St. Petersburg Police: Man killed in suspected arson, wife dies days later

The St. Petersburg Police Department is working to figure out what led to a man and woman dying following a fire Friday night. Police say a call came in around 9:30 p.m. concerning a possible arson in the 5400 block of 14th Ave. N. St. Petersburg Fire Rescue arrived and pulled two people from the home, according to a release. Officers say the man was dead and the woman was taken to the hospital in critical condition. The fire was put out around 1 a.m. Saturday. Detectives say 67-year-old Charles Nelson died in the fire. His wife, Janet Nelson, had been in critical but stable condition. She died over the weekend, police said. No other information was immediately available.
WTSP-TV CBS 10 St. Petersburg

Miami-Dade County Installs UV Light Fans At EOC To Kill Coronavirus Particles While Monitoring Isaias

The coronavirus pandemic is adding to the level of concern as South Florida monitors Tropical Storm Isaias. Protecting first responders is vitally important while working which is why UV light fans were installed at the Miami-Dade County Emergency Operations Center. Fans equipped with ultraviolet lights are designed to help kill airborne virus particles. Other safety measures installed at the County EOC include acrylic shields, mandatory masks and social distancing protocols.
WFOR-TV CBS 4 Miami

Fort Pierce quadruplex fire displaces three families

Volunteers from the Red Cross responded to a fire Saturday in Fort Pierce that displaced three families. The fire occurred in the 500 block of N. 6th Street at about 3:10 p.m., according to the St. Lucie County Fire District. Crews said the fire caused damage to two units and affected five people. The Red Cross said they provided assistance and recovery planning to the families.
WPTV NBC 5 West Palm Beach

Paxton, Mossy Head to receive two new ambulances

Walton County Fire Rescue celebrated the addition of two new apparatuses to its fleet of emergency vehicles this week. At 9 a.m. Friday, July 31, Walton County Fire Rescue introduced two new four wheel drive ambulances with a traditional “wet-down and push-in ceremony.” One of the ambulances will be placed into service at Station 1 in Paxton, and the second apparatus will be housed at the WCFR EMS station in Mossy Head. “Protecting the homes, businesses, and citizens of Walton County is our top priority,” said Fire Chief Russell Beaty. “That’s why it is vital that our first responders are provided with the best equipment and training. The citizens of Paxton and Mossy Head can be proud that these resources will be serving them for many years to come.”
Northwest Florida Daily News - Metered Site

Three Tractor Trailers Involved in Collision, Two Drivers Entrapped on I-95 in Brevard County

PHOTO: Multiple law enforcement and fire rescue units were on the scene of a multi-vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of Interstate 95 at Mile Marker 229 on Friday. Two Trauma Alerts were issued and rescue crews freed both drivers, which had to be extricated from two of the trucks. The Florida Highway Patrol said the crash involved three semi-trucks, including a tanker, and northbound I-95 was blocked for a significant time for the cleanup as crews had to deal with a diesel fuel leak as well as an oil leak from the tanker truck. Brevard County Fire Rescue units, including Hazmat 48 as well as units from the City of Titusville, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Aircare, First Flight, Florida Highway Patrol were on the call.
SpaceCoastDaily.com

Child hospitalized after nearly drowning in SW Miami-Dade County

A child has been transported to the hospital after nearly drowning in Southwest Miami-Dade. Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue crews responded to the Bonanza Equestrian Center, in the area of Southwest 123rd Avenue and 56th Street, just after 11 a.m., Friday. The pediatric patient was transported to Kendall Regional Medical Center in stable condition, according to police. The victim’s age has not yet been released. 7SkyForce HD hovered over the scene where several police cruisers could be seen parked outside of the center.
WSVN-TV Fox 7 Miami

Clint Belk Named Fire Chief in Madeira Beach

The City of Madeira Beach has a new Fire Chief. Former Fire Inspector and Interim Fire Chief Clint Belk officially accepted the offer to become Station 25’s permanent chief late last week. Belk, a former, Rescue Lieutenant, Firefighter, and Paramedic brings 15-years of firefighting experience to the job. Belk started his public safety career in 2005 with Alachua County Fire Rescue by responding to medical calls and performing lifesaving procedures. In 2012 he joined the Madeira Beach Fire Department as a Firefighter/Paramedic. In 2018 he was promoted to Fire Safety Inspector and was tasked with reviewing building plans and construction sites for life safety code compliance issues. Belk was named Madeira Beach Interim Fire Chief in March of this year.
Paradise News

2-Alarm Residential Fire In Valrico Area, 1 Firefighter Injured

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded to a residential fire of a large 2-story in the Valrico area late this afternoon. Firefighters arrived on the scene in the 3300 block of Little Rd. just before 4pm to find flames shooting through the roof of the more than 5,000 square foot structure. Crews made sure everyone was out and began a ground and aerial attack on the flames. A second alarm was called for manpower to battle the large blaze. One HCFR firefighters sustained an injury during set-up operations but is in stable condition. This is the only injury reported. The fire began in the attic area of the house, and its exact cause is under investigation. The fire was under control in approximately an hour, but firefighters remained on the scene at least an hour more making sure all hot spots were extinguished.
WTOG-TV CW/CBS 44 St. Petersburg

Fire Marshal Patronis: State’s Urban Search & Rescue Teams Stand Ready for Tropical Storm Isaias

As Tropical Storm Isaias threatens to impact Florida this weekend, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis highlights the vital disaster response efforts of Florida’s fire service community including the state’s dedicated Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) teams. Currently there are seven US&R teams that are status level "green," meaning they are prepared for deployment. CFO Patronis’ Division of State Fire Marshal is the lead agency overseeing two Emergency Support Functions (ESF) at the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) during a disaster or state emergency. In dealing with the challenges of COVID-19, the staff supporting the SEOC was already activated. CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis said, “As we closely monitor Tropical Storm Isaias, I held a call today with fire chiefs from across Florida to ensure our first responders are prepared for the potential impacts of heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds to our state this weekend."
State of Florida

Man flees crash, hides in Clearwater fire station with backpack filled with drugs

A Florida man charged with drug trafficking could have done a better job picking his hiding spot. A spokesperson with the Clearwater Police Department says Delmetrice Wilson, 24, was the passenger at a crash on Court Street and Missouri Avenue. After the crash, Wilson grabbed his backpack from the vehicle, hid it between two buildings, and fled into the Clearwater Fire Department Station 45, not knowing it was a fire department. A witness led police to the discarded backpack which contained a trafficking amount of codeine, along with crack cocaine, alprazolam, MDMA, and marijuana. The fire department notified Clearwater police, and Wilson was arrested on multiple drug charges.
WFLA-TV NBC 8 Tampa