Hannelore Hoffmen could see the chaos and hear it outside of her neighbor's home Sunday night: the smoke, the crackling of the fire, the confusion from those who had been inside and the screams. ...more

November 17, 2009

Passing the gavel is not good enough. At the Oct. 14 meeting of the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District, Chairman Leo Jacobs tried a dismal effort to pass the gavel to other members of the commission. ...more

October 29, 2009

Firefighters from across Florida learned how to fight fires aboard large vessels by practicing Tuesday on the SS American Victory. ...more

October 21, 2009

Line after line of strong thunderstorms were sweeping across West Pasco on Wednesday, flooding streets and knocking out power in some areas. ...more

July 1, 2009

Authorities say 12 students became sick after drinking bottled water from a vending machine at a Southern California junior high school. ...more

April 24, 2009

A woman was injured today when she was struck by a section of stucco torn by wind gusts off a building near Five Points Park in downtown Sarasota. ...more

March 28, 2009

Local fire officials are sounding an alarm and warning residents about firms looking to dupe them into purchasing costly fire suppression systems they do not need. Palm Harbor Fire Rescue has recently been contacted by several people who have been talked into purchasing expensive hard-wired fire alarm systems, said Liz Monforti, spokeswoman for the community fire department. That is much more protection than a residence would require, she said. ...more

March 14, 2009

A wildfire that threatened a community in Holiday was just one of several that firefighters had to contend with Wednesday. ...more

February 19, 2009

What was supposed to be a controlled burn in Manatee County turned into an uncontrolled brush fire that has consumed more than 50 acres and threatened two homes, officials said. ...more

February 14, 2009

Drought-like conditions prompted county commissioners Wednesday to issue a burn ban. ...more

February 12, 2009