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Articles by Peter Prochilo
Major Fire at Military Base in Canada; Fatalities Reported
By ROB GILLIES Associated Press EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Canada’s defense minister said Saturday that people were killed and injured in an incident at a military base in Alberta that caused a major fire, while reports said that large numbers of injured people were being transported to hospitals. Fire crews scrambled late into the night as fierce winds whipped flames beyond Canadian Forces Base Wainwright and into the surrounding rural area.
CA Fire Chief Certified for Disability Retirement
Edward Booth The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, Calif. (TNS) The American Canyon Fire Protection District board recently certified Chief Geoff Belyea for industrial disability retirement. Specifically, the board on Sept. 29 voted unanimously to determine that Belyea was incapacitated from performing the usual duties of the role because of a medical condition that arose out of his employment with the district, and set an effective retirement day of Oct. 10.
Clarion Events to Join Informa
I am pleased to share that Clarion Events has announced an agreement to be acquired by Informa, a leading global events and information services company. This represents an exciting opportunity for our Fire & Rescue Group, including FDIC International, as we become part of an organization with tremendous global reach, resources, and expertise. While this marks an important new chapter, what will not change is our commitment to serving the fire service community.
Containing the Industry’s Biggest Threat
One of the biggest threats firefighters face doesn’t happen on scene. It’s an invisible, long-term threat that quietly lingers. Long after the fire is out and the flames are extinguished, fire personnel continue to be exposed to the byproducts of combustion through off-gassing – contaminating both their skin and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Lawyers Claim SC City Delaying Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Firefighter LODD Case
Irmo (SC) Firefighter James Muller Lawyers representing the widow of fallen Irmo (SC) firefighter James Muller are reportedly accusing the city of Columbia of intentionally delaying the resolution of Muller’s wrongful death lawsuit. According to The Post and Courier, the Columbia-based firm Rikard and Protopapas filed an emergency motion in the ongoing case around Muller’s 2023 line-of-duty death (LODD).
Heavy Fire on Arrival: Fight Your Way In
Fighting Fire, Fighting Cancer: How Research and Collaboration Are Changing Firefighter Health Watch now! | Cancer remains one of the leading threats to firefighter health, but progress is being made through research, education, and collaboration. This powerful webinar brings together leaders who have dedicated their careers to protecting firefighters both on and off the fireground.
Smoke Explosion, Mayday at Brooklyn Fire; FDNY Firefighters Hurt
Six firefighters reportedly sustained minor injuries during an incident that resulted in a Mayday Saturday night in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. According to FOX 5, the four-alarm fire happened around 5:30 p.m. in a building on N. 5th Street that houses three restaurants. Fire Department of New York (FDNY) officials said that about 35 minutes into the operation, a smoke explosion occurred, prompting a Mayday call. No members were trapped, although six firefighters were transported with minor injuries.
CA Fire Chief Resigns
The fire chief of the Barstow (CA) Fire Protection District offered his letter of resignation Wednesday, with his resignation effective Friday, September 18. “Serving as your Fire Chief has been one of the greatest honors of my professional career,” Barstow Fire Chief Cory Cisneros wrote in a letter posted to social meda.
Fire Rescue Roundup: CA Assisted Living Rescues
Civilian news reported several recent grabs around the country. In Danbury, Connecticut, firefighters reportedly rescued one person from a house fire on Monday, September 14, 2026. Details were scarce, but NBC Connecticut reported that firefighters were called around 1 p.m. Eastern to a home on West Lake Shore Drive for a report of a house fire. The victim was transported, and their condition is not known.
One Dead After IL Home Explosion
One person was confirmed dead after a home explosion in an unicorporated area of Madison County, Illinois, according to reports. On Saturday, September 12, 2026, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office posted on social media that it was responding along with several area fire departments to a reported home explosion in the 100 Block of Vine Street in Moro.
Officials Search for Two Missing After OH Church Fire
Two people were reportedly missing after an abandoned church caught fire recently in Toledo, Ohio, according to local news reports. WTVG reports that the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department was searching for the individuals, who were known to stay inside St. Agnes Church before it was demolished in the wake of a fire on Saturday. The fire caused the church’s steeple to collapse, the historic building was reportedly demolished the next day.
