VIDEO: It's hard to believe with snow still on the ground, but it is wildfire season in the state of Alaska. State fire crews from the Division of Forestry and Fire Protection as well as the Pioneer Peak Interagency Hotshot Crew are utilizing the extended spring to gain critical training before the season heats up. At the Division's Matanuska-Susitna Borough office on Tuesday, engine operators spent the afternoon running various timed driving exercises in fire rigs as part of an eight-day training course. "It's very critical that our operators understand and are proficient with the use and operation of the fire truck for their safety and the safety of the public that we're protecting," said Brian Carver, assistant fire management officer for the Mat-Su area. The training focused on three specific categories, including driver safety, pumping and drafting, and vehicle and pump maintenance.  

Firefighters worked to keep a huge fire from spreading in Truro Friday morning after a house exploded. There were no reports of injuries, as the fire chief did not believe anyone was home at the time. The blast on First Light Lane shook houses in neighboring towns, people on social media reported. Video from the scene showed flames completely engulfing the home. "Significant explosion. . . the house behind it, surrounding houses have lost windows," Truro Fire Chief Tim Collins said. Firefighters will be on scene all day investigating. The cause of the explosion was not immediately known. Just one week ago, a house explosion in Berlin killed a 79-year-old woman and injured her daughter.  

VIDEO: Firefighting is both a physically and mentally demanding profession, and while Wisconsin women have been blazing the trail for others in the industry, some said there is still work to be done. In 2020, women accounted for less than 5% of career firefighters nationwide, according to the latest estimated numbers by the National Fire Protection Association. For some Wisconsin departments, that percentage is higher, but women are still underrepresented in the field. In the state's biggest department — the Milwaukee Fire Department (MFD) — a little more than 7% of sworn Milwaukee firefighters are women. In Madison, women make up around 11% of all commissioned firefighters. That number is lower in La Crosse, at a little more than 4% and women with the Green Bay Metro Fire Department make up close to 3% of all sworn firefighters.  

A new law signed Thursday by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb will help protect Hoosier firefighters from the toxic chemicals known as PFAS. But it stops short of actually banning cancer-causing compounds. House Bill 1219, which was passed unanimously at the state house, will require the monitoring of PFAS levels in firefighters' blood because the so-called "forever chemicals" have been linked to multiple cancers. The law comes after the death of longtime South Bend firefighter Mike Brown from esophageal cancer in February, just weeks after he retired. The toxic particles are found in a firefighting foam and the protective gear firefighters wear on the job every day. "Firefighters are exposed to these toxic, man-made chemicals at a higher rate than the population due to that chemical being in their protective gear and also in the AFFF fighting foam that they use to put out some of the most severe fires," said State Representative Maureen Bauer, who sponsored the bill.  

VIDEO: Mikey Riley has been with the Asheville Fire Department for just over 15 years. Just within the past few years of his time there, Riley said he's been personally impacted by the loss of active and retired firefighters due to occupational cancer. The Asheville Fire Department has lost four active members in the last four to five years due to occupational cancer, according to Riley, which he plans to use as motivation on Saturday, April 22. "Unless we do something about it, there's going to be a number five and six over the next couple of years," Riley said. "So we want to do everything we can to decrease those numbers and not have this continue. I'm going to run for 24 hours. I've run 12 or 13 hours before, but 24 hours is going to be a different beast."  

The New York City Fire Museum has now launched a new exhibition, Strike Up the Band: A Tribute to the Bands of the Bravest, which tells the story of the New York City Fire Department's extensive musical traditions that span generations. The exhibition will be on display from April 26, 2023 through late August 2023, and will take guests on a journey of over 100 years of history. It will include historic objects such as bagpipes and drums, uniforms, trophies and photographs from throughout the bands' histories, as well as modern video displays that allow visitors to fully explore this little-known aspect of the department. "The arts are what continue to inspire us and keep our cultures alive, and the FDNY is no exception. That is why we are elated to share this unique, months-long exhibition with our community," said Sean Britton, Collection Manager and Curator at the New York City Fire Museum.