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Tag: fire

  • South El Monte residents ordered to shelter in place as warehouse buildings burn

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    Residents in South El Monte were ordered to shelter in place Wednesday afternoon as more than 100 firefighters worked to battle a massive blaze at a warehouse complex that sent a dark plume of smoke into the air and emitted an acrid chemical smell.

    Fire crews responded to the 2200 block of North Tyler Avenue at 2:32 p.m. where two adjacent concrete warehouse style buildings were on fire, according to L.A. County Fire Department spokesperson Keith Navarre.

    A total of 112 fire personnel were sent to the incident where they assumed a defensive position, surrounding the building with water spraying apparatuses, he said.

    Several explosions occurred inside the building while crews were on scene, the cause of which was not immediately clear, he said. Helicopter video from ABC7 captured sparks and smoke shooting into the air as the blasts rattled the buildings.

    Hazardous materials and urban search and rescue teams also responded to the scene, he said. Officials said metals were burning inside the warehouses, but did not specify what type of objects were on fire.

    “It’s going to be an incident that goes throughout the night because of the materials involved,” Navarre said. “We have heavy equipment here that’s going to help us break down the building and continue to put the fires out.”

    A shelter in place order was issued for residents in the immediate area of South El Monte around 4:40 p.m. and then expanded to include more nearby streets and part of Baldwin Hills . An updated map of areas of impacted by the order is available at protect.genasys.com.

    Residents were instructed to shut doors and windows, turn off heating and ventilation systems and stay indoors. By 6 p.m. the smoke had diminished, but orders remained in place “out of an abundance of caution,” Navarre said.

    Investigators have not determined what caused the fire.

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    Clara Harter

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  • Gas explosion, fire on top floors of New York City apartment building kills 1, injures 14

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    A gas explosion sent fire racing through the top floors of a high-rise apartment building in New York City early Saturday, killing one person and injuring 14 others as temperatures plunged into the single digits overnight, authorities said.Firefighters responded shortly before 12:30 a.m. to the 17-story building in the Bronx, where people were seen leaning out of windows calling for help as flames engulfed parts of the top floors, officials said.Chief John Esposito said firefighters were investigating reports of a gas odor on the 15th and 16th floors when the explosion occurred. He said there was major structural damage to about a dozen apartments and fires in 10 apartments on the 16th and 17th floors.Authorities did not immediately release information on the person who died. Another person was critically injured, five had serious injuries and eight had minor injuries, officials said.Officials said the building had been undergoing renovations, and work on the natural gas system had been completed and inspected. The cause of the explosion was under investigation. The building was formerly run by the New York City Housing Authority, but it has been under private management since 2024, city officials said.”It’s an incredible tragedy. We’re sending all our thoughts to the families involved,” Leila Bozorg, deputy mayor for housing and planning, said at a morning news conference.Mayor Zohran Mamdani said all utilities in the building were shut down, and all 148 apartments vacated. Officials set up a reception center for the displaced residents at a nearby school, and the American Red Cross was there to help provide housing and other needs.”As you can imagine, this has been a deeply frightening and devastating morning for them,” Mamdani said at a news conference Saturday afternoon. “They are not alone. Our city will stand by them and do everything in our power to help them get back on their feet.”The Red Cross said it had registered more than 100 households and 305 people, including 89 children, for emergency aid by early Saturday afternoon.More than 200 fire and emergency crews worked the scene, according to the fire department. When the explosion occurred, some firefighters were trapped briefly in an elevator, officials said.”There were injuries. It was a very, very difficult night on a very cold night, which caused even more difficulty,” Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said.Around half a million New Yorkers live in aging buildings run by the city’s housing authority, known as NYCHA, which is the largest in the nation.Many of the properties date back to the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. In 2019, a federal monitor was appointed to address chronic problems like lead paint, mold and lack of heat. When he wrapped his five-year term in 2024, the monitor, Bart Schwartz, noted that the overarching issue for residents remained the “poor physical state of NYCHA’s buildings.”In October, a massive brick chimney running 20 stories up the side of a housing authority apartment building in the Bronx collapsed after an explosion, sending tons of debris plummeting to the ground but amazingly not injuring anyone. Officials linked it to a natural gas boiler.

    A gas explosion sent fire racing through the top floors of a high-rise apartment building in New York City early Saturday, killing one person and injuring 14 others as temperatures plunged into the single digits overnight, authorities said.

    Firefighters responded shortly before 12:30 a.m. to the 17-story building in the Bronx, where people were seen leaning out of windows calling for help as flames engulfed parts of the top floors, officials said.

    Chief John Esposito said firefighters were investigating reports of a gas odor on the 15th and 16th floors when the explosion occurred. He said there was major structural damage to about a dozen apartments and fires in 10 apartments on the 16th and 17th floors.

