• Four Alpha Fire Company firefighters, all Penn State students, were honored for rescuing an injured captain at a second‑alarm fire in Haines Township, Pennsylvania.
• The incident occurred Oct. 5, 2025, at the historic Woodward Inn.
• Captain Christopher Martin was injured when the floor collapsed during firefighting operations.
• The student firefighters assisted in extracting Martin and exited the structure safely.
• Recognition was presented during a Centre Region Council of Governments meeting.
STATE COLLEGE, PA — Four Penn State student firefighters were formally recognized for their roles in rescuing an injured colleague during a second‑alarm fire at the Woodward Inn in Haines Township on Oct. 5, 2025, authorities said. FireRescue1
The Alpha Fire Company members — Lt. Kara Stover and firefighters Diego Gomez, Jason Jiang and David Barnfield — received commendations at a Centre Region Council of Governments General Forum meeting earlier this month. FireRescue1
Fire Director Shawn Kaufman told StateCollege.com that the historic 211‑year‑old building was fully involved when crews, including Alpha’s Rescue 5 unit, were assigned to attack the first‑floor blaze. FireRescue1
During firefighting operations, Captain Christopher Martin fell about 10 feet into the basement through a collapsed floor and suffered a significant shoulder injury, officials said. Firefighter Diego Gomez, who also fell, made verbal contact with Martin and began coordinating efforts to raise an alarm and bring a ladder. FireRescue1
Despite sustaining his own injuries, Gomez helped Martin up the ladder, and Stover, Jiang and Barnfield assisted both firefighters back to the first floor and out of the burning structure. Kaufman described the rescue as demonstrating “a high level of professionalism, dedication and calmness.” FireRescue1
• An off‑duty volunteer firefighter and his wife rescued two people from a burning SUV near Cameron, North Carolina, early New Year’s Day.
• The couple heard the crash from their home and pulled the victims from the vehicle as it began burning.
• The crash occurred around midnight at the intersection of Hilmongrove and Cameronhill roads.
• The two people were taken by ambulance to a trauma center; their conditions were not released.
• Authorities said the cause of the crash is under investigation. FireRescue1
CAMERON, NC — An off‑duty firefighter and his wife rescued two people from a burning SUV after hearing the crash near Cameron just after midnight on Jan. 1, officials said. FireRescue1
The couple, identified by the Crains Creek Fire Department as volunteer firefighter Dylan Turney and his wife, heard the impact from their nearby home and rushed to the scene at the intersection of Hilmongrove and Cameronhill roads. FireRescue1
Fire officials said the SUV had struck a tree and was fully involved in fire when the couple found two occupants lying on the ground nearby. The Turneys moved the individuals to safety as flames spread. FireRescue1
Responding crews brought the blaze under control and extinguished the fire. The two people rescued from the burning SUV were transported by ambulance to a trauma center; no further information about their conditions has been released. FireRescue1
Dylan Turney serves as a volunteer with Crains Creek Fire Department and is a full‑time firefighter with Spout Springs Emergency Services. Authorities said the cause of the crash remains under investigation. FireRescue1
• Atlantic City firefighters and police responded to a water rescue near Rhode Island Avenue Beach on New Year’s Eve.
• A distressed man in the water allegedly attacked a firefighter with a concealed screwdriver during the rescue.
• Firefighter Dominic Gitto was treated for hypothermia and released the same day.
• The rescued man was taken into custody and later admitted to a psychiatric inpatient unit.
• Authorities said the incident remains under review.
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — An Atlantic City water rescue on New Year’s Eve escalated into a violent encounter after a distressed man allegedly attacked a firefighter during rescue efforts near Rhode Island Avenue Beach, authorities said.
Firefighters and police were dispatched at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2025, following reports of an adult male in distress in the water off the jetty. Crews initiated a water rescue response upon arrival.
