Firehouse.com

GENESEE, Wis.

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Two people were hospitalized Tuesday afternoon following a dramatic rescue at a Waukesha County farm.

Firefighters rescued the two workers after they became trapped following a fire in a privately owned corn grain bin in the Town of Genesee.

The two workers originally called 911 from outside of the silo before eventually becoming trapped.

OCONOMOWOC, Wis.

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A chemical explosion injured 30 people at the Olympia Resort in Oconomowoc Tuesday morning.

The explosion occurred in a laundry facility at the resort just west of Highway 67.

Investigators said an employee accidentally mixed two chemicals -- an acid and a chlorine -- into one container.

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Mar. 16--HUDSON -- In the midst of a fire board meeting Monday to discuss the suspension of Fire Chief Johnny Blackston, he suddenly resigned, and a crowded room of supporters applauded.

Blackston, a 20-year veteran of the Hudson department, was the only paid firefighter. He was suspended without leave March 8; reasons for his suspension have not been released. He was due to return to work March 23, but his resignation leaves a vacancy at the top of the department.

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Mar. 16--It took longer than they anticipated to cut through the faded lead case, the size of a fishing tackle box. But to Philadelphia's top former and current fire officials, what they found inside was nothing short of a treasure.

The time capsule, buried Sept. 23, 1925, in the cornerstone of the former city Fire Department headquarters at 1328 Race St., contained photos of dignitaries, business cards, newspaper clippings, a fire hat "frontice" from the 1800s, and other memorabilia.

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Mar. 14--SAN ANDREAS -- State officials looking for ways to increase funding for state firefighting efforts are debating whether to sock every homeowner in California with a surcharge on their insurance or whether to levy a special assessment only on property owners in so-called State Responsibility Areas.

BELLE GLADE, Fla.

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Three people, including an infant, were airlifted to area hospitals after an early-morning fire to a Belle Glade building.

The fire started Tuesday morning at a building that houses a wholesale retail shop on the bottom floor and at least four apartments on the second floor.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Capt. Rick Christmas said the smoke was so thick inside that firefighters could hardly see.

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Mar. 15--SHOSHONE -- Fire Chief Steve Stock remains on a leave of absence and his future as chief remains in limbo until Shoshone City and Rural Fire Department commissioners meet on Tuesday.

Commission members haven't said why, on March 9, they dismissed both Stock and training Capt. Dean Richardson. But Fire Commissioner Ellis Gooch told the Times-News that they failed to provide adequate notice of the meeting under the Idaho Open Meeting law, so their actions are invalid.

Three Mobile firefighters were burned in a flashover while battling a blaze at a duplex last night, according to WALA-TV.

The fire on Bush Avenue was reported at approximately 7:30 p.m. A department spokesman said the firefighters were burned when the fire "flashed" as they were exiting the building.

HOUSTON
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Officials say a collision between a transit bus and light-rail train in downtown Houston has sent 19 people to the hospital. No serious injuries were reported.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority says the accident happened at the same intersection where five weeks earlier another bus and light-rail train collided.

Metro transit police are investigating Monday's collision. Officials said most of the people hospitalized complained of neck and back injuries.