PHOTOS: Multiple crews continue to be on the scene Thursday morning, September 3, after a massive fire in downtown Du Quoin.

Flames and smoke are still visible from where the fire started at the Home Lumber Co. on Wednesday afternoon. According to city leaders, the fire continued to rekindle throughout the night. The public is urged to avoid the Main Street area as crews continue to battle the fire.

On Wednesday, our crew on scene said the lumber company building is a total loss. According to Du Quoin Mayor Josh Downs, along with the lumber company building, BJs Garden Inn, Croessmann Wholesale Co. and an auto parts store were destroyed by the fire.

Mayor Downs is asking everyone to avoid downtown Du Quoin until otherwise notified. Governor JB Pritzker said his administration is continuing to monitor the ongoing fire. Mayor Downs went on to thank all of the fire, police and EMS crews from surrounding communities who responded to help.

KFVS-TV CBS/CW 12 Cape Girardeau

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A recent state-of-the-art review in the journal Textiles by researchers at Oklahoma State University, USA, examines the use of nanotechnology to advance thermal protective clothing (TPC) for firefighters working in extreme thermal and hazardous environments.

The review highlights nanotechnology as a promising approach to developing lighter, multifunctional, and breathable firefighter clothing, while also addressing challenges related to scalability, durability, cost, and safety. Firefighters work in environments where intense heat, flames, steam, hot liquids, smoke, and toxic particles can cause severe injuries.

Thermal protective clothing (TPC) provides an essential barrier against these hazards, but conventional clothing often involves a difficult trade-off between protection and comfort. Increasing garment thickness or insulation can reduce heat transfer but also increases weight, limits breathability, and adds to physical strain.

In contrast, lighter and more breathable garments may provide less protection during intense thermal exposure. Nanotechnology offers new opportunities to address these challenges because nanoscale materials can provide high porosity, controlled surface chemistry, and tailored thermal and barrier properties.

Nanofibers and aerogels can reduce heat transfer, while inorganic nanoparticles can improve flame resistance and surface protection. Two-dimensional materials, metallic nanostructures, and phase-change materials can collectively provide functions such as sensing, infrared reflection, and thermal energy storage.

AZoNano

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A fire burned through a homeless camp on Fourth Way in North Fort Myers on Wednesday afternoon, according to the North Fort Myers Fire District.

Video from the scene shows smoke billowing from the lot. The fire was visible for miles across the area. North Fort Myers Fire officials said the flames were burning at approximately 1:30 p.m., and no people or pets were hurt. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office was on scene to assist.

The fire has since been put out, and the cause is under investigation. It has been ruled as accidental.

WBBH-TV NBC 2 Fort Myers

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PHOTOS: While battling a two-alarm warehouse fire in Kent Wednesday morning, a second fire broke out at Studio 6 Suites, located in the 22500 block of 83rd Avenue South, Puget Sound Regional Fire said. The fire protection system activated, limiting the growth of the fire, and officers from the Kent Police Department were already on scene and rushed to assist with evacuating the residents, fire officials said.

When firefighters arrived, they found that the building’s fire protection sprinkler system had activated, slowing the fire’s growth. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire. Firefighters also rescued one dog and provided it with oxygen before leaving the building.

Additionally, firefighters and King County Medic One paramedics evaluated 8 people for possible fire-related injuries. One person was transported to a local hospital, and there were no injuries to the firefighters. The cause of the fire was a malfunctioning lithium-ion battery charger, according to Puget Sound Regional Fire officials.

KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

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In this episode, we break down the practical considerations chiefs, fleet managers, mechanics, and apparatus committees need to evaluate before making that decision.

The post The Apparatus Workshop: Change the Mission or Refurbish? appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.