to an instant stop. A hush envelops the crowd, and the emergency team takes over. One of those crew members is a 21-year veteran with the Charlotte Fire Department, Aaron Webb. "I don't remember a time when I didn't want to be a firefighter," Webb said. "When I was three years-old, my mom said I was a kid that went nuts over fire trucks." A native Charlottean, Webb joined the fire department when he was 19, and has spent the majority of his time at Station 10 on Wilkinson Boulevard. Not long after becoming a firefighter, Webb said a severe storm hit the area.  

PHOTOS: Cleveland has a fascinating history. So many "firsts" happened right here in our city, from the first rock and roll concert to the first separation of conjoined twins. Clevelanders spearheaded innovations in the world of safety, too. Garrett Morgan, who was born in 1877, moved to Cleveland in 1895 and immediately began a career of tinkering. One of his greatest innovations was the smoke hood, which preceded the gas mask (but was significantly cheaper than the era's oxygen masks) but still provided firefighters with an extra line of defense against suffocating smoke. The smoke hood saved lives in and beyond Greater Cleveland, but that's just one of many helpful inventions used by brave firefighters. For the full history of firefighting, you'll want to swing by the Western Reserve Fire Museum and Education Center in Cleveland. Check it out:  

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced "Fire Won't Wait. Plan Your Escape" as the theme for Fire Prevention Week, October 9-15, reinforcing the critical importance of developing a home escape plan with all members of the household and practicing it regularly. In addition, this October represents the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week, the nation's longest-running public health observance on record. "This year's Fire Prevention Week campaign capitalizes on its milestone anniversary, celebrating all we've accomplished in reducing the public's risk to fire over the past hundred years," said Lorraine Carli, vice president of the NFPA Outreach and Advocacy division. "At the same time, the theme, ‘Fire Won't Wait. Plan Your Escape,' addresses challenges that remain." According to NFPA data, home — the place people feel safest from fire — is actually where they are at greatest risk, with three-quarters (74 percent) of all U.S. fire deaths occurring in homes.