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New LA Wildfires Update: Death Toll Hits 16, With 40,000 Acres, 12,000 Structures Destroyed New LA Wildfires Update: Death Toll Hits 16, With 40,000 Acres, 12,000 Structures Destroyed
New LA Wildfires Update: Death Toll Hits 16, With 40,000 Acres, 12,000 Structures Destroyed The number of confirmed deaths from six separate wildfires in the Los Angeles area has climbed to 16. The situation remains dire, with at least another 16 people still reported missing, and authorities anticipate that this number may increase as the search continues. The wildfires have destroyed 40,000 acres -- more than twice the size of Manhattan and almost the size of Washington, DC, while The creating apocalyptic scenes that seem straight from a horror movie. More than 12,000 structures have been destroyed. A red flag warnings for dangerous fire conditions through Wednesday, Jan.…

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by Joe Lombardi
Obituaries
32-Year-Old Former Child Star Among Those Killed In LA Wildfires 32-Year-Old Former Child Star Among Those Killed In LA Wildfires
32-Year-Old Former Child Star Among Those Killed In LA Wildfires A former child star and motivational speaker is among the victims of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, his family has confirmed. Click here for a new, updated story - Death Toll Hits 16, With 40,000 Acres, 12,000 Structures Destroyed Rory Sykes, 32, an Australian who gained media attention as a boy for sharing his experiences living with disabilities, died on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at his family’s estate in Malibu, his mother, Shelley Sykes, announced in a post on X. “It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yeste…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
7-Alarm Fire in Central Mass. That Displaced 12 Intentionally Set: State Officials 7-Alarm Fire in Central Mass. That Displaced 12 Intentionally Set: State Officials
7-Alarm Fire in Central Mass. That Displaced 12 Intentionally Set: State Officials A devastating seven-alarm fire that tore through two buildings on Union Street in Southbridge last month was intentionally set, state fire officials said. Twelve people were left homeless in the blaze, and investigators are now asking the public for help in finding who’s responsible. The fire broke out around 3:25 am at 5-7 Union St. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, and quickly spread to the neighboring building at 9-11 Union St. Firefighters arriving on the scene found heavy flames and immediately called for additional resources, escalating the response to seven alarms. Crews from over a dozen commun…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Brush Fire Spreads To Multiple Homes In Western Mass Brush Fire Spreads To Multiple Homes In Western Mass
Brush Fire Spreads To Multiple Homes In Western Mass A small brush fire in Berkshire County Friday afternoon, Nov. 8, spread to multiple homes, causing major damage, authorities said.  Firefighters were called to 8-10 Scammell Avenue in Pittsfield just before 4:30 p.m. after a bushfire leaped onto a two-family home and a large deck at nearby 15 Draper Ave., authorities said.  Pittsfield firefighters, assisted by multiple other local agencies, were able to put the fire out by 5 p.m., though the homes sustained significant damage, officials said.  No one was injured in the blaze.  Authorities said two families lived a…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Firefighters Battle Train Fire In Western Mass Overnight Firefighters Battle Train Fire In Western Mass Overnight
Firefighters Battle Train Fire In Western Mass Overnight Firefighters in Palmer were called to a train engine fire earlier Sunday morning, May 19, which posed a unique problem.  Crews rushed to the scene just before 4 a.m. to a train stopped by Park Street that had caught fire. Firefighters had to use dry chemical extinguishers rather than hoses until they could be sure the power had been cut.  Once they had confirmed the power was out, they could bring in the hoses to finish the job.  At 03:56, the Palmer Fire Department responded to a report of a train engine fire on Park Street. Upon arrival,... Posted by Palmer Fire Depart…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Brushfire Torches 36 Acres In Central Mass: Firefighters Brushfire Torches 36 Acres In Central Mass: Firefighters
Brushfire Torches 36 Acres In Central Mass: Firefighters A Worcester County brush fire that began on Friday, April 14, burned throughout the night, but officials say it has been contained thanks to the work of 14 fire departments and more than 45 firefighters.  The Sterling Fire Department said the blaze was sparked near Chace Hill and Metropolitan roads on Friday morning. The fire sent up clouds of smoke that could be seen from miles away.  The brush fire on Metropolitan Road has been contained to 36 acres. Sterling Fire Department was assisted by 14 mutual aid communities and DCR forestry assets from fire district 6. Crews will be retuning …

