PHOTOS: A pastor and at least four firefighters were injured in an explosion at a New York church that resulted in “catastrophic damage” to the building on Tuesday, according to officials. Abundant Life Fellowship Church is considered “destroyed,” New York State Police said.

According to a preliminary investigation, four people were in the basement of the church when the furnace activated, triggering an explosion. Another firefighter was on the first floor attempting to ventilate the building at the time of the explosion and was thrown against the wall, according to police.

According to state police, those injured in the explosion have been identified as:

• Brandon Pitts, 43, the pastor of the church
• David Pritchard Jr., 60, Boonville Fire Chief
• Allan Austin, 67, a Boonville Fire Department firefighter
• Nicholas Amicucci, 43, a Boonville Fire Department firefighter
• Richard Czajka, 71, a Boonville Fire Department firefighter

They are all currently in critical but stable condition, officials said.

ABC News

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VIDEO: The first 911 call in the United States was made 58 years ago by former Alabama House Speaker Rankin Fite during a non-emergency demonstration. The emergency system was created through work from Congress, the FCC and AT&T.

Since then, dispatchers have worked to keep people safe during emergencies while technology has evolved to make their jobs more effective. April White, director of the Monroe County 911 Center, said the work remains challenging but essential. “I helped save a life today,” White said, describing what keeps 911 dispatchers motivated.

White was a dispatcher when the Monroe County center first went online around 1993. She said the job looked much different then. “We had to handwrite everything. We had color-coded cards for each department. We had log sheets that we had to fill out,” White said.

Technology improvements have streamlined operations with faster computers, touch screens and the ability to send links to help with CPR. “And within seconds, very few seconds, you click on that link and it will open your cell phone up and we can see what you’re doing. And we can watch you and tell you if you’re doing it right or not,” White said.

WVLT-TV CBS/MyNetworkTV 8 Knoxville

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Every day, firefighters play a vital role in communities, working to save lives and property, at times in potentially life-threatening situations. Due to the nature of the job, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), firefighters have a 9 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population.

While in the line of duty, firefighters are exposed to hazardous substances such as smoke and toxic chemicals, increasing their risk of certain cancers. To better understand the link between firefighting and cancer, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) established the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer to study and reduce cancer risk in the fire service.

The NFR collects detailed work history information and links it with state cancer registries to improve understanding of occupational cancer risks and guide efforts to prevent cancer among firefighters. To date, the NFR says more than 40,000 firefighters have joined the NFR, and it is now the largest firefighter cohort in the nation dedicated to understanding occupational cancer risks and advancing prevention efforts to protect firefighters’ health.

KSAZ-TV FOX 10 Phoenix

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The fire occurred in a shop measuring approximately 20 by 40 feet. Despite the quick response, the main challenge faced by firefighters was the lack of access to the building.

SVFD Battalion Chief Sean Pichette noted that the fire resulted in white smoke, but there was no structural damage.

No injuries were reported, and the fire was contained to the outside of the shop. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

KHQ-TV NBC 6 Spokane

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A woman and a teenager were airlifted from Mt. Ellinor late Sunday night after they were both injured while hiking. According to the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, they were dispatched to a report of a 51-year-old woman who had fallen in the avalanche chute along the winter route of Mt. Ellinor at around 1 p.m. yesterday. The woman was reported to have abdominal injuries with suspected internal bleeding.

It was later determined that a second patient, a 16-year-old boy who was trying to help the woman, was also in need of rescue after injuring his knee. The King County Sheriff’s Office attempted to access the patients with the Guardian One helicopter, but due to weather conditions, the operation was aborted.

The rescue mission was led by the Mason County Special Operations Team (SORT), alongside Mason County Search & Rescue and Olympic Mountain Rescue. Three separate ground teams from these combined units made their way to the patients on Sunday afternoon.

KIRO-TV CBS 7 Seattle

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