According to officials, Firefighter Dominic Gitto reached the man using a rescue longboard. During the attempt to secure him, the individual allegedly produced a concealed screwdriver and attempted to stab the firefighter. Gitto reportedly deflected the attack and continued rescue efforts as the man displayed erratic behavior.
Additional rescue resources, including a waverunner and rescue sled, were deployed as crews formed a human chain to move the man into shallow water. Atlantic City police officers entered the water, gained control of the individual, and took him into custody.
During the rescue, Gitto’s dry suit took on water, exposing him to cold conditions. He was transported to Atlantic City Medical Center, treated for acute hypothermia, and released later the same day. The rescued man was transported by EMS for medical evaluation and was later admitted to a psychiatric inpatient unit. Authorities have not released further details, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The Briefing • More than 100 firefighters battled a multi-alarm fire at a Denver apartment complex under construction Friday evening. FireRescue1 • The blaze in southeast Denver prompted nearby evacuations and temporary closures of Leetsdale Drive. FireRescue1 • One firefighter was injured and taken to a hospital; no other injuries were reported. ABC7 Los Angeles • Power outages affected the surrounding area and a temporary shelter was set up in nearby Glendale. FireRescue1
DENVER, CO — More than 100 firefighters battled a major blaze Friday evening at a three-story apartment complex under construction in southeast Denver as crews worked to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby structures. FireRescue1
The fire, which escalated to a multi-alarm response, prompted authorities to close Leetsdale Drive and advise evacuations for residents in proximity to the scene due to intense heat and smoke. FireRescue1
One firefighter was injured while combating the blaze and was transported to Denver Health hospital; no other injuries had been reported as of the latest updates. ABC7 Los Angeles
The intense fire conditions caused significant power outages in the area, leading local officials to establish a temporary shelter at an event center in nearby Glendale for displaced residents. FireRescue1
Fire officials continued suppression efforts into the night as pockets of deep-seated fire remained in the structure, and the cause of the fire was under investigation. ABC7 Los Angeles
The Briefing • Massachusetts recorded 44 fire-related deaths in 30 fires in 2025, a decline from 50 in 2024, according to state data. FireRescue1 • A July fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River killed 10 people, the state’s deadliest blaze in decades. FireRescue1 • Most fatal fires in 2025 occurred in residential settings, with many lacking working smoke alarms. FireRescue1 • Smoking materials and oxygen are cited as leading contributing factors in multiple fatal blazes. CapeCod.com
FALL RIVER, MA — Massachusetts saw a drop in fire deaths in 2025, but a summer blaze at an assisted living facility in Fall River resulted in the highest loss of life from a single fire in the state in decades. FireRescue1
State fire officials reported that 44 people died in 30 fires in 2025, down from 50 fire deaths in 2024. The count excludes fatalities linked to motor vehicle collisions that led to fire. FireRescue1
In July, a fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River claimed 10 lives and injured more than 30 people, making it the deadliest incident in the state in over 40 years. Massachusetts Government
Most fatal fires in 2025 occurred in homes, including single-family and multi-family residences, with many lacking functioning smoke alarms at the time of ignition. FireRescue1
State fire officials noted unsafe use or disposal of smoking materials was a leading factor in fire deaths last year, and investigators have highlighted the increased risk when smoking materials interact with medical oxygen. CapeCod.com
Los Angeles County — One year after the Palisades and Eaton wildfires, after-action reviews cite staffing, coordination, alerting and water-supply failures that complicated evacuations and initial attack. FireRescue1
Key fixes underway: LAFD says during red-flag periods all staff will be immediately recalled and all available apparatus will be staffed; LAPD and LAFD urged to train in true Unified Command. FireRescue1
Alerting gap: Evacuation warnings in west Altadena were hours late; Los Angeles County launched an independent probe and is updating OEM/LASD staffing and policies. FireRescue1
Air & water constraints:High winds grounded aircraft the first night; LADWP ran short on supply/pressure near Malibu, deploying tanker support as the state sent 140 more. A state review of water failures followed. FireRescue1
Special risks: Two senior facilities mishandled evacuations; SCE faces suits over alleged ignition and opened a wildfire compensation program while planning undergrounding in burn-scar areas. FireRescue1
