VIDEO: At least 15 buildings in Gary, Indiana were on fire overnight, forcing firefighters to call backup. At least a dozen different fire departments were at the scene and battled structural fires, according to the Highland Fire Department on its Facebook page. One of the houses that had already been boarded up had its roof cave in due to a fire.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WLS-TV ABC 7 Chicago

Volunteer firefighters — who comprise more than 65 percent of the U.S. fire service — have higher levels of “forever chemicals,” per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in their bodies than the general public, according to a Rutgers study. The study, which was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, compared the levels of nine PFAS chemicals in the blood of volunteer firefighters against levels in the general population.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: News Wise

VIDEO: Firefighters in one Florida city have clearly been sparking some flames at home. Seven Orlando firefighters have transitioned from fighting fires to pacifiers as they’ve become dads over the past few months. The Orlando Fire Department welcomed three baby girls and four boys during the pandemic and happily reported all moms, dads and babies are doing well.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WFLA-TV NBC 8 Tampa

Light the town red to support hometown heroes in commemoration of International Firefighters’ Day on Tuesday, May 4. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is asking residents, communities, businesses and fire departments from coast to coast to celebrate firefighters — the special men and women who respond to calls for help every day, with pride and compassion.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Villages-News

The state Fire Marshal’s Office and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are trying to make the public more aware of the threat of people using fire as a weapon. Both agencies released a Fire as a Weapon Guide, which describes people using fire as a weapon as setting fires or firebombs to hurt people and property.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: MetroNews