Crews were dispatched at 8:29 a.m. to the crash on SE 36th Avenue after reports that someone was trapped inside a vehicle.

Marion County Fire Rescue said firefighters from Station 18 arrived on scene at 8:34 a.m. and confirmed that one occupant was trapped.

Crews immediately began extrication efforts while additional personnel from Belleview Station 18, Spruce Creek Station 30, and EMS Central assessed and treated the other patients involved in the crash.

Firefighters were able to safely remove the trapped occupant, allowing the victim to be moved for medical treatment.

Officials said two people were taken to local hospitals. No information about the cause of the crash or the identities of those involved has been released. The incident remains under investigation.

WFTV ABC 9 Orlando

The post Firefighters rescue trapped driver after three-vehicle crash in Marion County appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

The firefighters, deployed as part of Florida Task Force 7, have spent the past two days assisting with flood response operations while preparing for potential additional severe weather.

On Wednesday, the team conducted water rescues along the Rio Grande before traveling north toward San Antonio to assist with damage assessments.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said flood damage around Uvalde is extensive but described the community as strong and resilient as recovery efforts continue.

WCTV CBS 6 Thomasville

The post Tallahassee firefighters continue Texas flood response, await next assignment in San Antonio appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue units responded to the Paradise Found clothing store near the 3000 block of East Las Olas Boulevard, just before 7 a.m. on Wednesday.

Upon arrival, crews noticed smoke coming from the second story of the building. “Upon arrival, crews established command and saw smoke and flames coming from a retail store here on the beach,” said FLFR Chief Stephen Gollan.

Once inside, smoke began filling the second floor. “They made an aggressive fire attack fighting the fire between the first and second floor in a storage room. There was a lot of different barriers there based upon obstacles with old products and storage items in there,” said Gollan.

7 Drone Force hovered above the businesses as firefighters drenched the building. Fire crews were able to knock down the flames in 40 minutes as the clean up effort began.

“Their aggressive fire attack was able to prevent the fire from spreading to the nearby business which is the world famous Elbo Room,” said Gollan.

7News cameras captured firefighters dousing a pile of clothes that they had pulled out of the store. Throughout the morning, crews entered and exited the store, removing merchandise and damage from the flames. No one was hurt.

In the afternoon hours, city employees arrived at the store to inspect the damage.

WSVN-TV FOX 7 Miami

The post Fire at Fort Lauderdale Beach store shuts down portion of Las Olas Boulevard appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

Sitting at more than 16,000 square feet, Fire Station No. 3 will have three engine bays. It’s replacing the current Station 3, which has been in use since 1960.

Once completed, the facility will replace the current station and continue to serve Northeast Gainesville and the surrounding areas.

Members of the Gainesville City Commission approved the new fire station in 2023.

In April, commissioners approved a site work agreement for the station, and in August, a construction agreement is expected to come before the commission.

The estimated project cost is $14 million, and it’s just one facet of the Northeast Eighth Avenue and Waldo Road – Citizens Field Revitalization Project.

Officials are building this station to provide quicker service to the community.

“What the new station’s going to do is it’s going to upgrade our capabilities for the modern fire service, have good station facilities for the crews, good workout facilities,” shared Shawn Hillhouse, Gainesville Fire Rescue Fire Chief. “We have three bays which not only support our current operations, but growth in the area. It’s going to position us for good responses.”

The station is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

WCJB-TV ABC/CW 20 Gainesville

The post Leaders break ground on Fire Station No. 3 in northeast Gainesville appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

Adkins was born on July 7, 1949 and was a resident of Brooksville. The community he served is mourning his loss.

The Hernando County Government posted on Monday night:

“Today, we reflect on the life and service of James ‘Jim’ Adkins, who dedicated many years to serving the people of Hernando County. Jim proudly served as Hernando County Commissioner for District 5 from November 2008 to November 2016 and as Fire Chief for the Brooksville Fire Department. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing and serving alongside him. His commitment to our community will be remembered.”

WTSP-TV CBS 10 St. Petersburg

The post Hernando County mourns death of former commissioner, Fire Chief James ‘Jim’ Adkins appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

According to Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue officials, the fire was reported just before 7 a.m. at a two-story commercial building along the 3000 block of East Las Olas Boulevard.

Firefighters said crews arrived in under five minutes and found smoke coming from the roof area.

“Firefighters entered the structure to find smoke filling the second floor,” a spokesperson for the fire department said. “The fire was found to be burning in a void space between the first and second stories that was being used for storage.”

FLFR officials said the fire was extinguished in about 40 minutes. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

WPLG-TV 10 Miami

The post Fire erupts inside 2-story commercial building on Fort Lauderdale Beach appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

The Fort Pierce Police Department said its officers responded at approximately 1:10 p.m. July 20 to St. Lucie County Fire District Station 2, located at 855 Seaway Drive, after receiving a report of a found explosive.