    Authorities did not immediately release information on the person who died. Another person was critically injured, five had serious injuries and eight had minor injuries, officials said.

    Officials said the building had been undergoing renovations, and work on the natural gas system had been completed and inspected. The cause of the explosion was under investigation. The building was formerly run by the New York City Housing Authority, but it has been under private management since 2024, city officials said.

    FDNY via AP

    This image provided by FDNY shows FDNY members operating at a fire on the top two floors of a high-rise apartment in the Bronx, New York City, early Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026.

    “It’s an incredible tragedy. We’re sending all our thoughts to the families involved,” Leila Bozorg, deputy mayor for housing and planning, said at a morning news conference.

    Mayor Zohran Mamdani said all utilities in the building were shut down, and all 148 apartments vacated. Officials set up a reception center for the displaced residents at a nearby school, and the American Red Cross was there to help provide housing and other needs.

    “As you can imagine, this has been a deeply frightening and devastating morning for them,” Mamdani said at a news conference Saturday afternoon. “They are not alone. Our city will stand by them and do everything in our power to help them get back on their feet.”

    The Red Cross said it had registered more than 100 households and 305 people, including 89 children, for emergency aid by early Saturday afternoon.

    More than 200 fire and emergency crews worked the scene, according to the fire department. When the explosion occurred, some firefighters were trapped briefly in an elevator, officials said.

    “There were injuries. It was a very, very difficult night on a very cold night, which caused even more difficulty,” Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said.

    Around half a million New Yorkers live in aging buildings run by the city’s housing authority, known as NYCHA, which is the largest in the nation.

    Many of the properties date back to the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. In 2019, a federal monitor was appointed to address chronic problems like lead paint, mold and lack of heat. When he wrapped his five-year term in 2024, the monitor, Bart Schwartz, noted that the overarching issue for residents remained the “poor physical state of NYCHA’s buildings.”

    In October, a massive brick chimney running 20 stories up the side of a housing authority apartment building in the Bronx collapsed after an explosion, sending tons of debris plummeting to the ground but amazingly not injuring anyone. Officials linked it to a natural gas boiler.

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  • Planning to use a fireplace or space heater to stay warm this weekend? Avoid these mistakes.

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    With temperatures already plummeting in some parts of the U.S. as a fierce winter storm rolls in, federal safety regulators are warning consumers to stay safe as they fire up home heating devices in a bid to stay warm. 

    Gasoline-powered generators, furnaces and fireplaces can emit carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death if inhaled. Heating sources can also spark fires. Electric space heaters are involved in an average of 1,600 fires a year, while fireplaces and chimneys are involved in an average of 15,400 such incidents, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

    Here are some tips from the CPSC on how to use home heating equipment safely. 

    • Keep space heaters at least three feet away from flammable materials, such as drapes, furniture and bedding. Product safety regulators also advise people to plug the devices directly into wall outlets — not power strips — and to turn them off when you’re sleeping.
    • Gasoline-powered generators can emit carbon monoxide. As a result, the CPSC says portable generators should only be placed outdoors and at least 20 feet from the home.
    • Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and test them to make sure they are working properly. The safety watchdog says these alarms should be placed on every level of a home, with smoke alarms in each bedroom.
    • Hire a professional to check fuel-burning heating systems, such as furnaces, boilers, fireplaces and wood stoves. The CPSC says carbon monoxide poisoning can occur if heating systems are not installed correctly. Fireplaces can also be risky if chimneys are cracked or have other issues.

    Roughly 200 million Americans are in the path of the incoming winter storm, which is expected to unleash a mix of snow, ice and frozen rain across a huge swath of the country starting Friday. 

    Edited by

    Alain Sherter

    In:

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  • Two-alarm fire in East Bay sends one to hospital

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    BAY POINT — A two-alarm fire early Thursday sent one person to a hospital and caused significant damage to a residence, fire officials said.

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    Rick Hurd

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  • Double fatal Pueblo County home explosion likely caused by water heater

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    The explosion that killed two people in Pueblo County in early January was likely caused by a water heater, according to investigators.

    Pueblo County deputies responded to a house near 57th Lane and Cherry Road, south of Boone, after nearby residents reported hearing an explosion at about 2:45 p.m. on Jan. 8, according to the sheriff’s office. By the time deputies arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames.

    Officials with the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control are still investigating the explosion, but believe it’s linked to the installation of a water heater at the home, according to an update from the sheriff’s office.

    Investigators found propane gas at the scene, sheriff’s officials stated.

    A man and a woman were in the home when the explosion happened, according to the sheriff’s office. Search crews found one of the bodies on Jan. 8 and the second in the morning of Jan. 9.

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    Lauren Penington

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  • Huge fire at Maryland junk yard sends black smoke into the sky – WTOP News

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    A junk yard fire involving over 100 vehicles burned for nearly five hours before it was brought under control in Hollywood, Maryland, Saturday.

