Latest news with #Esler
Daily Mirror
30-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Two best friends celebrating birthday killed in explosion after lighting candle
Two best friends celebrating a birthday in Maine were killed in an explosion after one of them lit a candle. Alesia Ventura-Large, 58, and 57-year-old Nancy Pilsch both died Two best friends were tragically killed in an explosion after one of them lit a candle inside a camper. Pictures from inside the camper show it severely burned and damaged following the incident that left Alesia Ventura-Large, 58, and 57-year-old Nancy Pilsch both dead while they were supposed to be enjoying a holiday in Maine, in the US. Ventura-Large had invited her friend to the holiday at the Powder Horn Campground in Old Orchard Beach. The explosion critically injured both women, according to the State Fire Marshal's Office, despite the efforts of emergency services and them being rushed to the Maine Medical Centre in Portland. It comes after a Brit mum's 'horrendous' death after being scratched by a puppy with rabies on holiday. An initial investigation into the incident suggests the women, both from Massachusetts, had arrived at the camper on Saturday and noticed a strange smell they thought was like garlic. After opening the windows, they also lit a candle to try and mask the smell, but the camper they were in exploded. It is still not entirely clear what triggered the explosion. Fire Marshall Shawn Esler said two potential causes are being looked at, including if there was a system failure that caused a leak of propane gas. The other is that firefighters said they noticed the gas stove was on, causing a possible leak of propane into the camper, which was owned by Ventura-Large. Esler said Ventura-Large and Pilsch were 'visiting Maine here this weekend and intended on having a wonderful weekend here in Old Orchard Beach'. This was ahead of Pilsch's 58th birthday on Monday. John Large, Ventura-Large's husband, said his late spouse was an 'amazing woman' and 'the light of a lot of people's lives'. He added: 'She was a healer, she was a seer, she was very sensitive." Pilsch's neighbour Steve Bercovitz said his friend's death was a 'tough loss' and had hit their community hard, WOWT reported. Fire Marshall Esler urged people to use gas detectors in any space where natural or propane gas tanks are cursed, CBS News reported. Smoke detectors, but no gas detectors, were found in the camper. Esler said: 'This is an absolutely tragic event. While we don't always want to use a tragedy to spread a message, it's incredibly important that if you have a propane or a natural gas in your household that you invest in a gas detector.' WGME reported that seasoned camper James Viet said gas detectors are a vital safety feature inside campers. 'It's supposed to go off if it senses that smell that you're talking about,' he said. The campground said in a statement: 'As many of you know, a great tragedy has befallen our Powder Horn community. Sadly, the two guests involved have succumbed to their injuries. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families.' It added that it would like to 'extend a sincere thanks to the Old Orchard Beach Police, Fire and Rescue for their prompt and effective response'. The resort said: 'They are truly an asset to this community, and we are truly grateful.'
Business Insider
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Video game mods are wildly popular — and it's easier than ever for modders to turn their hobby into a career
Ironically, the more popular a video game is, the more effort fans invest in changing it. The International Trade Administration valued the video game industry at $184 billion globally in 2023. As it continues to grow, user-created game modifications — more often called mods — are rising in popularity, too. Mods are files or code inserted into a game to add new features, alter the graphics, or improve performance. Nexus Mods, one of the web's most popular mod-sharing platforms, told Business Insider that the website has added about 40 million users since 2020, and now hosts mods for nearly 4,000 different games. While mods are traditionally released for free and created solely out of passion, many players use their modding projects and skills to get jobs in the video gaming industry. And with the rise of the creator economy — a $250 billion industry based around independent creators who deliver content directly to their audiences — a growing number of modders are turning their hobby from a career starting point into a lucrative stand-alone business as well. Modding can build skills for game development jobs Modding requires skills, like coding and project management, that can be vital for professional programming and game design jobs. Liam Esler, managing director and cofounder of Summerfall Studios, started modding the simulation game "Creatures" when he was 10 years old, creating new biomes with unique plants and animals. By age 15, he was managing modding teams across the world. Modding taught Esler how to code and let him practice skills, such as 3D modeling, art, and sound design. "It was a really incredible introduction to the world of making video games," he said. Around this time, he also began modding the role-playing game "Baldur's Gate II," which later led him to apply for a volunteer quality assurance role helping to test the 2012 remaster of the original "Baldur's Gate" before release. He then turned this gig into a full-time developer job for the sequel, "Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition." Modding "Baldur's Gate II" helped Esler master the Infinity Engine scripting language, which the "Baldur's Gate" games were built with. It was a niche skill, but one that paid off. "I basically sent them an email saying, 'Look, I'm an expert in these things. I suspect