BLM Alaska Geographic Information System Specialist Jennifer Jenkins received the Esri Special Achievement in geographic information systems (GIS) award this summer for creating mobile-friendly online dashboards that provide near real-time information about wildfires in Alaska and maps that deliver more in-depth information than before in the Alaska Wildland Fire Information Map Series. Esri is an international supplier of GIS software, web GIS, and geodatabase management applications, including the popular ArcGIS Online (AGOL) platform that helps users make sense of geospatial data about a specific location on the Earth's surface. Prompted by informal hallway conversations at BLM Alaska Fire Service (BLM AFS), Jenkins' work was one of about 300 projects selected from more than 100,000 nominations worldwide.  

A family is without a home following a violent fire in Windsor Mill Thursday evening. Baltimore County fire crews took hours to get the blaze under control. "When Capt. Roy pulled over top, we had fire that was well up into the attic, probably for some time before we arrived. That fire had burned its way up through the actual roof by the time our units had got there." Capt. Len Stewart, of the Baltimore County Fire Department said. SkyTeam 11 was above the fire engulfing a home in Windsor Mill. "The fire did start to the rear of the dwelling, worked its way well up into the attic, and by that time it was too much fire, too much volume for them to control quickly," Stewart said. Officials said the fire started shortly after 5:30 p.m. at a home on Rices Lane. Crews, initially arriving to the scene, with word of at least two people were possibly trapped inside.  

Hallie Pfendler and Denyse Hastwell are 911 dispatchers in Lewis County. The two work hand in hand to get help to people who need it. "We're considered secretaries and we do a lot more than that. We potentially save lives. We do CPR instructions. We get people there that need to be there," said Hastwell. That work is now being recognized by Governor Kathy Hochul, who signed legislation earlier this month giving 911 dispatchers the designation of first responders. "The people that protect you are your firefighters or EMS, but we are watching over them. We are keeping track of them so they keep each other safe, but we keep them safe too," said Pfendler. The new law gives dispatchers a chance for more training opportunities as a first responder in communications.  

A local rescue organization is going to soon be featured on a YouTube channel that spotlights emergency personnel across the country. The Perkiomen Township Fire Department will be highlighted during a segment by Heroes Next Door, which says it works to promote awareness of various police, fire, EMS and healthcare services across the country. The local fire department recently said on its Facebook page that Mike Borrello and Harrison Burch recently came by the station to shoot a video profile for their Heroes Next Door YouTube channel. "They do great work showcasing emergency services, stations and apparatus across the country!" the Perkiomen Township Fire Department said in the Facebook post. The department stated that the completed profile video will be available online in about two months time.  

The Sidney Department of Fire and Emergency Services is gearing up for Fire Prevention Week. "Every year the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) coordinates a Fire Prevention Week with special messaging that draws attention to specific fire safety education and awareness topics. The message this year is, ‘Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety!' This messaging will place emphasis on smoke and carbon monoxide detector education," Sidney Fire Chief Chad Hollinger said. Fire Prevention Week 2021 will take place from Oct. 3 through 9. This year marks the 99th observance of the NFPA sponsored Fire Prevention Week, which first occurred in 1922. Three years later, Fire Prevention Week was federally recognized by President Calvin Coolidge. Fire Prevention Week is observed annually the week of Oct. 9 to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.  

Even with three highly effective vaccines available in abundance throughout the country, the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 continues to cause a large number of new infections, particularly in states where vaccination rates remain low. What's more, as schools and businesses reopen and the holiday season approaches, another rise in infections may be on the way. There is, however, some good news. Numerous medications, including fledgling and repurposed drugs, are accessible. For hospitalized COVID-19 patients, these new treatments, along with supportive care advances – such as placing some patients on their stomachs in a "prone position" – were helping bring down mortality rates before the Delta variant hit and are continuing to improve patient outcomes today.