2 firefighters injured during West Virginia brush fire released from hospital

Two Point Pleasant volunteer firefighters responded to a brush fire call on Wednesday when the weather got the best of them. “As yesterday’s weather was very, very windy -- during them fighting the fire, the wind direction changed and when it did it blew right on to a couple of the guys. They did not sustain burns, but they both had medical emergencies due to the change of direction of the wind,” Point Pleasant Fire Chief Jeremy Bryant said. Bryant said two of his firefighters suffered minor injuries responding to that brush fire and were sent to the hospital, but then released later Wednesday night. He said it’s always a scary situation when one of your own experiences any type of medical issue while on call -- but he is just glad they are going to be OK. “We are very fortunate that nothing further happened and that both will recover just fine,” he said.
WSAZ-TV NBC 3 Huntington

Pilots in Arizona prepare for 2024 peak wildfire season

VIDEO: As the weather warms up again, the peak of wildfire season is just beginning and pilots with the Western Pilot Service are getting ready to take to the skies and help fight fires from the air. According to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, more than 180,000 acres burned statewide in 2023. Approximately 71% of all of Arizona fires were human-caused. Beryl Shears, the president and primary owner of Western Pilot Service, hopes people will be responsible. “They need to listen to the authorities, the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the State Forestry,” Shears said. “Clear space around the home is the primary thing. If they can clear that brush away, those people that are at risk, near the forest, near the woodland, anywhere cleared away and have a safe space around their home.
KNXV-TV ABC 15 Phoenix

Firefighters in Colorado hone wildfire skills

VIDEO: The Colorado Springs Fire department just started its annual wildland fire training in the Skyway Neighborhood on the southwest side of the city. “For our Mayor, and for our Fire Chief, this is one of our top priorities, keeping our community safe from wildfire,” said CSFD Deputy Fire Chief Steve Wilch. The training is to ensure firefighter skills meet national wildland firefighting standards and CSFD expectations. Wilch said, “This is something we will do department wide. So all line firefighters will be out here in the month of April.” The simulation for the exercise is multiple reports from neighbors seeing fire in an open space near homes with flames moving up hill. Firefighters work as if a burn is happening. “Out here using our tools, training, gaining the experience we need,” said Wilch.
KOAA-TV NBC 5 Pueblo

$4.9 million helibase opens in northern Arizona to help mitigate wildfires

PHOTOS: The latest state-of-the-art helibase recently opened in northern Arizona to help with wildfire mitigation efforts, officials announced Tuesday. The $4.9 million facility is located near Star Valley, 7 miles east of Payson. It will aid in supporting the Payson Ranger District’s crisis strategy for reducing wildfire risk and serve as a logistical hub, according to the U.S. Forest Service. “The helibase has a three-fold mission: fire suppression, supporting fuel reduction projects and supporting land management activities,” Daniel Whatley, the Payson Ranger District fire management officer, said in a press release. “During a wildfire, helicopters deliver water, equipment and crews to suppress or reduce the spread of a wildfire.” The facility will be able to handle up to three helicopters at a time, helping the Tonto National Forest better fight fires.
KTAR-FM 92.3 Glendale

Washington’s early drought sparks wildfire fears

VIDEO: The Department of Ecology has issued a statewide drought emergency for Washington, marking a concerning start to what experts predict could be a long, hot summer. Last year, drought conditions didn't hit until July, but this year, the declaration came months earlier, prompting officials to take action. On the heels of this alarming announcement, Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz delivered her own warning. "We're going to see more increasing wildfires, and more wildfires on the west side of the state," she predicted. Forecasters with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources say the combination of low snowpack and below-average precipitation is problematic. "Less moisture in the landscape means when it's hot and dry for a long enough period and a fire starts, it becomes a tinderbox," Franz explained.
KCPQ-TV FOX 13 Tacoma

Tour New Jersey’s Blue Anchor Fire Tower

VIDEO: So far this year, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service says there have been 277 wildfires in the state with nearly 300 acres burned. Fire season just began. The first line of defense? Well, they sit 100 feet or higher in the sky. "Nothing else like it," NJFFS Fire Observer, Mark Turner, said. He's been with the fire service for eight years. Turner spends eight hours a day — alone — up in the sky. On Tuesday, CBS News Philadelphia met him 100 feet in the air at the Blue Anchor Fire Tower, and to get there, we all walked up a narrow zig-zagged staircase. "A lot of people think, 'Ah, I couldn't do that because you're just stuck in a box all day,' but if you really look at the big picture — sometimes there's a lot going on," Turner said. Arguably there is a lot going on all the time.
KYW-TV CBS 3 Philadelphia