Anchorage Fire Department leaders say this season's near all-time record breaking snow year could mean a more dangerous fire season. "Usually record snow year fall indicates a longer burn window, burn season for us, collectively across the state," AFD Interim Wildland Fire Coordinator Jason Kohler said. "It may not be Southcentral, but the state is preparing for a very busy season, as the trends and records indicate on high snow years." Kohler said heavy snowfall brings down weakened trees and adds limbs to the forest floor. As they dry out, they pose certain risk for wildfires. "There's over like 230 parks in the Municipality of Anchorage and we can't attend to every acre of land within that, but if the homeowners were to pick up their land and keep their areas green and healthy around their homes, that would really help us in in the event of a wildland urban interface fire," Kohler said.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.'"