Holcomb fire north of Big Bear burns 1,000-plus acres; voluntary evacuations underway

BIG BEAR >> A wildfire raging north of Big Bear Lake has charred hundreds of acres prompting officials to issue voluntary evacuations and the closure of stretch of a mountain highway. However, while the Holcomb fire is spreading rapidly, it appears to be moving away from the San Bernardino National Forest's most populated areas.

US seeks to seize more assets said stolen from Malaysia fund

A blimp flying over the U.S. Open has gone down and the aircraft's operator says he doesn't know if the pilot is alive. A blimp flying over the U.S. Open has gone down and the aircraft's operator says he doesn't know if the pilot is alive.

Stephen King Says President Trump Blocked Him On Twitter

Former Pot Officer, Entrepreneur Charged In Trafficking Ring A former Colorado marijuana enforcement officer and a marijuana entrepreneur are among those accused of being involved with a large trafficking ring that shipped pot out of state. Boy Slipped, Hit Head While Hiking On Hanging Lake Trail An 8-year-old boy's death on the popular Hanging Lake Trail is apparently an accident.

Fire department, police, Coast Guard respond to sinking boat off Watch Hill Reef

Westerly - The Watch Hill Fire Department on Thursday joined the U.S. Coast Guard, Westerly police and a fishing trawler from Stonington to aid two boaters whose boat was taking on water in Block Island Sound. The two passengers of the 18-foot center console were not injured and the boat was eventually towed from its location near Watch Hill Reef by Sea Tow to Barn Island boat ramp, according to a statement from Watch Hill Fire Department Chief Robert Peacock.

US agencies emphasize cooperation entering wildfire season

The heads of the two largest public land agencies in the U.S. signed a memorandum Friday emphasizing cooperation among federal, state, tribal and local agencies in battling wildfires as the main part of the wildfire season arrives. Secretaries Ryan Zinke of the Interior Department and Sonny Perdue of the Agriculture Department signed the document following a briefing at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise.

North Carolina Woman Awarded $1.5M in Construction Safety Whistleblower Suit

A federal jury has awarded $1.5 million to a former North Carolina fire investigator who said she was fired after complaining about the safety of construction work at an office building. The Charlotte Observer reported that a jury ruled May 11 in favor of Crystal Eschert, who said the Charlotte Fire Department fired her in 2014 because of her concerns over renovations at a new office building.

8 injured after plane clips supply truck at LA airport

An airport utility truck is seen overturned after an Aeromexico flight clipped the truck, flipping it over, shortly after landing at Los Angeles International Airport Saturday, May 20, 2017. The Boeing 737 was taxiing to an arrival gate when it collided with the utility truck carrying multiple people who were injured, fire and airport officials said.

Kinston fire department readies new engine

The 42,000-pound fire truck, a 2017 Pierce Enforcer PUC , arrived at Kinston Fire Department Friday, announced as a “bouncing baby girl” on the department's Facebook page. The truck is expected to be road ready by the end of the month, said Commander Bo Hobbs of the Kinston Fire Department.

Wildfires burn over 126,000 acres across Florida this year

At least 126,000 acres have burned in wildfires across Florida since January, surpassing the five-year average of acreage burned in a typical year, officials said. Florida's fire season peaks this month, during the driest part of the year in the state, and experts warn that the fire risk may worsen in the coming weeks.

Missouri Firefighters ‘whose sacrifices keep our families safe’ Meet with McCaskill

Senator, who spoke to International Association of Firefighters conference this week, meets with Missouri firefighters to discuss public safety, funding challenges Missouri's State Council of Firefighters today met with U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill to discuss their commitment to public safety and the funding challenges they face. McCaskill yesterday addressed the International Association of Firefighters, of which the Missouri group is a member.

The Latest: 1 of 3 Texas wildfires 100 percent contained

Grass fires fanned by gusting winds scorched swaths of Kansas grassland Monday, forcing the evacuations of several towns and the closur... . Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Chaplain Jeff Thompson passes bags of chips to, from left to right, Suzanne Morgan, Carol Shaylor and Linda Nimmo Monday, March 6, 2017, inside an evacuation center at the Kansa... .

1 dead, 5 injured after small plane crashes into CA homes

One person was killed and five were injured when a small plane crashed into two homes Monday evening in Riverside shortly after taking off from a nearby airport, leaving fiery wreckage that nearly destroyed one of the homes, officials said. Four people were aboard the plane, and two of the victims were pulled from one of the burning homes, Riverside Fire Department Capt.