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Firefighting

Active Firefighter James ‘Jimmy’ Smargiassi Dies After 39 Years Of Service: Officials Active Firefighter James ‘Jimmy’ Smargiassi Dies After 39 Years Of Service: Officials
Active Firefighter James ‘Jimmy’ Smargiassi Dies After 39 Years Of Service: Officials An active firefighter with 39 years of service has died, the Eynon Sturges Fire Department announced on Tuesday, Aug. 2. James “Jimmy” Smargiassi served as a Lieutenant and Captain during his decades of dedication to the department. Known for mentoring new firefighters, Smargiassi helped guide many of them through their first fires, officials said. “He taught many of the guys here the ropes,” the department wrote in a tribute. “He enjoyed helping the community and being with his fire department family.” Smargiassi was a constant presence at community events, always volunteering, lending a …
Fundraiser Launched For Daughters Of Maryland CNA Shot Before Pennsylvania Fire Fundraiser Launched For Daughters Of Maryland CNA Shot Before Pennsylvania Fire
Fundraiser Launched For Daughters Of Maryland CNA Shot Before Pennsylvania Fire A fundraiser has been launched to support the daughters of a Maryland CNA and mother of three who was killed in a Stewartstown Borough home before it caught fire. Jennifer Troch, 41, and Michael Shores Jr., 54, both of the first block of North Main Street, were found unconscious on the second floor of a burning home at 2 North Main Street on Sunday, Aug. 3. Firefighters forced entry, carried the pair out in cardiac arrest, and rushed them to WellSpan York Hospital, where they were pronounced dead. Autopsies confirmed both died from gunshot wounds to the head, according to the York County Cor…
Five PA Volunteer Firefighters Suspended After Alleged Alcohol Use On Call: Reports Five PA Volunteer Firefighters Suspended After Alleged Alcohol Use On Call: Reports
Five PA Volunteer Firefighters Suspended After Alleged Alcohol Use On Call: Reports Five members of the Undercliff Volunteer Fire Company in Shaler Township have been suspended after allegedly responding to a call while under the influence of alcohol, township and fire department officials confirmed. The suspensions were issued Thursday, Aug. 8, following a concern stemming from an Aug. 2 emergency call on East Genesee Avenue, according to Undercliff Fire Company President John Klocko Sr. Seven firefighters responded to the incident — a reported odor of smoke inside a home — but nothing was found and the call was deemed a false alarm, Allegheny County Department of Emergenc…
ARSON: Chambersburg House Fire Leads To Arrest Of Teen: Police ARSON: Chambersburg House Fire Leads To Arrest Of Teen: Police
Arson: Chambersburg House Fire Leads To Arrest Of Teen: Police A Chambersburg teenager is accused of setting a house on fire in the borough, investigators announced on Monday, Aug. 11. Christopher David Diaz, 19, was arrested after crews were called to the 100 block of South Second Street for a reported dwelling fire around 8 a.m., according to the Greater Chambersburg Area Paid Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 1813, and Chambersburg police. Engine 1-2 arrived to find smoke showing from the front of the home and deployed a 400-foot attack line to the rear, while Engine 1-1’s crew stretched a 200-foot line to the front and made entry, firefighters …
Man Slain, Apartment Set On Fire; Arson, Homicide Investigation Underway In Philadelphia: PD Man Slain, Apartment Set On Fire; Arson, Homicide Investigation Underway In Philadelphia: PD
Man Slain, Apartment Set On Fire; Arson, Homicide Investigation Underway In Philadelphia: PD A homicide investigation is underway after a man was found dead inside a burning apartment in Philadelphia’s 2nd District, police announced on Friday, Aug. 8. Just after 6 a.m., firefighters responded to a reported apartment fire on the 7200 block of Rockwell Avenue, according to Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small. Crews forced their way into a third-floor unit, where they discovered a small kitchen fire. Inside the bedroom, they found a man’s body next to a knife, Small said. The victim had numerous lacerations to his arms, face, and neck, along with trauma to his face. Medics…
Dauphin County Fire Chief David Warfel Dies During Wildland Fire Training In Shippensburg Dauphin County Fire Chief David Warfel Dies During Wildland Fire Training In Shippensburg
Dauphin County Fire Chief David Warfel Dies During Wildland Fire Training In Shippensburg A longtime Dauphin County fire chief died while mentoring fellow wildland firefighters in Cumberland County, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced on Friday, May 30. David Warfel, the current chief of the Carsonville Volunteer Fire Company and a beloved figure in Upper Dauphin County’s firefighting community, collapsed Thursday, May 29 at the DCNR’s Wildland Fire Academy hosted at Shippensburg University. Warfel was instructing and mentoring wildland firefighters during the training session when he passed away, DCNR officials said. He also served as th…