According to police, an adult man brought the item to the fire station after discovering it while treasure hunting about one mile east of the Fort Pierce Inlet in about 30 to 40 feet of water.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team responded to the scene and determined the item was a live mortar.

WPEC-TV CBS 12 West Palm Beach

The post Treasure hunter unknowingly brings live mortar to Fort Pierce fire station appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

Collier County, in partnership with Greater Naples Fire Rescue District, announced the opening of Station 74, a facility that brings together Collier County Emergency Medical Services and Greater Naples Fire Rescue under one roof.

The station sits near the intersection of Golden Gate Boulevard and DeSoto Boulevard, placing first responders closer to one of Collier County’s fastest-growing communities.

With firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical personnel working out of the same location, the county says response times for fires, medical emergencies, brush fires and car crashes should improve.

Beyond faster response, Station 74 could also help residents save money on insurance. The new station is expected to improve the area’s fire protection classification, which insurance companies use when setting rates.

Homeowners and business owners in the area are encouraged to contact their insurance provider to find out if the change could lower their premiums.

The opening reflects the ongoing partnership between Collier County and Greater Naples Fire Rescue as the region continues to grow.

WINK-TV CBS 11 Fort Myers

The post New Station 74 opens in Golden Gate Estates, cutting emergency response times appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

The fire happened on Bellevue Avenue. Video captured by a nearby resident shows flames coming from the home as smoke billowed into the neighborhood.

Neighbor Leigh Michele said she was inside talking with a friend while listening to thunder from a storm moving through the area when she heard what she believes was a lightning strike.

“I heard the lightning strike. It took out the internet and power briefly, so I knew it was around here. I happened to look at my cameras, and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, that house across the street is on fire,'” she said.

When she looked outside, Michele said the scene was overwhelming.

“I looked out the door. I’m like, ‘Oh, my goodness.’ The area was filled with smoke,” she said. Another neighbor, Glenn Doyle, said he also heard a loud crack during the storm but didn’t initially realize what had happened.

“I heard a loud crack, and it sounded like it came from the front of our house. Didn’t think anything of it,” Doyle said.

WBPF-TV ABC 25 West Palm Beach

The post Video shows Port St. Lucie home catch fire during storm appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

Ballard told ABC7 his focus isn’t on fear — it’s on his family, his faith and the people standing beside him.

“You get a diagnosis like that… you start to value life a little bit differently,” Ballard said. “You question how much time you have left, and you really start to think about what matters the most.”

Ballard said his first thoughts after learning the news weren’t about himself.

“When I first got diagnosed with this, it wasn’t, ‘Wow, I might die,’” he said. “It was immediately… what about Christine? What about Zeke? Like, how are they going to be okay if something happens?”

A few years ago, Ballard and his wife packed up their lives in Texas and moved to Palmetto so their young son, Zeke, could receive specialized treatment at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

After more than two dozen surgeries, Ballard said it’s his son’s resilience that’s helping him face cancer.

“He’s had over 25 surgeries… he’s the reason why I moved here,” Ballard said. “He’s had the roughest life that I could ever imagine. He’s a constant reminder to me that if he can make it through everything that he’s made it through… then I think I can get through this.”

Ballard is now preparing for months of chemotherapy and radiation. He said everyday moments with his wife and son carry even more weight.

“My son brings me the most joy in the entire world,” Ballard said. “When I was in the hospital after surgery, we were comparing scars. I told him, ‘You’re still so much stronger than daddy.’”

WWSB-TV ABC 7 Sarasota

The post North River firefighter leans on family, faith as he battles stage 3 colon cancer appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

The International Academies of Emergency Dispatch approved the center as an Accredited Center of Excellence in Emergency Medical Dispatch and Emergency Fire Dispatch.

The accreditation evaluates emergency communication centers based on their oversight, quality assurance processes and use of data to improve operations. The designation remains valid for three years.

Lake County is the 125th emergency medical dispatch center and the 23rd emergency fire dispatch center to earn the recognition, according to the county.

Fire Chief Jim Buchanan and the department’s Emergency Dispatch Quality Assurance Team will be recognized as Lake County’s Team of the Quarter during the County Commission meeting July 28.

WFTV ABC 9 Orlando

The post Lake County Fire Rescue earns international accreditation for emergency dispatch appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

MCFR says crews responded around 4 a.m. to the area of South Highway 25 in Weirsdale after multiple 911 calls.

Officials said they found a 25,000-square-foot commercial building with nearly half of it burning and flames coming through the roof. Firefighters immediately attacked the fire, but conditions intensified, and priorities shifted to protecting nearby homes and other properties.

Crews from at least seven other stations responded to help. Officials said they found a 25,000-square-foot commercial building with nearly half of it burning and flames coming through the roof. Firefighters immediately attacked the fire, but conditions intensified, and priorities shifted to protecting nearby homes and other properties.

WKMG-TV CBS 6 Orlando

The post Multiple stations respond to major fire, according to Marion County Fire Rescue appeared first on Daily Dispatch.