firefighters

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Texas Fires' Toll: 1,000 Homes and Counting

Firefighters still trying to contain blazes fed by Tropical Storm Lee

(Newser) - More than 1,000 homes have been destroyed in at least 57 wildfires across rain-starved Texas, most of them in one devastating blaze near Austin that is still raging out of control, officials said today. Gov. Rick Perry, who cut short a presidential campaign trip to South Carolina to return...

Atheists Pan Sign Honoring 9/11 Firefighters

Say 'Seven in Heaven' violates church and state separation

(Newser) - A street sign in Brooklyn honoring seven firefighters who died on 9/11 has gotten the thumbs down from a New York atheist group, reports the Village Voice . The problem? The sign ceremonially renames Richards Street "Seven in Heaven Way," and the NYC Atheists say that any reference to...

Obama Lays Wreath at Ground Zero

He's makes first trip as president as 'closure' for New York City

(Newser) - President Obama made his first visit to Ground Zero as president, a trip the White House views as "closure" for New York City in the wake of Osama bin Laden's killing, reports the Daily News . He first visited a firehouse that lost 15 firefighters on 9/11. "When...

Fight Fire With ... Electric Wands?

Devices could someday put out fires with electricity

(Newser) - A little piece of Hogwarts may someday be reality: firefighters could eventually replace their hoses with flame-snuffing wands, the Daily Mail reports. Scientists attached a 600-watt electrical amplifier to a wand that blasted a foot-high fire with electricity, and the flames were extinguished almost immediately, they announced at a conference...

Wildfires Blazing in West Texas
 Wildfires Blazing in West Texas 
Feb 28, 2011 2:24 PM CST

Wildfires Blazing in West Texas

Hundreds evacuated; kennel fire claims dogs

(Newser) - Wildfires continued their blaze across West Texas today, though calmer winds allowed firefighters to make some headway. The weekend brought fierce gusts that carried the fires across 120,000 acres, reducing 80 homes to ashes and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of residents. Firefighters, support helicopters, and tanker planes are...

1 Dead, 100 Homeless in Brooklyn Blaze

Fire rips through building with 70 apartments

(Newser) - A five-alarm fire ripped through a Brooklyn apartment building last night, leaving one resident dead, 100 homeless, and injuring more than 20 firefighters as some 200 of them battled the blaze in high winds, reports the New York Post. The fire broke out just before 7pm, but wasn't brought under...

Goodbye, Nostalgia: Fire Stations Scrap Poles

Quick means of descent was major safety hazard

(Newser) - They may be cool, but they’re just not safe: fire departments around the country are getting rid of their classic poles, Time reports. Instead, they’re opting for stairs and slides. “The pole is something we associated with as kids," says a Seattle architect. "But the...

2 Firefighters Killed In Abandoned Building Collapse

A total of 14 injured battling abandoned building blaze

(Newser) - Two Chicago firefighters died today after the wall of a burning building collapsed on them. Crews were trying to put out a fire in an abandoned South Side commercial building when the wall collapsed, trapping four firefighters and injuring 12 others, the Chicago Tribune reports. All four of the trapped...

Tennessee County Widens Subscription Fire Policy

That same policy allowed family's home to burn

(Newser) - Remember the Tennessee home that burned as firefighters watched because the family hadn't paid its $75 annual fee? It may not be the last: Rural Obion County is expanding its subscription program to cover all fire departments in the area next year, reports Time . The county's mayor says it's the...

Firefighter Filmed, Posted Video of Woman's Death

Parents sent link to gruesome online clip

(Newser) - A Georgia couple who discovered a gruesome video of their daughter's death posted online wants the rules changed so no other family will have to go through the anguish they suffered. The video was taken with a cell phone by a firefighter who arrived on the scene soon after the...

Woman Dies After Saving Kids from Fire

After throwing children out window to safety, she succumbs to smoke

(Newser) - A Louisville mom died a hero yesterday, after saving at least three children from a burning building. As her sister fled the building with two other children, 31-year-old Tomarra Finley stayed behind to wake up her kids and help them escape. With the exits blocked, she kicked out the second-story...

Woman Doesn't Blame Firefighters for Letting House Burn

Cranick says Tennessee firefighters were just following orders

(Newser) - The Tennessee woman whose house fire sparked a national controversy says she's not holding a grudge against the firefighters who stood by as her home burned to the ground . "You can't blame them if they have to do what the boss says to do," said Paulette Cranick—whose...

Glenn Beck: Firefighters Right to Let Home Burn

'We are going to have to have these kinds of things' in the future

(Newser) - Liberals and conservatives are in a standoff over the firefighters who let Gene Cranick’s home burn down because he hadn’t paid a $75 fee for fire services. Glenn Beck weighed in yesterday—mimicking, for a moment, Cranick’s Southern accent—and he’s on the firefighters’ side, ThinkProgress...

Firefighters Let Man's Home Burn Over Unpaid $75 Fee

Gene Cranick lost his home, three dogs, and a cat in blaze

(Newser) - As his Tennessee home burned to the ground last week, Gene Cranick didn't have to watch the tragedy unfold alone: He was flanked by his local firefighters. The firefighters initially refused to come to the scene as the fire raged—because Cranick had failed to pay a $75 annual service...

Oregon Firefighters Save Stuck Camel

1,200-pound beast rescued from sinkhole

(Newser) - Firefighters in rural Oregon have saved plenty of animals, including their share of stuck cats—but a trapped camel was a unique experience. The animal's owners called in Clackamas County firefighters after the pet camel, which weighs more than 1,200 pounds, became stuck up to its neck in a...

Two Killed in LA Explosion, Fire

Natural gas blast destroys 2-story building

(Newser) - Two people was killed today when a gas explosion ripped through a building in South Los Angeles. What firefighters described as a violent natural gas explosion occurred at 6:15am at a 2-story building that houses a welding operation, causing the facade to collapse and starting a fire, NBC Los...

Transgendered Widow Battles for Benefits

Angry parents say son was upset he was 'tricked'

(Newser) - Nikki Araguz lost her firefighter husband, Thomas, in the line of duty two weeks ago, and now she could lose his benefits—because she was born male. The Texas widow faces a lawsuit from her husband's parents, who charge that her transgender status makes her ineligible to receive benefits, and...

NFL Retiree Takes Up Firefighting
NFL Retiree Takes Up Firefighting
Jun 22, 2010 2:46 PM CDT

NFL Retiree Takes Up Firefighting

Ex-Ravens long snapper Joe Maese fulfills lifelong dream

(Newser) - Plenty of little boys want to be football players when they grow up, and many dream of becoming firefighters. Joe Maese has gotten to do both. "Even when I played in the NFL, I eventually couldn't see myself doing anything different than I do now," the former Raven...

Cat Saves Family, Goes Missing

Illinois tabby alerted owners, dog to fire in their home

(Newser) - A cat who alerted her sleeping family to a fire spreading through their house, allowing them to escape unharmed, has disappeared from their suburban Chicago home. Baby roused Josh Ornberg and girlfriend Letitia Kovalovsky, who are expecting twins, and their dog early this morning. Because the 13-year-old tabby usually "...

Broken Pipe Floods Major LA Street

Flooding carries away cars, damages homes and businesses

(Newser) - More than 125 firefighters rushed to a major Los Angeles boulevard deluged by a broken water main in the wee hours, the LA Times and AP report. A 64-inch pipe, part of the city's original 94-year-old water system, erupted this morning, sweeping cars down streets and damaging businesses and homes....

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