25-Year Firefighter April Lubenetski Of Pennsylvania Dies Of Occupational Cancer 25-Year Firefighter April Lubenetski Of Pennsylvania Dies Of Occupational Cancer
25-Year Firefighter April Lubenetski Of Pennsylvania Dies Of Occupational Cancer A beloved firefighter who served multiple departments across the Lehigh Valley has died in the line of duty after a nearly year-long battle with occupational cancer, authorities announced on Monday, May 20, 2025. April Lubenetski, 51, of Lehigh Township, passed away at 8:28 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, surrounded by family and fellow first responders at St. Luke’s Brian D. Perin Hospice House in Lower Saucon Township. Diagnosed with stage 4b cancer in August 2024, she continued serving her community as long as she was physically able. April’s passing has been declared a line-of-duty death, attri…
Bonfire Left Burning Sparked 15,000-Acre NJ Wildfire, 19-Year-Old Man Charged: Prosecutor Bonfire Left Burning Sparked 15,000-Acre NJ Wildfire, 19-Year-Old Man Charged: Prosecutor
Bonfire Left Burning Sparked 15,000-Acre NJ Wildfire, 19-Year-Old Man Charged: Prosecutor A 19-year-old New Jersey man has been charged with setting the massive wildfire that scorched 15,000 acres and destroyed a commercial building this week, officials announced. Joseph Kling, of Ocean Township (Waretown), was charged with Aggravated Arson and Arson in connection with the Tuesday, April 22 blaze, according to a joint statement from Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, NJ DEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette, and Ocean Township Police Chief Michal Rogalski. The fire was first spotted at 9:45 a.m. by the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower, which reported seeing smoke near Jones Roa…
NJ Wildfire Explodes To 12,500 Acres: Latest From Forest Fire Service NJ Wildfire Explodes To 12,500 Acres: Latest From Forest Fire Service
NJ Wildfire Explodes To 12,500 Acres: Latest From Forest Fire Service An otherwise idyllic spring day along the New Jersey coast was darkened by thick plumes of smoke as a massive wildfire scorched through 12,500 acres — threatening homes, destroying property, and leaving thousands without power Wednesday, April 23. 🚨 A massive wildfire, dubbed the Jones Road Wildfire, is tearing through 1,200 acres in Barnegat Township’s Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area, Ocean County, NJ, as of April 22, 2025, with 0% containment. Mandatory evacuations are underway for Wells Mills Road from Bryant… pic.twitter.com/61nPv8YRcH — Laszlo Varga (@LaszloRealtor) April 2…
500-Acre Wildfire Burns Through South Jersey Wildlife Area: NJ Forest Fire Service 500-Acre Wildfire Burns Through South Jersey Wildlife Area: NJ Forest Fire Service
500-Acre Wildfire Burns Through South Jersey Wildlife Area: NJ Forest Fire Service A wildfire spanning 500 acres is burning unchecked in a remote section of Peaslee Wildlife Management Area in Vineland, officials said. As of Friday afternoon, April 18, the fire was 0% contained, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. The wildfire was first detected at 12:24 p.m. by the Belleplain Fire Tower, authorities said. No structures are currently threatened, and no evacuations have been ordered, fire officials confirmed. Road closures include: Union Road between Route 49 and Mays Landing Road Bennetts Mill Road between Union Road and the Manumuskin River Resources on …
Southwest Flight’s Engine Catches Fire In Midair Southwest Flight’s Engine Catches Fire In Midair
Southwest Flight’s Engine Catches Fire In Midair A Southwest Airlines flight was forced to return to a Texas airport shortly after takeoff when its engine caught fire, prompting an emergency evacuation. The Boeing 737, which was en route to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, had to turn back to Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport at approximately 11:45 a.m. local time Thursday, April 17, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said. Upon landing, firefighters swiftly extinguished the blaze, along with a small grass fire that had ignited near the runway, according to authorities. No injuries were reported among the 134 passengers on board.&nbs…
Firefighter Suspended Days After Hiring Over Delaware Hate Crime Arrest: Officials Firefighter Suspended Days After Hiring Over Delaware Hate Crime Arrest: Officials
Firefighter Suspended Days After Hiring Over Delaware Hate Crime Arrest: Officials A Maryland firefighter is off the job less than two weeks after joining the department—following his arrest in a Delaware hate crime case, officials confirmed. Jay Droney, 27, had been with the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department in Charles County for just eight days before he was suspended this week amid a disturbing out-of-state arrest. According to the Delaware State Police, Droney and fellow firefighter Jordan Hastings, 23, were charged in connection with a February 2024 incident at the Millville Volunteer Fire Company where they allegedly chased a Black co-worker with a rope shaped like…
