The Harker Heights Fire Department introduced its newest team member, Chris Mahlstedt, who joins the department as the Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal. Mahlstedt comes with a career spanning 29 years in the fire industry. Prior to joining this team, he served as the Bell County Fire Marshal, gaining insights and expertise in fire prevention and safety. His qualifications include certifications as a Master Arson Investigator, Master Inspector, and Peace Officer. Beyond his remarkable career, Chris is a devoted family man who holds cherished moments with his loved ones close to his heart. His interests also extend to the world of travel, sports, and photography, showcasing his well-rounded passions. The Harker Heights Fire Department extends a warm welcome to Fire Marshal Mahlstedt, embracing him as a valued member of their family.  

VIDEOS: Officials are releasing more details of a fire that happened Friday morning at a warehouse facility on East Amarillo Boulevard. About 2:30 a.m., the Amarillo Fire Department were called about the fire, located at 4110 E. Amarillo Blvd., which was just west of the railroad tracks, according to a press release. A third alarm fire was called with 15 fire units and 39 firemen responding to the fire. As crews fought the fire, part of the Amarillo Boulevard from Grand Street to the Fritch Highway was shut down. No injuries have been reported at this time and the cause of the fire is under investigation. The warehouse received significant damage and is a total loss. The damage amount is being determined.  

With construction of new homes taking place just a few yards away, city of Fort Worth officials used their ceremonial shovels to celebrate the beginning of construction on the four-bay, 11,000-square-foot fire station at 2200 Walsh Ranch Parkway. The area, along with the Veale Ranch development just south of Walsh, will be important in attracting new companies to the city, said Fort Worth City Council member Michael Crain, who represents this area District 3, said. "This will be key to our growth going forward," he said. "This is attractive to new residents and to new businesses that want to come here." The Walsh development began in 2015, with the transformation of a portion of the 7,200-acre ranch at the intersection of highways 20 and 30 into new neighborhoods.  

VIDEO: Cruise, a company that operates autonomous vehicles for rideshares and deliveries, said it has improved its technology to better detect emergency vehicles. According to the company's blog, innovations to its AV tech include better siren detection, slowing down when a scene or siren has been detected, and recognizing and avoiding emergency scenes. KXAN.com reached out to several emergency response agencies who said companies like Cruise have been in touch with them to help develop its detection systems. Captain Darren Noak with Austin-Travis County EMS said it provided several vehicles to the company to help its software become familiar with what its emergency vehicles look like.  

VIDEO: A 15-year-old allegedly threatened EMS workers with a gun at the Canton Township EMS station in Washington County on Wednesday night. Police said the teenager walked through the garage doors with a loaded 9mm handgun. "All the sudden, I see the red lights and blue lights," said Harold Plants, who lives nearby. "They took the guy out of the garage in handcuffs." The on-duty paramedics, ages 24, 51 and 53, called the police and restrained the teenager until troopers arrived. The director of the Washington County Ambulance and Chair EMS station said the suspect has no connection to the station or any of the employees. Those who live nearby said they are not surprised that something like this happened. "People breaking into cars, stealing this, stealing that, shootings, stabbings," Plants said. "It happens everywhere."  

VIDEO: A Vacaville city firefighter is now a viral sensation after an image of him on the phone in a sea of San Francisco fans was broadcast during Sunday's blowout game. Eugene Hernandez was sitting front row, decked out in his Dallas blue, when not long into the third quarter his phone started to ring. "That's when all the pictures started to roll in, and shortly after that, Dak Prescott threw the interception that was headed straight towards us," Hernandez said. "I kind of already knew, just looking at the image, it was going to be an instant meme." Wearing a decommissioned fire helmet he handmade into a Cowboys hat, he soon found the photo was taking off on social media. Hernandez is used to putting out fires, but it was quickly clear he was starting one on the internet.  

VIDEO: A growing North Idaho fire district is opening their doors to their neighbors in a bright new way. At the Mica Kidd Fire District just south of Coeur d'Alene, when the red light is on outside the fire hall, it's an open invitation to the community to grab a cup of coffee, come inside, and meet their firefighters. "We have the beautiful peaceful beauty of CDA, away from the noise and we have our own quiet little section of the world to enjoy," said Steve Isaacson. On Thursday, the crew included Steve Isaacson, a retired firefighter who lives right down the road. "This is the way to meet the people who are here to serve you and they want to do it, it's an open arm and it's a great idea," said Isaacson. Steve saw the red light and decided to stop by, which is the overall goal of this new initiative started by Chief Robert Matue. When the red light is on, it's inviting the community in.  

VIDEO: It's been three months since a vicious attack at a Birmingham fire station that left one firefighter dead and another injured. July 12 was when an assailant fired multiple shots into the bay of Fire Station 9, and to this day no arrests have been made. Firefighter Jordan Melton died from injuries he suffered in that attack. Firefighter Jamal Jones was badly injured when the gunman opened fire in broad daylight. According to Birmingham Fire officials, Jones has not yet been able to return to work and is still recovering. The company of Fire Station 9 have been operating out of other stations since the incident, currently operating out of Station 8 in Kingston, while renovations are made to Station 9. Until renovations are complete, they'll continue operating at other stations. No arrests have been made in the case, and Birmingham Police have not named any suspects.  

VIDEO: Three years after a devastating fire destroyed her home, Rachael Ray is helping others who have lost theirs to disaster in a brand new show. On Rachael Ray's Rebuild — her first series since she ended her talk show after 17 seasons in March — the celebrity cook and Kitchen Cousins' contractor Anthony Carrino team up to rebuild houses for families in need. It premieres Monday, October 23 on Hulu. "I can say from personal experience that when disaster strikes your home, your life doesn't change in an instant, it changes forever," Ray, 55, says in the trailer, premiering exclusively with PEOPLE. Ray's New York home burned to the ground in a massive fire in 2020. At the time, Ray tweeted to her fans thanking them for their well wishes, and showed gratitude to the firefighters who showed up to help.