VIDEO: Orange County Emergency Services District had a prolonged battle with a raging house fire in the 1400 block of Dogwood in Vidor at Wednesday at around 11 a.m. Chief Robert Smith said that the single-story, wood framed home was engulfed in flame and thick smoke when they arrived. Firefighters had a tough time trying to put out the flames because of the house being full of stuff which impeded them from entering. Chief Smith said that he had to call in the Beaumont Fire Department to bring firefighting foam after pouring a thousand gallons of water a minute onto the flames and was unable to put it out. According to Chief Smith there was a man home when the fire started but he escaped with minor injuries, and no firefighters were injured.  

A fire destroyed an abandoned home on the southwest side of San Antonio early Wednesday morning, officials say. San Antonio firefighters responded to a reported fire on the 300 block of Hawthorne Street near I-35 South around 7:30 a.m. When first responders arrived, they discovered the home was abandoned, but had to work quickly to ensure the flames did not spread to surrounding homes. They had it extinguished in about 15 minutes, officials say. Some of the neighboring homes were somewhat damaged by the fire. A demolition crew will be tearing down what is left of the home later on Wednesday. No injuries were reported and the fire will be investigated.  

VIDEO: Every second counts in an emergency, and on February 11, those critical moments made all the difference for Brazos County resident William "Bill" Wooten. Facing a possible heart attack at his home in South Brazos County, Wooten's life hung in the balance until the swift actions of local first responders intervened. In the early hours of that Super Bowl Sunday morning, his wife dialed 9-1-1, seeking help for her husband. Brazos County dispatcher Katie Riely answered the call, initiating a chain of events that would ultimately save a life. College Station Paramedic Jonathan Ortega, along with EMT Matthew Lopes, rushed to the scene from Station 3, joined by South Brazos County volunteers Travis Lull, Jason Loyd, Jim Barker, Cliff Lafreniere and Chris Vollenweider.  

More than 150 Chicago firefighters battled a three-alarm fire at a business in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. The fire broke out at about 10:43 p.m. in the 4200-block of South Ashland Avenue, Chicago police said. Massive flames and clouds of smoke could be seen billowing from the business, where CFD says a large amount of wooden pallets burned. The company, called CAC Seating, makes furniture for restaurants, including booths, tables and chairs. The Chicago Fire Department said there was a large volume of pallets burning on the loading dock area. The fire was struck Thursday morning and no injuries were reported. Firefighters remained on the scene Thursday morning to put out any hot spots.  

VIDEO: Moore firefighters train to battle not only dangerous fires, but hoarding conditions as well. A brand new training area now gives Moore firefighters first-hand experience when evacuating hoarder homes, thanks to a local nonprofit. Goodwill Central Oklahoma donated nearly $3,000 worth of salvaged goods to the Moore Fire Department. "We sent a big truck and it was full of seven crates that had everything from clothing, home decor, and different furniture items that were already in slightly damaged condition," said Sophia Schwechheimer, Goodwill Director of Communications. Moore Fire Chief Greg Herbster said his crews don't go into hoarder homes often, but when they do, it brings additional challenges. "Anytime we're exposed to these hoarder conditions, it presents quite a challenge for our personnel," said Herbster.  

VIDEO: Because it was on the roof of a skyscraper under construction, a floor-wide fire in Lower Manhattan Wednesday was visible for miles. Hard work by nearly 80 firefighters and EMTs got the blaze under control, but its location — just steps away from the World Trade Center site — left many of the thousands of people in the Financial District concerned that this wasn't just any fire. "Right to 9/11, another episode," said John Morales, a security guard at the building across the street, about where his mind went as soon as he saw the flames. "[It's] unfortunate," he continued, "[but] as a New Yorker, that's what we expect." Images of the blaze were captivating, in the worst way. On top of the 72-story building, apparently from the cone of a utility unit, flames and smoke billowed up to the sky.  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: In about four months, towns across America will hold their very own Fourth of July parades. Local fire and rescue teams often join in the fun, hanging off fire trucks and ambulances as they ride through town. If you find yourself in Waverly for its parade, you might see something a little less normal. They have a fire truck, too, but this one is 90 years old. Waverly Fire and Rescue's 1934 Ford Model BB fire truck has been a prized possession of the city for many years. Showcased at local events, the truck is a window into the past. Besides being a piece of history, the truck has quite the story of its own. In November 1953, 19 years after the truck was purchased by the city, its engine failed on the way to a house fire in Prairie Home. Because of this, the truck was sold.