you're going to need those skill sets.' And they sent me a contract two days later. I had the skills and all of that thanks to modding." Several of his employees at Summerfall Studios are former modders as well. "A lot of them have seen 'behind the curtain' as gamers," he said. "I find, as someone who hires, it's such a critically underappreciated skillset." For modders applying to game studios, he recommended building a varied portfolio of both mods and short games, and emphasizing to hiring managers "that you can learn new engines, you can learn new skills, and you can practice all the things you've learned in a different context. That's the thing that's going to get you hired." Websites like Patreon let modders monetize their work Some modders prefer to be their own boss, and monetization platforms like Patreon have given them ways to accept donations directly from players to support their craft. In return, modders can offer their patrons perks, including early access to new mods. Asking for donations instead of mandatory payments lets modders profit without violating most games' end-user license agreements, giving them the freedom to focus on the hobby they love. Ilja Jusupov, the third biggest creator on Patreon, started out by modding the shooting game "S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl," adding texture packs and menus to configure other mods. He already had some programming experience, but modding is what turned it into a career. A few years later, after he started making mods for the racing game "Assetto Corsa," he put his projects on Patreon, where he's since found success. Jusupov's Patreon brings in nearly $50,000 a month, which he attributes to the passionate fan base for "Assetto Corsa" and the consistency of his work. Jusupov said the most challenging parts of running a successful Patreon as a modder are consistently preparing new updates to satisfy subscribers and responding to the feedback those subscribers give without sacrificing independence. "We wouldn't want to create an impression that we're not addressing our patrons' demands, but also still want to pursue new horizons and bring something new on a semi-regular basis," he said. For other modders looking to find independent success, he recommended targeting "niche" games and taking on projects that you're passionate about. "A modification for 'GTA 5' would guarantee a large user base, but I imagine something smaller could have a lot more unsolved demands users would love to find a solution to." Viktor "NSGolova" Radulov, a Ukrainian modder for the virtual reality rhythm game "Beat Saber," similarly said creators should "focus on helping players first and monetize later. If people are happy with your mods, they'll be happy to donate." Radulov's Patreon projects, which include mods to add cosmetics and a leaderboard to the game, earn him over $4,500 a month. He began his programming career developing add-ons for Mac and iOS, and his interest in "Beat Saber" led him to take on modding as a hobby. While modding is currently a side hustle for him, he hopes to eventually turn modding into his sole career. Other monetization platforms include Ko-fi and Nexus Mods. The latter lets modders earn "Donation Points" that can be redeemed for gifts or cash. Nexus Mods told BI that it has paid out over $12 million to its top creators since 2018. Some modders, like Dream and DougDoug, create content as well, using platforms like YouTube and Twitch to upload videos showcasing their mods, which can also earn them money. "Modding forces you to learn a huge variety of skill sets, but the most important of these is 'just work it out,'" Esler said. "You don't have the virtue of an engineering team who can make new features or update existing ones, so you have to work out how to work within the confines of what's already there to make something new."
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bills to find and destroy Maine's toxic firefighting foam win over legislative committee
Mar. 5—Spurred on by last year's Brunswick Landing chemical spill, a Maine legislative committee unanimously endorsed two proposals Wednesday that would catalog, collect and destroy the state's unwanted stockpile of toxic firefighting foam. The Environment and Natural Resources committee voted in favor of LD 400, which directs the Office of the State Fire Marshal to conduct a statewide inventory of all aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, and LD 222, which creates a statewide take-back program of any unwanted foam. "The Office of the State Fire Marshal recognizes this is a serious issue facing our state and we want to be a contributing agency to get this done as fast as possible," said State Fire Marshal Shawn Esler on Wednesday. "We would like to get started on this immediately." The Aug. 19 Brunswick foam spill was the biggest of its kind in Maine history. A faulty sprinkler system dispensed 51,450 gallons of foam laced with toxic forever chemicals in an airport hangar at Brunswick Landing, a redeveloped naval air base that is now home to hundreds of homes and businesses. The bills, plus one other that would require all foam to be removed from Brunswick Landing, have met with enthusiastic support from the Brunswick community, including many neighbors who say they don't want another community to endure an accidental spill like the one that upended theirs. Even trace amounts of the forever chemicals that make up the bulk of the foam are considered a public health risk, according to federal regulators. High exposure over a long time can cause cancer. Exposure during critical life stages, such as in early childhood, can also cause life-changing harm. The inventory bill would require Esler's office to survey all public agencies that might use foam to smother high-heat fuel fires, like fire departments and airports, as well as private ones, like the fuel depots in South Portland and factories that keep it on hand to fight chemical fires. