The Fire Museum of Texas recognized Chief C.A. Pete Shelton, of Beaumont, as an inductee of the 2023 National Fire Heritage Center's Hall of Legends, Legacies and Leaders. The National Fire Heritage Center was established as a non-profit organization by a few fire protection experts in response to a mission charged by the U.S. Fire Administration, to collect, preserve, and provide access to the historical records of the fire service/fire protection disciplines in the United States. One way it achieves its mission is to annually induct fire service leaders into the NFHC Hall of Legends, Legacies and Leaders. Celebration for the local Legend was held Tuesday, Jan. 3, inside the Fire Museum of Texas, located at 400 Walnut St. in downtown Beaumont. During this event, the museum staff also revealed the museum's newest exhibit – which is dedicated to Chief Shelton's legacy. Shelton's career started at the age of 18 in 1950.  

VIDEO: A woman was severely burned and her son was injured while trying to escape a fire at an apartment in southeast Dallas early Thursday, officials said. A man who was also burned in the fire admitted to setting the fire, according to Dallas Fire-Rescue officials. The fire happened at the Villas of Sorrento apartments in the 3100 block of Stag Road, near South Great Trinity Forest Way and Bonnie View Road. Neighbors at the Villa Sorento Apartments on Stag Road said they woke up to the sound of an explosion, heavy smoke, intense heat, and fire. "Everything was just burning. Literally," neighbor Adayrius Dixon explained. Dixon is among the tenants who woke up to the flames. He said he leaped to safety before rushing back to his second-floor apartment to help his family members escape.  

All month long, firefighter associations are raising awareness about the leading cause of death among firefighters. What a lot of people may not realize is that the immediate risk of entering a burning building is not as deadly as the long-term effects of putting out a fire. Organizations such as the International Association of Fire Fighters are spending the month educating firefighters everywhere about preventing and surviving occupational cancer. Firefighters have about a 10% greater chance of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% greater mortality rate once diagnosed. Wichita Falls Fire Chief Ken Prillaman began his career about 45 years ago and has been serving as fire chief for three years. He said in that time, he's seen an improvement in safety and prevention when it comes to occupational cancer.  

VIDEO: A video that shows a grass fire at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery is going viral on TikTok. The video, uploaded by Steve Torres on Wednesday, shows flames surrounding dozens of headstones as firefighters respond with water and shovels. As of Thursday afternoon, the 52-second video received more than 13,000 likes and more than 1,100 comments. Joe Arrington, a public information officer with SAFD, told KSAT that firefighters believe a lit candle at a gravesite is to blame for the fire. The fire was reported after 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The fire was quickly extinguished, Arrington said, but not before it burned 200 plots. Thirty-seven headstones were covered in soot, but none sustained major damage that Arrington said he was aware of.  

Firefighters rushed to a house fire where six people were asleep inside. Sadly, their cat died in the fire. It happened around 10:40 p.m. on Thursday on Roark Drive on the city's east side. The San Antonio Fire Department said the fire broke out in the garage and all six people reportedly made it out safely. However, the cat passed away. Crews were able to rescue a rabbit. But a car and motorcycle were damaged. They were able to contain the fire to the garage so the family will not be displaced. The damage is estimated to be around $50,000. The cause of the fire was not reported.  

PHOTOS: The brand-new Ladder One was unveiled Wednesday afternoon on January 4, at what is known as a push ceremony. Cande Flores, Abilene Fire Chief, said this ceremony represents tradition and the past. "It's based on tradition, where they used to have to physically push in equipment because it was drawn by horses," Flores explained. The ceremony signifies the engine's start of service. This one, however, is special. The engines design is dedicated to Dyess Air Force Base to signify its relationship with the city of Abilene. "Dyess is in the grill, it lights up when the equipment is lit up, it also says we support our troops," Flores said. "There are little things here and there that just kind of all point back to that relationship and symbolize how we support those that support us as well in our Dyess community."  

A firefighter was injured Thursday as a massive fire ripped through homes in unincorporated Maine Township Thursday evening, according to officials. The blaze broke out in the 9400-block of Margail Avenue, between suburban Des Plaines and Park Ridge. Doorbell camera obtained exclusively by ABC7 captured a sudden apparent explosion before flames began sweeping through the townhome. "We just ran out to really check on our neighbors and just make sure they were OK," said neighbor Nica Simmons. Officials said the fire started just after 4 p.m. in one unit before spreading to three others. The roof caved in. "We were just trying to drive through and then this happened. It was crazy. We got stuck. We couldn't leave," said Lorenz Tauzon, who happened to be driving through the area at the time of the fire.  

In 2021, Lexington Fire Department Lieutenant Joseph Sexton's son, John, got very sick. What Sexton and his wife, Katie, thought was a stomach bug turned out to be much worse. John, who was 5 years old at the time, had contracted E-Coli 0157. The E-Coli then developed into a rare disease called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. Doctors said John needed a life-saving kidney transplant. Recent Stories from lex18.com "It's really devastating cause here's a young kid that's just starting out, has his whole life ahead of him," Lieutenant Sexton said. "And then it's kind of like, hmm, not no more." Little did the Sextons know, a fellow LFD firefighter and close friend, Tim Belcher, was getting tested to see if he was a match. He was. The successful kidney transplant surgery was on Tuesday.  

PHOTOS: A man was rescued Tuesday afternoon after he became trapped at a Montgomery County car wash. It happened around 2:30 p.m. at the Wave Car Wash located on the 200 block of Bethlehem Pike in Colmar. Video obtained by Action News shows the moment a 77-year-old man crashed through a gate and flipped inside the car wash. Officials say the man accidentally hit the gas pedal and became trapped inside his car for roughly 90 minutes. Images shared with Action News show crews trying to rescue the man. The victim was taken to an area hospital for injuries to his leg, but he is expected to survive. Colmar resident Bill Ashmead was trying to get his car washed when he pulled up to the scene and heard what happened. "I can't even imagine the process of having a car turn over inside a car wash," said Ashmead.  

The Fire Museum of Texas recognized Chief C.A. Pete Shelton, of Beaumont, as an inductee of the 2023 National Fire Heritage Center's Hall of Legends, Legacies and Leaders. The National Fire Heritage Center was established as a non-profit organization by a few fire protection experts in response to a mission charged by the U.S. Fire Administration, to collect, preserve, and provide access to the historical records of the fire service/fire protection disciplines in the United States. One way it achieves its mission is to annually induct fire service leaders into the NFHC Hall of Legends, Legacies and Leaders. Celebration for the local Legend was held Tuesday, Jan. 3, inside the Fire Museum of Texas, located at 400 Walnut St. in downtown Beaumont. During this event, the museum staff also revealed the museum's newest exhibit – which is dedicated to Chief Shelton's legacy. Shelton's career started at the age of 18 in 1950.