VIDEO/PHOTO: A wildfire erupted near Damon, Texas in Brazoria County on Tuesday afternoon and burned at least several dozen acres. "The flames were probably 30 foot tall," said Alicia, a homeowner in Damon. "Taller than the trees. It was crazy." Alicia shared cellphone video with FOX 26 of the flames. At one point, the raging fire was blowing towards her home. Alicia says she took her dog, grabbed some important items from the house, and evacuated. "Somebody said they were [nearby] when it started," said Alicia. "He thinks someone threw a cigarette out the window. People just don't think." At one point, the flames were blowing towards the cotton gin in Damon that was full of this year's harvest. However, firefighters had the fire contained before the crops were lost.  

Employees at BASF TotalEnergies Petrochemicals in Port Arthur were evacuated Tuesday following a fire and the collapse of a tower at the refinery. No one was injured and all employees have been accounted for according to a news release from Shelly Vitanza of BASF. A fire broke out Tuesday at about 10:45 a.m. in the pyrolysis gasoline unit at the refinery according to Vitanza. Just over an hour later, at 11:55 a.m., the extractive dissolution tower tower collapsed. 12News was previously told that a pyrolysis tower had collapsed. Following the collapse of the tower all employees who were not directly involved in dealing with the fire and tower collapse were evacuated according to Vitanza. The evacuation happened at about 12:20 p.m. The refinery notified the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of the fire by 1 p.m. according to the agency.  

Firefighters are getting control of a wildfire in Palo Pinto County, about 60 miles west of Fort Worth. The Texas A&M Forest Service said firefighters found a hot spot outside the established containment line and were able to quickly contain it on Tuesday. They also worked to widen and improve the containment lines. The firefighters are now patrolling the area to cool any hot spots along the fire line. The so-called Gotham Fire ignited Monday just south of Lake Palo Pinto. Helicopters dropped water on it and crews initially used bulldozers to build the containment lines to keep the flames from spreading. So far, it's burned about 100 acres and is now 90% contained.  

A pet is dead and one home and multiple vehicles have burned in a fire near Lorena, Texas, according to authorities. According to Lorena Fire Chief Derek Roper, the fire began in the 2900 block of Levi Parkway around 1:03 p.m. on Sept. 5 and is now 90% contained. The fire reportedly began as a grass fire threatening structures, until it spread to one of the structures, which was eventually engulfed. Large, black plumes of smoke from the fire could be seen from miles away. "Anytime that a home burns and things around the home, you're gonna see a lot of that thick black smoke from all those inorganic things like plastic and roofing materials," said Kiley Moran with Texas A&M Forest Service. "Anything like that is going to produce that thick black smoke. Most of the vegetation will usually produce a white or gray smoke."  

One person was injured after a boat caught fire on City Island Tuesday just before 6 p.m. The small powerboat sunk in the Long Island Sound shortly after firefighters were able to get the blaze under control. The boat was just off the fuel dock at 673 City Island Avenue in the Bronx when it went up in flames. Witnesses say the boat's owner had just pulled up for gas and was standing on the dock, when the attendant started filing the tank up. "As soon as they started fueling there was an explosion," said Tommy Goldberg, a neighbor. One person was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The smoke billowing from the powerboat could be seen for miles. "I was on my jet ski and heard boom," said Luis Cash, an eyewitness. "It was crazy." NewsCopter 7 was over the scene as firefighters put out the blaze.  

VIDEO: A volunteer firefighter in Ascension Parish is using his hobby of photography to bring the public into their world. Blake Stone has what some could call a burning passion for capturing the moment. As a volunteer firefighter, he knows from firsthand experience what it takes to stand on the front lines and serve the community. "It's a great way to show what we are, who we are, and what we do," Stone said. With his brand, Southern Fire Photography, Stone is breaking down the barriers between what the public thinks firefighters do, and what they actually go through on a daily basis. "This is a way for everybody in the public to see what we do on the back side. Because a lot of people just see fire trucks going around and they wonder where are they going?"  

VIDEO: First responders can now make use of a new state law meant to help with post-traumatic stress disorder. Senate Bill 24 includes PTSD as an occupational disease when diagnosed in first responders and establishes benefits under workers' compensation. The bill states there is no physical injury required for a first responder to receive benefits. President of Columbia Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 1055, Zack Privette, said this mental help is overdue and necessary for first responders. "This legislation is not only needed, it's critical to the longevity of their careers and to maintaining their ability to function as human beings," Privette said. Gale Blomenkamp with the Boone County Fire Protection District said first responders often have to focus on the job first, and deal with the emotional aspect afterward.  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: A driver who plunged off a 100-foot cliff in a remote area of Southern California and spent five days "immobilized" in their wrecked pickup truck, was rescued this weekend by firefighters who formed a human pulley system to pluck the victim from the ravine, authorities said. The rescue unfolded about 10:58 a.m. local time on Saturday in the Tehachapi Mountains of Kern County when a 911 caller reported seeing a vehicle at the bottom of a steep ravine on a zig-zagging two-lane road between the towns of Arvin and Stallion Springs, according to a Kern County Fire Department incident report. When firefighters got to the secluded scene, they found a badly damaged pickup truck and one occupant at the bottom of a 100-foot cliff, according to the report.