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Off-Duty Gaston County, NC, Medic Hit, Killed Helping Victim on FL Highway

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Off-Duty Gaston County, NC, Medic Hit, Killed Helping Victim on FL Highway

Gaston County Paramedic Mary Jolly, 27, stopped to help at a crash on I-95 and was struck by a vehicle.

Credit: Mark Price The Charlotte Observer – TNS

A Gaston County “good Samaritan” was fatally injured when she was stopped to help at a multi-vehicle crash in Florida, according to investigators.

It happened just after 12 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, on Interstate 95 near Mims, Florida, and involved five vehicles, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Gaston County EMS reports paramedic Mary Jolly, 27, died at a Florida hospital shortly after 11 a.m. Monday. She lived in Dallas, according to the crash report.

“This tragedy is a powerful reminder of the selflessness and courage our team members embody, not only while on duty but in their personal lives as well,” Gaston County EMS wrote in a Nov. 15 Facebook post.

“Mary was more than a colleague — she was family. Her compassion, unwavering dedication, and steady presence touched countless lives and strengthened the very fabric of our EMS community. Her loss is immeasurable.”

The series of crashes began when a northbound driver from Port St. Lucie changed lanes on Interstate 95 and collided with another vehicle, the Florida Highway Patrol says.

One of the vehicles was left disabled in traffic, resulting in a second crash that killed the 33-year-old Port St Lucie man as he stood in traffic, officials said.

Jolly was in the center lane offering assistance when she was hit by a fifth vehicle, driven by a 30-year-old man from Coronado, Florida, officials said.

She was airlifted to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in critical condition and died two days later, officials said.

Mims Florida is about a 45-mile drive northeast from Orlando.

Ammonia Leak at Weatherford, Oklahoma Hotel Sends Dozens to Hospital

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Ammonia Leak at Weatherford, Oklahoma Hotel Sends Dozens to Hospital

The Briefing

  • A tanker truck carrying about 25,000 lb of anhydrous ammonia leaked while parked behind a hotel in Weatherford, Oklahoma. AP News+2AP News+2
  • Dozens of individuals were hospitalized, including several in critical condition; hundreds of residents evacuated or ordered to shelter in place. People.com+1
  • The leak forced closure of local schools, evacuation of nursing homes, and deployment of hazmat and environmental teams. New York Post+1

Incident Overview

In the late evening hours of November 12, 2025, a tanker truck parked behind a hotel in Weatherford ruptured, releasing a large volume of anhydrous ammonia into the surrounding area. The chemical cloud spread into the hotel and neighboring areas, prompting immediate emergency response and evacuations. People.com+1

Emergency crews from local fire departments, hazmat units, and the National Guard responded. Hospitals treated dozens of people exhibiting signs of ammonia exposure—breathing difficulties, eye and skin irritation—with some patients in critical condition. New York Post+1

Hazards & Response Considerations for Fire/EMS Teams

This event underscores the severe risk posed by large-scale chemical releases in civilian settings. Key lessons include:

  • Rapid escalation & evacuation: Burn-scar or wildfire terrain isn’t the only place for major hazards; chemical storage and transport near public zones can trigger mass casualty events.
  • Monitoring & detection: Anhydrous ammonia is a highly toxic gas; breathability can degrade quickly and exposures can cause serious or permanent damage. CDC+1
  • Inter-agency coordination: Fire, EMS, hazmat, environmental protection (EPA), and law enforcement all played major roles in this incident.
  • Community protection & logistics: Temporary shelter, safe re-entry, and decontamination of exposed individuals and structures are critical in such incidents.

Moving Forward

As investigations continue into the exact cause of the leak (likely a valve or seal failure on the tanker), fire and EMS agencies should review their readiness for chemical-hazard scenarios—even those not tied to industrial sites. Training in ammonia detection, evacuation procedures, and multi-agency response is essential for protecting both responders and civilians.

About MES Brief

MES Brief, a publication of MES Life Safety, delivers actionable insights and frontline-ready content for fire, EMS, and public-safety professionals.
📞 Contact: 1(877)711-5557
🌐 Visit: www.meslifesafety.com

Watch: Fiery Ambulance Crash in Sullivan, IL Leaves Two Firefighters Hurt

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Watch: Fiery Ambulance Crash in Sullivan, IL Leaves Two Firefighters Hurt

The Briefing

  • A Sullivan, Illinois ambulance collided and caught fire while responding to a call, leaving two firefighters injured.
  • The unit was fully involved in flames upon arrival of additional crews; the firefighters were transported for treatment.
  • The incident underscores the risks EMS and fire personnel face during emergency vehicle operations.

