All articles tagged with #firefighters
Austin firefighters warn that Tesla’s touchscreen-only Cybercab lacks a steering wheel, meaning manual control hinges on power and the touchscreen, which could be unreliable in emergencies; gloves, dust, or damage could complicate operation, and they urge federal regulators to require physical steering controls rather than leaving the decision to automakers.
Firefighters exposed to major California fires report rapid symptom relief after glutathione treatments, fueling interest in antioxidant therapies. But the IAFF warns there’s no robust evidence of effectiveness and points to safety concerns after product recalls, while IHAN- affiliated clinicians rely on anecdotal data rather than controlled trials. No large-scale clinical studies exist yet, underscoring the need for research and keeping proven protections like PPE and decontamination as the main safeguards.
At a 9/11 anniversary event, Trump said two firefighters lifted him off the ground near Ground Zero and carried him to safety as the area reeled; he later posted on Truth Social that he wasn’t at the World Trade Center on the day of the collapse but shortly thereafter, a timeline White House aides described as reflecting his experience in the chaotic aftermath, though some of his 9/11 recollections have not been independently verified.
At a Sept. 11 tribute, President Trump again claimed that two firefighters carried him to safety after visiting the World Trade Center site; the account, long circulated and repeatedly disputed by officials, remains a component of his post-9/11 narrative as he leans into the recovery era for political messaging.
Christine Kannler honors her late brother Pete Kannler, a Chelsea firefighter who died of esophageal cancer in 2016, by championing cancer screenings for fellow firefighters to save lives in his memory.
Amid wildfire smoke exposure, some firefighters tout glutathione as a protective remedy, but medical experts say there is no solid clinical evidence it is effective and warn that nebulized or specially prepared forms can be unsafe, with risks of airway irritation and contamination. Regulators have debated access to the supplement, and while glutathione is an antioxidant with plausible biology, more rigorous studies are needed before it can be recommended as a treatment or preventive for smoke exposure.
An American tourist, a 29-year-old man from Kansas, died after being struck by lightning while hiking in a restricted area of Mount Etna in Sicily as volcanic activity continues; he was airlifted by helicopter but pronounced dead, and authorities have closed large sections of the slope, with nearby airports and flights affected by the eruption-related disruptions.
A dramatic Berlin blaze in an 18-story building began on the 11th floor. A woman on the exterior ledge crawled along a window after flames and smoke spread, then leaped into a firefighter’s rescue basket two floors below and was saved with minor injuries. The fire affected 115 people; 25 were rescued via stairwell hoods and ladders, and 13 others had minor injuries. Eighteen fire engines, two aerial ladders, nine ambulances and more responded; the cause is under investigation.
Spokane firefighters battled the Old Trails wildfire that ripped through West Plains neighborhoods, evacuations forced, as crews from the Spokane Fire Department and Spokane County Fire District 8 defended Loomis' home and surrounding streets for hours amid 50 mph winds, exploding gas lines, and blinding smoke, a chaotic, near-impossible fight that saved some houses but left widespread destruction and an emotional toll on responders.
A massive Spokane County wildfire overwhelmed local crews, with flames reaching 150 feet and smoke so thick responders dropped to their knees to breathe. Firefighters worked long shifts—one operator logged about 39 hours—without relief as resources were stretched thin; as the blaze consumed homes and neighborhoods, mutual aid from across the country arrived to support the incident command post and help push containment.
More than 1,500 firefighters from two dozen states are battling the Spokane Complex Fire near Spokane, Washington, across three blazes that have burned about 10,500 acres and damaged or destroyed roughly 850 structures. With temperatures rising into the upper 90s and no rain in sight, crews are working 16-hour shifts and sleeping five to seven hours as they try to hold lines; about 67,000 people have been displaced. Aerial operations were briefly disrupted by drone activity, and an arson suspect has been charged in connection with one blaze. No deaths have been reported.
Three Greek firefighters died battling wildfires near Rethymno on Crete as gale-force winds spread the blazes. About 2,000 tourists were evacuated from Agia Galini and surrounding areas, with 156 firefighters, eight ground teams, 33 engines, four helicopters and four aircraft deployed, plus coastguard assistance and support from heavy machinery. Evacuations expanded to several villages after 112 emergency alerts, and the Rethymno Arson Crime Investigation Unit is probing the fire’s cause; coastguard lifeboats rescued 29 people from the sea near Agios Pavlos.
Nathan Matthews, 43, died from injuries sustained while fighting the Knowles fire near the Utah border, becoming the fourth firefighter to die from this blaze; three Rifle Helitack teammates—Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson and Sydney Watson—died at the scene, with a fifth firefighter still hospitalized as investigators review the incident. The Knowles fire merged into the Snyder fire, which burned about 30,202 acres and is now fully contained.
Crews defend Sisters, Oregon as the Akawa Butte Fire grows beyond 26,000 acres and has burned at least two homes; more than 1,000 firefighters are working amid hot, windy conditions with no rain in sight. Officials say the worst may be behind them and regional evacations (Level 1) aim to be lifted as crews attempt to safely return residents, though continued vigilance is urged.
A fast-moving wildfire in the Fontainebleau forest south of Paris burned about 800 hectares, prompting the deployment of two firefighting planes from the south and around 400 firefighters to contain it, evacuations of about 15 homes, and the partial closure of the A6 as the region endures a heatwave.