History was made in Connecticut Wednesday as state leaders and neighbors gathered in Hartford to celebrate Shelly Carter, the first Black female fire chief to serve any fire department in all of New England. “The goal is not about me. We celebrate me, but this is for every female out there, every female on the line who’s working today," said Carter, who was sworn in as the Southbury Training School Fire Department Fire Chief under the state's Department of Developmental Services.
- PUB DATE: 3/30/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTIC-TV FOX 61 Hartford

VIDEOS: An early morning train derailment has caused residents of a small town in Kandiyohi County to evacuate on Thursday. In a statement, BNSF Railway said approximately 22 cars derailed around 1 a.m. Some of the derailed cars were carrying ethanol and corn syrup and started on fire, the sheriff's office said.
- PUB DATE: 3/30/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCCO-TV CBS 4 Minneapolis

VIDEO: One retired fire crew that has turned into collectors has been looking to tap into the little kid energy that often follows a field trip to a local firehouse. "My family had no problem buying for me at Christmas," said Bob Franklin, retired Little Rock captain. "It was always fire trucks." He has used that story to explain what drove him to more than 50 years in the fire service.
- PUB DATE: 3/30/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTHV-TV CBS 11 Little Rock

The IAFC is now accepting nominations for the IAFC Ben Franklin Award for Valor. Since 1970, the IAFC’s most prestigious award has recognized the spirit of service, courage and heroism that is a proud tradition among the world's fire and emergency service. The program is named for one of the first fire chiefs in the United States, Benjamin Franklin.
- PUB DATE: 3/30/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: IAFC.org

Spokane Valley Fire confirmed Wednesday that a brush fire burning on N. Chestnut Road in Mica was contained around 6:30 p.m. Crews from the Department of Natural Resources were in the mop-up stages. Another fire was reported on Progress Road in Spokane Valley that was also quickly put out. Smoke was noticeable in the areas for some time, but now that the fires are out, it should start to clear out.
- PUB DATE: 3/30/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KXLY-TV ABC 4 Spokane