There was one new fire reported in DOF's protection areas Tuesday. A passing pilot and callers reported a fire near the Knik Glacier. Mat-Su helitack was dispatched and discovered an unattended campfire along an ATV trail that had spread into the brush and nearby trees. Helitack firefighting crewmembers were deployed, and the helicopter started bucket drops. The Metal Creek 2 Fire (#370) is two tenths of an acre. Bucket drops contained the fire and crew members mopped up the burned area. After gridding the fire and surrounding green area, no additional sources of heat or smoke were found. The fire has been controlled and called out. This is the third abandoned campfire near the glacier this season that has spread into the surrounding wildland requiring a response from DOF.  

VIDEOS: A fire at a metal recycling facility in the St. Johns neighborhood broke out Wednesday afternoon, sending up a plume of black smoke visible from as far away as downtown Portland. There were no injuries reported to first responders or plant personnel, said Portland Fire & Rescue. Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) first tweeted about the fire at around 1:30 p.m., describing it as a large fire in a scrap pile at the recycling facility, and said aerial ladder pipes were being set up to start putting it out. PF&R later added that the fire was in at least two piles and a nearby structure was in danger of being caught up in the blaze. The pile ablaze was filled with smashed cars, appliances and other large metal objects scheduled to go through the industrial shredder, PF&R said.  

The American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline program has recognized Delaware County's Emergency Medical Services with their 8th consecutive EMS Gold Achievement Award. This national-level honor recognizes prehospital-care agencies around the country that meet the AHA's standards for rapid and research-based care for the most severe forms of heart attacks and strokes. Mission: Lifeline EMS is the AHA's national initiative to advance the system of care for patients with high-risk, time-sensitive medical emergencies. In 2023, 23.08% of Delaware County EMS's cardiac-arrest patients were discharged neurologically intact, compared to the national average of around 10%. "We are very proud to be included in this elite group of honorees," Delaware County EMS director Jeff Fishel said in a media release.  

VIDEO: Two arrests have been made in connection to a fire truck wreck that happened in October 2023. Austin Turner, the driver of the truck for Coon Creek Fire Department, was indicted by a Leslie County grand jury Monday for murder and wanton endangerment. His mother, Ethel Turner, who is also involved with the department, was indicted for tampering with physical evidence. Both are being held at the Leslie County Detention Center. Austin's bond is $125,000, and Ethel's is $25,000. Officials with the Leslie County Sheriff's Department said when they arrived on the scene of the wreck in October, Turner had left the scene and another firefighter was still trapped in the truck. First responders were able to remove Regina Huffman from the truck and transport her to Mary Breckinridge ARH where she later died.  

VIDEOS: A technology born right in the Queen City is now keeping firefighters safe nationwide. "Florian" is a piece of software that tracks first responders when in burning buildings. The idea for this technology was born out of tragedy, when two Buffalo firefighters were killed responding to a fire on Genesee Street, back in 2009. Patrick O'Conner, the developer of this software and a former Grand Island firefighter, told me he knew there had to be a better way to protect responders in the line of duty, so he decided to create it himself. When duty calls, firefighters are sometimes dispatched simultaneously and even before ambulances, to provide quick medical intervention. 3AM Innovations president and co-founder Patrick O'Conner said, "For an active shooter, the first responders that get there sometimes are the firefighters, for medical aid and whatnot. Having the ability to know where they are and where the safety areas are for them to actually stage at, is critical."