From amazing saves, unbelievable videos, important industry news and breaking events, FireRescue1 posted hundreds of news stories over the past 12 months.
We went through our archives and rounded up the articles readers most liked this year. Vote for your top article in the comment section.
1. Video: Pa. fire station makes Doritos commercial for Super Bowl
The Union Deposit Volunteer Fire Company created a 30-second Doritos commercial as part of a competition where the winner receives $1 million and trip to the Super Bowl. They did it as a way to raise awareness of their fire station, and some much-needed funds.
2. Fire truck crash kills Ala. firefighter en route to fire
Volunteer firefighter Jantzen Murrell Frazier, 28, died when his fire truck rolled and crashed en route to a call. He was returning to the scene of a fire when the tanker/pumper he was driving flipped and slammed into a power pole.
3. Iowa mayor fires entire volunteer fire department
To the surprise of many, including the fire chief, the mayor of a small community fired the town’s entire volunteer fire department. He said the cut was spurred by the department’s noncompliance with a city-wide audit.
4. Off-duty firefighter threatened with TASER for waving at cops
A firefighter filed a formal complaint against a police officer who he said stopped him during a bicycle ride Tuesday afternoon, threatened him with a stun gun, and handcuffed him. “I remember looking down the barrel of a Taser, because (the officer) was gritting his teeth and saying, ‘Don’t make me pull this trigger,’” he said. The firefighter believes the cops thought he was flipping them off, and the official run card confirmed it.
5. Video: Motorist pulls in front of responding Ala. pumper
Footage shows the driver of the pumper was forced to swerve on to the shoulder as the rig nearly collided with a driver who went around a stopped vehicle.
6. Photo of fallen Ariz. firefighters stirs controversy
A photo of American flags draped over body bags containing the remains of the 19 Arizona firefighters who died in the Yarnell Hill Fire triggered a debate when it was posted on Facebook tribute page.
7. LODD: Ga. firefighter commits suicide while on-duty
Firefighter Katrina Sims, 24, with Atlanta Fire-Rescue was found dead while on-duty in the fire station. Authorities launched an investigation into her death; however, it was treated as a suicide by police.
8. Chief suspended for swearing-in new firefighters
A fire chief was suspended for five days after conducting a swearing-in ceremony for new firefighters against the advice of the city attorney.
9. Listen: Frantic moments of deadly Ariz. fire captured on radio logs
An Arizona state helicopter paramedic was calm and straightforward as he radioed in the first confirmation that 19 firefighters were dead in a blaze northwest of Phoenix, recordings show.
10. Thieves ransack volunteer fire department
A Houston volunteer fire department was left reeling after thieves ransacked the station. Every fire engine and rescue vehicle was stripped of radiators, brass fittings, batteries, pumps, and even ladders.