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection estimates that such agencies have built up a stockpile of about 50,000 gallons of foam, but that is based on the admittedly lackluster response to an earlier state inventory effort. No one really knows how much foam is out there now. The inventory, which would eventually be posted to the state fire marshal's public website, would cost about $170,000. The money would cover two years' pay for a temporary office assistant to conduct the survey and educate foam users about the looming take-back program. The take-back bill would require DEP to roll out a state-funded take-back program for unwanted foam by July 2027. Based on the old inventory results, and using cost estimates from New Hampshire's program, DEP estimates a take-back program would cost Maine about $5 million. The take-back program would be voluntary; while fire stations welcome the state's offer to assume the cost and responsibility of storing and disposing of the toxic old foam, some departments can't afford to purchase new foam without forever chemicals, which can cost $300 for a 5-gallon pail. The foam that spilled at Brunswick Landing was left over from the property's days as a 3,100-acre naval air base. The base closed in 2011 and is now home to hundreds of residents and businesses, but it is also a Superfund site with a long history of environmental contamination. The 22,000 gallons of spilled foam and rinse-water was trucked to Arkansas and Ontario for incineration. The committee rejected an amendment suggested by Defend Our Health, a Portland-based public health advocacy group, that would have discouraged the Maine Department of Environmental Protection from disposing of the foam in poor communities of color out of state. Sen. Stacy Brenner, D-Scarborough, said she appreciated the intent, but she didn't want to tie DEP's hands, especially given how quickly disposal technology is evolving. DEP Commissioner Melanie Loyzim has already said she didn't want to dump Maine's PFAS problems on other states. "The legislative intent is to collect and destroy the foam," said Brenner, who has ushered in many of Maine's forever chemical laws. "I don't know that we need to get into the specificity of the decision that (DEP officials) make about how they destroy it." The bills — part of a trio of measures submitted by Rep. Dan Ankeles, D-Brunswick, now head to the Maine House of Representatives and then the Senate for floor votes. If approved by both chambers, the bills would still require appropriations committee approval because of the combined $5.2 million price tag. That is a big ask in a legislative session where lawmakers have been warned there is little state funding available for new legislative proposals. Gov. Janet Mills is already scaling back existing spending commitments and raising some taxes to pass a balanced budget. The governor's budget office is projecting a deficit of $450 million in the next two-year general fund budget, plus an additional $118 million shortfall in the current year's budget for MaineCare, the state's Medicaid program. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Concrete saw caused CO leak at Maine daycare that hospitalized 11, officials say
Authorities say a concrete saw used during an unpermitted construction project next to a Maine daycare caused a carbon monoxide leak that hospitalized several children and staff members on Wednesday. Following an initial investigation, the Office of the State Fire Marshal (FMO) says fumes from construction work being done at a suite adjacent to the Building Blocks daycare likely caused the initial carbon monoxide leak. According to investigators, a propane-powered concrete saw was used throughout the day inside the suite as part of the construction work. Propane-powered gas saws are not intended to be used indoors and are often labeled to prevent use in unventilated space. The FMO says carbon monoxide from the saw's exhaust likely seeped through either the HVAC air intake duct or through a suspended ceiling, infiltrating the daycare. Officials say the project was not associated with the daycare, didn't have a proper construction permit for the suite, and covered a fire alarm system in the room where the concrete saw was used, which was why no fire alarms were going off upon emergency crews arrivals. A subsequent investigation of the daycares heating system found no concerns related to emission leaks. At the time of the incident, staff at the Building Blocks Daycare noticed an odor and individuals beginning to feel unwell. 7 children and 4 adults were eventually hospitalized with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. All were treated at Portsmouth Hospital and have since been discharged. The name of the construction company was not immediately available and it's unclear if any fines or charges will be levied. State Fire Marshal Shawn Esler praised staff members at the daycare for taking action and preventing tragedy. 'It is important to note that daycare providers of the Building Blocks Learning Center recognized a problem and took action,' Esler said. 'They evacuated children and staff to safety and notified the fire department as soon as they recognized something was wrong. Their quick response, the professionalism of the Kittery Fire Department, and the medical expertise of the Portsmouth Regional Hospital helped prevent a tragedy.' The investigation remains ongoing and no further information was immediately available. Officials from the Kittery Fire Department, Kittery Code Enforcement, the Maine Fuel Board, and the FMO were on scene until after midnight Wednesday gathering information related to the incident. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
