PHOTOS: According to the Alpine Police Department, at about 5:30pm on Thursday, July 25, APD, Brewster County Sheriff's Office, and the Alpine Volunteer Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire at the intersection of West Highway 90 and FM 1703. Officers arrived to a paving truck fully engulfed in flames, with the driver later telling officers that he had to pull to the side of the road due to a high heat alarm alerting him. Upon exiting the truck, the driver discovered flames coming from the rear and quickly spreading to the rest of the truck. The fire was extinguished, but the truck remained a complete loss. However, there were no injuries reported at the scene. APD asked residents to continue to avoid the area if possible while crews cleared the roadway.  

On Friday, first responders from various agencies in Hays County will conduct an active shooter response exercise at a Dripping Springs Independent School District campus. The exercise, which is happening at Cypress Springs Elementary, is a coordinated event between Hays County officials like the Hays County Sheriff's Office, Hay's County Constable's Office, North Hays County Fire Department and DSISD security personnel, according to the district. Those in the area should expect "a heavy presence of first-responder vehicles around the CSE campus," according to DSISD. Residents may hear sirens, as well as simulated gunshots from recordings that will create "a realistic training environment."  

The Corpus Christi Police Department held their annual rib eating contest at Texas Roadhouse Thursday afternoon. There were three teams with five members including the border patrol & police officers, firefighters and media. Neighborhood News reporters Althea Castro De La Mata and Tyrese Boone represented KRIS 6 News and Telemundo for the media team. The goal of this contest, Fire Chief Kenneth Erben said, is to benefit a special group of athletes. "Today is about the Special Olympics and kicking off the tip a cop event," Erben said. "That's what it's really all about. We have a really good relationship with the law enforcement friends over there and the media as well. It's just a fun competitive event to draw attention to the Special Olympics and raising money for them."  

PHOTOS: At least 1,500 vehicles, if not more, inside of an estimated 20-acre junkyard in the Antelope Valley burned in a three-alarm blaze Thursday. Firefighters responded to reports of a "yard fire" at 421 W Ave I off of Sierra Highway in Lancaster just after 3 p.m., L.A. County Fire confirmed to KTLA. In video of the blaze posted to social media, thick plumes of black smoke were seen coming from the location and drifting over the nearby Sierra Highway. Initially, fire officials reported that an estimated 300 crushed vehicles were on fire, though that number continued to rise as the flames spread. Aerial footage from Sky5 showed several explosions, as well as flames jumping the fence causing firefighters to quickly extinguish small vegetation fires.  

VIDEO: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, PFAS (or forever chemicals) can be found in almost every American's bloodstream. Based on your career, though, you could be more exposed than others. The National Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study is starting its research into PFAS and firefighters' health in North Carolina. Researchers from Duke and NC State are leading the study, hoping to follow firefighters throughout their careers to analyze how PFAS are affecting them. PFAS can be found in certain types of firefighting foam and are used to make firefighters' uniforms water and oil-repellant. "The occupation of firefighting in 2022 was named a known carcinogen," researcher Bryan Ormond with NC State said.  

PHOTO: Escambia County EMS is showing off their new ambulances and they have a different look. Four new ambulances are now wrapped with a Blue Angels theme. The county says the design was developed by an employee and retrofitted by a company to be applied to the ambulances' shape and model. "Being here in Escambia County and Pensacola, the Blue Angels are a pride and joy of this area," Training Supervisor Houston Harvell said. "So anytime we will pull from them to reemphasize what this area is about." They had the new designs put on right before Red, White, and Blues weekend.  

VIDEO: If you saw emergency vehicles in the parking lot at Lambeau Field on Tuesday, there was no immediate danger. Local first responders gathered at Lambeau for a combined training. Officials participated in a simulated event that helped them prepare for the upcoming Packers season. Green Bay Police Chief Chris Davis says this practice helps with communication and learning where to prioritize resources for all public safety, fire, and EMS workers at large public events. This training exercise practices communication and coordination through simulated events. Chief Davis says the type of training they participated in on Tuesday can be applied for any large event in the city, including the NFL Draft, highlighting the importance for each unit to be prepared for any situation.