    A junk yard fire involving over 100 vehicles burned for nearly five hours before it was brought under control in Hollywood, Maryland, Saturday.

    A number of 911 calls were received just before 4 p.m. for a fire at Maximum Auto Body, in the 43900-block of Commerce Ave., according to the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department.

    It said some of the callers described hearing explosions and seeing flames and heavy black smoke rising from the area.

    First responders learned that the fire involved a rack of stacked vehicles, along with “gas or fuel sources” possibly contributing to the fire’s intensity, the fire department said.

    Fire departments, including Hollywood, Solomons and the Naval District Washington, coordinated to bring the fire under control, along with junk yard employees who assisted firefighters by operating heavy machinery to separate the burning vehicles and extinguish the flames.

    A deck gun, which can thrust about 3,000 gallons of water at a time, from the Naval District Washington Fire Department was also used to fight the flames.

    distribute about three thousand gallons of water at a time. A crash truck from Naval District Washington Fire Department provided crucial support by flowing water into the piles using its powerful deck gun, which can distribute about three thousand gallons of water at a time.

    No injuries were reported.

    The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the incident.

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Kyle Cooper

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  • Fire breaks out at downtown Oakland apartment building; firefighter injured

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    A three-alarm fire broke out at a multi-story apartment building in downtown Oakland Monday morning, officials said.

    The Oakland Fire Department were called to a five-story building at the corner of 19th and Broadway, near the 19th Street BART station, around 7 a.m.

    Dispatchers received multiple calls from residents, including from a woman who told CBS News Bay Area that she was trapped.

    “Opened my front door and it was just, the hallway which was black and full of smoke. I was like well, that’s not good,” said the resident, who did not want to be identified. “So, I had to call 911 and tell them unit I was in.” 

    About 50 firefighters responded to the scene.

    “Five story building, heavy fire on every floor of the building. Upon arrival, we had heavy smoke and flames,” said Fire Chief Damon Covington. “Battalion Two and Engine One and the crews did an excellent job of getting the building evacuated.”

    Three people were treated for smoke inhalation and were taken to the hospital, firefighters said, while one firefighter suffered a minor injury.

    “I’m glad I’m alright. I’m glad most of my neighbors are OK. I did see one of my neighbors get pulled away in an ambulance with an oxygen mask on, I hope he’s alright. Glad no one is dead as far as I’m aware,” the resident went on to say.  

    The building also houses several ground floor businesses, including Dope Era, a clothing store owned by Oakland rapper Mistah F.A.B. While the flames did not reach the shop, employees were seen cleaning up after the store sustained heavy water damage.

    Firefighters said the incident was placed under control around 8:40 a.m. 

    The cause of the fire was not immediately known. 

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    Tim Fang

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  • Police/Fire: Burning season open though May 1

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    STOW — Massachusetts fire and environmental leaders are reminding residents to use caution, care, and common sense if they plan to burn certain agricultural waste during open burning season, which began Thursday and runs until May 1.

    State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine, Commissioner Bonnie Heiple of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and Chief Fire Warden David Celino of the Department of Conservation and Recreation said restrictions on open burning are imposed at the state and local levels.

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  • Edison sues L.A. County and other agencies, saying they share blame for Eaton fire deaths, destruction

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    Southern California Edison sued Los Angeles County, water agencies and two companies including SoCalGas Friday, saying their mistakes contributed to the deadly and destructive toll of last year’s Eaton wildfire.

    Edison now faces hundreds of lawsuits by victims of the fire, which claim its transmission line started the devastating fire that killed at least 19 people and destroyed thousands of homes in Altadena. The cost of settling those lawsuits could be many billions of dollars.

    Doug Dixon, an attorney who represents Edison in the fire litigation, told the Times that Edison filed the lawsuits “to ensure that all those who bear responsibility are at the table in this legal process.”

    The utility’s two legal filings in L.A. County Superior Court paint a picture of sweeping mismanagement of the emergency response on the night of the fire.

    Edison blames the county fire department, sheriff’s department and office of emergency management for their failure to warn Altadena residents west of Lake Avenue to evacuate.

    The Times revealed last January that west Altadena never received evacuation warnings, and orders to evacuate came hours after flames and smoke threatened the community. All but one of the 19 who died in the Eaton fire were found in west Altadena.

    Edison also sued L.A. County for failing to send fire trucks to the community. A Times investigation found that during a critical moment in the fire, only one county fire truck was west of Lake Avenue.

    The electric company also filed suit against six water agencies, including Pasadena Water & Power, claiming there were insufficient water supplies available for firefighters.

    “Compounding the unfolding disaster, the water systems servicing the areas impacted by the Eaton Fire failed as the fire spread, leaving firefighters and residents with no water to fight the fire,” the lawsuit states.