Primary Search and the Can: The Gorilla Drag
How fast and efficiently can you conduct a primary search with a water can? Primary search must be fast, efficient, and thorough. In this episode of Fire Engineering’s Training Minutes, Drew Schaumann of Vent Enter Search demonstrates primary search techniques using a water can, including the “gorilla drag” for moving efficiently through a structure. The video demonstrates a split-style search in a small structure, with firefighters moving in opposite directions to complete the primary search.
CT Crews Rescue Driver After Car Goes Over Seawall
Photo courtesy Branford (CT) Fire Department. Branford (CT) firefighters responded Thursday after a car drove over a seawall and ended up on a rocky beach, according to reports. According to a release from the fire department on social media, companies responded to a reported vehicle that had gone over the seawall on Linden Avenue. Firefighters safely stabilized and accessed the vehicle and assisted with the removal of the driver. One patient was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
HI Firefighters Rescue Two Injured in Tent Fire
Two people sustained significant burn injuries after an overnight tent fire in Nanakuli on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, according to reports. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that Honolulu (HI) firefighters rescued the two victims after responding around 2 a.m. for a rubbish fire on Farrington Highway. Crews pulled the two people, a man and a woman, from the tent and extinguished the fire around 2:45 a.m., the report said.
Firefighters Pull Victim from Lexington (KY) Apartment Fire
First Response AI You Can Trust: Responsible Development, Deployment, and Governance for the Station & Frontline Ops Watch now! | This session explores how artificial intelligence is transforming fire, rescue, and EMS operations — and what it takes to ensure that transformation is responsible, transparent, and mission‑aligned.
FDNY Adds Names of 36 Members to World Trade Center Memorial Wall
On Wednesday, the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) added the names of 36 members to the World Trade Center Memorial Wall. The fallen died of illnesses related to their work in the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan following the terrorist attacks on New York City and the nation. As noted by the Daily News, among those honored at the September 2, 2026 ceremony was Deputy Chief James J. Riches, who died in 2025 at the age of 74.
Chicago Bridge Gets Stuck Due to Excessive Heat; Firefighters Step in to Assist
A bridge in downtown Chicago remained stuck in the raised position Wednesday after letting a boat pass by, according to reports, and Chicago firefighters had to step in to assist. The DuSable Lake Shore Drive bridge across the Chicago River around 10 a.m., according to a report from the Associated Press.”Dangerous” heat in the local area reportedly caused bridge components to expand.
Five-Alarm Fire Ravages IL Businesses
Fire crews responded Wednesday afternoon to a fire that destroyed three businesses in downtown Du Quoin, Illinois. According to The Southern Illinoisan, the fire began around 1:30 p.m. and spread to three businesses on Main Street and Chestnut Street, ultimately engulfing an entire block. More than two dozen fire departments from across the region responded to the fire. There were no reported deaths or injuries, although one person in an adjacent building reportedly suffered a heart attack.
Best Practices for Care of Life Safety Rope
Life Safety rope is a robust, certified rope that is used in emergency response to support and protect rescuers and patients in high and low-angle environments. Life safety rope is the central component of rope rescue systems, and extra care and consideration should be given to how it is maintained and stored. Keeping track of the rope’s history is a very important element in knowing whether the rope is in good condition or not.
Responding to the Evolving Fire Environment
From modern construction and synthetic fuels to lithium-ion battery hazards, today’s fireground looks different. In this episode, Keith Stakes and Meghan Maloney of UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute discuss what recent research is revealing about search, suppression, ventilation, and exposure reduction. Learn how the Fire Safety Research Institute works with the fire service to turn research findings into practical training to support more informed fireground decision-making.
