PHOTOS: Emergency crews battled a massive commercial structure fire in Wood County that started over the weekend.

The Peoples Cartage, Inc. warehouse reportedly caught fire Saturday morning and rekindled Sunday. Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency as firefighters coordinated suppression efforts. The move authorizes agencies at the state level to provide assistance.

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is monitoring air quality while federal assistance has been requested to evaluate the nearby Little Kanawha River. For Monday, WVU Parkersburg has closed and Wood County Schools summer programs – including summer feeding programs – have been canceled due to air quality concerns.

More than two dozen fire crews, including tanker trucks, worked overnight and by Monday morning had nearly contained the blaze.

The Salvation Army has responded to the scene, providing food, water and support to first responders. A statement from Peoples Cartage CEO Doug Sibila indicated no employees had been injured. The full extent of damage has yet to be determined.

WCHS-TV ABC/FOX 8 Charleston

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VIDEO/PHOTOS: What was supposed to be a routine security detail turned into a harrowing maritime survival story for a group of New Jersey firefighters over the holiday weekend. On Saturday afternoon, members of the Carteret Fire Department Marine Unit found themselves tossed into the water after a whale suddenly surfaced directly underneath their vessel, sinking the boat.

The marine unit was on duty providing security for a local “Parade of Ships” when the unexpected encounter took place at the mouth of Raritan Bay.

Without warning, a whale breached directly beneath the crew’s boat. The impact was severe enough to capsize and quickly sink the vessel, leaving the firefighters stranded in open water. “The boat immediately took on water, and all firefighters aboard had to immediately abandon the boat within seconds of the strike,” Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman said in a Facebook post.

A nearby jet skier and a civilian boat witnessed the capsizing and immediately rushed to the scene to pull the crew from the water.

None of the firefighters sustained injuries during the incident. Officials say every member of the marine unit was wearing a life jacket, which kept them afloat until help arrived. The boat suffered “catastrophic” damage, according to the mayor.

WNYW-TV FOX 5 New York City

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Flames tore through the roof of a vacant South Side building early Sunday morning. The Chicago Fire Department responded to the warehouse fire around 3 a.m. near East 25th Street and South Wabash Avenue in the city’s Bronzeville neighborhood.

People who live nearby woke up to see that building, which is under construction, on fire. Video captured massive flames and heavy smoke billowing from the warehouse.

Firefighters used several hoses to battle the flames, which were extinguished just after 4 a.m. Crews were still on the scene putting out hot spots at 6 a.m.

No injuries have been reported. What started the fire was not immediately clear.

WLS-TV ABC 7 Chicago

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PHOTOS: One person was taken to the hospital after a wildfire caused by fireworks in Kennewick Saturday. According to information from Benton County Fire District 1, several fire crews were called to the area of East Badger Road and East Wiser Parkway just after 9:30 p.m. BCFD 1 said a property owner said they had lit illegal fireworks, which had ignited a grass fire in a residential neighborhood. When authorities got to the scene, they evacuated at least three homes that were near the fire.

It took nearly two hours to get the fire under control and crews remained in the area until 3 a.m. putting out hotspots. One person was taken to the hospital after trying to put out the grass fire before fire crews arrived. Their immediate condition is not known but fire officials said it looked like the injuries were not life-threatening. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating this fire.

Apple Valley News Now

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VIDEO: A fast-moving wildfire that erupted near Chelan during the Fourth of July holiday has destroyed more than 100 structures and scorched nearly 20,000 acres, forcing evacuations and leaving residents assessing the damage. The Chelan Hills Fire ignited around midnight on July 4 and quickly spread through dry vegetation and steep terrain.

“Unfortunately, we had wind in alignment with the terrain,” a fire official said. “Wind was coming from the direction that pushed that fire uphill. Fire was already moving uphill.” Authorities issued hundreds of Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders as flames spread across the hills surrounding the popular Lake Chelan area. Fire crews continued monitoring the Chelan Hills Fire along with two other fires burning nearby.

“A lot going on in the state all over,” Ben Shearer, a public information officer for Southeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team said Sunday evening. Despite the destruction, officials said no injuries or fatalities had been reported as of Sunday. Details on the evacuation orders in place can be found here.

KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

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