Two Pigeon Forge firefighters had to abandon their vehicle when fire entrapped it while fighting the Hatcher Mountain fire, officials reported Thursday.

The two firefighters sought refuge in an area already burned over by the fire and made it out with only minor injuries.

The crewmembers are assigned to Detachment 1, Company C, 1- 171st Aviation Regiment, based in Knoxville, and were airlifting water to drop on wildfires near Pigeon Forge.

The pilots were able to safety land the helicopter on a soccer field near Line Springs Road.

— Tenn. National Guard (@TNMilitaryDept) March 31, 2022

The escape is only one of the close calls experienced in fighting the fire, which has spread to 3,700 acres. The fire is 5% contained as of noon Thursday, though firefighters do have it mostly surrounded.

As of Thursday morning, five pieces of apparatus were damaged by the fire, and roughly 100 homes were damaged. At about 11:30 a.m. Thursday, a Tennessee National Guard Blackhawk helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing on a soccer field when its engine failed.

The helicopter was involved in dropping water on the fires when it experienced engine trouble. It first jettisoned its water bucket and then landed in the field. All four crew members are fine.

The future of fire safety and rescue courtesy of the @FDNY. pic.twitter.com/VSJEbPn0hs

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) March 31, 2022

Being the mayor has its perks.

Mayor Eric Adams put on a short demo of the FDNY’s new $75,000 robot search dog Thursday.

So far, so good. One question: Who cleans up after it?

Midwest Fire—L.O.H. Fire, Ottawa, KS, quick attack unit. International CV515 SFA cab and chassis; International 6.6L 350-hp engine; Waterous portable PB18-3030C 400-gpm pump with Briggs and Stratton 18-hp engine; APR polypropylene 300-gallon water tank; Scotty foam system; All-Poly™ tank and body construction; 3,000-watt power inverter. Dealer: Brett Jensen, Midwest Fire, Luverne, MN.

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Phenix Technology, Inc., a nearly 50-year-old Riverside-based firefighting equipment manufacturer was announced as the winner of the highly coveted 2021 Small Business Eagle Award.

Interested parties can read more about the event at

https://www.riverside-chamber.com/Programs.cfm.

The prestigious Small Business Eagle Award, recognizing Phenix Technology, Inc.’s leadership and achievement in operating a small business, was collected during the Chamber’s Annual Inauguration Celebration on Thursday night.

In operation since 1972, Phenix has earned a reputation in recent years for its work to develop people and companies through responsible business practices, mentorship, and local engagement within the Greater Riverside area.

Director of Global Operations of Phenix Technology, Inc., Angel Sanchez, Jr., explains how “this award aligns with a core value of Phenix: Leave the world a better place. It is a testament to the commitment of family members here at Phenix to be honored with such a prestigious recognition by the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce. We are both humbled and ecstatic to celebrate this award. Our team, known internally as family members, have earned this award during a truly unprecedented time for small businesses and the manufacturing industry at large.”

For more information about Phenix Technology, Inc., visit www.phenixfirehelmets.com.

Must be a member of the National Volunteer Fire Council to participate

Volunteer firefighters who are members of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) can now enter to win a free, personalized MSA Cairns® XF1 Fire Helmet. This is the second year MSA and the NVFC have teamed up to donate this helmet to provide the most innovative and up-to-date technology to help volunteer responders improve their health and safety.

The jet-style design of the Cairns® XF1 Fire Helmet reduces snag hazards, provides a personalized fit, and houses its own integrated light module. Plus, the soft goods are removable, washable, and replaceable, helping firefighters align with cancer awareness programs as written by the Firefighter Cancer Support Network. Approvals include NFPA 1971-2018 Structural Firefighting and NFPA 1951-2013 Rescue and Recovery.

NVFC members will have a total of three opportunities to enter to win an XF1 helmet in 2022. One recipient will be randomly selected during each entry period. To be eligible to enter, applicants must be an active U.S. volunteer firefighter and a member of the NVFC.

The first entry period is now open until April 30. Learn more and enter to win at www.nvfc.org/helmet.

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About MSA
At MSA, our business is safety. Our commitment to developing innovative safety solutions is founded on one singular and unchanging mission: “that men and women may work in safety, and that they, their families and their communities may live in health throughout the world.” Our core fire service products include the revolutionary G1 SCBA, Connected Firefighter Platform, powered by LUNAR™ Connected Device, Cairns® fire helmets, Globe® turnout gear and boots, Altair® portable gas detection instruments, and Evolution® TICs. For more information, visit MSAfire.com.

About the NVFC The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides critical resources, programs, education, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.