    Another lawsuit aims at SoCalGas. Edison says the company failed to turn off gas lines after the fire started, making the disaster worse.

    “SoCalGas did not begin widespread shutoffs for four days—until January 11, 2025—in the area affected by the Eaton Fire,” the complaint states. “In the meantime, the Eaton Fire continued to spread fueled by natural gas.”

    “ The risks and deficiencies with SoCalGas’s system that led to it spreading the fire were long known to SoCalGas, and yet it nevertheless failed to adequately account for them in designing, building, and maintaining its system,” the complaint said. “The result was catastrophic.”

    Edison also sued Genasys, a company that provides the county with emergency alert software.

    In addition, the utility sued the county for failing to remove brush, which it claims made the fire hotter and spread faster, causing more damage.

    In March, L.A. County filed suit against Edison, claiming that its transmission line sparked the blaze, requiring the county to incur tens of millions of dollars responding to the fire and its aftermath. The county is seeking compensation for destroyed infrastructure and parks, as well as for cleanup and recovery efforts, lost taxes and overtime for county workers.

    Edison’s new cross claims will be heard in the consolidated Eaton fire case in Superior Court, which is also handling the lawsuit that the county and other public agencies have filed against the electric utility.

    Officials from the county and water agencies, as well as from the two companies, could not be immediately reached.

    The water agencies that Edison sued also include the Sierra Madre City Water Dept., Kinneloa Irrigation District, Rubio Canyon Land & Water Association, Las Flores Water Company and Lincoln Avenue Water Company.

    The government investigation into the fire, which is being handled jointly by L.A. County Fire and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, has not yet been released.

    Edison has said that a leading theory is that its unused, century-old transmission line in Eaton Canyon somehow became re-energized on the night of Jan. 7, 2025 and sparked the blaze.

    The fire roared through Altadena, burning 14,021 acres and destroying more than 9,400 homes and other structures.

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    Melody Petersen

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  • 2 dead, 1 injured in overnight Westminster house fire

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    Two people were found dead inside a burning Westminster home early Tuesday morning, fire officials said.

    Heavy flames were already coming from the Westminster home near Marshall Court and W. 72nd Drive when firefighters arrived at the deadly blaze shortly after midnight on Tuesday, according to the city’s fire department.

    That intersection is in northeast Jefferson County, on the edge of Adams County.

    Adams County Fire Rescue and North Metro Fire Rescue crews also responded to the incident because of the fire’s size and intensity, Westminster fire officials said.

    Paramedics took a third resident to the hospital with unknown injuries, according to the Westminster Fire Department.

    The two people killed in the fire will be identified by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office.

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    Lauren Penington

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  • Fire damages historic synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi; arson suspect arrested

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    Congregants and leaders vowed to rebuild a historic Mississippi synagogue that was heavily damaged by a fire after an individual was taken into custody for what authorities said Sunday was an act of arson.

    The fire ripped through the Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson shortly after 3 a.m. on Saturday, authorities said. No congregants were injured in the blaze.

    Photos showed the charred remains of an administrative office and synagogue library, where several Torahs were destroyed or damaged.

    Photo provided by Jackson Fire Department shows a fire truck outside the Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson.

    Jackson Fire Department Chief Charles Felton


    Authorities have not disclosed the suspect’s motive, but Jackson Fire Chief Charles Felton told CBS News the FBI is looking into the possibility of a hate crime. Felton said he couldn’t release the suspect’s ID yet due to the ongoing investigation.

    “Acts of antisemitism, racism, and religious hatred are attacks on Jackson as a whole and will be treated as acts of terror against residents’ safety and freedom to worship,” Jackson Mayor John Horhn said in a statement. “Targeting people because of their faith, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation is morally wrong, un-American, and completely incompatible with the values of this city.”

    A spokesperson for the Jackson FBI told the Associated Press they are “working with law enforcement partners on this investigation.”

    Mississippi-Synagogue Fire

    Zach Shemper, president of Beth Israel Congregation, stands in ashes outside the congregation’s temple hours after the building was damaged by fire Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 in Jackson, Miss. (Allen Siegler/Mississippi Today via AP)

    Allen Siegler / AP


    The synagogue, the largest in Mississippi and the only one in Jackson, was the site of a Ku Klux Klan bombing in 1967 — a response to the congregation’s role in civil rights activities, according to the Institute of Southern Jewish Life, which also houses its office in the building.

    “That history reminds us that attacks on houses of worship, whatever their cause, strike at the heart of our shared moral life,” said CJ Rhodes, a prominent Black Baptist pastor in Jackson, in a Facebook post.

