The City of Mission held a swearing-in ceremony for its new fire chief Monday. Fire Chief Adrian Garcia began his career at the Mission Fire Department in 1991 as a volunteer firefighter. He has over 32 years of public service in different parts of Texas. Garcia previously served as the Assistant Fire Chief of the Fire Prevention and Planning Division at the DFW Airport Fire Services, Plans Team Manager for the Texas Task Force, and Fire Chief for the City of Kingsville Fire Department. "I've come full circle right back to the Mission Fire Department," Garcia said. "This is my roots. This is where my family is at. It's really good to come home." Garcia left the Mission Fire Department in 1997 with no expectation of earning the title of fire chief. Twenty-six years after leaving Mission, Garcia got to a point where he realized being a fire chief was one of his career goals.  

The Fort Worth Fire Department must be doing something right: On September 25, the department welcomed its newest class of recruits at Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex to start their Fire Training Academy journey, a 36-week course. With 60 recruits, the class is twice the size as the usual Academy class — making it the largest recruit class in the history of the department. The class of 60 includes two sub-groups: The first group, Class 93, consists of 10 "fast-tracked" students who already hold their Fire and EMS certifications. They'll graduate on November 17. The second group, Class 94, consists of 50 brand new recruits who hold no certifications. They'll graduate on May 17, 2024. This largest class in the history of the Fort Worth Fire Department comes after the Mayor, City Council and City Management's vote to approve staffing levels where they need to be for a Department serving a city this size.  

PHOTO: Firefighters responded to a house fire in south Austin Tuesday morning, the Austin Fire Department said on social media. According to a photo shared by AFD, the front of a home in the 500 block of Fort Drum Drive, which is near Stassney Lane and South Congress Avenue, was covered in flames. Around 11:20 a.m. Tuesday, AFD said the fire reached a second structure. Austin-Travis County EMS also responded to the scene. AFD said there were people in both houses when the fire started, but everyone got out safely. There was one person with minor injuries who was transported by EMS. According to AFD, one house was a total loss, and the other was a partial loss. The fire was extinguished by 12:58 p.m., AFD said in an update on social media. Crews remained on scene to monitor and put out hot spots.  

VIDEO: Nearby residents watched as both Sherman and Denison firefighters worked to extinguish a pile of debris on fire. Tuesday evening at 5:54 PM, Sherman dispatch received the first report of a fire on Fallon. It was called in by a U-P-S employee from the U-P-S facility across the street from the flames. Sherman firefighters arrived on the scene at six o'clock, then reached out to Denison fire to assist. Firefighters said they initially didn't know what was burning, then later found out that it was debris dumped in the middle of a wooded area, behind a home. They said the fire ended up being about 100 feet long and 50 feet wide. The homeowners said that they didn't smell the fire, but saw the black smoke, then evacuated. Firefighters say the black smoke was a result of burning tires in the debris.  

Part of St. Augustine's Atlantic Beach & Tennis Club was destroyed in a fire early Tuesday morning. The club's owner, who lives right behind the club, said he learned of the fire when he woke up at 1:45 a.m. and saw flames shooting through the roof of his business. "I couldn't believe it," Bill Brothers said. "I was in shock." He said he yelled for his wife to call 911, but when they got a dispatcher, they learned firefighters were already battling the blaze on Ocean Trace Road off A1A South. "It makes you sick to put 32 years into something and have it destroyed in just a few hours," Brothers said, adding that they were about to celebrate 32 years in business next month. "I came over to watch it burn down -- something that you've worked on and that you love... But you can't give up."  

Most people know when an emergency vehicle of any kind approaches their vehicle with lights flashing it means get out of the way. But did you know that you can be fined in South Carolina for not moving away when a police car, firetruck, ambulance or any emergency vehicle is parked on the side of the road as officers deal with crashes and disabled vehicles. The law includes police bicycles operating as emergency vehicles. The fine? No less than $300 and no more than $500. Proposed legislation would tighten that up even further with points added to your license if you violate the law. Drivers can amass 12 points before a license is suspended. The South Carolina Senate passed the changes to the so-called move-over law and it is pending in the House of Representatives when the legislature reconvenes in January.  

PHOTOS: Before anyone knew it, the school was engulfed in flame. Three men driving near Center Grove High School noticed the strange, yellow glow in the late hours of Oct. 31, 1952. They found the school on fire, with both the main school building ablaze and spreading to the gymnasium. Witnesses say the flames shot 150 feet into the air. Even as firefighters worked all night long, there was not much they could do. The fire burned the school to the ground, leaving students, teachers and the community in flux. But the tragedy proved to be a critical point in Center Grove's history. "The theme that developed after the fire was — how do we continue education? We have these kids without a school, how are we going to keep that going?" said John Frank, a historian who taught social studies at Center Grove High School for 29 years.  

PHOTOS: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Oprah, and Ellen DeGeneres were among the attendees at a charity fundraiser hosted by actor Kevin Costner on his Summerland estate Friday. The event, called One805LIVE!, took place on Costner's 1.4-acre beachfront estate and aimed to support local first responders. The headline act for the evening was the popular band Maroon 5. The fundraiser provides financial aid and mental health support to first responders. It was created in the aftermath of the Thomas fire and 1/9 Debris Flow. "One805" was created, hosting the largest non-profit event in Santa Barbara History – The Kick Ash Bash. It brought together actors, entertainers, singers, performers, and a community in a spirit of healing.