Fire Chief Gail Schmidt of the Rockerville (SD) Volunteer Fire Department and Fire Chief Amy Ramon of the Cy-Fair (TX) Fire Department were named the 2026 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees.

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PHOTOS: One person is dead following a home explosion in Portage, Indiana, according to the area police department. Despite reports that the Northwest Indiana home explosion may have occurred in connection with severe weather threats that passed through the area, authorities said investigators are still working to determine the cause of the blast.

“During the severe weather event, the Portage Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire on the north side of the city,” Portage police said in a news release. “Due to widespread storm damage, debris, and hazardous conditions, emergency responders experienced an extended response time while attempting to access the incident location.”

Authorities have not yet released any information concerning the person killed or additional injuries. Locals are asked to avoid the area while officials continue to investigate. SkyCam9 flew above the scene, at Harrison and Jefferson, where a gas flame was still visible. Aerial shots captured emergency crews on the ground canvassing the area. Debris from the blast could be seen on the property of a nearby neighbor’s home.

WTTV CBS 4 Indianapolis

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VIDEO: Recent tragedies in the community have increased public awareness of the threat of residential fires, and requests from the community for resources to head off preventable emergencies.

Public safety officials have responded in a big way.

Westchester County has launched a fire safety campaign aimed at helping residents reduce the risk of fires in their homes, with a series of four public service videos set to roll out over the coming weeks.

The Department of Emergency Services announced the effort Monday in White Plains, where County Executive Ken Jenkins introduced the campaign during his weekly news briefing.

According to the county, the videos focus on major causes of home fires and steps residents can take to lower their risk.

The campaign also includes practical information on maintaining smoke detectors and preparing a family evacuation plan if a fire happens. The videos are available on the Westchester County Government YouTube page.

White Plains Patch

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The Houston Fire Department has left the scene of a large recycling plant fire in the 1900 block of Goodyear Drive in southeast Houston on Tuesday.

The fire, which was visible along Texas State Highway 225 for much of the morning, broke out at Ironman Metals, according to HFD.

“We did get a call for a fire at this plant at 6:49 a.m.,” HFD Chief Thomas Munoz said. Munoz said HFD had 60 firefighters at the scene, including members of its hazardous materials team.

Ironman Metals states on its Facebook page that it recycles everything from copper to auto parts. Officials with HFD said they monitored air and water in the area for any potential environmental impacts.

“We’ve checked with our HAZMAT specialists,” Deputy Chief Isaac Garcia said. “They say it’s good.” Eyewitness News wanted to ask HFD additional questions about what chemicals might have been burning into the air as a result of this fire, but the follow-up call to the department went unanswered.

KTRK-TV ABC 13 Houston

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VIDEO/PHOTOS: A strange arson case in Kitsap County, captured on home security video, shows a man driving a golf cart with a dog and carrying two torches as investigators say he set a fire that destroyed a home and detached garage. Authorities have charged 47-year-old Shawn Hinson with first-degree arson and second-degree assault.

A Ring camera recorded the alleged incident, and the homeowner said an alert from the camera helped save his life after his son received the notification and called to wake him.

Law enforcement video shows a man pulling up to a home in the 2700 block of Locker Road SE in Port Orchard on Aug. 4. The sheriff’s office released the video, and court documents identify the driver as Hinson, who is seen next to a corgi and holding two torches, including a weed torch.

Neighbor Dan Carlson said he was stunned by what he saw. “I thought it was nuts. Who would do that?” Carlson said. “How can people do this? What people in their right mind think of doing it?”

KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

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