Two snowmachine riders in western Alaska were found dead a day after they were reported overdue and a storm hampered search efforts, authorities said. Alaska State Troopers identified the riders as Charlene Habros, 34, and Dustin Gologergen, 55, both of Nome. Troopers, the Alaska National Guard and Nome search and rescue were working to recover the bodies Wednesday, troopers spokesperson Austin McDaniel said by email. Their bodies will be sent to the State Medical Examiners Office in Anchorage for autopsies and next of kin have been notified, troopers said. Troopers received a report around 7 a.m. Monday that the two were traveling from Teller to Nome - about 70 miles away - and were overdue. Initial ground search efforts from Nome were hampered by a storm.  

An Aurora construction site erupted into flames just after midnight Thursday. Crews continued to put out hotspots hours later. The building is a planned multi-family complex off the intersection of S. Aurora Parkway and S. Addison Court. No one had moved in just yet, according to Aurora Fire Rescue. There were no injuries, AFR tweeted Thursday. Because it was a new build, fire hydrants were limited, to water down the area. The building was close to the highway, so firefighters set up on E-470 to get a better hold of the flames, public information officer Andrew Logan for Aurora Fire said. The move shut down northbound E-470 near Gartrell Road for a time. That stretch of the highway has since reopened. Aurora Fire Rescue tackled the fire from both the air and the ground.  

VIDEO: Adults have surrendered children at fire stations in Fort Worth multiple times since September, prompting the fire department to update procedures and prepare stations for the possibility of more drop offs. The surrenders have happened at least three times, involving a total of seven children, at stations on the south side of the city. On a fourth occasion, someone found a young boy walking alone on the street, and brought him to a station. In each case firefighters were able to either care for the children until Child Protective Services or a private crisis intervention agency was able to assist, or police were able to follow up and confirm that the child was being cared for. Fire stations are included as safe places where newborn babies up to 60 days old can be dropped off, under the state's Safe Haven or Baby Moses law.  

The greatest tragedy to befall the Fort Atkinson Fire Department occurred 100 years ago on Dec. 17, 1923. While responding to a call for help the City's new 1923 American LaFrance fire truck and personnel were involved in a crash killing three firefighters and injuring three more. The City of Fort Atkinson Fire Department will honor the fallen firefighters at the Highway 12 crash site Thursday, Dec. 14 at about 3 p.m. Members will then set-up a tribute memorial that will be on display for the following three nights in their honor. On Monday, Dec. 17, the 100th anniversary of the crash, the Fire Department will display the American Flag from the aerial truck at the Fort Atkinson Fire Department, 124 Milwaukee Ave W. The flag will be on display throughout the day.  

An initiative led by Indiana University is pushing the boundaries of technology to save first responders' lives and expedite emergency response. A collaboration between the IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering and University Information Technology Services, the Crisis Technologies Innovation Lab is facilitating private investment and entrepreneurship activity in technology that provides first responders' precise locations inside structures during a crisis and while locating survivors. The need for growth in first responder technology mirrors the increased severity and frequency of natural disasters, said David Wild, director of the Crisis Technologies Innovation Lab and a professor at the Luddy School. There is an urgent need for new technology, including AI, to manage crises in reliable, scalable and affordable ways to save lives.