Flames Engulf Tractor-Trailer Cab On Route 222 In Manheim Township: Fire Crews (PHOTOS) Flames Engulf Tractor-Trailer Cab On Route 222 In Manheim Township: Fire Crews (PHOTOS)
Flames Engulf Tractor-Trailer Cab On Route 222 In Manheim Township: Fire Crews (Photos) A tractor-trailer went up in flames on Route 222 in Manheim Township, prompting a multi-unit firefighting response, authorities announced. The commercial vehicle fire happened on the evening of Tuesday, April 15, according to B-Shift personnel with Manheim Township Fire Rescue. Truck 204 arrived on scene to find the cab of a tractor-trailer “well involved” in flames. Engine 201 crews quickly deployed two hose lines to knock down the fire, while Engines 202 and 203 joined Tanker 29 from West Earl Fire Station to supply water, fire officials said. No injuries were reported, and the driver sa…
Arsonist Sets Josh Shapiro's Governor’s Residence In Harrisburg On Fire Arsonist Sets Josh Shapiro's Governor’s Residence In Harrisburg On Fire
Arsonist Sets Josh Shapiro's Governor’s Residence In Harrisburg On Fire Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were forced to evacuate their residence as an arsonist set the governor’s residence ablaze while they slept overnight.  The blaze broke out at 2 a.m. on Sunday, April 13, in North Front Street in the city of Harrisburg in Dauphin County. Pennsylvania State Police said in a statement they has confirmed that the fire was a deliberate act of arson. The alleged arsonist has since been identified and arrested, click here to read our full report.  The Shapiro family was located in a different part of the mansion and was safely evacuated…
‘Doc’ Wayne Nau, Legendary PA Fire Chief Who Led The Hambones Rescue Team, Dies ‘Doc’ Wayne Nau, Legendary PA Fire Chief Who Led The Hambones Rescue Team, Dies
‘Doc’ Wayne Nau, Legendary PA Fire Chief Who Led The Hambones Rescue Team, Dies Wayne “Doc” Nau, the beloved former fire chief of the Columbia Borough Fire Department and a founding force behind its pioneering rescue work, has died, officials announced. Known affectionately across Lancaster County as “Doc,” Nau joined the Susquehanna Fire Co. #4—also called the Hambones—in 1957. He became a driver/operator for all fire apparatus, including the department’s water rescue boat, and led the department through a period of unprecedented growth and innovation. He was appointed fire chief in 1973, transforming the Hambones into one of the region’s first and most respected spec…
Firefighter Kaleb Barker Killed In Shooting As VA Family Seeks Support For Son’s Future Firefighter Kaleb Barker Killed In Shooting As VA Family Seeks Support For Son’s Future
Firefighter Kaleb Barker Killed In Shooting As VA Family Seeks Support For Son’s Future The family of Kaleb Barker, the Danville firefighter who tragically died in an accident, is seeking support to secure his young son's future. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched on behalf of Barker’s wife, Dr. Natalie Barker, by her colleagues at Chatham Animal Clinic in Virginia to help fund their son Noah’s education. As of Saturday, March 9, the fundraiser has raised over $16,000 toward its $50,000 goal. Barker, 31, was shot in the torso inside a home in the 900 block of Countryside Drive in Ringgold, Virginia on Tuesday, March 5, at 7:42 p.m., according to the Pittsylvania…
Fire At Pennsylvania Charter School Sends 4 Staff Members To Hospital, School Thanks Community Fire At Pennsylvania Charter School Sends 4 Staff Members To Hospital, School Thanks Community
Fire At Pennsylvania Charter School Sends 4 Staff Members To Hospital, School Thanks Community La Academia Partnership Charter School is thanking the Lancaster community and first responders after a fire broke out at its building, sending four staff members to the hospital. The fire ignited on the roof of the school at North Ann Street and East Grant Street around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19, according to Lancaster City Bureau of Fire Chief Todd Hutchinson. Firefighters arrived to find heavy flames on the rooftop, and smoke was seen billowing from the structure. All students were safely evacuated and taken to Resurrection Catholic Church for pickup. The school later issued a stat…
Firefighter Kaleb Barker Killed In Tragic Accident: Virginia Fire Community Mourns Firefighter Kaleb Barker Killed In Tragic Accident: Virginia Fire Community Mourns