Incident Overview

In Sullivan, Illinois, an ambulance from the local fire department was involved in a serious crash that resulted in the unit igniting and sustaining heavy damage. Two firefighters aboard were injured during the event and were transported to a hospital for evaluation. The crash is under investigation by local authorities and the fire department’s vehicle-safety team.

Upon impact, the ambulance was reported to have become engulfed in flames, prompting response from multiple departments. Crews arrived to a scene where the apparatus was already burning, requiring rapid suppression, firefighter protection, and patient care—none of which could proceed normally due to the blaze.

Operational Lessons for EMS & Fire Teams

This crash offers key take-aways for departments tasked with emergency response:

  • Vehicle safety under emergency response: High-speed or lights-and-sirens operations drastically increase crash risk; departments must enforce rigorous driver training and maintenance programs.
  • Rapid transition from transport to fire scenario: When vehicles become fuel-fed hazards, crews must quickly shift to firefighting posture, protective positioning, and scene control.
  • Responder injury potential: The fact that the firefighters aboard were injured underscores the vulnerability of EMS crews not only in the patient-care role but also as occupants of emergency vehicles.
  • Post-incident review and prevention strategy: A full departmental review of crash dynamics, vehicle integrity, occupant protection and response protocols will strengthen future prevention efforts.

About MES Brief

MES Brief, published by MES Life Safety, delivers actionable insights and frontline-ready content tailored for fire, EMS, and public-safety professionals. Stay informed. Stay ready.
📞 Contact: 1(877)711-5557
🌐 Visit: www.meslifesafety.com

Evacuation Warnings in Place as Flooding Expected in California Wild-Fire Scar Areas

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Evacuation Warnings in Place as Flooding Expected in California Wild-Fire Scar Areas

The Briefing

  • Emergency management officials in Southern California have issued evacuation warnings and orders for communities in recent wildfire burn scars, ahead of heavy rainfall.
  • Burn-scar terrain is especially vulnerable: charred soil loses its ability to absorb water, making flash floods, debris flows, and mudslides far more likely.
  • Residents in affected zones are urged to evacuate early, secure pets and livestock, and stay clear of arroyos, drainage channels and closed roads until the storm threat passes.

Storm Threat Amplified by Burn Scars

As a powerful late-winter storm moves across Southern California, fire and emergency officials are watching vulnerable zones closely. Regions that recently burned now face an elevated risk of urgent weather-related emergencies. These areas are under Evacuation Warnings or Orders, especially where steep slopes, loose soil and limited vegetation increase hazard potential. NBC Los Angeles+1

When intense rainfall hits a burn scar, the water hits ground that behaves like pavement — instead of soaking in, it runs off rapidly, carrying debris, boulders, and mud down slopes. Cal OES News+1

Operational Considerations for Fire & EMS

This scenario requires a different preparedness mindset than typical wildfire response:

  • Advance hazard mapping and coordination with public works to monitor drainage channels and burn scar runoff paths.
  • Pre-positioning of strike teams and swift water/rescue resources in high-risk zones.
  • Public-information campaigns & early evacuations in burn-scar neighborhoods ahead of rainfall.
  • Post-event operations: clearing channels, assessing road/bridge damage, and supporting community recovery.

Looking Ahead

These “second-phase” hazards — flooding and debris flows after the fire — frequently catch communities off guard. For fire and EMS agencies, readiness must move beyond flame suppression to include weather-driven rescue and recovery operations in vulnerable terrain.

About MES Brief

MES Brief, a dispatch from MES Life Safety, delivers actionable insights and frontline-ready content for fire, EMS and public-safety professionals. Stay prepared. Stay ready.
📞 Contact: 1(877)711-5557
🌐 Visit: www.meslifesafety.com

Baltimore Firefighters Tackle Fire in Historic Building

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Baltimore Firefighters Tackle Fire in Historic Building

The Briefing

  • A three-alarm fire tore through a historic former police precinct building in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore.
  • Heavy fire broke out on the third floor; businesses inside evacuated safely.
  • The cause is under investigation; crews worked for hours to extinguish hotspots and secure the structure. 

Historic Structure Engulfed

In the early morning hours of November 11, 2025, firefighters in Baltimore were called to a blaze at the former police precinct building in the city’s Hampden neighborhood. Upon arrival, heavy smoke and flames were already visible from the third floor, signaling a serious and quickly evolving fire incident. 

The two-story building, originally designed as a precinct house decades earlier, had been repurposed for businesses. All occupants were safely evacuated without reported injuries. 

Extended Firefighting Effort

Fire crews escalated the response to three alarms as fire spread quickly in the aged structure. High winds added to the complexity, fanning flames up the exterior and increasing collapse risk. Crews remained on scene for several hours, combating remaining hot spots and conducting thorough checks of fire extension. 