LOS ANGELES — Twelve months after the Palisades blaze tore through Malibu’s coast and the Eaton fire burned into Altadena’s foothills, agencies are publishing hard-look assessments that trace life-safety problems back to staffing shortfalls, fragmented command, late alerts and stressed water systems—and they’re pledging concrete fixes before the next red-flag day. FireRescue1
Firefighters battle winds and flames as multiple beachfront homes go up in flames along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu in the Palisades Fire on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
What went wrong
After-action reports show the Los Angeles Fire Department did not hold over prior shifts as the Palisades fire ignited—an economy move the department now disavows. Going forward, during extreme fire weather “all staff will be immediately recalled and all available apparatus staffed,” the report states. FireRescue1
The Los Angeles Police Department documented coordination and communications gaps with LAFD: delayed officer arrival, limited PPE for door-to-door evacuations, radio confusion during a frequency switch, and a tactical alert delayed by wind and poor reception. Recommendations include routine joint training and a true Unified Commandstructure for fast-moving wildfires inside the city. FireRescue1
Emergency alerting faltered in both fires—notably in west Altadena, where warnings went out about three hours lateas homes were already burning. A county-commissioned review flagged understaffed OEM and LASD roles and outdated, unclear evacuation policies. The county has begun updating protocols and launched an independent investigation specific to the Eaton timeline. FireRescue1
In the air, severe winds forced LAFD to ground aircraft the first night; aviation resumed at daybreak. On the ground, LADWP’s system couldn’t keep up near Malibu—running out of water overnight while a nearby reservoir sat offline for repairs—prompting a state review and surge support from ~160 mobile tankers (LADWP and state combined). Officials caution that retrofitting foothill systems for wildfire demand will be costly and complex. FireRescue1
Vulnerable populations & utilities
Two senior living facilities in Altadena/Pasadena failed to execute evacuation plans, with residents left behind and later rescued by deputies and firefighters. Operator changes and rebuild plans are underway, including a facility slated to reopen in 2027 after total loss. FireRescue1
Though ignition causes remain officially undetermined, residents have sued Southern California Edison over the Eaton fire; SCE stood up a Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program and sketched a plan to underground 153 circuit miles, largely in burn-scar corridors. FireRescue1
What’s changing before next season
Staffing posture: Red-flag staffing will surge automatically (immediate recall/fully staffed apparatus), with added pre-positioned strike teams in the valley and foothills. FireRescue1
Unified operations: LAPD–LAFD to expand joint exercises, align evacuation and traffic plans, and stabilize interoperable comms. FireRescue1
Public warnings: County is revising alert authorities, staffing and scripts, aiming to front-load evacuation warnings for at-risk neighborhoods. FireRescue1
Detection/overhaul: LAFD will monitor burn scars with thermal-imaging drones after smoldering from the smaller Lachman fire re-ignited into the Palisades incident. FireRescue1
Supply planning: LADWP and the state are evaluating mobile water, system pressure zones and reservoir availability during wildfires. FireRescue1
Bottom line: The reviews trade blame for blueprints. The next Santa Ana event will test whether staffing recalls, unified command, faster alerts and contingency water can keep pace with wind-driven fire in the WUI stretching from Malibu to Altadena. FireRescue1
New York City — FDNY reports a sharp rise in senior fire fatalities: 37 of 59 fire deaths (64%) so far this year involved people 65+, up from 32 of 73 at this point last year. FireRescue1
Six-week toll:13 elderly New Yorkers died in fires this winter, prompting urgent outreach to older residents and caregivers. FireRescue1
Leading risks flagged by FDNY: aging/unsafe electrical systems, space heater use, non-functioning smoke alarms, mobility limits, and living alone (later detection/escape). FireRescue1
NEW YORK — The Fire Department of New York is sounding the alarm over a surge in fire deaths among older adults, saying nearly two-thirds of this year’s fire fatalities have been New Yorkers age 65 and older—a steep increase compared with the same period last year. FDNY Chief Fire Marshal Dan Flynn called the trend “very, very concerning,” noting that older residents represent about 13% of the city’s population but account for 64% of fire deaths in 2025 to date. FireRescue1
An 80-year-old woman died after a fire erupted inside her apartment on 80th St. near 37th Ave. in Jackson Heights, Queens on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.
