By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing
• A Newark firefighter suffered burns to the face, hands and wrists while battling an early-morning apartment fire March 17, officials said.
• Crews responded to 319 Hawthorne Ave. around 3:59 a.m. and rescued an unresponsive man from a first-floor unit.
• The civilian victim was transported to a hospital in critical condition, while the firefighter was hospitalized in stable condition.
• The fire was brought under control within about 20 minutes, and the cause remains under investigation.

NEWARK, NJ — A Newark firefighter was injured while battling an early-morning apartment fire that also left one civilian in critical condition, according to city officials.

Firefighters were dispatched at approximately 3:59 a.m. March 17 to a reported fire at 319 Hawthorne Ave. Crews arriving on scene rescued an unresponsive man from a first-floor apartment, authorities said.

The victim was transported to University Hospital and was reported in critical condition. One firefighter was also taken to an area hospital after sustaining burns to the face, hands and wrists, and was listed in stable condition.

Officials said the fire was brought under control by about 4:18 a.m. Two residents were displaced and relocated following the incident.

The Newark Public Safety Department’s Arson Unit is investigating the cause of the fire.

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing
• A West Hurley, New York assistant fire chief extinguished a trailer fire while operating alone as most personnel were assigned to a parade, officials said.
• The fire was reported around 12:50 p.m. March 15 on Bundy Lane, with flames extending several feet from the trailer.
• First Assistant Chief Garry Chislett responded solo, using an engine-mounted deck gun to knock down the fire before additional crews arrived.
• No injuries were reported, and all animals were safely evacuated; the cause remains under investigation.

WEST HURLEY, NY — A West Hurley fire official extinguished a fast-moving trailer fire while operating alone as most of the department’s personnel were committed to a nearby parade, fire officials said.

The fire was reported around 12:50 p.m. March 15 at a trailer on Bundy Lane, where neighbors observed smoke coming from the structure. The resident was not home at the time of the incident, according to officials.

First Assistant Chief Garry Chislett responded by himself, retrieving an engine and initiating fire attack prior to the arrival of additional crews. Upon arrival, he encountered flames extending several feet from one end of the trailer, officials said.

Chislett used a deck gun to knock down the fire and limit extension, helping preserve part of the structure until additional firefighters arrived and continued interior operations.

No injuries were reported, and all animals inside the trailer were able to escape safely. The structure sustained damage, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation, officials said.

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing
• A Providence firefighter was seriously injured after falling about 10 feet down an elevator shaft during a rescue at a senior housing complex on March 16.
• Crews were responding to a power outage that left residents trapped in an elevator at Sister Dominica Manor on Atwells Avenue.
• The firefighter suffered head and leg injuries and was transported to a trauma center, where he was reported alert and expected to recover.
• The outage was caused by a fallen tree branch on power lines, and the incident remains under review.

PROVIDENCE, RI — A veteran Providence firefighter was seriously injured after falling approximately 10 feet down an elevator shaft while responding to a rescue call at a senior housing complex, fire officials said.

The incident occurred March 16 at Sister Dominica Manor on Atwells Avenue, where crews were dispatched for a power outage that had trapped residents inside an elevator, according to authorities.

During the operation, the firefighter lost footing and fell into the elevator shaft. He sustained head and leg injuries and was transported to Rhode Island Hospital’s trauma center, officials said.

Fire officials reported the firefighter was alert and conscious following the fall and is expected to recover.

The power outage affecting the building was attributed to a tree branch that fell onto nearby power lines, according to utility officials. The incident remains under review.

The Briefing
• A Boston firefighter was hospitalized following injuries sustained while fighting a two-alarm fire that destroyed a three-deck residential structure.
• The blaze was reported in the Dorchester neighborhood just before 3 a.m., and crews encountered heavy fire upon arrival, officials said.
• Firefighters made a search of the building; no civilian injuries were reported.
• The cause of the fire remains under investigation by fire officials.

BOSTON, MA — A Boston firefighter was hospitalized following injuries while battling a two-alarm fire that destroyed a three-deck residential building early March 2026, fire officials said.

The fire was reported just before 3 a.m. in the Dorchester neighborhood, and responding crews encountered heavy fire conditions upon arrival at the three-story structure, according to the Boston Fire Department.

Firefighters conducted searches of the building and worked to bring the blaze under control, elevating the response to two alarms as additional units were requested.

One firefighter was injured during operations and transported to a local hospital for treatment; no civilian injuries were reported, officials said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Boston Fire Department’s fire marshal’s office.

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing
• The Loveland Fire Rescue Authority board scheduled a special meeting to vote on whether to terminate Fire Chief Tim Sendelbach after 44 days of administrative leave.
• The board previously advanced termination proceedings by drafting and approving a letter of intent to terminate the chief’s employment.
• The decision comes after weeks of closed-door meetings and public commentary supporting the chief.
• Sendelbach said he was surprised and disappointed by the board’s direction.
• The board’s vote will occur in a virtual session open for public viewing.

LOVELAND, CO — The Loveland Fire Rescue Authority Board has scheduled a special meeting to vote on whether to terminate Fire Chief Tim Sendelbach’s employment following more than six weeks of administrative leave, officials said.

Sendelbach, who has been on leave for 44 days, will have his employment status considered in a 2 p.m. virtual session Thursday, after the board’s personnel committee prepared a final decision recommending termination.

The board action followed weeks of closed-door discussions and prior votes to advance the termination process, including unanimous approval to send Sendelbach a letter of intent to terminate earlier this year.

During Wednesday’s special meeting, board members voted unanimously to have the personnel committee work with legal counsel on a termination decision for full board consideration Thursday.

Sendelbach said he was surprised and disappointed by the board’s motion and noted he was unaware of the discussion prior to being contacted during the meeting.

The agenda and link for the forthcoming virtual board meeting are available on the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority website, and supporters of the chief have made public comments during prior sessions.