Joplin firefighters tackle 11th-floor fire alarm at Messenger Towers
JOPLIN, Mo. — A brief emergency inside Joplin's Messenger Towers was the result of a kitchen fire, the city said Wednesday.
It happened just after 7:30 a.m. at the 14-story apartment building off 2nd and Main Street. Firefighters immediately made their way to the 11th floor amid dense, smoky conditions.
Joplin named one of the best places to live in Missouri, according to report
Joplin firefighters tackle 11th-floor fire alarm at Messenger Towers
Missouri prepares for sports betting rollout
2024-2025 Golden Lion Award winners honored at MSSU
Learn about snakes in Missouri waters at this free event
The large response seen from the ground was from a second alarm raised for additional help in the resident evacuation. METS and several other EMS personnel units were also on-scene to help evaluate residents, and fortunately, all were able to safely evacuate.
The scene was cleared two hours after it was first called in. According to the Joplin Fire Marshal, the fire from the 11th-floor apartment was accidental.
The American Red Cross is working to assist residents possibly displaced.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Fire, EMS crews honored for saving fellow first responder
WINDBER, Pa. – Longtime firefighter Bryon 'Lou' Fleck has dedicated his life to saving lives. But as the Northern Regional volunteer fireman arrived on scene for a Central City house fire Feb. 18, Fleck said he never imagined his own life was at risk. Moments after using his radio to alert fellow crews that the home was fully involved in flames, Fleck fell to his knees while a fellow firefighter was working to attach a 5-inch water line. 'Everything just went black,' said Fleck. Fortunately for Fleck, a team of first responders stepped in that frigid morning. Colleagues from two fire departments and Conemaugh Township EMS were recognized as heroes Wednesday – by Fleck and Southern Alleghenies EMS Council Executive Director Jordan Anthony. Anthony credited the group's 'swift, skilled and selfless actions' for reviving Fleck that day. 'You didn't just respond to a call; you answered the call of duty in the most personal way possible, by fighting to save a fellow firefighter – a colleague, a brother,' Anthony said. The CPR Save Award was presented to eight responders Wednesday. Six of them were in attendance and greeted with a handshake from Fleck at Northern Regional Fire Department. The list included Central City firefighter Nick Muha – who performed CPR on Fleck moments after he fell – Northern Regional Chief Mike Horvath, Northern Regional Assistant Bob Statler, Lt. Devon Newcomer and firefighter Martin Washko, as well as Conemaugh Township EMS staff Aiden St Claire, Jake Berkey and Tuker Tirko. 'I never expected I'd go through anything like this,' Fleck said. 'I appreciate everybody who worked on me.' Central City Fire Department and nearby assisting departments were dispatched to the Lohr Street residence at approximately 1 a.m. – and already had to deal with sub-zero temperatures when Fleck collapsed. The fire claimed the home's occupant, and crews spent eight hours battling the fire. Muha said Fleck went into cardiac arrest and had no pulse. Two bystanders helped Muha pull Fleck onto a flat area. Muha said he grabbed shears from his gear and began removing layers of Fleck's clothes to render aid. He performed CPR until Conemaugh Township EMS responders, including Berkey and Tirko, arrived and loaded Fleck into an ambulance to continue treatment. According to Fleck, he was revived after the first time the team used their defibrillator. 'They saved my life,' he said. 'They were in the right place at the right time – and it was meant to be them.' They also had the 'right training,' Jordan and Conemaugh Township EMS manager Terry Ruparcic said. Ruparcic noted that first responders receive annual training to respond to cardiac events, plus other ongoing life-saving training. He credited two bystanders that day – who responders have yet to identify – for assisting at the scene. He also urged members of the public to receive CPR training for sudden emergencies. The next time someone goes into cardiac arrest, it may be a friend or family member, he said. 'Quick actions ... save lives,' he said. Fleck knows that better than most. 'It could be anybody,' he said. David Hurst is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @TDDavidHurst.
News24
14 hours ago
- News24
City of Johannesburg warns that shack fires are rising, and most are preventable
Over 2 000 shacks burnt nationally between September and February. SA sees about 10 shack fires every day, with deaths every second day. Most fires are preventable: stoves, candles, and electrical plugs and wiring are the main risks. As temperatures drop and power cuts persist, residents in Johannesburg's informal settlements face a deadly seasonal threat: shack fires. According to the City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS), hundreds of fires break out each winter, many caused by unsafe heating and cooking methods, and illegal electricity connections. At a recent Disaster Risk Awareness launch, EMS and disaster officials highlighted the region's vulnerability. 'From 2022, our data show that between 850 and 900 people were affected by various fire incidents in this region alone,' said Niel Rooi, head of disaster management for the City of Johannesburg. He added: 'Informal dwellings are built using combustible materials, and many residents cook or keep warm using unsafe methods. We're here to prepare communities to respond to and prevent fires.' According to Rooi, in 2022, there were 445 shack fires recorded in Johannesburg's informal settlements. While some were extinguished without major injuries, others left families homeless or worse. Xolile Khumalo, media liaison officer for City of Johannesburg EMS, said their current campaigns aim to reduce those numbers through education and awareness. 'We're teaching communities how to safely use paraffin, store flammable liquids and avoid locking children inside homes unattended. We're also warning about the risks of illegal electricity connections which have caused many of the recent fires.' City of Johannesburg acting deputy director at the Emergency Services Academy, David Tembe, told City Press: We are here to give you information about preventing fires. We want to work with you for your safety and the safety of the city. We won't win this battle unless we work together, hand in hand. David Tembe Bongani Siziba Tebogo Letsie / City Press Tebogo Letsie / City Press Emergency services in cities such as Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni run winter fire awareness campaigns, but fire officials say prevention still depends on taking basic precautions at home. Tebogo Letsie The City of Johannesburg EMS, whose Stay Alive Until We Arrive campaign targets high-risk communities, urges residents to follow these critical safety steps: Store paraffin in sealed containers, away from flames or stoves Blow out candles and turn off heaters before sleeping Never leave children alone near heat sources Avoid illegal electrical connections – they're deadly ... and illegal Keep a bucket of water or sand nearby at night As winter deepens, EMS officials are clear: these fires are not acts of fate, they are mostly preventable. 'Fire spreads fast,' Rooi warned. 'But being prepared spreads faster.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Joplin firefighters tackle 11th-floor fire alarm at Messenger Towers
JOPLIN, Mo. — A brief emergency inside Joplin's Messenger Towers was the result of a kitchen fire, the city said Wednesday. It happened just after 7:30 a.m. at the 14-story apartment building off 2nd and Main Street. Firefighters immediately made their way to the 11th floor amid dense, smoky conditions. Joplin named one of the best places to live in Missouri, according to report Joplin firefighters tackle 11th-floor fire alarm at Messenger Towers Missouri prepares for sports betting rollout 2024-2025 Golden Lion Award winners honored at MSSU Learn about snakes in Missouri waters at this free event The large response seen from the ground was from a second alarm raised for additional help in the resident evacuation. METS and several other EMS personnel units were also on-scene to help evaluate residents, and fortunately, all were able to safely evacuate. The scene was cleared two hours after it was first called in. According to the Joplin Fire Marshal, the fire from the 11th-floor apartment was accidental. The American Red Cross is working to assist residents possibly displaced. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