Officials said 13 seniors died in just six weeks as winter heating and holiday hazards converged. Investigators highlighted recurrent factors in recent fatal fires: aging or overloaded wiring/extension cords, space heaters, burning candles, inoperable smoke detectors, and the challenges of limited mobility or living alone, which can delay detection and escape. Several cases this season were traced to electrical causes or candles, with victims ranging from their 70s to 90s. FireRescue1
FDNY said it is intensifying home safety outreach with messages tailored to older adults and caregivers—checking and replacing smoke alarms, avoiding extension-cord overuse, positioning space heaters safely, and planning two ways outwhere possible. The department urged families and neighbors to proactively check on seniors, especially during cold snaps and holidays. FireRescue1
Anne Arundel County, Md. — A new Community Risk Assessment & Deployment Analysis urges the Anne Arundel County Fire Department (AACoFD) to add staffing and phase out cross-staffing, warning of response and safety risks. FireRescue1
Below NFPA 1710 benchmarks: Most suppression units run 3-person crews (NFPA recommends 4); only 3 of 7 ladder trucks are consistently 4-person. FireRescue1
Cross-staffing strain: Single crews toggling between an engine and medic (or rescue) leave apparatus unavailable; firefighters report 10+ swaps per day, with PPE/tools moved between rigs. FireRescue1
Union stance: Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters calls current model a “ticking time bomb” and asks county leaders to end cross-staffing and hire to national standards. FireRescue1
Department view: AACoFD says it meets incident-level staffing by sending more units, but the system is “stretched” as calls grow (84,791 runs in the past year, mostly EMS). FireRescue1
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md. — A county-commissioned analysis recommends adding firefighters and reworking deployment to reduce reliance on cross-staffing, a practice the report links to longer response times, reduced system capacity and increased risk as call volume climbs.
Dec. 19, 2025 Joe Addivinola, right, the president of the Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters, and Casey Cameron, left, the union third vice president, at their union office in Millersville.
The 2024 Community Risk Assessment & Deployment Analysis—conducted by Emergency Services Consulting International after 2023 labor negotiations—finds most AACoFD suppression companies operate with three firefighters, below NFPA 1710 guidance for four. While the department often meets incident staffing by sending more vehicles, that approach pulls units out of service and leaves fewer resources for simultaneous incidents, officials acknowledged. FireRescue1
Union leaders said the cross-staffing model—one crew covering multiple rigs—creates operational gaps. Crews report frequent gear swaps (sometimes 10 times daily) between a rescue and engine, adding seconds or minutes and inviting human error under stress. “Understaffing puts the community and firefighters at risk…we’re doing a lot with very little,” union president Joe Addivinola said, urging the county to hire to national standards and end cross-staffing over time. FireRescue1
AACoFD spokesperson Capt. Jenny Macallair said the report offers a data-driven roadmap to prioritize future staffing and deployment choices: “This isn’t about correcting a failure; it’s about planning responsibly for the future.” The department handled 84,791 calls from Dec. 1, 2024, to Dec. 1, 2025, the vast majority EMS. Recommendations include 4-person staffing on every suppression unit, a fully staffed fireboat, and ensuring a special service (ladder or rescue) is crewed consistently. FireRescue1
The county has grown the budgeted force from 853 (FY2019) to 927 today, but the report and union say additional positions—potentially ~150—are needed to hit targets and keep apparatus in service. County Executive Steuart Pittman will release a proposed FY2027 budget in the spring; the fire chief is slated to brief the administration in early March. FireRescue1
