VIDEO: A wildfire burning in Central Washington is now the No. 1 priority fire in the nation. The Little Giant Fire burning in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is being fought by crews from all over the world, with nearly 1,900 personnel assigned to it.

About 70 firefighters from Australia and New Zealand are assigned to the fire, along with National Guard members, U.S. Army soldiers and others. For those crews, the scale of what’s unfolding in Central Washington has been eye-opening.

“The terrain and the scale of what is happening over here is pretty astronomical,” said Cameron Grylls with the New Zealand Foreign Emergency Team. Grylls said his crews have spent nearly two weeks working along local crews, trying to tame the fire that has burned nearly 150,000 acres and remains 23% contained.

“I think the [firefighters] are really humbled and privileged to know how many communities are affected and the effect it is having on people’s lives,” he said. Along with the nearly 1,900 personnel, a total of 80 fire engines, 20 dozers, 34 water tenders and eight helicopters are involved in battling the Little Giant Fire.

KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

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Three people, including two firefighters, were injured when a fire tore through two homes in the Ozone Park section of Queens early Thursday morning.

Authorities said the blaze broke out just before 4:45 a.m. on 110th Street. Video from the scene showed flames engulfing both houses as firefighters worked to contain the fire. The cause was not immediately known.

Officials said all three injured people, including the two firefighters, are expected to recover. Firefighters remained at the scene Thursday morning, extinguishing hot spots and investigating what sparked the blaze.

WABC-TV ABC 7 New York City

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Mariah Paz is used to facing tough opponents, but this summer, the Evergreen State College wrestler has been taking on something very different: wildfires. Paz, 21, is a junior on Evergreen’s women’s wrestling team and works as a wildland firefighter. The job can turn dangerous quickly.

Paz remembers being down in a canyon when fire started closing in from both directions. She was with the owner of the firefighting company she works for. She did not want to admit she was scared. But she was. “I didn’t want to seem like I was scared, but I was scared,” Paz said. “I was like, ‘I think I need to come out. It’s getting hot in here.’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, come out.’”

Paz said that is part of the job too. Knowing when a situation is no longer safe. Other days are less dramatic, but still exhausting. Crews may spend hours waiting for direction. Then suddenly they are hauling hose up steep hills and mountains, cutting fire line, or protecting homes.

“We’re cutting line in with the hand crew, which is like being right there in the fire,” Paz said. “Or we’re spraying down 100-foot flames on trees and protecting houses.”

KIRO-TV CBS 7 Seattle

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The Darien (CT) Fire Department needed a larger rescue truck with more space to handle the amount of equipment it acquired over the years.

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North Richland Hills voters will decide Nov. 3 on a $145.9 million bond for rebuilding two fire stations. street repairs, and a library expansion.

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