Fireground Decision Making: Stockton Engine 2 Uses Deck Gun to Stop Fire Spread
When the fireground changes, the plan has to change with it. In this video, Stockton Firefighters Engine 2 arrives to find a heavily involved occupancy with fire extending into an exposure. The initial plan is to deploy a 2½ inch handline, but access through a gate creates a delay. Recognizing that the incident is outpacing the original plan, the Engine 2 officer makes a tactical adjustment.
The Evolution of Data for Tactical Capability
On this episode of Humpday Hangouts, host Frank Ricci and P.J. Norwood speak with filmmaker Tommy Jay Dwyer about his documentary Burning Down the House.
How to Properly Fill a Firefighter Water Can (Step-by-Step)
Refilling a pressurized water can is one of those tasks that seems simple, but small mistakes can have a big impact on firefighters’ performance when it matters most. In this Fire Engineering Training Minutes, Scott Ketcham of Vent Enter Search walks through the correct way to refill, assemble, and charge your water can so it operates as intended on the fireground.
Fire Destroys 100 Homes in Norway and Forces Hundreds to Flee
Smoke rises over terraced houses on fire in the Krokstadelva village in Drammen, Norway, Friday. July 17, 2026. (Thomas Fure/NTB Scanpix via AP) DRAMMEN, Norway (AP) — A major fire in southern Norway destroyed more than 100 homes Friday and forced hundreds of people to evacuate the area, according to police and the country’s public broadcaster. The blaze started in a townhouse in the city of Drammen around 3:30 p.m. Friday, police said. It then spread through the area and into nearby forests.
Substandard Work and Evasion of Oversight Helped Fuel Deadly Hong Kong Fire, Investigators Told
FILE - Smoke rises after a fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court, a residential estate in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong's New Territories, Nov. 26 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei, File) By KANIS LEUNG Associated Press HONG KONG (AP) — An independent committee investigating the cause of Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades heard arguments on how improper practices that evaded regulatory oversight turned a small fire into a tragedy as the investigation neared its conclusion Friday.
Pressurized Water Can Specs Explained
The pressurized water can is a staple on most fire apparatus, but it’s often underutilized on the fireground. In this Fire Engineering Training Minutes video, Scott Ketcham walks through the core specifications every firefighter should understand, including capacity, weight, reach, discharge time, and operating pressure. He also breaks down simple, practical modifications like carrying straps and hitch pins that improve handling, efficiency, and usability during search and fire attack operations.
Memorial Service to Honor Firefighters Killed on CO-UT Border
A woman salutes during a procession for firefighters who died battling wildfires near the Colorado-Utah border in Grand Junction, Colo., Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil) By JESSICA HILL and WUFEI YU Associated Press Three firefighters who were killed battling flames on the Colorado-Utah border are being remembered as brave heroes who were trailblazers in their industries.
What a Failed Fit Test Found Before It Was Too Late
A firefighter at a Texas fire department had been getting sick after fires. Headaches. Nausea. A cough that lingered for days. It happened after two fires, then a third. He mentioned it to his buddy, and the response was what you’d expect: That’s just how it is. You go into fires; you feel rough afterward. It comes with the job. He accepted that for a while. Then he went in for his annual fit test. He couldn’t pass.
Morning Pride and NFPA 1970: Despite Standard Changes, Focus on Firefighters Doing the Work Remains
(1) All images courtesy of Morning Pride. When Bill Grillot, former president of Morning Pride, was crawling hallways as a firefighter, he often found himself climbing on the front of his coat. That experience left him wondering: How can we make this better? The result was the TAILS innovation, adding extra length to the back of the bunker gear and tapering in front, extending firefighters’ range of motion.
Enhancing Firefighter Health and Safety in the Evolving Built Environment
By Keith Stakes and Meghan Maloney While accepting risk has always been at the heart of the fire service’s mission, the ever-evolving fire environment leaves behind serious safety implications for both firefighters and the public. New construction techniques and synthetic materials contribute to faster fire growth, more severe toxic and thermal threats, and earlier collapse potential.
