The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District is mourning the loss of one of its most remarkable members.

Retired Assistant Chief Edwin Martin passed away Friday, July 25, in Lehigh Acres at the age of 111 years and 159 days, according to the department.

Martin held the distinction of being the world’s oldest living firefighter and was widely recognized as the oldest known living man in the United States.

His firefighting career began in 1940 with the Baltimore County Fire Department, where he served for 24 years before retiring and moving to Lehigh Acres in 1964.

He came out of retirement in 1967 to join the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District as a volunteer, eventually rising through nearly every leadership position in the organization.

Martin served as Interim Chief in 1970, Assistant Chief from 1971 to 1976 and later as Superintendent of Maintenance, where his deep knowledge of the department’s equipment and facilities earned him widespread respect.

The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District is inviting family, friends, current and retired members and the community to honor Martin’s life and legacy.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, at Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park, 12777 FL-82, Fort Myers, Fla. 33913, with visitation from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A graveside service will follow immediately after.

WINK-TV CBS 11 Fort Myers

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Firefighters remained on scene Thursday morning after spending several hours battling a massive fire that destroyed the Texas Gulf Seafood distribution warehouse near the Galveston Yacht Basin on Wednesday night.

The fire started around 8:40 p.m. at the Texas Gulf Seafood distribution warehouse on Pier 7, near 7th Street and Wharf Road, where towering flames and heavy smoke could be seen rising into the sky. According to the Galveston Fire Chief, crews arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the warehouse.

The size of the fire prompted a second alarm, bringing in assistance from several Galveston County fire departments. Officials said the size of the warehouse made it a lengthy operation, but firefighters were eventually able to stop the flames from spreading.

Firefighters worked for hours before getting the blaze under control. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Officials said crews were expected to remain on scene for several more hours while ensuring the fire is completely extinguished.

KHOU-TV CBS 11 Houston

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Seattle police are investigating after firefighters found a body while responding to a brush fire Wednesday evening along the Mountains to Sound Trail. According to Seattle police, Seattle Fire Department crews responded to a brush fire near the South Holgate Bridge around 6:26 p.m. After extinguishing the fire, firefighters discovered the partially burned body of an adult and notified Seattle police.

Police said they could not determine the person’s gender at the scene. Investigators also could not say how long the body had been there or whether the burns made the victim unidentifiable, noting that the King County Medical Examiner’s Office had not yet arrived.

The Seattle Police Department dispatched homicide detectives, Crime Scene Investigation detectives and a public information officer to the scene. Police said the circumstances were suspicious enough to warrant a homicide investigation, though the cause and manner of the person’s death have not been determined. It was not immediately clear whether the brush fire was connected to the death.

KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

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VIDEO: A retired firefighter who spent 20 years helping families through some of the worst days of their lives is now facing that loss himself. When Tim Archer walked through homes destroyed by fire during his career, he was the one comforting families who had lost everything. Now, he’s learning what its like to be the one receiving that comfort.

For two decades, Archer served as a Spokane firefighter and EMT. He spent years walking through homes destroyed by fire, comforting families who had lost everything. Now, he’s the one starting over. “I spent 20 years as a firefighter, so it kind of looked like what I expected it to look like… but I guess I was surprised it was my house,” said Archer.

The Old Trails Fire destroyed the home Tim and his wife Francie built their life in. They escaped with just a few belongings, their dogs and hopes they’d have something to come back to. “I think we were in shock for a day… just kind of in survival mode,” said Francie.

When they returned, only the chimney was still standing. But among the ashes, they also found reasons to keep moving forward; their chickens survived, a few clothes were still hanging on the line and a small cast-iron fire helmet was pulled from the rubble.

KREM-TV CBS 2 Spokane

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PHOTOS: The federal government has approved Washington’s request for an emergency declaration, unlocking federal assistance to help state, local and tribal governments respond to the devastating wildfires burning across eastern Washington, Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office announced Tuesday.

The declaration covers Chelan, Ferry, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens and Yakima counties, along with the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and the Spokane Tribe of Indians.

According to the governor’s office, the declaration allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide support for emergency response efforts, including evacuations, emergency shelters, food and water, search and rescue operations, and other response costs. Ferguson’s request was approved in full except for debris removal assistance.

KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

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