By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing
• A house fire in Cecil County, Maryland, injured five people and caused more than $1 million in property damage, fire officials said.
• The blaze started in the living room of a two-story home in Nottingham in the early morning hours and quickly spread to the attic.
• Fire crews encountered heavy fire conditions and conducted multiple searches before bringing the blaze under control.
• The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the county fire marshal’s office.

NOTTINGHAM, MD — Five people were injured and extensive property damage was reported after a house fire in Cecil County early Saturday, fire officials said.

The fire was reported at about 3 a.m. at a two-story single-family home in the Nottingham area. First arriving crews found heavy fire in the living room that rapidly extended into the attic and roof structures.

Firefighters initiated interior attack and coordinated search operations as additional units arrived, locating occupants and removing them from the structure. All five individuals were transported to area hospitals with injuries that local officials described as non-life-threatening.

Fire department incident commanders said the fire was placed under control after multiple hours of operations, with fire crews performing overhaul to check for hidden fire spread and hazards.

Cecil County fire investigators and the county fire marshal’s office are conducting an active investigation to determine the cause and origin of the blaze. Initial estimates indicate more than $1 million in structural and contents damage.

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing
• A NIOSH report found nine career firefighters were injured while conducting search operations at a large residential house fire in McKinney, Texas, in August 2025.
• The 4,450 sq ft, two-story home fire was reported at about 9:10 p.m., and crews encountered heavy smoke and zero-visibility conditions during interior operations.
• Two firefighters ran low on air and called a Mayday; all nine were transported to hospitals for treatment.
• The NIOSH investigation highlighted challenges with air management, size-up, supervision, and communications during the fireground response.

MCKINNEY, TX — Nine career firefighters were injured while conducting interior search operations at a large residential fire in McKinney, Texas, on the evening of Aug. 30, 2025, according to a report from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Emergency dispatch received a call reporting a fire in the master bedroom of a two-story, single-family home at about 9:10 p.m., prompting multiple fire units to respond. Crews initiated aggressive interior fire attack and search operations on the second floor under extremely smoky, zero-visibility conditions.

During operations, two firefighters depleted their self-contained breathing apparatus air supplies and issued a Mayday call, leading to withdrawal efforts. A total of nine injured personnel were transported to area hospitals with conditions that included smoke inhalation, overexertion and dehydration.

The NIOSH report identified several challenges encountered during the incident, including limited initial size-up, inconsistent supervision and accountability of interior crews, and inadequate air management practices under the evolving fire conditions.

Investigators also noted that communication of assignments and critical information was strained by the pace of events, complicating coordination and timely withdrawal of crews.

The findings emphasize risks associated with interior structural firefighting operations and the importance of air management, command oversight and clear communications during dynamic fireground conditions.

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing
• New York City firefighters remembered a 1939 blaze in Queens that killed nine members of the FDNY outside Engine 30/Ladder 23 in Astoria.
• A ceremony was held with FDNY leaders, officials and family members marking the 87th anniversary of the tragedy.
• The fatal fire occurred March 2, 1939, at a four-alarm commercial fire on 36th Street.
• The department said the annual observance honors their sacrifice and legacy.

ASTORIA, NY — The New York City Fire Department and local officials gathered Sunday to honor nine firefighters killed in a 1939 commercial fire in Queens, marking the 87th anniversary of the tragedy.

The ceremony took place outside the FDNY Engine 30/Ladder 23 firehouse on 36th Street in Astoria, where members of the department, family members and city leaders participated in wreath laying and moment-of-silence observances.

On March 2, 1939, a four-alarm fire in a commercial building in Queens claimed the lives of nine FDNY firefighters and injured many others, prompting changes in department operations and safety practices.

FDNY officials said the annual event preserves the memory of the fallen and honors their sacrifice in service to the city, drawing current and retired members to reflect on the legacy of those lost.

Speakers at the memorial included department leaders and relatives of the firefighters who perished, who shared remarks about courage and the importance of remembering history.

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing
• A majority of firefighters in Loveland, Colorado, signed a letter expressing no confidence in the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority Board after the fire chief was placed on administrative leave.
• The letter criticizes the board’s actions and affirms staff support for Fire Chief Tim Sendelbach.
• Firefighters and staff said they believe the board is not acting in the best interests of the community or personnel.
• The board placed Sendelbach on leave following a closed-door session; no explanation has been publicly provided.

LOVELAND, CO — A majority of firefighters and staff with the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority have signed a letter expressing no confidence in the authority’s governing board after Loveland Fire Rescue Authority Chief Tim Sendelbach was placed on administrative leave last week, according to department representatives.

The letter circulated among personnel and garnered signatures from more than 75% of the department, Lt. Tyler Austin said in a statement, signaling broad internal support for Sendelbach and disapproval of the board’s actions.

Firefighters and staff said in the letter that they no longer believe the current board is acting in the best interests of the community, their colleagues or emergency personnel, and urged leaders to listen to the voices of those who serve on the front lines.

The Loveland Firefighters IAFF Local 3566 union also issued a statement backing the chief and calling for a fair and transparent process that prioritizes safety and support for both the fire authority and the community.

The authority board placed Sendelbach on leave following a regularly scheduled meeting that included a closed session. The board has not publicly detailed the reason for the leave or any investigation into the matter, and efforts to reach board representatives for comment were unanswered.

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing
• Sam Hiller, a firefighter/paramedic from Lake Forest, Illinois, was selected to serve as a referee for ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy.
• The selection reflects her officiating skills and decision-making under pressure, traits her department said align with emergency response work.
• Hiller will officiate games featuring top international hockey teams competing for Olympic medals.
• The department highlighted the dual-role achievement in a social media post.

LAKE FOREST, IL — Sam Hiller, a firefighter and paramedic with the Lake Forest Fire Department, has been selected to officiate hockey games at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy.

Hiller’s role will be as a referee during international ice hockey competition, where teams from around the world will compete for Olympic medals beginning in February.

Officials in Lake Forest said the selection reflects Hiller’s ability to make split-second decisions and maintain composure in high-pressure situations, skills they noted are shared between emergency response and sports officiating.

The Lake Forest Fire Department acknowledged Hiller’s achievement in a social media announcement, noting the dual significance of her service as a first responder and an Olympic official.