Firehouse.com

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Mar. 17--WALLA WALLA -- A house fire Tuesday morning was likely caused by a pet, officials said today.

Firefighters from the city of Walla Walla and Fire District 4 responded about 11 a.m. to a single-family stucco home at 429 S. Second Ave., said city fire Capt. Greg Van Donge.

Three engines responded and the fire was quickly contained to a back bedroom. The incident caused about $20,000 in structure damage and about $25,000 damage to the home's contents, he said.

BECKLEY, W.Va. -- Southern West Virginia residents continued to put the pieces of their homes and lives back together Tuesday as recovery from last weekend's severe flooding continued.

The search for a missing Kanawha County volunteer firefighter has also moved into recovery mode, authorities said.

Donald Adkins, 32, disappeared in the floodwaters early Saturday during a rescue mission in Beaver. Adkins was a member of the Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department.

KIMBALL, Tenn. -- Tennessee might have to ditch its "Volunteer State" motto when it comes to firefighting, Kimball officials say.

An early Tuesday morning blaze destroyed at least three units of a Burnsville apartment building, police said.

In all, 45 units of a building in The Observatory apartments, 1511 Greenhaven Drive, were evacuated. Police spokesman Rory Bochniak said he was unsure when residents would be able to return.

Rolling Meadows Alderman Brad Judd’s proposal to consider privatizing the fire department as a cost-cutting move has ruffled the feathers of firefighters and residents.

Officials are counting on plenty of public comment tonight when the issue is discussed at the committee meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at city hall.

LINCOLN, Neb. --

Emergency crews in Lincoln were called to a trail derailment at the Burlington Northern rail yards early Tuesday morning. There was concern that an overturned railcar was leaking chlorine gas.

Lincoln Fire Department Battalion Chief Bruce Sellon said the derailment involved 23 cars and happened just west of the Highway 77 overpass on the western end of Lincoln around 2 a.m. Fifteen of the cars ended up on their side. All were empty except for the car carrying the chlorine gas.

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Mar. 16--The Wagener man who investigators said called 911 to report seeing his neighbor's home engulfed in flames has been charged with the victim's murder and the fire set to destroy the evidence, officials said.

Dashawn Sanders, 31, of Sharon Lane, was arrested Monday on allegations he beat his neighbor to death Saturday evening and then set the fire to the man's mobile home.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. --

A father of two in town on business was jogging on the beach and listening to his iPod when he was hit from behind and killed by a small plane making an emergency landing, officials said Tuesday.

Robert Gary Jones, 38, of Woodstock, Ga., died instantly Monday evening when he was hit by the single-engine plane, which had lost its propeller, said Beaufort County Coroner Ed Allen. The pilot's vision was blocked by oil on the windshield.

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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.