According to a report from NBC5, a private citizen who was volunteering his help in fighting the Chalk Mountain Fire in Somervell County, Texas, with his “military-style fire truck” escaped serious injury after being overtaken by flames on Monday. The vehicle, however, was a total loss after the sustained fire damage.

The Somervell County Sheriff’s Office said Deputy Greg Sharp was going door-to-door to give evacuation notices, when he came across the man as he was fighting the flames with his own

Eventually, man was forced to abandon the vehicle as it was overcome by fire. He joined Sharp in his vehicle as they narrowly escaped the oncoming flames. Both escaped with just minor injuries. Sharp’s department vehicle was also damaged.

The Somervell County Sheriff’s Office said the two vehicles were the only ones to be known to have been damaged by the Chalk Mountain Fire.

As of Thursday, the Texas A&M Forest Service said the Chalk Mountain Fire has scorched 6,339 acres and is just 10% contained.

The FDNY is touting its Alternative Support Apparatus, which its members call ASAP units.

“In areas around the city where we have long sections of beach and boardwalk, we have dedicated FDNY units that can respond into these often hard to access areas to quickly treat and transport sick and injured patients. We refer to them as ASAP units, Alternative Support Apparatus.

“We are able to bring this vehicle, which has all the lifesaving equipment that a Basic Life Support ambulance would have, right to the shoreline. Currently we have these units in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens,” said FDNY Lieutenant LaToya Darden of Station 47.

“A lot of the areas of beach we cover are very wide, and often crowded. Being able to drive the ASAP unit right up to a patient with all the equipment we need to treat them benefits them greatly. Once we remove the patient off the beach or the boardwalk we then will transfer care to an Advanced Life Support or Basic Life Support Unit for transport to a local hospital. I have seen firsthand how beneficial these units are for New Yorkers and anyone who visits are beaches and boardwalks,” said FDNY EMT Andrew Ochtera of Station 47. 

FDNY ASAP Units are also used throughout the year in Times Square and at special events such as the NYC Marathon, July 4th fireworks, parades, and other events.

CAL Fire is among the agencies taking a hard look at a small, new type of apparatus that will make it easier to transport water over difficult terrain.

The FIREBX is an attachment that holds 300 gallons of water and attaches to a skid steer. The unit’s inventor told Fox 26 News his goal was to make something that was more maneuverable than a standard truck/trailer setup.

The unit can be used to put water directly onto a fire. It can also transport foam and diesel and pump directly from a body of water. The U.S. Air Force is negotiating the purchase of several units, as are several logging companies, the company says.

Firefighters with the Covington (GA) Fire Department and officials with Covington-Newton County 911 conducted a push-in ceremony to put a $1.4 million aerial in service, according to a report published by The Covington News.

The 100-foot aerial platform was built by Pierce Manufacturing, according to the report, which added that the firefighters waited 11 months for the delivery of the new apparatus.