Four Teslas Catch Fire at MD Dealership
Lily Carey Baltimore Sun (TNS) Four Teslas caught fire at the dealership in Owings Mills on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a response from Baltimore County Fire’s hazmat team. According to fire department spokesperson Cynthia Gee Scott, one Tesla had been brought to the dealership on Wednesday with “some sort of issue,” and caught fire around 4:45 p.m. The fire quickly spread to three other cars nearby, Scott said.
Why the Los Angeles Cold Storage Warehouse Fire Is So Hard to Extinguish
Gillian Mohney SFGate, San Francisco (TNS) Jun. 23—Warehouse company Lineage, a giant in the cold storage space, has been at the center of controversy this week as its massive facility in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights continues to burn, sending plumes of toxic smoke into the Southern California sky.
Firefighters Rescue Woman from Burning MI Condo
Mitch Hotts Voice News, New Baltimore, Mich. (TNS) Firefighters rescued a woman from her burning condominium near the area of 15 Mile and Utica roads in Fraser on Tuesday night. Fraser public safety officers were called to the 16000 block of Woodlane Street after smoke was seen coming from the two-story structure, officials said in a news release. According to the release, fire crews encountered visible fire and smoke conditions coming from the residence.
Three Dead in OH Plane Crash
WARREN DILLAWAY Star Beacon, Ashtabula, Ohio (TNS) MIDDLEFIELD — Three Ashtabula County residents were killed in plane crash just after 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, according to a press release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Chardon Post. “The preliminary investigation determined a Piper Comanche 250 crashed into a field, approximately one mile east of the Geauga County Airport,” the press release states.
IL Mobile Home Park Explosion Sends Resident to Hospital
Payton Felix Daily Gazette, Sterling, Ill. (TNS) An explosion at a manufactured home in a Dixon mobile home park sent one resident to the hospital Monday morning and prompted an evacuation of the entire community due to elevated gas levels. The Dixon City Fire Department was dispatched at 6 a.m. to the 1500 block of Estates Road in Chateau Estates off Anchor Road in Dixon for the reported explosion.
NIST: Deadly Collapse at FL Condo Happened Slowly over Several Weeks
FILE - Coast Guard boats patrol in front of the partially collapsed Champlain Towers South condo building, July 1, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File) By HALLIE GOLDEN Associated Press The deadly destruction of a Florida beachfront condominium actually started weeks before it collapsed into a pile of rubble in the middle of the night, killing 98 people in 2021, but the building had been vulnerable from the start, federal investigators found in a final report issued Monday.
Fire Tears Through Building in Northern India, Killing 14
Firefighters work to put out a fire in a commercial building in Lucknow, India, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Sumit Kumar) By BISWAJEET BANERJEE Associated Press LUCKNOW, India (AP) — A fire tore through a commercial building in the northern Indian city of Lucknow on Monday, killing at least 14 people, most of them students, officials said.
PA Turnpike Officials, Firefighters Planning to Examine Challenges Faced During Tunnel Fire
David Hurst The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa. (TNS) When firefighters arrived at the scene of a vehicle fire June 4 in the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Allegheny Mountain Tunnel, they weren’t just battling flames. Thick, dark smoke – and issues with ventilating the space – had carbon monoxide levels rising.
Mayor Declares Emergency to Secure Resources to Fight Los Angeles Warehouse Fire
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared an emergency Saturday to ensure the city gets the resources it needs to fight a large warehouse fire that has sent large plumes of smoke into the air. “The city and county have opened spaces for families seeking relief from the smoke, and we will continue working around the clock and doing everything possible to put this fire out completely,” Bass said in a news release announcing the emergency declaration.
MD County Chiefs Want EMS Staff to Assist on Volunteer Fire Calls
The Princess Anne Fire Department, which will stop providing EMS services to Somerset County as of Dec. 31. (Josh Davis/Sun Staff) Josh Davis Baltimore Sun (TNS) Somerset County fire chiefs are asking county officials to let county EMS workers help on volunteer fire calls, saying the current policy keeps trained first responders from pitching in even when they are already on scene. The change could be complicated, involving county policy, job duties, liability and chain-of-command questions.
