Firefighters

Firefighters in St. Joe responded to a fire at a two-story house in the 500 block of Winchester Thursday afternoon, according to a St. Joe emergency dispatcher. The call came in at 4:29 p.m. and firefighters were on scene until about 6:30, a dispatcher said. The dispatcher said no people were injured but a dog died in the blaze. No further information was immediately available.

Elkhart firefighters had a call this morning that was a little out of the ordinary. A passing police officer saw smoke coming from a storm sewer drain near Cassopolis and Baldwin Streets. Firefighters responded and found a small fire in the drain that they quickly put out. Police believe the fire was started inside it by someone who was either trying to keep warm inside or was staying in it. No one was found inside. City crews were called in to remove debris and items inside it.

BERRIEN COUNTY --  A portion of Red Arrow Highway in Berrien County was completely closed for a short time Thursday morning as firefighters battled a business fire in Bridgman. Just after 3 a.m., firefighters were called to Zielke Homes & Improvement, LLC in the 10000 block of Red Arrow Highway -- that's just south of the Cook Nuclear Plant. Firefighters arrived on-scene to find heavy smoke and flames engulfing the structure. The heaviest damage is in the rear of the building -- but crews were able to enter the structure to retrieve a computer.

SOUTH BEND — Jeff Williams arrived in full Snidely Whiplash attire, including a black top hat, a string tie and a handlebar mustache adorning his upper lip. Williams, a Granger resident who works as a firefighter for Clay Fire Territory, was eagerly eying the competition Saturday night at Corby's Irish Pub on LaSalle Avenue. More than 150 firefighters from at least seven departments in St. Joseph and Elkhart counties participated in a mustache-growing competition during February to raise money for two good causes: Hoosier Burn Camp and the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.

CONYERS, Ga. (AP) — A toddler spent two hours trapped in a bank vault in suburban Atlanta. Conyers firefighters rescued the 14-month-old from the vault Friday night after the child went missing while visiting a grandparent who worked at the Wells Fargo bank in Conyers. The child was found after being spotted on security cameras inside the vault, which has a timed locked. Rescue workers arrived and pumped fresh air into the vault while a locksmith worked on prying loose the door.

PASSAIC, N.J. (AP) - A fire in the home of a New Jersey hoarder has killed 20 cats and injured 11 firefighters, most of them from throwing piles of heavy debris. Passaic Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost tells The Record newspaper (http://bit.ly/sDthHC) that Tuesday's blaze was one of the most dangerous fires he has seen. The chief says one firefighter was taken to the hospital for back and leg pain after he tripped and fell inside the home. Ten others sustained pulled shoulders and sore backs from throwing piles of debris out the windows.

ELKHART COUNTY - In Elkhart County, the attacks of 9-11, were on the minds of many, including firefighters. WSBT spoke with a local fireman who saw first-hand the devastation at Ground Zero. All city employees, including those with the fire department paused at 8:46 Tuesday Morning, the exact time 11 years ago when the first plane crashed into the World Trade towers. One of those on hand was Fire Inspector Tony Balzano, who traveled to New York with several other Elkhart firefighters after the attacks to help out where he could.

SOUTH BEND - Whether on or off the job, soon South Bend firefighters will not be allowed to Facebook, tweet, or blog anything relating to their job. About two years ago, a firefighter posted a picture to Facebook while responding to a call. That picture violated HIPAA laws. The South Bend fire chief said they're now taking precaution with a new social media policy, saying it's better to be safe than sorry. But the union said this new rule might spark a fiery debate.

DOWAGIAC - A Dowagiac-area family that lost their home and almost all their possessions in a fire at least will have some Christmas cheer, thanks to the Indian Lake Fire Department. Fire Chief Bryan Huggins said department members passed the hat, collecting $200 to assist the family of six, in the aftermath of the early Saturday blaze on Forest Beach Street, west of Indian Lake. Clothing and food items were also collected, with some of the clothing supplied by Freeses' Discount Center, Huggins said.

NORTH LIBERTY -- Firefighters had to battle stormy conditions while fighting a house fire in St. Joseph County early Thursday morning. The house, in the 63000 block of Redwood Road, caught fire just before 2 a.m. Firefighters tell us one elderly woman was at home at the time of the fire, but she escaped safely. There were storms in the area at the time. Some firefighters went to investigate to see if a lightning strike may be involved.

