The burning of a large building in Utqiagvik on Friday morning led to the evacuation of nearby residents. According to the City of Utqiagvik, the fire destroyed a shipping and receiving building early Friday morning, causing heavy loads of smoke to move across Block A. The city said the North Slope Borough organized an evacuation effort for residents in that area and opened up the recreation center and roller rink for temporary shelter. "The City acknowledges the inconvenience caused and expresses its gratitude to the community for their understanding and cooperation during his challenging time," city officials wrote in a press release. The City of Utqiagvik said they will provide updates on the reopening of the recreational facilities through their website and Facebook page.  

No fatalities were reported after three separate residential fires in apartment buildings and a trailer court occurred Friday and Saturday in Anchorage, according to the Anchorage Fire Department. While the causes of the fires were still under investigation, a department spokesperson encouraged residents to follow safety protocols when using space heaters, including keeping them at least 3 feet from flammable materials and not leaving them unattended. Anchorage temperatures in recent days have topped out in the single digits and plummeted below zero at night. Around 8:50 a.m. Friday, a fire was reported in East Anchorage at a mobile home court along the 700 block of Muldoon Road, the department said.  

One person is dead following a tanker crash on SR-8 in Northfield Center Township that left a nearby creek contaminated with diesel fuel. Summit County Inspector Bill Holland says at around 9:15 a.m., the tanker truck was traveling northbound on SR-8 tried to get on I-271, when it lost control and went over the side of the bridge. The truck landed on the southbound lanes and burst into flames. The driver of the truck died as a result of the crash. An Ohio EPA spokesperson confirmed the tanker contained 7,500 gallons of diesel. Some of the diesel poured into Brandywine Creek, which is near the crash site. Brandywine Creek briefly caught fire after the crash. The fire has since been put out, according to the Ohio EPA.  

VIDEO: Two firefighters were injured after a gun was pointed at them, and they jumped from the second-floor of an apartment complex in southwest Houston on Saturday, according to the Houston Police Department. Houston firefighters responded to the 6000 block of Bissonnet Street at about 11 p.m. to save a man who was having seizures. First responders arrived, and they spoke to the man, who appeared confused. They were going to take him to the hospital, and he asked if he could grab a t-shirt before leaving. The man went into his room and returned with a loaded gun. "He pointed at the firemen, and they ran from the apartment. Both firemen jumped from the second floor," HPD Lt. Riley said. One of the firefighters injured his right arm, and the other firefighter had minor injuries on his face. They were both taken to a local hospital.  

Two St. Johns County leaders are pushing for significant changes at the state level to better protect firefighters who experience "line of duty" injuries or sicknesses. It stems from this explosion and fire in St. Augustine that happened back in August of 2011. David Stevens is the union president for St. Johns County Professional Firefighters. He remembers that day in 2011 well. "I remember going into our county administration and seeing stacks of gear piled up," Stevens said. "Because they had to get [the firefighters] out of the gear from all of the chemicals that have been absorbed on the firefighters." More than 12 years later, several firefighters have said their health was severely affected by that scene. It even forced at least two of them to medically retire, including the late Michael Riley.  

VIDEO: West Metro Fire started the dog therapy program four years ago with two dogs, Remmey and Captain. Fast forward to today, the program is the largest in the state, with 11 therapy dogs. "The dogs bring an amazing sense of calmness and excitement to our crews. The dogs are just a really good addition to our crews and we've added to our toolbox of mental health and wellness," said Captain Reid Norwood at West Metro Fire station 3. Firefighters respond to thousands of calls each year, some of those calls can be difficult and hit close to home for some firefighters, which can leave a lasting impact on crews even for those who have years of experience. "I think historically, firefighters, we would just bury whatever we were experiencing. That includes hard calls and whatever's going on at home."