Firefighter Kaleb Barker Killed In Tragic Accident: Virginia Fire Community Mourns A devastating accident claimed the life of Danville firefighter Kaleb Barker, officials announced on Wednesday, March 3. Barker, a dedicated member of the Danville Fire Department and the Danville Professional Firefighters Association, tragically died in the incident on Tuesday night, March 5. Details surrounding the accident have not yet been released. His loss has sent shockwaves through the firefighting community, with officials calling for prayers and support for his grieving family and colleagues. "May his life inspire your continued commitment to serving with honor and distinction," …
PA Family Left With Nothing After Raging Fire Destroys Home—How You Can Help PA Family Left With Nothing After Raging Fire Destroys Home—How You Can Help
PA Family Left With Nothing After Raging Fire Destroys Home—How You Can Help A Palmyra family lost everything when a raging fire tore through their home, forcing them to flee with just the clothes on their backs as firefighters battled the intense flames, authorities said. Flames erupted inside the frame duplex on the 300 block of North College Street around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, rapidly engulfing the first floor before spreading to the second floor and roof in brutal cold and windy conditions, according to the Palmyra Volunteer Fire Company. With the fire raging out of control, a second alarm was struck, drawing in mutual aid companies to help. Within min…
Man Hurls Explosive Into Store, Tries To Steal Occupied Car In Chaotic Rampage: PA State Police Man Hurls Explosive Into Store, Tries To Steal Occupied Car In Chaotic Rampage: PA State Police
Man Hurls Explosive Into Store, Tries To Steal Occupied Car In Chaotic Rampage: PA State Police A Pennsylvania man launched an explosive inside a Chester County convenience store, igniting a fire before attempting to carjack a driver in a desperate escape, Pennsylvania State Police said. Augustin Cisneros-Bedolla is accused of unleashing the violent attack at Squire’s Pantry on Gap Newport Pike in London Grove Township at 7:38 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, according to PSP Avondale. Investigators say Cisneros-Bedolla stormed into the store, threw an incendiary device at two employees, and set the building ablaze. As the flames spread, chaos erupted. The suspect then ran outside and att…
Driver Dies, Officer Hospitalized In Fiery NJ Street Racing Crash: 'Roads Are Not Racetracks' Driver Dies, Officer Hospitalized In Fiery NJ Street Racing Crash: 'Roads Are Not Racetracks'
Driver Dies, Officer Hospitalized In Fiery NJ Street Racing Crash: 'Roads Are Not Racetracks' A driver has died following a violent street racing crash on Route 38 that left first responders injured as they attempted a daring rescue, according to the Mount Holly Township Police Department. Local police say an officer patrolling the area near McDonald’s last week spotted the wreckage of a crash and immediately called for backup on Tuesday, Feb. 18. Upon arrival, officers and emergency personnel found the driver trapped in a burning vehicle. First responders from surrounding jurisdictions worked tirelessly to free the driver before firefighters arrived, authorities said. Despite thei…
Firefighters Turn Fire Starters: Lancaster County Volunteers Accused Of Arson Firefighters Turn Fire Starters: Lancaster County Volunteers Accused Of Arson
Firefighters Turn Fire Starters: Lancaster County Volunteers Accused Of Arson Two Lancaster County volunteer firefighters allegedly set a string of fires they later rushed to battle, igniting shock and outrage in their community, East Hempfield Township police announced on Tuesday, Feb. 18. Joshua Scott Lightcap, 23, of Columbia, and Mason Scott Howard, 21, of Akron, face arson charges after a three-month investigation linked them to five blazes between October and November 2024, including a $15,000 brush fire, according to police, court records, and arrest affidavits obtained by Daily Voice. Lightcap admitted to starting fires with Howard and a 16-year-old from East…
Blaze Engulfs United Missionary Baptist Church Near Girard College, Community Offers Prayers Blaze Engulfs United Missionary Baptist Church Near Girard College, Community Offers Prayers
Blaze Engulfs United Missionary Baptist Church Near Girard College, Community Offers Prayers Flames tore through the United Missionary Baptist Church, less than a mile from Girard College, sending plumes of smoke into the Philadelphia night sky before firefighters wrestled the blaze under control by 9:30 p.m., Deputy Fire Chief Charles Johnson said. Thankfully, the church was empty at the time, and no injuries were reported, but the fire left the historic building scarred. Fire crews managed to prevent the inferno from spreading to nearby homes and businesses. In a heartfelt Facebook post, Danielle of United Missionary Baptist Church assured the community that Pastor Chandra I. Wil…
Massive House Explosion Rocks PA Neighborhood: Officials Massive House Explosion Rocks PA Neighborhood: Officials