    “This wasn’t random vandalism — it was a deliberate, targeted attack on the Jewish community,” Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said in a statement. “That it has been attacked again, amid a surge of antisemitic incidents across the US, is a stark reminder: antisemitic violence is escalating, and it demands total condemnation and swift action from everyone.”

    Mississippi-Synagogue Fire

    FILE – This Nov. 2, 2018 photo shows an armed Hinds County Sheriff’s deputy outside of the Beth Israel Congregation synagogue in Jackson, Miss.

    Rogelio V. Solis / AP


    The ADL’s regional chapter said it was in contact with the Beth Israel Congregation leadership and local leaders to provide support and resources.

    “The fact that this historic synagogue, which was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 because of Rabbi Perry Nussbaum’s civil rights advocacy, has once again been targeted is particularly painful and disturbing,” ADL South Central regional director Lindsay Baach Friedmann said in a statement.

    The congregation is still assessing the damage and received outreach from other houses of worship, said Michele Schipper, CEO of the Institute of Southern Jewish Life and past president of the congregation. The synagogue will continue its regular worship programs and services for Shabbat, the weekly Jewish Sabbath, likely inside of one of the local churches that reached out.

    img-7953.jpg

    The Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson seen after a fire heavily damaged the historic synagogue.

    Jackson Fire Department Chief Charles Felton


    “We are devastated but ready to rebuild, and we are so appreciative of the outreach from the community,” said Schipper.

    One Torah that survived the Holocaust was behind glass not damaged in the fire, Schipper said. Five Torahs inside the sanctuary are being assessed for smoke damage. Two Torahs inside the library, where the most severe damage was done, were destroyed, according to a synagogue representative.

    The floors, walls and ceiling of the sanctuary were covered in soot, and the synagogue will have to replace upholstery and carpeting.

    “A lot of times we hear things happening throughout the country in other parts, and we feel like this wouldn’t happen in our part,” said chief fire investigator Charles Felton “A lot of people are in disbelief that this would happen here in Jackson, Mississippi.”

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  • Mississippi’s Largest Synagogue Heavily Damaged in Suspected Arson Attack

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    A Mississippi synagogue famous for its role in the civil rights movement was significantly damaged Saturday in a fire that officials say was intentionally set. The Beth Israel Congregation, which is the state’s largest synagogue and the only Jewish place of worship in Mississippi’s state capitol, was burned some time before 3 a.m. Saturday, in a fire that destroyed its library and administrative offices. A suspect was arrested for the blaze later that day, but has yet to be publicly identified.

    According to local broadcast station WJTV, firefighters were called to Beth Israel Congregation in the early hours on January 10. When they arrived, they discovered flames coming from the windows of the structure, which was locked down for the evening, Jackson Fire Department’s division fire chief, Charles Felton, says. Arson investigators with the department determined that the blaze had been intentionally set, he says.

    Local police and fire investigators were soon joined by agents with the FBI and the ATF, as is standard when a fire is reported at a house of worship. According to Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesperson Bailey Martin Holloway, who spoke with Mississippi Today, the state Homeland Security Office is also assisting in the investigation.

    Jackson mayor John Horhn tells the Alton Telegraph that the person suspected of setting the fire, which also damaged or destroyed several Torahs and other religious objects inside the building. As of publication time, officials have declined to speculate on a possible motive for the fire, and have yet to officially designate it as a hate crime. They have also declined to name the suspect, but confirmed that they remain in custody as of Sunday morning. (Vanity Fair has reached out to local and federal officials, but has not received comment.)

    Congregation president Zach Shemper says via statement that the synagogue has already received support from local Christian groups. “We have already had outreach from other houses of worship in the Jackson area and greatly appreciate their support in this very difficult time,” he says.

    This is not the first fire members of the Beth Israel Congregation have faced. In 1967, the house of worship was bombed by members the Ku Klux Klan, which took issue with then-rabbi Perry Nussbaum’s support of the civil rights movement. As with Saturday’s fire, the synagogue’s office and library were target. In that case, as well as Saturday’s blaze, no injuries were reported. The temple has been the focus of intimidation efforts multiple times in the years since, including a bomb threats emailed in 2023 that then-rabbi Joseph Rosen linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

    Horhn believes this weekend’s fire shares roots with these past incidents, saying Sunday that “Acts of antisemitism, racism, and religious hatred are attacks on Jackson as a whole and will be treated as acts of terror against residents’ safety and freedom to worship … Jackson stands with Beth Israel and the Jewish community, and we’ll do everything we can to support them and hold accountable anyone who tries to spread fear and hate here.”

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    Eve Batey

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  • 2 killed in Pueblo County home explosion, fire

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    PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. — A man and a woman were killed in a home explosion and fire in rural eastern Pueblo County Thursday afternoon.

    While the exact cause remains unknown, the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office reported Saturday that the explosion was deemed accidental.

    It happened at a home near 57th Lane and Cherry Road near Boone.