The building’s vintage construction—wood framing, legacy finishes, and altered interior spaces—posed additional hazards for engine companies and ladder crews alike. Ladder operations and collapse zone awareness were prioritized.

Operational Lessons for Fire Departments

This incident serves as a strong reminder of the unique risks posed by older and repurposed structures. Key take-aways include:

Building age and construction type matter: Historic buildings often lack modern fire‐resistive features; fire spreads faster and collapse risk is elevated.

Wind and weather amplify danger: External conditions can turn a fire into a rapid-growth event, requiring quick escalation of resources.

Evacuation and occupant safety: Ensuring all individuals are clear before aggressively attacking the fire is vital—especially in mixed-use or business-occupied structures.

Post-fire operations: Hot-spot search, thermal imaging, structural integrity checks, and coordination with building owners are critical for full resolution.

About The MES Dispatch

The MES Dispatch, a publication of MES Life Safety, delivers frontline stories, insights, and lessons from fire, EMS, and law-enforcement incidents. Our mission: help first responders stay informed, prepared, and protected.

Small Plane Carrying Relief Supplies to Jamaica Crashes into Florida Lake

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Small Plane Carrying Relief Supplies to Jamaica Crashes into Florida Lake

The Briefing

  • A small turboprop aircraft loaded with hurricane relief supplies bound for Jamaica crashed into a retention pond behind a home in Coral Springs, Florida shortly after take-off from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
  • Emergency services responded rapidly, but initial search efforts found no survivors; the mission shifted from rescue to recovery.
  • The flight was part of a humanitarian relief effort following Hurricane Melissa, which caused widespread damage in Jamaica.

Mission of Mercy Ends in Tragedy

On the morning of Monday, November 10, 2025, a small plane departing Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport on a relief-mission bound for Jamaica plunged into a residential retention pond in Coral Springs. The aircraft was carrying supplies destined to support Caribbean communities recovering from Hurricane Melissa. 

The crash occurred mere minutes after take-off. Surveillance and witness footage show the plane clipping trees and fences before descending into the water behind a home in the 5500 block of NW 57th Terrace.  Fire-rescue units from Coral Springs‑Parkland Fire Rescue and neighboring agencies arrived on scene quickly, but found no survivors. 

Operational Impact for Fire & EMS Teams

Although this incident did not involve a fire-ground operation, it holds several critical lessons for fire service and EMS leadership:

  • Rapid incident evolution: A humanitarian mission flight crash in a residential zone required immediate multi-agency rescue and recovery response.
  • Hazard assessment on arrival: Although no fire consumed the structure or homes, fuel contamination, wreckage in water, and structural debris presented environmental risks.
  • Community resilience & inter-agency coordination: The broader mission — hurricane relief for Jamaica — highlights how fire/EMS units may interface with humanitarian logistics and aircraft operations.

Deputy Chief Mike Moser of Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Rescue noted that crews arrived to a partially submerged wreckage scene and quickly transitioned from rescue to recovery mode. 

Looking Ahead

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the accident. While the full cause is still under review, fire and EMS agencies should use this event as a reminder: even relief-missions and flights may overlap into our jurisdiction, and readiness for off-site rescue, environmental hazards, and joint operations is essential.

About The MES Dispatch

The MES Dispatch, presented by MES Life Safety, delivers frontline stories and insights for fire, EMS, and law-enforcement professionals. Stay informed. Stay ready. Stay safe.

Historic Macon County, Tenn. Hotel Destroyed by Fire.

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Historic Macon County, Tenn. Hotel Destroyed by Fire.

The Briefing

  • A fire on the morning of November 12 2025 destroyed the century-old Donoho Hotel in Red Boiling Springs, Macon County, Tennessee.
  • Firefighters identified heavy fire on arrival, believed to have started in a second-floor electrical equipment room. 
  • The 1914-built structure, a historic resort landmark, is considered a total loss; no firefighter injuries were reported. 

Historic Landmark Engulfed

In the early hours of Tuesday, November 12, crews from the Red Boiling Springs Fire Department responded to heavy smoke and flames at the Donoho Hotel, a storied resort built in 1914 and deeply woven into the history of the Red Boiling Springs mineral-spring community. Upon arrival, firefighters found fire heavily involved along the side of the two-story white-frame building with its signature full-length porches. 

Investigators believe the blaze originated in an electrical equipment room on the second floor, and rapidly spread through the aging structure’s wood-frame construction. Chief Randall Bray praised mutual-aid crews for their support under “challenging conditions,” noting the speed of fire spread and structural complexity. 

