Bus catches fire on I-10 in Baker County

VIDEOS: Dozens of St. Johns County residents headed to Tallahassee in support of building the Florida Museum of Black History in St. Augustine didn’t get very far Friday morning before they had an unexpected detour. Their charter bus caught fire on I-10, just west of the Glen St. Mary exit. Despite some dramatic photos, the more than 50 people on the bus were able to get off safely and no one was hurt. Greg White was on the bus and said the group believes one of the tires blew and caused a spark to ignite the engine. The group has moved to a staging area and will now take several vans to Tallahassee -- with a police escort from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. They are headed to Florida’s capital to help the St. Augustine committee make a case for choosing The Nation’s Oldest City to be the home of the Black History Museum.
WJXT-TV 4 Jacksonville

Sarasota County firefighters practice life-saving drills

VIDEO: The Sarasota County Fire Department took over a 75-year-old home before it is demolished, to use for life-saving drills. It happened Thursday morning at 2065 Goldenrod Street in Sarasota. Seven firefighters from Station eight, shift B, rushed into the home that a trainer engulfed with thick billows of smoke. The firefighters had zero visibility and were tasked with finding the “dummy,” to mimic saving a real life. The training at this house was all possible because of the home’s construction superintendent, Thomas Hemingway. Hemingway got permission from the homebuilder, Courtyard Modern Builders, to donate this 1949 home to the fire department for training before it is demolished and rebuilt. “I’m a third-generation firefighter and it gets me excited,” said Hemingway.
WWSB-TV ABC 7 Sarasota

With hurricane season nearing, Volusia County emergency responders train with FEMA

VIDEO: When there’s a major emergency, it’s not just the first responders who answer the call – hundreds are working behind the scenes coordinating efforts. On Wednesday, FEMA met with that group in Volusia County for scenario training. News 6 was there to see it firsthand. The team met at Volusia’s Emergency Operations Center and reacted to the hypothetical scenario that a large building collapsed in Daytona Beach Shores. “Almost all of our cities are here, we’ve got county officials from fire, law enforcement, public works, beach, etc., state partners and FEMA folks,” Volusia’s Emergency Management Director Clint Mecham said. These teams learned from FEMA to react quickly and efficiently if this happened.
WKMG-TV CBS 6 Orlando

Power line catches fire, spreads onto roof of packing house in Fort Pierce

A power line caught fire, extending to the roof of a building in Fort Pierce on Wednesday afternoon. The St. Lucie County Fire District (SLCFD) said crews were dispatched to a fire on the roof of a packing house on 2000 N Kings Highway at 3:12 p.m. When crews arrived, it was learned that a power line had caught on fire and spread onto the roof. SLCFD said firefighters used a ladder to get to the top of the building and extinguish the fire from a safe distance until the power was secured. SLCFD said the building was vacant, no injuries were reported. The fire was extinguished and firefighters prevented the flames from spreading to the inside of the building.
WTVX-TV CW 34 Fort Pierce

Ocoee High School evacuated due to restroom fire, officials say

A restroom fire caused an evacuation at Ocoee High School on Wednesday morning, according to officials with the Ocoee Fire Department and Orange County Public Schools. Fire officials responded to the school just after 9 a.m. after reports of a fire and evacuated outlying campus buildings in order to find the source of the smoke that had set off the fire alarm. Something was found burning in an upstairs restroom, officials said. It was put out. It remains unclear at this time what they found. The Ocoee Police Department said they are aware of the incident and are actively working with the school district and Fire Marshal. No injuries were reported and all students and staff are safe.
WOFL-TV FOX 35 Orlando

Charities will be the real winners as police and firefighters box in Jacksonville for bragging rights

Police officers and firefighters from around Jacksonville and throughout Florida will trade their badges and helmets for boxing gloves this weekend. It’s almost time for the 25th Annual Gun N’ Hoses Charity Boxing Event – Saturday, April 20 inside the arena on the University of Florida campus. There will be a total of 14 fights for these first responders turned amateur boxers. And while a title and bragging rights are up for grabs for these blue and red rivals, the real winners will be local charities. Jacksonville’s Fraternal Order of Police Foundation has put on this yearly event since 1999, and money raised goes toward the Muscular Dystrophy Association as well as several nonprofits the FOP Foundation supports. In the last 24 years, the annual Guns N’ Hoses fundraiser has raised more than $1.8 million.
WJXT-TV 4 Jacksonville