Hobart Fire Department put a new ambulance into service Thursday, with city leaders calling it a much-needed resource for paramedics and residents and marking it with a push-in ceremony.

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Five people, including three Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service firefighters, were taken to hospitals after a crash Friday morning at Parkway East and Gadsden Highway in Birmingham.

The post Three Firefighters, Two Others Sent to Hospital After Birmingham (AL) Ambulance Crash appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

VIDEOS: Firefighters with the Lawrenceburg Fire Department are known for responding to emergencies and keeping the community safe. Now, they’re getting attention for something a little different: making people laugh.

The department has been sharing humorous videos on social media, giving residents a glimpse of the personalities behind the uniforms.

What started as an idea for a single video quickly turned into a larger creative project after Fire Chief Jason Beeler’s wife sent him a social media video suggesting the department recreate it.

After brainstorming ideas, the department assembled a small production team that included the deputy chief’s wife and daughter. Together, they filmed several videos in just one night.

One of the most popular videos featured a music video-style production that Beeler described as the “hottest of the bunch.”

The videos have received positive feedback from community members and even caught the attention of other fire departments.

WLEX-TV NBC 18 Lexington

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VIDEO/PHOTOS: Firefighters battled a detached garage fire on Vanderploeg Drive Thursday evening, according to the Chesapeake Fire Department.

On Nov. 12, firefighters responded to the 1000 block of Vanderploeg Drive after dispatchers received multiple calls about a structure fire.

Crews were dispatched at 5:18 p.m. After arriving to the scene within minutes, they found a large detached garage heavily involved in fire, with flames spreading to nearby structures.

Firefighters then deployed multiple hose lines to contain the fire, preventing it from spreading further to the homes. The fire was brought under control at 5:42 p.m.

There were no injuries, and firefighters protected the homes from damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

WAVY-TV NBC 10 Portsmouth

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This week, state leaders shared some big news for first responders – on Nov. 16, a new homeownership assistance program is launching for firefighters, police officers, and EMS employees.

It’s called the First Responders’ Time to Own program and will give eligible state and local first responders up to $25,000 in forgivable down payment and closing cost assistance.

The idea is to give more incentives to people seeking a career in these fields, and give current first responders more motivation to continue their careers.

There are many states struggling to fill first responder jobs, including Connecticut. State police say they’re currently short about 250 officers short right now.

North Haven Fire Chief Paul Januszewski said this is a huge step in making sure people aren’t priced out of careers they love by having to choose between their job and buying a home in their community.

“As housing becomes increasingly unaffordable, maintaining that connection becomes more difficult. When younger individuals and families cannot afford to live in the communities where they volunteer, we risk not only losing dedicated firefighters, but the next generation of community leaders,” Januszewski said.

The new program has expanded eligibility, reduced interest rates, and more flexible requirements than the state’s standard Time to Own program.

WTIC-TV FOX 61 Hartford

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