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Firefighters responded Tuesday afternoon to reports of a fire at a refinery in Martinez. Contra Costa Health service said there were several reports of a fire at Martinez Refining Company with light smoke coming from the area. The refinery said in a Facebook post that on-site firefighters responded around noon to smoldering material in out-of-service equipment.
- PUB DATE: 1/31/2023 7:54:56 PM - SOURCE: KTVU-TV FOX 2 Oakland

It’s something of a Golden State paradox: Dry winters can pave the way for dangerous fire seasons fueled by dead vegetation, but wet winters — like the one the state has seen so far — can also spell danger by spurring heaps of new growth that can later act as fuel for flames. Experts say it’s too soon to know with certainty what the upcoming fire season has in store.
- PUB DATE: 2/1/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Los Angeles Times - Metered Site

A new program in El Cajon is changing the way 911 calls are handled. Officials say it’s a better use of resources. Before on Tuesday, when you call 911, an ambulance and firefighters are automatically sent to you. But now, non-life-threatening calls will be triaged by a nurse. “So what happens if you call 911 for a bad cold, and you didn't know if it was pneumonia," said El Cajon Mayor Bill Well.
- PUB DATE: 1/31/2023 4:36:00 PM - SOURCE: KGTV ABC 10 San Diego

The Target store in the Menifee Countryside Marketplace remained closed on Tuesday, Jan. 31, nine days after what police say was an intentionally set fire. Menifee police and the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department are investigating witness statements that suggest someone set the fire to divert attention from a theft, said police Lt.
- PUB DATE: 2/1/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Press-Enterprise - Metered Site

Fire crews are calling for innovative solutions to extinguish lithium-ion battery fires after it took 6,000 gallons of water to put out Tesla in flames on a Sacramento County highway. Teslas and other electric vehicles (EVs) are powered by lithium-ion batteries, and firefighters have only two options when responding, let the flames burn out or drown the car in water, which could still take several hours.
- PUB DATE: 2/1/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTXL-TV FOX 40 Sacramento

VIDEO: A fire has destroyed a home in southwest Fresno. The flames were first reported just before 2:30 Tuesday morning on Dorothy and Elm Avenue. Firefighters arrived to find flames coming from inside the home. Two men were inside sleeping at the time of the fire. Crews say both men were able to get out safely, although one of the men had to jump out of his bedroom window to escape the flames.
- PUB DATE: 2/1/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KFSN-TV ABC 30 Fresno

“He touched many lives in his short time with the department,” the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York wrote

Captain Ashley Losch explains the endless coordination at play, identifies the biggest hurdles ahead, and even spills a little big game tea

Kathy Hochul's budget also includes a bill that would let municipalities and fire companies pay volunteers for responses to calls and completion of training

A draft of the document praised recent changes in the Apopka Fire Department hierarchy but also “identified deeper foundation deficiencies”

"Our guys felt like they didn't exist," said Chief Matt Hallock. "I have several paramedics who aren't back to work, and I don't know if they will come back"

Paterson firefighters used a winch to separate the cars and medical tools to retrieve the man’s leg, Chief Brian McDermott said