Numerous Rescues After Fire at Japan School
Firefighters work at the site of a fire at an elementary school in Tokyo, Friday, June 19, 2026. (Kyodo News via AP) By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — A fire broke out at an elementary school in downtown Tokyo Friday, but all of about 300 students and teachers were evacuated or rescued, officials said. They said several people were injured while fleeing, mostly from inhaling smoke, and that the exact number of injured is being finalized.
Tropical Storm Remnants Drench Gulf States; Tornadoes Hit Midwest
Williams and 31St. in Kenner is flooded during Tropical Storm Arthur in New Orleans, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (David Grunfeld/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP) By JACK BROOK, DAVE COLLINS and DAVID FISCHER Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur battered parts of the southeastern United States with drenching rains and strong wind on Thursday, tearing through buildings, flooding homes and launching water rescues along the Gulf Coast.
Previously Ousted FEMA Boss Back Again for Permanent Post
Cameron Hamilton sworn during a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing to examine his nomination to be Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Not Squatters: Renters Didn’t Know WA Theater Apartments Were Illegal
Bonny Matejowsky The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.) (TNS) The rooftop fire was only the beginning of the Temple Theatre’s troubles. The historic Stadium District venue has lacked power since an electrical fire erupted on its roof May 12. Upon further inspection, the City of Tacoma found the Landmark Convention Center didn’t just contain a stage and event spaces. City investigators discovered illegal apartments within the building and issued a “Do Not Occupy” order for tenants on June 11.
Small Plane Crashes on TX Highway, Killing One
By HALLIE GOLDEN Associated Press A business jet with six people on board crashed on a highway in Laredo, Texas, and caught fire Tuesday night, authorities said, killing one person and causing chaos as people left their vehicles to frantically try to smash the cockpit window and free those inside. Drivers who came upon the burning plane, which was nearly sheared in half and tipped on its side, captured dramatic rescue scenes on video or rushed toward the aircraft on foot to help.
Fire Officials Investigate Multibuilding IL Fire as Arson
The remaining structures after at least three abandoned houses caught fire at 5428 Turlington Road at around 2:30 a.m. June 2, 2026. The electricians found a kitten in the debris. (Addison Wright/Daily Southtown) Evy Lewis Daily Southtown (Tinley Park, Ill.) (TNS) A multistructure fire that burned several abandoned homes June 2 on Turlington Road in Harvey is being investigated as potential arson, the Harvey Fire Department said in a statement.
Long-Vacant SC Buildings See Three Fire Calls in Four Nights
Three fires break out over 4 nights at neighboring vacant Decker Boulevard properties tied to local developer Alan Kahn. Morgan Hughes The State (TNS) Columbia-Richland firefighters last week responded to three fires in four nights at two long-vacant former restaurant buildings on Decker Boulevard, properties owned by companies for high-profile Columbia developer Alan Kahn and associates, according to state and county records.
Seven MO Cities Consider Merging Fire Departments
Nassim Benchaabane St. Louis Post-Dispatch (TNS) ST. LOUIS COUNTY — Seven cities across mid St. Louis County are taking the first steps to merge their fire departments into one regional force. Officials from Olivette, University City, Clayton, Richmond Heights, Maplewood, Webster Groves and Shrewsbury have finalized an agreement to pay up to $40,000 each to study how they could merge departments into one regional agency, as early as 2028.
12 Dead in Skydiving Plane Crash in MO, Authorities Say
BUTLER, Mo. (AP) — A plane carrying a pilot and 11 passengers planning to spend a sunny afternoon skydiving crashed Sunday in Missouri, killing all aboard, authorities said. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said in a statement that troopers were at the crash site, assisting the Butler Police Department & Bates County Sheriff’s Office. The crash occurred near the Butler Memorial Airport.
More Baby Ducks Are Falling into CT’s Storm Drains
Kaitlin Keane The Hour, Norwalk, Conn. (TNS) Jun. 2—Over the past month, Connecticut fire departments have been getting calls about a rarer kind of rescue — saving ducklings from storm drains. Yet state wildlife experts say the increase in rescues could be a sign of changes among the state’s ducks.
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