    When first responders arrived Thursday afternoon, they found the home fully engulfed in fire.

    Firefighters quickly got the fire under control and learned that two people had been at the home and were unaccounted for, according to the sheriff’s office.

    Once the fire was extinguished, responders found one of the deceased individuals. The second was located on Saturday morning.

    The Pueblo County Coroner’s Office will release the names of the deceased and the manner and cause of death at the appropriate time.

    The investigation into the cause of the explosion continues.

    Investigators from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control and the sheriff’s office are investigating the incident.

    Coloradans making a difference | Denver7 featured videos

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  • Iran state TV breaks silence on protests, claims ‘terrorist agents’ of US and Israel set fires

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    Iranian state media broke its silence Friday over the demonstrations that swept the country overnight, alleging “terrorist agents” of the U.S. and Israel set fires and sparked violence.The brief report buried in state TV’s 8 a.m. broadcast represented the first official word about the demonstrations.Video above: President Donald Trump warns Iran against killing protestersIt claimed the protests saw violence that caused casualties but did not elaborate.It also said the protests saw “people’s private cars, motorcycles, public places such as the metro, fire trucks and buses set on fire.”Iran’s government has shut down the internet and international phone calls, making it difficult to contact those inside the Islamic Republic. However, a call by Iran’s exiled crown prince apparently sparked a mass demonstration from 8 p.m. local time Thursday.

    DUBAI, Dubai —

    Iranian state media broke its silence Friday over the demonstrations that swept the country overnight, alleging “terrorist agents” of the U.S. and Israel set fires and sparked violence.

    The brief report buried in state TV’s 8 a.m. broadcast represented the first official word about the demonstrations.

    Video above: President Donald Trump warns Iran against killing protesters

    It claimed the protests saw violence that caused casualties but did not elaborate.

    It also said the protests saw “people’s private cars, motorcycles, public places such as the metro, fire trucks and buses set on fire.”

    Iran’s government has shut down the internet and international phone calls, making it difficult to contact those inside the Islamic Republic. However, a call by Iran’s exiled crown prince apparently sparked a mass demonstration from 8 p.m. local time Thursday.

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  • Swiss police probing Crans-Montana ski resort fire reportedly to question Le Constellation bar’s French owners

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    Geneva — The French owners of the bar in a Swiss ski resort town that went up in flames on New Year’s Eve will be questioned Friday, sources close to the investigation said. French couple Jacques and Jessica Moretti owned and managed the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, which was filled with young partygoers when the blaze erupted around 1:30 a.m. on January 1.

    Forty people, most of them teenagers, were killed, and 116 were injured.

    The pair, who are facing charges of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence, will be questioned by the public prosecutor’s office in the nearby town of Sion, a source close to the investigation, who asked not to be named, told AFP on Thursday.

    People gather during a memorial procession in Crans-Montana, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, after a devastating fire in Le Constellation bar left dead and injured during the New Year’s celebrations.

    Antonio Calanni / AP


    This will mark the first time the couple is questioned by investigators since the charges against them were announced on Saturday.

    The pair, who have not been detained, said in a statement on Tuesday that they were “devastated and overwhelmed with grief,” and pledged their “full cooperation” with investigators.

    “We will under no circumstances attempt to evade these matters,” they said.

    A number of questions have been raised about whether fire safety standards were respected in the bar, where prosecutors believe the blaze started when champagne bottles with sparklers attached were raised too close to sound insulation foam on the ceiling in the bar’s basement section.

    On Tuesday, municipal authorities acknowledged that no fire safety inspections had been conducted at the Le Constellation since 2019.

    Questions have also been raised about the couple’s background and numerous real estate holdings.

    The French newspaper Le Parisien reported earlier this week that Jacques Moretti was known to authorities and served some time in jail about 20 years ago in the south of France on charges related to prostitution and kidnapping.

    Sebastien Fanti, a lawyer representing four families of the injured, hailed the news that the Moretti’s would be questioned in the case, telling AFP he hoped it signaled, “a welcome resurgence of the investigation.”

    The questioning will focus on the couple’s personal circumstances, according to another source close to the case.

    “Establishing the defendants’ personal situation, particularly from an economic standpoint, is essential,” Romain Jordan, a lawyer representing several families, told AFP.

    Once the investigation concludes, the Wallis region’s public prosecutor’s office will determine whether to file an indictment against the pair or to close the case.

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  • Federal officials join Denver crews on Leetsdale Drive fire investigation

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    The smell of smoke lingered in the streets of Denver’s Washington Virginia Vale neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon, where the charred wreckage of a partially built apartment complex continued to smolder.

    Denver Fire Department crews have not left the the property at 5337 Leetsdale Drive since it caught fire Friday night, quickly growing into the worst blaze Denver firefighters have faced in decades.

