VIDEO: Owner vows to rebuild after fire destroys part of Florida beach & tennis club

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.”
WJXT-TV CW 4 Jacksonville

Stricter penalties proposed for violators of South Carolina’s Move Over Law

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.
The State - Metered Site

From the ashes: Alumni from Indiana high school compile research on 1952 fire

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.
Daily Journal

Celebrities turn out for One805 live fundraiser concert in California to support first responder mental health, safety

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.
Edhat Santa Barbara

Demolition begins after large fire at vacant mill building in Connecticut

VIDEO: Firefighters battled a large fire at a vacant mill building in Naugatuck Monday night and demolition crews have begun to knock it down. Officials said the fire started just after 6 p.m. Monday in the area of 200 Water St. and flames were found coming from the roof of the building, which is actually five separate buildings that are connected. It's believed no one was inside because the building, which was once occupied by Lewis Engineering, has been vacant since around 2012. Aircraft parts were made there and the building was being used for some sort of storage, officials said Tuesday. Clouds of heavy smoke billowed from the building Monday night. The amount of smoke that carried out of the building was a concern, prompting officials to evacuate some nearby homes.
WVIT-TV NBC 30 New Britain

New York officials call for I-84 ’crash gate’ following deadly bus crash

VIDEO/PHOTOS: In a crash where minutes count, local officials and firefighters in Orange County said precious time may have been lost in last week's charter bus crash in Wawayanda that killed two people and injured 40 others. The charter bus was on Interstate 84, around 45 miles northwest of New York City. It veered off the road and rolled down a 50-foot ravine. There were 40 students and four adults on board, and local officials said the massive emergency response that was needed demonstrates why a special access road, called a "crash gate," is so needed at that location. "We would have gotten there sooner," said Slate Hill Fire Chief Michael Dally. "I would say anywhere between 5 and 10 minutes sooner. How it would have changed the outcome, I don't know."
WNYW-TV FOX 5 New York City

South Carolina fire department to pilot new mental health app

VIDEO: The Charleston Fire Department is hoping to pilot a new app to expand mental health resources for its firefighters. Firefighters have a heightened risk of developing PTSD, depression, anxiety and alcohol use disorders because of their repeated exposure to stress and trauma, recent studies from the National Institute of Health show. “It almost gets stuck where it’s just auto-playing in your mind, it plays over and over and over again,” Robert Baldwin, the Assistant Chief of Special Operations for the Charleston Fire Department, said, “Being able to say it out loud, have someone to talk with, someone who can relate to what you’re going through, helps that individual process.” The Charleston City Council will vote to approve the contract with First Response Mental Health on Tuesday for a 2-year pilot program for an app called “PeerConnect.”
WCSC-TV CBS 5 Charleston

COVID among reasons nine EMS ambulances in Hawaii closed over the weekend

An unusually high number of City ambulances were closed during Sunday’s midnight shift, nine out of 21 ambulances were offline due to low staffing. The Honolulu Emergency Services Director Dr. Jim Ireland said sick leave due to COVID-19 was among the reasons. Saturday evening’s EMS briefing included plans to cover nine ambulance units that would be closed for the shift beginning at midnight Sunday. Dr. Ireland said, “Overnight we didn’t see an increase in response times, we didn’t see calls dropped, but clearly you know it’s not an ideal situation for us, and I think in the long-term we need a bigger buffer of personnel.” The reasons for closing nine units ranged from planned vacations, injuries on the job and personnel calling in sick.
KHON-TV FOX/CW 2 Honolulu

Tennessee city’s first fire truck restored to original condition

PHOTOS: Kingsport's first fire truck has been restored back to its original condition. The 1917 American LaFrance fire engine is dubbed "Old Hul-dy.” It went into service one hundred and six years ago and was Kingsport's only fire truck at the time. Firefighters had to hand crank it to start the truck. Back then, "Old Hul-dy" had a top speed of 30 miles per hour. "Well, it's ready to go out if we have a special event or parade,” Kingsport Fire Department Public Information Officer Barry Brickey says. “We can take it out and use it then and it does get driven every once in a while. We keep it ready to go, it's fueled, gets cranked up and sometimes you might even see it driving around the block just to let it kind of get some exercise." Right now, the historic fire truck is being stored at Fire Station Number One for use in parades and special events.
WCYB-TV NBC/CW 5 Bristol