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Worcester Firefighters Battle Blaze For Hours At Recycling Center Worcester Firefighters Battle Blaze For Hours At Recycling Center
Worcester Firefighters Battle Blaze For Hours At Recycling Center A fire that began Tuesday night, Dec. 6, at a Worcester recycling center took firefighters hours to put out, and they were still on the scene Wednesday morning to deal with hot spots, reports said.  The fire started a little after 9 p.m. at the 20 Nippnapp Trail scrap yard in a pile of metal roughly 200 feet by 200 feet wide and more than 50 feet tall, QuietCornerAlerts.net reported. Flames reached more than 100 feet in the air. They brought in a drone to help them survey the best angle of attack and called in help from a Schnitzer Steel Northeast crane to move pieces of burning me…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Retired Foxborough Firefighter, Father, 'Kind-Hearted Comedian' Dead At 55 Retired Foxborough Firefighter, Father, 'Kind-Hearted Comedian' Dead At 55
Retired Foxborough Firefighter, Father, 'Kind-Hearted Comedian' Dead At 55 As much as Michael Timothy Whelahan liked to make people laugh, he equally enjoyed working as a firefighter in Foxborough for almost 30 years.  Unfortunately Whelahan, of Norton, died unexpectedly at Sturdy Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, Oct. 11, according to his obituary. He was 55 years old.  Born in Brighton and raised in Foxborough, Whelahan graduated from Foxborough High School in 1986 and later joined the fire department in 1993. He retired from the department in January 2022. "Michael will be remembered as a kind-hearted comedian who would help anyone at a moment’s notice," his obitu…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Brush Fire Torches 11 Acres At Former Western Mass Landfill Brush Fire Torches 11 Acres At Former Western Mass Landfill
Brush Fire Torches 11 Acres At Former Western Mass Landfill Firefighters from several departments helped contain an 11-acre brush fire that occurred in Hampshire County Tuesday, the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said in a release.  Granby firefighters responded to the fire in area of a former landfill at 11 New Ludlow Road around 2:35 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, the department said.  It was soon brought to multiple alarms and required help from several neighboring departments and statewide task forces. Granby Fire Chief Michael O’Neill said the massive blaze was mostly fueled by whipping winds and dry vegetation.  Car 1 and Forestry …

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by David Cifarelli
Obituaries
Connecticut Fire Department Mourning After Captain Dies Of Cancer Connecticut Fire Department Mourning After Captain Dies Of Cancer
Connecticut Fire Department Mourning After Captain Dies Of Cancer A Connecticut fire department is mourning the death of a fire captain who served the department for 27 years. Rocky Hill Fire Captain James Lamarre died after a months-long battle with cancer, the Hartford County department announced on Tuesday, March 8. The Rocky Hill Fire Department said Lamarre's cancer was work-related. Lamarre served many roles in his years with the fire department, including a career apparatus mechanic, officials said.  Lamarre was also a United States Army veteran and a chaplain for the Benino-Beck VFW Post 2138 in Rocky Hill.

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by Nicole Valinote
Obituaries
Firefighter Dies Two Days After Collapsing At Scene Of Three-Alarm CT Blaze Firefighter Dies Two Days After Collapsing At Scene Of Three-Alarm CT Blaze
Firefighter Dies Two Days After Collapsing At Scene Of Three-Alarm CT Blaze A 26-year-old Connecticut firefighter who suffered a medical emergency while fighting a fire has died. Colin McFadden suffered a medical emergency while battling a three-alarm fire in Litchfield County, in the Town of New Hartford, around 2:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 10 said, Jon Barbagallo, public information officer for Norfolk said. He died on Thursday, Aug. 12, the Burlington Fire Department said. "Today we mourn the passing of Burlington Firefighter and Bristol resident Colin McFadden," the department said late Thursday afternoon in a statement. "Our condolences go out to our ne…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Man Charged With Setting Three Brush Fires In September Pleads Not Guilty Man Charged With Setting Three Brush Fires In September Pleads Not Guilty
Man Charged With Setting Three Brush Fires In September Pleads Not Guilty A man is being charged for setting three brush fires in late September. Henry P. Dextraze, 66, of New Hampshire, but formerly of Leominster, is believed to have inadvertently started three fires within days of each other this fall, according to the Sentinel and Enterprise. The fires happened on Sept. 20, 22, and 24 with the first two being small and in the Leominster State Forest around Elm Street. The last fire on Sept. 24 lit up an area of Mt. Elam Road in the state forest and went on to consume 3.4 acres in flames. It took firefighters two days to extinguish the fire. Dextraze alleged…

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by Kristin Palpini
Police & Fire
Vacant Paper Mill Is On Fire - For The 4th Time Since June Vacant Paper Mill Is On Fire - For The 4th Time Since June
Vacant Paper Mill Is On Fire - For The 4th Time Since June For the fourth time since this summer, an empty paper factory has caught fire. In the early morning hours of Thursday, Dec. 10, firefighters received a report of flames at the old Strathmore Paper Mill on Valley View Avenue in Russell. As of 9 a.m. on Thursday, the fire was still blazing. This is the fourth time, the old paper mill has caught on fire in just over half a year. The sprawling, vacant mill complex caught on fire in June. The result was the destruction of building 2. Then there was another fire in July, a third in November, and now a fourth in December. A suspect, or suspec…

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by Kristin Palpini