With the hurricane expected to make landfall Friday night, state officials warned that compromised lithium-ion batteries damaged by flooding pose serious risks to life and property, particularly when exposed to saltwater flooding.

“Floridians’ lives and property can be at risk when a storm poses a threat to lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles,” Ingoglia said in a statement. “Whether you choose to evacuate or shelter in your home, it is important to secure your electric vehicle by relocating it away from areas that may be impacted by the hurricane.”

Florida’s Voice

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“It’s definitely a family, it’s the only way to describe it,” said Steven Rowland, a firefighter for the City of Treasure Island. It’s a family without a permanent home — but that’s about to change.

“We’re excited, we’ve been waiting on this, we’re finally happy to see it breaking ground and we are ready to move in,” Rowland said.

“I’ll admit it’ll finally be nice to stop using the word temporary when we are talking about our facilities,” said John Barkley, Treasure Island Police Chief.

Treasure Island firefighters and police have been working out of makeshift trailers for the last two years, since Hurricane Helene destroyed the city’s public safety building.

WFTS-TV ABC 28 Tampa

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MCFR says they, along with Stuart Fire Rescue units, responded to reports of a mobile home fire near SW Olds Place in Stuart just before noon on Thursday.

When firefighters arrived, they saw thick, black smoke coming from the mobile home, and made sure that no one was inside. The neighbor that had called 911 told crews that they had removed the homeowner’s cat from the home before they arrived. The cause of the fire remains unknown. No other structures were threatened, and no injuries were reported.

WPEC-TV CBS 12 West Palm Beach

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The reunion, 15 years in the making, happened at Palmer Trinity School’s Chapel in Southwest Miami-Dade on Thursday.

George Montes Jr. was only 3 years old when he suffered a near-drowning. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units and Police officers responded to the scene.

Among those who responded was firefighter Mary Gavin. “I remember it as if it was yesterday,” said Gavin.

Gavin said she and her colleagues were on the road when the call came in. They rushed to the scene and quickly pulled Montes out of the water. Responding officers performed CPR.

While Montes was placed in the back of an ambulance and rushed to a nearby hospital, Gavin said he didn’t have a heartbeat, but got it back once at the hospital. The then-child ultimately recovered from the scare.

“From the police to the fire rescue to Baptist Hospital,” said Gavin of the team effort it took to save Montes’ life. She said it was a day she’ll never forget.

WSVN-TV FOX 7 Miami

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In Miami, the South Florida Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 2 has been prepping since about 4 a.m. Thursday morning making sure everything is in order so they can get up to Tallahassee by Thursday afternoon.

“Type 1 is the highest level, which is 80 personnel, 70 workers and then 10 drivers, because we are driving to the northern part of the state. The experience is wide range. We have members that went to the World Trade Center that are on this task force, and members that just came back from Venezuela a few months ago from the earthquake that occurred there,” said City of Miami Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Scott Dean, who is a leader in Task Force 2. “So yeah, we have a wide range of training and experience. Several hurricanes under our belt, so we’re just going in and provide assistance, whatever is needed for that community is impacted.”

Completely self-sufficient with their own heavy equipment, sleeping arrangements, K-9’s, tools and most importantly their own expertise, the 80 person team from 26 different agencies across South Florida has a wide variety of ages and experience that is brought to the table.

WSVN-TV FOX 7 Miami

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The teen was playing soccer with friends at Sea and Sand Mobile Home Park near Gateway Boulevard on Aug. 23 when he was struck by lightning.

For weeks, Kevin’s family waited and prayed as he recovered. He even celebrated his 14th birthday in the hospital.

Now home, his mother, Sandra Peluffo, told CBS12 News her son continues to undergo therapy and rehabilitation.

On Wednesday, CBS12 News was there as firefighter-paramedics who treated Kevin returned to check on him, greeting his mother with hugs and bringing a hot meal for the family.

WPEC-TV CBS 12 West Palm Beach

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The three-year federal grant will fund at least 75% of the personnel costs during the first two years, Ketron said, followed by 35% in the third year. The district plans to keep the staff after the grant expires.

Ketron said the population has grown faster than Fire Rescue’s current staffing. The district responded to almost 1,500 additional calls between 2023 and 2025. Lehigh Acres personnel are deployed across Lee County for mutual-aid calls. The district’s vehicles are often spotted on Daniels Parkway, well south of it’s official boundary. “Everyone in this county will benefit from that grant,” Ketron said.