The Impact on the Community

The Donoho Hotel was more than lodging—it was a living relic of the early twentieth-century resort era that drew visitors to Macon County’s famed mineral springs. Its loss is being felt deeply by residents and local businesses alike. Three occupants escaped unharmed, but the building is now deemed a total loss. 

Local authorities have launched an investigation into the exact cause of the fire. Meanwhile, the community faces the long path of recovery and decisions about preservation, rebuilding, or reclamation of the site.

Operational Takeaways for Fire-EMS Teams

  • Aging wooden structures—especially those with historic status—pose heightened risk of rapid fire spread and collapse.
  • Electrical equipment rooms in older buildings are potential ignition points; proactive inspection and suppression strategies are critical.
  • Mutual-aid coordination proved essential here: multiple departments responded and worked together under complex conditions.
  • Community relations matter: Loss of landmark structures affects not just property but cultural identity and public morale.

Fire Destroys Vacant Hotel, Restaurant in Austin, TX

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Fire Destroys Vacant Hotel, Restaurant in Austin, TX

An Austin firefighter was transported for heat-related issue.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of a massive fire that destroyed a vacant Austin hotel and restaurant.

Huge plumes of black smoke that billowed into the air were visible for miles.

One firefighter was treated for a heat-related emergency, according to KXAN. 

Both buildings near the University of Texas campus have been vacant.

House of SC Circuit Judge Destroyed by Massive Fire

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House of SC Circuit Judge Destroyed by Massive Fire

Due to limited access, St. Paul Fire District crews used canoes and kayaks to get to the house on Edisto Island.

The husband of a South Carolina Circuit Court judge was injured when he jumped out a window to escape a massive fire.

Judge Diane Goodstein was walking her dogs nearby on Edisto Beach when the house caught fire Saturday.

Neighbors with a canoe helped paramedics reach and rescue former South Carolina Sen. Arnold Goodstein. Crews used a rope to pull him from the terrain, The Post and Courier reported.

“Due to the remoteness and layout of the lot, the occupants had to be rescued from the backyard via kayaks and brought to Colleton County EMS where they received medical aid,” St. Paul Fire District officials wrote.

One of the three injured was flown to the Medical University of South Carolina.

Sources said the occupants jumped from an elevated first floor to escape the fire.

Investigators with South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are investigating.

Goodstein, who has served on the state judicial bench since 1989, had been the victim of previous death threats, The Guardian reported.

She recently issued a temporary injunction on the release of state voter files that the U.S. Justice Department requested.

But, that ruling was overturned by the state supreme court.

Firefighters battle large blaze at Chevron refinery in Southern California

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Firefighters battle large blaze at Chevron refinery in Southern California

Firefighters were battling a blaze at a Chevron refinery in Southern California late on Thursday, company and government officials said, after a massive fireball erupted at the facility.

Credit ABC News: ByVanessa Navarrete and Kevin Shalvey

Firefighters were battling a blaze at a Chevron refinery in Southern California late on Thursday, company and government officials said, after a massive fireball erupted at the facility.

It was not immediately clear what caused the blaze, which was burning in El Segundo, a city in Los Angeles County.

“All refinery personnel and contractors have been accounted for and there are no injuries,” Allison Cook, a Chevron spokesperson, told ABC News.

Gov. Gavin Newsom was briefed on the fire, his office said.

“Our office is coordinating in real time with local and state agencies to protect the surrounding community and ensure public safety,” the office said in a statement.

The sprawling refinery, which is located just south of Los Angeles International Airport, has its own fire department on site, according to its website. Chevron’s firefighters were joined by emergency personnel from El Segundo and Manhattan Beach in responding to the “isolated” fire within the facility, the Chevron spokesperson said.

“No evacuation orders for area residents have been put in place by emergency response agencies monitoring the incident, and no exceedances have been detected by the facilities fence line monitoring system,” the spokesperson said.

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said she’d been briefed on the fire. She also said she’d spoken with Holly J. Mitchell, the supervisor who represents El Segundo.

“LAFD stands at the ready to assist with any mutual aid request. There is no known impact to LAX at this time,” Bass said on social media. “We will continue to monitor this situation.”

A 3-hour shelter-in-place order was issued for areas within the Tree Section of Manhattan Beach, according to Alert SouthBay. “Bring all people and pets indoors,” the alert said. In an earlier social media post, the alert system said, “There is NO PUBLIC threat at this time and NO evacuation orders in place at this time.”

The fire department in nearby Torrance, California, issued an alert, saying it was aware of the fire, but there was “no impact” to the city.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

ABC News‘ Naomi Vanderlip contributed to this report.

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