GRANGER - A well-known Granger restaurant caught fire early Tuesday afternoon, but fortunately, firefighters from Clay Fire Territory were able to quickly knock down the blaze. Around 12:20 p.m., they were called to the Rib Shack on State Road 23. When firefighters got there, they saw smoke coming from the rear of the building. They forced their way in and extinguished the fire in just minutes. No employees were in the restaurant at the time. Investigators say the fire was in the area of the smokers.

GOSHEN - Firefighters in Goshen practiced their water rescue techniques and boat handling. And as we get closer to summer, more people will be hitting the local water ways. All members of the fire department are required to update their skills out on the water with this training. Like fighting a fire, they have to be prepared for anything on the water ways. “Both situations, fire ground and water rescue, are very dynamic,” said Goshen Fire Captain Steffen Schrock.

MISHAWAKA - Mishawaka firemen were able to put their lifesaving skills to the test on Sunday in a little bit of a different situation. Shortly after 11 a.m., fire crews were called to a storm drainage ditch at the busy intersection of Main and Douglas A passing motorist made the lifesaving call after noticing some baby ducks had fallen in to a storm sewer drain. The mother duck was frantic running back and forth around the heavily-traveled corner. To keep the ducklings from going further down the sewer line, firefighters sprayed them with a hand-held fire extinguisher, squirted from a nearby sewer grate.

Elkhart firefighters had a call this morning that was a little out of the ordinary. A passing police officer saw smoke coming from a storm sewer drain near Cassopolis and Baldwin Streets. Firefighters responded and found a small fire in the drain that they quickly put out. Police believe the fire was started inside it by someone who was either trying to keep warm inside or was staying in it. No one was found inside. City crews were called in to remove debris and items inside it.

A Goshen firefighter who puts his life on the line to help those in need is now himself in need. Scott Thomas has served seven years as a firefighter and paramedic with the Goshen Fire Department. Last week, he was diagnosed with a stage 2 cancerous brain tumor. Scott, who works in Goshen but lives in Warsaw, is expecting a new baby. With surgery to remove the cancerous tumor plus chemotherapy ahead, and time off work, his friend and fellow firefighter Jeremy Williams set up a diaper drive.

A Benton Harbor firefighter, badly burned when responding to a call last month, is now out of the hospital. Lt. Doug Bell's spirits are remarkably well, though his body is just starting to heal. “It was scary,” he said during an interview at his house, Friday, “there was probably three times that night I could've lost my life, and I didn't.” Bell was the only full-time Benton Harbor firefighter to respond to a burning home on Jennings Ave. just after midnight on March 14. He says he was trying to enter the house from a back door when he apparently tripped and fell into the garage.

MADISON TOWNSHIP - Firefighters from 6 departments were called to battle a house fire in St. Joseph County's Madison Township Sunday morning. It was in the 11000 block of New Road, just west of Beech Road near the Elkhart County line. The first dispatch call was made at 7:12 a.m. Penn, Wakarusa, Lakeville, Clay and Southwest firefighters were called into action to help Madison Township crews. The blaze was in a vacant farm house. When firefighters got to the scene, the home was fully engulfed, forcing firefighters into a defense mode in battling the blaze.

BRIDGMAN, Mich. - A big fire that swept through a Bridgman home improvement store early Thursday caused about $800,000 damage. Investigators are ruling the blaze at Zielke Home Improvement in the 10100 block of Red Arrow Highway accidental, but they're not able to explain right now the exact cause. Michigan state fire investigators have joined the Bridgman Fire Department in the probe. Shortly before 3:30 a.m., firefighters were called to the business and found the building was fully engulfed by fire.

BERRIEN COUNTY --  A portion of Red Arrow Highway in Berrien County was completely closed for a short time Thursday morning as firefighters battled a business fire in Bridgman. Just after 3 a.m., firefighters were called to Zielke Homes & Improvement, LLC in the 10000 block of Red Arrow Highway -- that's just south of the Cook Nuclear Plant. Firefighters arrived on-scene to find heavy smoke and flames engulfing the structure. The heaviest damage is in the rear of the building -- but crews were able to enter the structure to retrieve a computer.