Waco Fire Department's Fire Chief Gregory Summers confirmed to 6 News Tuesday that he will be retiring after nearly four years of serving in the department, and after 41 overall years of fire service. "It is with a sense of pride, gratitude, and a touch of nostalgia that I announce my retirement as Fire Chief for the Waco Fire Department," Summers said in a statement emailed to 6 News. "Reflecting on my tenure here, I am filled with a profound sense of accomplishment. We have achieved remarkable milestones that have not only elevated the fire department but also contributed to the safety and well-being of the community." In his statement, Summers said he accomplished many things during his tenure, including but not limited to helping hire nearly 20 firefighters, invested over $15 million in newer fire vehicles and gear for the department, secured $12 million in funding for new fire stations, committed toward safety for the department, and expanded partnerships to address cancer within the fire service.  

VIDEO: An explosion rocked eastern Montgomery County on Tuesday morning after an ammunition disposal facility caught fire. Neighbors told ABC13 they could hear the blast from miles away. Officials said it's a miracle no one was hurt. "All I heard was a boom," Lois Jones, who lives nearby, told ABC13 Reporter Jeff Ehling. "A really loud boom around 7:15. It was loud. It felt like it shook my whole house." "It was pretty loud and it sounded like a warzone," another neighbor said. Montgomery County Emergency Service District 3 was called to a fire at Timberline Environmental Services at 3325 Honea Egypt Rd. at 6:45 a.m. By the time firefighters arrived at the facility, the entire building was on fire and bullets were discharging inside. Firefighters were getting ready to battle the flames when the building suddenly exploded.  

An elderly woman has died in an early Tuesday morning house fire in Belton. Firefighters were called to a reported house fire in the 500 block of East Avenue Q at 2:40 a.m. The first units on the scene reported seeing flames coming from the back corner of the house and from the roof. The victim was described as being in her seventies. Her identity was being withheld Tuesday morning pending notification of next of kin. One other person in the home at the time managed to escape. The cause of the fire remained under investigation at midday Tuesday, with firefighters saying it appeared to have started in the dining or kitchen area of the home. While the specific cause was not yet determined, it was believed the fire was accidental. Fire units remained on the scene until shortly after 6:00 a.m.  

San Antonio firefighters are no strangers to fighting vacant structure fires. The number of these fires has been increasing the last several years, according to SAFD fire public information officer, Joe Arrington. But Arrington said he is anticipating by the end of the year, there would have been anywhere between 12 to 16 percent more vacant structure fires compared to last year. Right now, 29 percent of all fires SAFD is battling is at a vacant building or home. "It's definitely a challenge for us and something that's on the rise," Arrington said. Arrington said it is an issue that his department has discussed with other departments across the country to help solve. He said many cities are experiencing the same problem, especially since the pandemic. These fires are more dangerous for both firefighters and people living nearby.  

National organizations representing America's fire and emergency services are calling on Congress to ensure that vital fire service grant programs are reauthorized before they face a permanent sunset. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs are the primary mechanism for the federal government to support local fire departments. These critical programs will sunset on September 30, 2024, if they are not reauthorized. This would have a detrimental impact on the ability of the nation's fire and emergency services to protect communities. To raise awareness, the event scheduled on Thursday, October 12 in Washington, D.C., is hosted by the Congressional Fire Services Institute, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, National Fire Protection Association, and National Volunteer Fire Council.  

If people really looked for history at the New York City building where the Triangle Shirtwaist factory once existed, they could find it. There are plaques pointing out that it was the site of a horrific fire in 1911 that became a catalyst in the American labor movement's fight for workplace safety protections. But for some, a few words on a wall aren't nearly enough to honor the fire's 146 victims. So after years of effort, the Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition on Wednesday is dedicating a new memorial that has no chance of being overlooked. A giant steel ribbon with the names of those who died in the disaster, predominantly women and girls, has been installed running horizontally from one corner of the building. Underneath it, a reflective panel shows the stenciled names as well as quotes from people who were there, describing the mayhem.  

Concerns about explosions, fires and toxic gas have prompted San Diego officials to begin crafting proposed laws to regulate the storage and disposal of lithium-ion batteries, which power electric cars, scooters, laptops, smartphones and other devices. The legislation would also impose new limits on where large-scale lithium battery storage facilities can be located. City leaders praise the increasingly popular batteries for being energy-efficient and helping to fight climate change, but they say new regulations are essential because a rash of recent incidents has raised concerns about public safety. "We're not trying to eliminate them — we're trying to make sure they are safer for consumers and our first responders," said Councilmember Marni von Wilpert, who is spearheading efforts to craft a new city law.  

VIDEO: There is a small group of organizations in the United States who can say they have a stamp of approval from the World Health Organization (WHO). Joining that circle could be Heart to Heart International, a Lenexa-based nonprofit. They respond and send aid to areas of disaster. Whether it's a hurricane, an earthquake or war, their full-scale mobile health facility would have to be ready to roll within 48 hours for the WHO's approval. It must also be self-sufficient and able to help 50 patients. "If you can imagine surviving a disaster and feeling super vulnerable and needing medical care and the team is not from your community, maybe doesn't speak the same language as you, it takes a while to overcome that obstacle of building trust," said Dr. Agustina Boehringer, chief medical officer for Heart to Heart International.