    The cause of the five-alarm fire is still under investigation, and on Tuesday the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Denver field office requested a national response team assist with the case, Denver Fire Department Division Chief Robert Murphy said at a news conference.

    Human remains search dogs on Monday searched the debris for several hours and did not find any bodies, Murphy said.

    The 283-unit Harker Heights apartment complex, valued at $23.2 million and owned by Texas-based real estate investment company Embrey, was set to open in May, according to a design firm involved in the project.

    A fire investigation continued along Leetsdale Drive between South Forest Street and South Hudson Street in Denver on Jan. 6, 2026. Denver Fire Department officials said during a press conference that the federal government will assist in the investigation of the large apartment construction fire. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

    “This fire threatened the safety of our community and injured a firefighter,” ATF Special Agent in Charge Chris Ashbridge said in a statement. “The (national response team) is bringing federal resources and expertise to this complex investigation. It is a top priority for us because we understand the immense challenges this fire has created for residents and businesses.”

    The response team — which investigates major fires, explosions and bombings across the country — consists of federal agents, fire investigators, explosives specialists, fire protection engineers, electrical engineers, forensic chemists, intelligence research specialists, digital forensic specialists, a medic and an explosive detection dog, according to ATF.

    It’s not clear how long the investigation and clean-up will take, Murphy said, but the “enormity” of the building and the massive amounts of debris will likely make the process difficult and lengthy.

    Several businesses in the area were still closed Tuesday, and homes along East Dakota Avenue, which borders the burned area to the north, were visibly damaged.

    The fire melted and burned off siding, shattered stone privacy walls and broke windows as flames came within feet of neighboring homes.

    Several lanes of Leetsdale Drive remained closed Tuesday, including the right northbound lane and two right southbound lanes between South Holly and South Forest streets, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

    Fully reopening Leetsdale Drive is contingent on demolishing parts of the charred apartment complex that are still standing, Murphy said. That will likely happen in the next few days, or within a week at most.

    Fire investigators have not ruled out any potential causes and are investigating all tips, including reports of a homeless person being in the building and fireworks seen in the area when the fire began, he said.

    “We are looking at everything right now,” Murphy said.

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  • SoCal Wildfires: How You Can Help

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    As Southern California marks the first anniversary of the Eaton and Palisades fires, we continue to track ways people can help those impacted by these disasters.

    If you are a SoCal wildfire survivor, aid is still available in your area.

    Here is a list of organizations working to provide help to those impacted by last January’s wildfires:

    American Red Cross-Wildfire Relief
    The organization has hundreds of volunteers in Los Angeles to assist with emergent needs of those displaced by the fire. The Red Cross provides emergency relief to residents and families impacted by disasters, providing meals, medical care and a safe place to shower and sleep.
    Click here to learn more.

    Baby2Baby
    The nonprofit is taking monetary donations to provide diapers, clothes and basic necessities for children living in poverty. More than a million supplies have already been delivered through 470 community partners.
    Click here to learn more.

    CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation
    The foundation provides funding for firefighters and their families to help them recover from injuries and hardship.
    Click here to learn more.

    California Fire Foundation
    The California Fire Foundation works with community-based organizations and local fire agencies to offer financial support for residents who are impacted by the fires.
    Click here to learn more.

    Direct Relief
    Direct Relief responds each year to wildfires throughout the Western U.S., and in its home state of California. During fire responses, Direct Relief provides N-95 masks, medicine, and other resources to healthcare agencies and first responders in wildfire-affected communities across California. 100% of donations to Direct Relief’s wildfire response fund directly support efforts to assist individuals impacted by fires in Palisades, Altadena, and across California, providing critical aid where it’s needed most.
    Click here to learn more.

    Global Empowerment Mission
    The Global Empowerment Mission works to provide emergency aid supplies to those in need, such as nonperishable food items, hygiene products and water. They also provide generators, medical supplies and temporary shelters.
    Click here to learn more.

    Habitat for Humanity
    Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) has a long history of helping families rebuild their lives after a disaster. In response, Habitat LA is ready to ReBUILD LA to assist these families in rebuilding their homes, providing essential supplies during this time of crisis, and restoring their lives.
    Click here to learn more.

    Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
    The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides vital equipment for firefighters and funds programs that are critical to help the agency continue to protect communities and save lives.
    Click here to learn more.

    Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
    One in four people in Los Angeles County experiences food insecurity, but for every dollar you donate, four meals are distributed to hungry children, seniors and families. Your support, whether through volunteering or donating, can make an immediate difference.

    SoCal Fire Fund
    A coalition including Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Foundation, global relief organization CORE and the LAUSD Education Foundation are asking for donations to provide flexible funding assistance for those impacted by the SoCal fires.
    The fund will help people and families secure immediate needs like food, medical care and transportation, in addition to offering case management and resources for well-being and transitional education.
    Click here to learn more.

