Sisters Sandra Aronson and Judy Sudderth knew they had something special in their possession when they were going through their late parents’ belongings, the Macon-Bibb County Government said in a press release.

“They had them hung on the wall in their den right above the sofa for many years,” said Aronson.

Their parents were gifted two photographs in the 1970s capturing a moment that went down in Macon-Bibb County Fire Department history. One photo showed 10 men in 1910 standing proudly with their fire apparatus—the first motorized vehicle in Macon. The other showed the same truck destroyed after it crashed on its way to a call. It was the truck’s first call, according to retired firefighter Larry Smallwood, who studied the department’s history.

The May 6, 1910, crash claimed the lives of firefighters J.E. Buffington, Charles A. McCrary and Lee Roberts, the fire department said in a Facebook post.

“The first picture shows the professionalism that our firefighters had even back in 1910, and I still see that same smile and commitment that our firefighters have to our community,” said Chief Shane Edwards. “Our firefighters still show that same pride today.”

Aronson and Sudderth presented both photographs to the fire department on Monday, November 3, in honor of their friend, retired Captain Jimmy McCallum, who passed away earlier this year. Captain McCallum’s wife, Janet, was also present to witness the donation.

“Jimmy told me early on that he might not be a good husband all the time, because he lived the fire department,” Janet joked. “The department was very important to him. I know he would be honored. We, his family, are honored. We are so thankful.”

“This generous donation helps us preserve the legacy and history of our department,” said Chief Edwards. “We’re grateful to Ms. Aronson and Ms. Sudderth for helping ensure that the dedication and sacrifice of those who came before us continue to inspire future generations of firefighters.”

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BRW Architects faced a huge challenge when it received the contract to design and build a public safety facility for Lewisville, Texas, but it managed to rise to the occasion.

The Tittle McFadden Public Safety Center includes the city’s fire administration, Central Fire Station No. 1, Emergency Operations Center (EOC), 911 dispatch, police station, property and evidence storage, a crime lab, integrated training facilities, and a new parking garage.

Stephen Hilt, principal at BRW Architects, says Lewisville’s municipal campus site includes a recreation center, municipal library, courts and municipal offices annex building, and a jail, all of which BRW kept operational during construction of the public safety center. He says the new 103,900-square-foot building includes 7,600 square feet for fire administration, 22,465 square feet for Central Fire Station No. 1, 11,000 square feet for training and the EOC, an area that also comprises the overall facility’s shared tornado shelter, and a 1,200-square-foot physical training room.

“The fire administration and police also share the facility’s main breakroom, a second floor patio, and an outdoor courtyard with seating and outdoor cooking,” he says. In addition, a 20,000-square-foot support building includes quartermaster and resources storage shared by fire and police, a 170,000-square-foot parking garage for large and special use vehicles for fire and police on the first level, and a total of 355 parking spaces on five levels.

Chief Mark McNeal says the new station area “feels like a firehouse even though it’s connected to the public safety building. We wanted a separate space for the fire department, and built enough space into the structure to be able to grow and add on in the future without doing much remodeling.”

McNeal points out, “One of the highlights of the fire station is the kitchen/dining/dayroom area that’s one very

The Upper Arlington Fire Division is inviting the community to a special event at Fire Station 72 at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, November 15, 2025, to celebrate the swearing-in of three new firefighter/paramedics and the introduction of its brand-new Ladder 72 truck, the city said in a press release.

The ceremony will begin with the official swearing-in of the division’s newest members, recognizing their dedication to serving and protecting the Upper Arlington community. The event will continue with a traditional “push-in” ceremony for Ladder 72, a fire service tradition dating back to the 1800s that marks the moment a new apparatus is officially placed into service.

Following the ceremonies, guests are welcome to enjoy light refreshments and an open house, providing an opportunity to meet the new firefighters, tour the station, and get an up-close look at the new truck. This event is free and open to the public.

Specifications

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By Dale Greer, 123rd Airlift Wing

Firefighters from the Kentucky Air National Guard were among hundreds of emergency workers who responded to a fatal civilian plane crash just south of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport here Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2025.

Eight Guard firefighters and four fire trucks were deployed to the crash site around 5:20 p.m., said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Ty Allen, fire chief for the 123rd Airlift Wing. That was approximately five minutes after the port wing of a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 caught fire and its engine detached from the aircraft during take-off, according to an official from the National Transportation Safety Board, causing the United Parcel Service cargo plane to lose altitude and burst into flames upon impact with the ground near Grade Lane and Fern Valley Road.

The accident has claimed 12 lives so far, said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg—all three crew members on the plane, plus nine people on the ground. At least a dozen people were injured.

The aircraft, en route to Hawaii and carrying 38,000 gallons of aviation fuel, struck a petroleum recycling facility and multiple other structures, leaving a long trail of flaming debris. A towering plume of black smoke was visible several miles from the crash site.

Arriving first on scene with their airport authority counterparts, the Guard firefighters quickly employed a tanker truck, a pumper truck, a crash truck, and a mobile command post, said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Kyle Miller. The two teams immediately started dispersing firefighting foam—a key element in suppressing jet fuel fires, which cannot be extinguished with water.

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