PHOTO: On Friday evening, members of five local fire departments were engaged in a fierce fight — not with a fire, but with each other. Instead of their usual tools — hoses, axes and ladders — they were chucking foam balls at each other, playing dodgeball. It was a strange sight to see. Firefighters from the Saranac Lake, Lake Placid, Bloomingdale, Paul Smiths-Gabriels and Duane volunteer fire departments packed into the gymnasium of the Citizen Advocates building (the former Pius X high school) in Saranac Lake, paying dodgeball in full firefighting gear.
- PUB DATE: 4/20/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Adirondack Daily Enterprise - Metered Site

VIDEO: Firefighters in Niagara Falls responded to the scene of a large fire early Sunday morning on Niagara Street, near 20th Street. Massive flames and a large plume of smoke could be seen around 6 a.m. from 2 On Your Side's camera on top of the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino. City of Niagara Falls Fire Chief Joe Pedulla says upon arrival, the fire was venting through the roof of the former Frosted Mug bar and restaurant.
- PUB DATE: 4/19/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WGRZ-TV NBC 2 Buffalo

More than 10.3 million acres of land were scorched by wildfires nationwide in 2020. Firefighters battling the harrowing flames often work shifts that exceed 24 hours, and they stay in close quarters in remote locations for weeks at a time, offering a prime opportunity for COVID-19 to spread. In addition, firefighters in urban areas as well as in wildlands routinely are exposed to smoke, carbon monoxide, toxins from structure fires and other hazards to lung health.
- PUB DATE: 4/19/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fairfield Sun Times

VIDEO: Two people were killed Saturday night in a fiery crash involving a Tesla, according to Harris County Pct. 4 Constable Mark Herman. This happened at about 11:25 p.m. in the Carlton Woods Subdivision on Hammock Dunes Place. Constable Herman said the 2019 Tesla Model S was traveling on a roadway and at some point, the vehicle, which deputies said was traveling at a high rate of speed, came to a slight curve.
- PUB DATE: 4/19/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KHOU-TV CBS 11 Houston

The 1906 earthquake in San Francisco struck on April 18 at 5:12 a.m., registering a massive 7.9M on the Richter scale — killing more than 3,000 and leaving a trail of fires that destroyed 80% of the city. Sunday morning, San Francisco erupted in celebration to commemorate the day but to also usher in hope.
- PUB DATE: 4/19/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: SFIST