Why it matters: As modern synthetic-fueled fires intensify and overlapping EMS runs rise, crew size and unit availability directly affect time-to-task and firefighter safety. The analysis frames near-term hiring and deployment changes as essential to maintaining reliable response across Anne Arundel County. FireRescue1
St. Paul, Minn. — Newly sworn Firefighter Timothy “Tim” Bertz, 52, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, died days after graduating from the St. Paul Fire Department academy and before his first shift. FireRescue1
Timeline: Bertz graduated Wednesday at the Minnesota History Center; he suffered a medical event at home Saturday and later died at the hospital. FireRescue1
Service & life: Began in the fire service in 2017 (Harris Fire, later Lino Lakes duty crew); remembered by SPFD leaders for discipline and leadership. Survived by his wife, Andrea. FireRescue1
Memorial: A public service is planned at Maranatha Church in Forest Lake. Details to follow from SPFD. FireRescue1
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The St. Paul Fire Department is mourning Firefighter Timothy “Tim” Bertz, who died suddenlyjust days after completing the department’s eight-week academy and before he could start his first tour, officials said. Bertz, 52, experienced a serious medical event at home on Saturday and later died at the hospital. FireRescue1
Firefighter Timothy Bert.
Bertz and 20 classmates graduated Wednesday in a ceremony at the Minnesota History Center. Though newly sworn, the department noted he was no stranger to service: a U.S. Navy SEAL veteran, Bertz entered the fire service in 2017 as a paid-on-call firefighter in Harris (Chisago County) and later served on the Lino Lakes duty crew. FireRescue1
“He excelled in the academy because of his discipline and the way he led by example,” Fire Chief Butch Inks said, calling the loss devastating to classmates and instructors who had trained alongside him. Deputy Chief Jamie Smithadded that while Bertz’s time at SPFD was brief, his character and commitment made an immediate impact. FireRescue1
SPFD said memorial arrangements include a public service at Maranatha Church in Forest Lake; the department will share additional details as they are finalized. Bertz is survived by his wife, Andrea, along with family and friends across Minnesota’s fire service community. FireRescue1
Richlands, Va. —Firefighter/EMT Linzie “Scottie” Collins died hours after completing an on-duty shift during which he responded to two calls, officials said. FireRescue1
Timeline: Worked 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Nov. 15; found in medical distress at ~1:15 a.m., Nov. 16; pronounced at 3:24 a.m. after transport. FireRescue1
Service & support: Remembered for three decades of fire/EMS service to Richlands; a GoFundMe was established for his family. FireRescue1
RICHLANDS, Va. — The Richlands fire and EMS community is mourning Linzie Scott “Scottie” Collins, a veteran firefighter/EMT who died just hours after finishing an on-duty tour, according to reports compiled from USFA and local media. Officials said Collins worked a 10 a.m.–6 p.m. shift on Nov. 15, 2025, answering two calls. Shortly after 1:15 a.m. on Nov. 16, he suffered a medical emergency at home; family initiated CPR, and he was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced at 3:24 a.m.FireRescue1
Linzie Scott Collins.
Known across Tazewell County as “Scottie,” Collins devoted more than three decades to serving neighbors through fire and EMS responses. Colleagues and residents remembered his steady professionalism and the mentoring he provided to newer members. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support his family. FireRescue1
Line-of-duty status: The United States Fire Administration has listed Collins’ death following his on-duty shift and subsequent medical emergency; local officials will coordinate with state and federal partners on formal determinations and benefits. Funeral and procession details will be released by the department when available. FireRescue1
