Amazon is making it easier to get emergency help without your phone. The retail giant announced a new Alexa Emergency Assist service as part of its September product event on Wednesday. The service will allow customers to reach emergency responders through Echo devices while also sending alerts to emergency contacts.
- PUB DATE: 9/22/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CNET

VIDEO: Some of the firefighters responding to calls on Chicago's South Side are a long way away from home. In fact, they traveled thousands of miles just to be here. CBS 2's Noel Brennan introduces us to the German firefighters who've joined the Chicago Fire Department for a couple of weeks. In Chicago, a firehouse and good food go hand in hand.
- PUB DATE: 9/22/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WBBM-TV CBS 2 Chicago

Seattle’s mayor hopes to diversify response options to calls for help with the city’s new public safety department. On Thursday, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced the launch of the Community Assisted Response and Engagement Department, known as CARE. Sometimes when people call 911, their incident may not be as urgent as other 911 calls.
- PUB DATE: 9/21/2023 11:06:12 PM - SOURCE: KCPQ-TV FOX 13 Seattle

Vashon Island Fire & Rescue (VIFR) has sold its Station 59, an out-of-service and nonfunctional north-end station located at 11983 Vashon Hwy SW. The building, listed with Windermere Real Estate, went for considerably over its listing price of $150,000 after it received 11 offers, said Fire Chief Matt Vinci.
- PUB DATE: 9/21/2023 5:30:00 AM - SOURCE: Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber - Metered Site

The Charlotte Fire Department is working to determine the cause of a structure fire in north Charlotte Thursday morning. The incident occurred just before 4 a.m. on Keswick Avenue right off North Tryon Street. Fire crews said the structure was a two-story house that was under construction. “A fire can spread quickly in an open building before it gets dried in with drywall, so a small amount of fire can spread very quickly with exposed wood,” Battalion Chief Blake Redden said.
- PUB DATE: 9/21/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WSOC-TV ABC 9 Charlotte