WINK-TV CBS 11 Fort Myers

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The first alert came at 5:15 a.m. from a fire alarm at the Leon County Courthouse, which sits roughly across the street from the Florida Capitol Complex. The Tallahassee Fire Department responded and ruled out early reports of a possible gas leak. The Tallahassee Democrat reported that manhole covers were blasted into the air.

Seen outside was a drone, a hazmat response vehicle, and the Tallahassee Police Department directing traffic. The block surrounding the Leon County Courthouse was closed to traffic and the traffic lights in the area immediately surrounding the courthouse were not operational.

“The bulk of the impacts occurred on Monroe Street between Jefferson Street and Apalachee Parkway in the area of a paving project being facilitated by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT),” the city said.

An electrical fire closed much of downtown Tallahassee Tuesday morning, as police barricaded streets amid fires in the roadway with visible damage to the pavement, the City of Tallahassee said.

The first alert came at 5:15 a.m. from a fire alarm at the Leon County Courthouse, which sits roughly across the street from the Florida Capitol Complex. The Tallahassee Fire Department responded and ruled out early reports of a possible gas leak. The Tallahassee Democrat reported that manhole covers were blasted into the air.

Seen outside was a drone, a hazmat response vehicle, and the Tallahassee Police Department directing traffic. The block surrounding the Leon County Courthouse was closed to traffic and the traffic lights in the area immediately surrounding the courthouse were not operational.

“The bulk of the impacts occurred on Monroe Street between Jefferson Street and Apalachee Parkway in the area of a paving project being facilitated by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT),” the city said.

Florida Phoenix

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A drone was deployed to identify hotspots while crews worked to put out the fire, according to the report.

Crews had the fire under control by 3:46 p.m.

Officials say no injuriFirefighters at the Lake City Fire Department applied for a community improvement grant through Lowe’s to remodel their downtown fire station, and they were selected from 6,000 applicants.

On Monday, Lowe’s volunteers hosted Red Vest Day, where they came to the fire station to help start the remodel.

“We’re going to have all of the showers redone in the station,” Ret Tompkins, the assistant fire chief, said. “So that’s all the tile redone in there…the toilets will be redone, and then we’re going to redo all the flooring on top of the painting that’s being done today. So it’ll be a total cosmetic facelift inside the station. But the station is over 20 years old and has never had any work done to it at all…so It’s much needed for the men and women that work here. A morale boost for them.”

The remodel is one of 100 jobs the grant covers.es were reported and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

WCJB-TV ABC/CW 20 Gainesville

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Because of a strong drought, Florida firefighters have put out more than 3,000 wildfires across the state this year, burning more than 280,000 acres. More than 600 state firefighters risked their lives to save trees, property and wildlife.

“I think we like being out in the outdoors and in this environment,” George Risko, a Florida Forest Service fire training officer, said. “I think it is something appealing about that. It is a little different.”

It is different, and firefighter Joshua Deel knows it can change quickly. “You’ve got to either get out of where you are, go back the way you came,” Deel said. “You have to figure it out fast because the fire’s still coming. And you’re not sure if it’s going to change direction.”

The proof is buried more than a mile into the woods off U.S. 41 north of Brooksville. “This is going to be everlasting,” Risko said. “This will be here long after any of us are gone for our career.”

WTVT-TV FOX 13 Tampa

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The design honors Kristin Jordahl, who worked with Miami Fire Rescue for nearly 20 years. She lost her battle with breast cancer in 2020.

Jordahl discovered the cancer through a self-exam and fought for 12 years before she passed away at age 48.

With this truck rolling through the city for the next 30 days, city officials hope to share her story to help save lives.

“We’re out to encourage everyone: make sure you get screened early. If you feel anything weird, see a doctor, get your mammograms. Make sure that you are doing preventative care to make sure that you can hopefully avoid this; if not, get the care that you need,” said Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez.

WSVN-TV FOX 7 Miami

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The building included residential housing and businesses. Six residents were displaced as a result of the fire. The American Red Cross is assisting those displaced residents.

Officials said there is no threat to the public. The cause of the fire has not been released.

Additional details will be released as they become available.

WJXT-TV 4 Jacksonville

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