VIDEO: Minnesota home deemed total loss after massive fire

A family was able to escape a destructive blaze that took down their home in Orono on Sunday. Three family members were inside the home when the fire began just before 7 p.m. All of them were able to safely escape the burning structure along with the family dog, an emergency responder on the scene told KARE 11. Long Lake Fire Chief Mike Heiland said it appears the blaze began in the garage of the home, but at this time a cause remains uncertain. The fire was massive - images from Sky 11 show flames lighting up the night sky for quite a distance. At least nine departments responded to the scene in Orono, but they were unable to save the home. It was reduced to rubble and is a total loss.
KARE-TV NBC 11 Minneapolis

Maryland fire company’s new engine damaged in crash on interstate, eight members taken to Shock Trauma

PHOTOS: Friday night’s crash on Interstate 95 in the White Marsh area resulted in a brand new fire engine sustaining damage and eight members from Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company being injured. At around 9:00 p.m. on May 10, units responded to southbound I-95 in White Marsh for a reported medical emergency. Shortly after arriving on the scene, Kingsville VFC’s new fire engine and another squad vehicle were both struck by another vehicle causing significant damage to both pieces of equipment. The crash resulted in two individuals in the other vehicle becoming trapped. The two patients were freed and the cause of the crash remains under investigation. Eight members of Kingsville VFC were taken to Shock Trauma. All members have since been released and are doing well, according to Kingsville VFC.
NottinghamMD.com

‘Can happen to anyone’: Florida firefighter who went into cardiac arrest grateful to be alive

VIDEO: A 23-year-old Miami firefighter is grateful to be alive following a scary incident during a training exercise. Reece Blake was a recruit in a class, training to become a SWAT medic in Miami. SWAT medics respond to incidents involving police officers in moments of crisis. On March 5th, Reece was running from Lummus Park to Virginia Key as part of a training day when he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. "The last thing I remember was running past Fire Station 4 in Brickell," Reece recalled Wednesday. Seven fellow Miami firefighters and 7 Miami Police officers rushed to provide lifesaving aid seconds after he collapsed. Miami Police Officer Pedro Julio Moreno was one of the first to jump into action. "I started doing compressions. You’re supposed to do 30 compressions and two breaths. I was doing like 50 or 60 nonstop," Moreno said.
WTVJ-TV NBC 6 Miami

Firefighters in one Colorado city propose plan to shift ambulance services

VIDEO: The Colorado Springs Fire Department is working to bring the responsibility of ambulance services to them, instead of relying primarily on private companies. This is something Fire Chief Randy Royal and Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade have said has been in the works for a while. On social media, CSFD posted a statement from Chief Royal announcing that they will go before City Council on Monday to present their proposal. It is for an Emergency Services Enterprise that would bring the responsibility of ambulance transport services to the fire department. Mayor Mobolade has said before that Colorado Springs is one of very few cities of its size to not already have this system. He said the shift would create a system based around saving more lives, rather than making a profit, during a status update in April.
KKTV CBS 11 Colorado Springs

VIDEO: 18-wheeler goes up in flames near gas station in Florida

Video showed an 18-wheeler go up in flames on a roadway in southwest Miami-Dade early Thursday. The truck's cab became fully engulfed in flames at the intersection of Krome Avenue and Southwest 200th Street around 3 a.m. The driver said he had been refueling the truck with diesel when he noticed it catch fire. “I was at the gas station, pump number 7. I was almost finished but something was wrong. The smoke started to come from inside the truck," said truck driver Ruben Eng. He quickly jumped in and drove away from the gas station, potentially avoiding a major disaster. “The fire come very fast," Eng said. "In less than 30 seconds, all truck was completely on fire." Surveillance video showed the truck erupting in flames with the driver nearby. Luckily the driver only had minor burns to his ear and arm.
WTVJ-TV NBC 6 Miami

Fire Service Academy instructor in New York survives after training session goes up in flames

An instructor is recovering from some serious burns after an accident during a training exercise at the Nassau County Fire Academy. The fire, which happened Thursday morning, is considered an accident. It happened at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy during a set up for a training exercise on a mock boat-like ship. Fire officials say that combustible liquids that are used to spark fires during their live exercises ignited too soon. "As they were setting up to get ready for the live fire portion of that training, there were combustible liquids that were ignited causing a flash fire," Nassau County Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro said. The good news is that the fire service academy instructor is expected to survive.
WABC-TV ABC 7 New York

Outdoor history museum exhibit in Illinois honors the 150th anniversary of the Naperville Fire Department

PHOTOS: Naper Settlement commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Naperville Fire Department with the new sitewide exhibit, “A Strong Back and A Strong Mind: 150 Years of the Naperville Fire Department.” Now on view at Naper Settlement through December 2024, the exhibit highlights the evolution of the Naperville Fire Department and the unique ways it serves the community while recognizing the courage, physical strength, and extensive knowledge firefighters must have to perform the job. Featured in the exhibit are artifacts, archival materials, and oral histories from Naper Settlement’s collection as well as loans from retired firefighters. Firefighter equipment, firefighter uniforms, fire prevention materials, and many other artifacts are on display in four of the exhibit galleries inside the museum’s Pre-Emption House.
Daily Herald - Metered Site

One step at a time: West Virginia amputee firefighter overcomes obstacles

VIDEO: William McCallister is following in his family's footsteps as a firefighter and EMT, yet he is walking his own path by doing so with a prosthetic leg. He's worn the prosthetic since he was a baby after having part of his leg amputated at nine months old. "I was hopping before I was walking," McCallister said. The Alum Creek native grew up playing sports and adjusting accordingly. When he decided to go all in on being a firefighter for the Charleston Fire Department, he had already overcome a lot. It was just a matter of making sure others believed in him too. "I just called the fire department before I went in and took the test and told them, 'hey, this is what's going on, this is the deal. Can I do this job, or are you guys going to hold me back?'" he said. "And they were like, 'go for it. If you can pass all the tests, then you're good to go.'"
WCHS-TV ABC/FOX 8 Charleston