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  • ‘Electrical malfunction’ caused fatal NC Christmas Day fire, investigators say

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    Two men died in their burning home on Red Oak Drive in Johnston County on Christmas morning, 2025.

    Two men died in their burning home on Red Oak Drive in Johnston County on Christmas morning, 2025.


    Richard Stradling

    rstradling@newsobserver.com

    The house fire in Johnston County that killed a father and his adult son on Christmas morning was likely caused by an electrical problem, investigators say.

    The fire started before dawn in the home on Red Oak Drive, between Smithfield and the Cleveland community, and spread quickly, according to Wilson’s Mills Fire & Rescue Chief Jason Moore.

    Firefighters found John Jones and his son Scott dead inside. Both men were disabled, which made it difficult for them to get out, Moore said.

    Neighbors told The News & Observer that Scott was in his 50s and had cerebral palsy, which confined him to a wheelchair They said his father had diabetes, which had left him blind.

    They said John’s wife suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation as she tried to help the men get out. She spent some time in an ambulance but declined to be taken to a hospital, Moore said.

    Investigators determined the fire was caused by an “unspecified electrical malfunction,” said Travis Johnson, the county fire marshal. Johnson said the home’s circuit breaker tripped, but it’s not clear why.

    “We could not narrow down what exact component failed,” he wrote in an email.

    It took firefighters about 30 minutes to bring the fire under control, Moore said. The house was cluttered with debris, which firefighters continued to pick through and douse with water for another hour to ensure none of it was still burning.

    Related Stories from Raleigh News & Observer

    Richard Stradling

    The News & Observer

    Richard Stradling covers transportation for The News & Observer. Planes, trains and automobiles, plus ferries, bicycles, scooters and just plain walking. He’s been a reporter or editor for 38 years, including the last 26 at The N&O. 919-829-4739, rstradling@newsobserver.com.

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    Richard Stradling

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  • Denver’s worst fire in decades is still smoldering, investigation into cause ongoing

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    A five-alarm fire that tore through a partially built Denver apartment complex Friday was still burning Monday as investigators worked to uncover the cause of the city’s worst blaze in decades.

    The fire still burned underneath massive piles of debris at the destroyed apartment complex at 5337 Leetsdale Drive in Denver’s Washington Virginia Vale neighborhood, Denver Fire Department Division Chief Robert Murphy said Monday.

    The development was planned as a 283-unit luxury apartment complex called Harker Heights before the fire sparked Friday night.

    Fire investigators are considering what started the blaze and have not yet landed on one clear cause, Murphy said. Investigators are looking into the possibility that a homeless person was in the building when the fire began, but have not yet confirmed anyone was present, he said.

    Rumors that the fire was sparked by vagrants have not been proven, Murphy said.

    “It wouldn’t surprise me,” he said. “We’ve also heard the firework theory. And then as ever, there are things construction people do that have caused fires before. We are really looking at all angles.”

    Fire officials still aren’t sure whether anyone was killed in the blaze, Murphy said. Crews haven’t been able to search through the debris for any bodies.

    “I really hope there is nobody in there,” he said. “We are not getting any reports of anybody missing.”

    Investigators are relying on witness accounts and ample surveillance video from neighboring businesses as part of the investigation, he said. The “enormity” of the building and the massive amounts of debris complicate the investigative work, Murphy said.

    “It is going to be difficult and not timely,” he said.

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    Shelly Bradbury

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  • Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office seeking info on man who set a car on fire

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    The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying an unknown man, seen here, who set a car on fire on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025.

    The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying an unknown man, seen here, who set a car on fire on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025.

    Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office

    The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is seeking information about a man who set a car on fire.

    On Dec. 28, a group of people had a “street takeover” at the intersection of Northwest 17th Avenue and Northwest 95th Street An unknown person was seen driving a white 2017 Dodge Shelby Charger with no hood and no doors, and an unknown man later set the car on fire, the sheriff’s office said.

    The man was described as wearing a dark-colored hooded sweater with a picture of the Marvel character, Venom, on the back. He was also wearing dark-colored pants with designs on both sides and black, red and white sneakers.

    Anyone who can identify the man or has information about the incident is asked to contact the arson squad at 305-994-1000 or Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at 866-471-8477.

    If a tip leads to an arrest, the tipster may be eligible for a reward up to $5,000, the release said.

    A Miami-Dade deputy shot at a man who was driving a stolen car that same night at the same intersection. The man managed to drive away before abandoning the vehicle. A sheriff’s office spokesperson said Monday these two incidents were unrelated.

    The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying an unknown man who the sheriff’s office says set a car on fire on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025.
    The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying an unknown man who the sheriff’s office says set a car on fire on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office

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    Sofia Saric

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