Firefighters battle to contain brush fire in Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue responded to a reported brush fire in Loxahatchee Monday afternoon. The fire is currently contained, but fire crews are keeping a close eye on any hot spots from the fire at the 185th Trail that started just before 3:30 p.m. Monday afternoon. Initial arriving units found a 10-acre lot that was having land cleared, about 3 acres of which was on fire. On the Western end of the area was a canal with houses to its immediate west. The fire, being driven that way by gusty winds, jumped the canal, starting a small fire very close to the houses. Fire Rescue increased the response to 16 units and positioned some on that Western flank where an engine drafted water from the canal and stopped the fire from advancing toward the residences.
WPBF-TV ABC 25 Tequesta

State Recognizes Public Safety Telecommunicators During National Week

This week, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and other public safety agencies across the country will recognize public safety telecommunicators during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW). Each year beginning in 1981, the second week of April is reserved to honor public safety telecommunicators for their commitment, service, and sacrifice. This year, NPSTW is April 14th-April 20th. FLHSMV is excited to recognize the hundreds of Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) State Law Enforcement Dispatchers (SLED) within all seven troops who work to protect Florida citizens, visitors, and state law enforcement as they respond to the community’s needs. The integral work of emergency dispatchers is paramount in meeting the needs of people seeking assistance, often in traumatic and intense situations.
WENG-AM 1530 Englewood

Port St. Lucie 25 years after fire: Officials discuss what has been done for prevention

VIDEO: April 15, 1999, the city of Port St. Lucie was in flames. More than 40 homes were destroyed, but miraculously no one was killed. Inside Fire Station 15 in Fort Pierce, there is a picture of a moment frozen in time. It is of a raging inferno, where you can see a tunnel of smoke across a busy road. Lt. Chris Longo snapped the photo and not long after, had to escape the flames. “We had to hide under our truck, because it advanced and went over the top of us," Longo said. "We hid under the truck and it literally caught some of the areas of the truck on fire, we literally had to put our own truck out." In an area roughly bordered by Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike, more than 40 homes were destroyed. Joel Dramis’ home was nearly one of them. “I remember my wife calling me saying there was a lot of smoke, do I know what’s going on?" he said.
WPTV NBC 5 West Palm Beach

Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department honors fallen engineer who served 20 years

VIDEO: The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department honored a fallen 20-year veteran of the agency on Sunday. JFRD held a procession for Engineer Heath J. O'Shea, 44, in Jacksonville on Sunday morning. Emergency vehicles stopped on the side of the Fuller Warren Bridge as members saluted the vehicles in the procession for O'Shea. "Losing someone and saying goodbye isn't easy...but we will send you out with grace and dignity that you have earned and deserve," JFRD wrote on social media Sunday. O'Shea died after suffering from a medical emergency while on duty at Fire Station 54 Friday night, JFRD announced in a press release on Saturday. Despite life-saving efforts made by JFRD personnel and medical staff, O'Shea died at the hospital early Saturday morning.
WTLV-TV NBC 12 Jacksonville

2 grass fires in west Miami-Dade County burn over 250 acres

VIDEO: Two grass fires that erupted Sunday afternoon in west Miami-Dade County have burned through over 250 acres, as of Monday afternoon, the Florida Forest Service confirmed. “It’s a horrible thing that’s going on,” Sergio Rivas, who lives in the area, said. According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials, crews responded to one fire in the area of Southwest 137th Avenue and Eighth Street around 2:14 p.m. Sunday. “We’ve lived here for 20 years and this is not new to us. Every time it happens, it’s very sad,” another resident, Michelle Izquierdo, said. According to MDFR, about 45 percent of the fire, which has burned 170 acres, been contained, thanks in part to the Tamiami Canal. “It just keeps getting more and more. It’s like wow,” Danielle Pavon told Local 10 on Sunday.
WPLG-TV ABC 10 Miami

Fire under control at Everglades Recycling junkyard in Opa-locka, crews say

VIDEO: A first-alarm fire that spread through a junkyard in Opa-locka is now under control, rescue crews said. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units arrived at the scene along the 3400 block of Northwest 135th Street, at Everglades Recycling, Friday afternoon. 7Skyforce hovered above the scene at 4 p.m. as black smoke billowed from a pile of rubble at the junkyard. Firefighters were also seen attempting to douse the flames with water. According to fire rescue officials, 15 units responded to the fire and used heavy machinery to locate the seed of the fire. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is not known.
WSVN-TV FOX 7 Miami