Massive House Explosion Rocks PA Neighborhood: Officials A catastrophic house explosion in Sugarloaf Township sent shockwaves through the community, leveling a home and triggering a frantic emergency response, authorities confirmed. Firefighters rushed to 51 Cabana Lane at 4:50 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 12, finding a raging inferno where a house once stood, according to Valley Regional Fire & Rescue. "House exploded! Prayers for all involved," the department reported in a delayed post, underscoring the severity of the devastation. Emergency crews battled intense flames for hours, while Hazmat teams were deployed amid fears of gas leaks or other h…
Fire Destroys Pennsylvania Mansion In Amid Frigid Conditions: Officials Fire Destroys Pennsylvania Mansion In Amid Frigid Conditions: Officials
Fire Destroys Pennsylvania Mansion In Amid Frigid Conditions: Officials A massive fire tore through a mansion in Penn Valley overnight, keeping multiple fire companies busy for hours battling the flames in freezing temperatures, officials said. Firefighters were dispatched at 1:22 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, after a caller reported seeing tall flames through the woods near Centennial Road, according to the Belmont Hills Fire Company. By 1:26 a.m., additional callers confirmed a mansion was fully engulfed in flames. Chief 22, identified as Zamorski, arrived at the scene and confirmed the fire had heavily consumed a 2.5-story mansion, prompting a "Lower Merion Work…
Woman Found Dead Inside Burning South Philly Home As Firefighters Battle Heavy Smoke Woman Found Dead Inside Burning South Philly Home As Firefighters Battle Heavy Smoke
Woman Found Dead Inside Burning South Philly Home As Firefighters Battle Heavy Smoke A woman was found dead inside a burning South Philadelphia home as firefighters battled heavy smoke on both floors Wednesday morning, Feb. 5, authorities said. The fire broke out at a two-story residence on the 2700 block of South Darien Street around 10:40 a.m., prompting a 911 call reporting a woman trapped inside, according to dispatch reports. Firefighters arrived at 10:41 a.m. and encountered thick smoke throughout the home. Crews located the fire and worked to knock down the bulk of the flames while searching for victims, officials said. An adult female was found unresponsive in …
PA Family At Eagles Game Learns Home Burns Down As Firefighter Injured: Report PA Family At Eagles Game Learns Home Burns Down As Firefighter Injured: Report
PA Family At Eagles Game Learns Home Burns Down As Firefighter Injured: Report A Newberry Township family learned their home had burned down while they were attending the Eagles playoff game on Sunday, Jan. 19, PennLive reported. Adding to the tragedy, a firefighter was injured battling the blaze, authorities said. Crews from Station 31, along with mutual aid departments, responded to the fire on the 100 block of Hemlock Lane at 3:30 p.m., according to the Newberry Township Fire Department. Assistant Chief Harbold arrived to find flames consuming a one-and-a-half-story single-family home and requested additional resources, establishing Hemlock Command, the release sai…
Arson-Suicide: PA Dad Dies Attempting To Kill Family Coroner Releases Details (UPDATE) Arson-Suicide: PA Dad Dies Attempting To Kill Family Coroner Releases Details (UPDATE)
Arson-Suicide: PA Dad Dies Attempting To Kill Family Coroner Releases Details (Update) A Lancaster Township man poured gasoline throughout his home and set it ablaze during a domestic dispute early Sunday, Jan. 19, killing himself and critically injuring three others, including his sons and a family guest, police announced. Simon Hen, 46, died of smoke inhalation and thermal burns after the fire, and his death was ruled a suicide, Lancaster County Coroner Eric Bieber confirmed Monday, Jan. 20. Hen returned to his home on Wilderness Road at approximately 2:30 a.m., enraged over his impending separation from his 42-year-old wife, according to Lancaster Township Police. Inside…
Croydon Carpet Company Fire That Injured Firefighter Lands Arsonist Years In Prison: Bucks DA Croydon Carpet Company Fire That Injured Firefighter Lands Arsonist Years In Prison: Bucks DA
Croydon Carpet Company Fire That Injured Firefighter Lands Arsonist Years In Prison: Bucks DA A Philadelphia man was sentenced to up to six years in state prison for setting a fire that caused over $1 million in damage to a Croydon business and injured a firefighter, officials announced Thursday, Jan. 16. Shayne Holland, 26, pleaded guilty in November to two counts of arson, along with charges of reckless burning, criminal mischief, possession of explosive material, and disorderly conduct, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office. Common Pleas Judge Gary B. Gilman sentenced Holland to 2½ to six years in state prison, followed by four years of probation, for the Nov. …
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.…
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…