The Briefing
• Two members of the Fire Department of New York remained hospitalized after an explosion at a shipyard in Staten Island, officials said.
• The blast occurred shortly before noon on Tuesday at a commercial shipyard on Staten Island’s west shore, injuring multiple firefighters and contractors.
• One FDNY firefighter died at the scene and another died at a hospital, the department confirmed.
• The two hospitalized members were reported in stable but serious condition, fire officials said.

STATEN ISLAND, NY — Two members of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) remained hospitalized after a fatal explosion at a Staten Island shipyard Tuesday, authorities said.

The explosion occurred shortly before 11:30 a.m. at a commercial shipyard on the borough’s west shore while firefighters and contractors worked on a vessel, according to FDNY officials.

Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh confirmed that one FDNY firefighter died at the scene and another died at a local hospital. Two additional FDNY members were transported to area hospitals with serious injuries and were listed in stable condition.

The blast also injured several civilian contractors at the shipyard; those individuals were treated at local hospitals, fire officials said.

The New York City Fire Marshal’s Office and other agencies are investigating the cause of the explosion, with investigators surveying the site and interviewing witnesses to determine what led to the incident.

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing
• Boston firefighters and community members are mourning veteran firefighter Robert “Bobby” Kilduff Jr. after he died battling a three-alarm house fire in Dorchester.
• Kilduff, a 24-year member of the Boston Fire Department and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, fell from the third floor of the burning home Saturday night and later died at a hospital.
• Colleagues described him as a devoted firefighter, leader and the “heart of the firehouse.”
• Memorials and tributes have been placed at his fire station and the scene of the blaze.

BOSTON, MA — Friends, fellow firefighters and community members are honoring the life and service of Robert “Bobby” Kilduff Jr., a veteran Boston firefighter who died Saturday while responding to a three-alarm residential fire in the Dorchester neighborhood.

Kilduff, 53, a third-generation firefighter and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, suffered severe injuries after falling from a third story of the burning triple-decker home on Treadway Road late Saturday night, the Boston Fire Department reported. He later died at Boston Medical Center.

His 24-year career with the department included numerous rescues and leadership roles, and colleagues described Kilduff as a mentor and central figure at Rescue Company 2, often referred to as the “heart of the firehouse.”

Firefighters and residents have placed flowers and mourning bunting at Kilduff’s station and outside the scene of the blaze, and events including a wake are planned to honor his life.

The Boston Fire Department and city officials have acknowledged Kilduff’s long service and dedication to protecting the community, with tributes highlighting his leadership, commitment to family, and charitable work supporting veterans and first responders.

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing
• The Harvey Fire Department in Illinois has depended heavily on mutual aid from neighboring departments after laying off about half its firefighters amid a fiscal crisis.
• Budget cuts in October 2025 led to furloughs affecting about 40% of city staff, including firefighters, and additional layoffs later that year.
• Surrounding departments, including Dolton, Hazel Crest and Riverdale, have responded to dozens of emergency calls in Harvey.
• Mutual aid has included responses through the Illinois Mutual Aid Box Alarm System but Harvey has been limited in reciprocating help.

HARVEY, IL — The Harvey Fire Department has increasingly relied on mutual aid from neighboring fire departments after a series of layoffs reduced its staffing to significantly below recommended levels, officials and records show.

In October 2025, facing a declared fiscal crisis, the city furloughed about 40% of its workforce, including roughly half of the fire department, and subsequently laid off additional firefighters, leaving some shifts staffed by as few as three personnel.

To maintain emergency response coverage, departments from Dolton, Hazel Crest and Riverdale have answered multiple calls in Harvey through the Illinois Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, with dozens of responses recorded between October and early May.

Not all mutual aid activations resulted in units working on scene; some were canceled while en route, according to documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests.

Harvey city officials said support from neighboring municipalities has helped the community manage fire and emergency calls while the city continues to navigate its fiscal challenges.

By MES Dispatch staff

The Briefing
• Two firefighters were injured Friday morning when a wall collapsed during a structure fire in Laurel County, Kentucky, authorities said.
• The incident occurred around 3:17 a.m. at a garage with an attached apartment off U.S. 25 near Lily; the resident escaped without injury.
• Both firefighters were taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and have since been released.
• Units from multiple departments responded and the roadway was initially blocked due to the fire.
• The cause of the fire remains under investigation by local fire and state fire marshal officials.

LAUREL COUNTY, KY. — Two firefighters were injured early Friday when a wall collapsed on them while they were working a structure fire in Laurel County, officials said.

The fire was reported about 3:17 a.m. at a garage with an attached apartment along U.S. 25 near Lily, London Mayor Randall Weddle and sheriff’s deputies said. The occupant of the apartment escaped without injury before responders arrived.

One firefighter from the Lily Fire & Rescue Department and another from the Laurel County Fire Department were pulled from the scene after part of a wall gave way, according to Deputy Gilbert Acciardo.

Both injured responders were transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries; they have since been released, authorities reported.

Fire units from multiple departments were on scene to extinguish the blaze, and a section of U.S. 25 was temporarily blocked due to smoke and fire activity before reopening later in the morning.

The fire is under investigation by the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office arson investigator in coordination with the Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s Office to determine its cause, officials said.