Below are some of the major fire and rescue news stories as reported by the Associated Press in December 2019, including a deadly shootout in Jersey City, the sentencing in an arson that killed three Delaware firefighters, Australian wildfires, and more.
Probe can’t determine cause of Minneapolis high-rise fire
Fire officials said Monday they could not determine the exact cause of a high-rise apartment fire that killed five people in Minneapolis.
4 adults, 4 children killed in gas blast in Poland
Rescuers have recovered eight bodies from the debris of a house destroyed by a gas explosion in southern Poland.
Saudi student opens fire at Florida Naval base, killing 3
An aviation student from Saudi Arabia opened fire in a classroom at the Naval Air Station Pensacola, killing three people.
Gas explosion in Slovakia tower block kills 5, injures 40
A gas explosion in an apartment building in eastern Slovakia killed at least five people and injured more than 40.
Devastating factory fire kills at least 43 in Indian capital
A fire believed to be caused by an electrical short circuit engulfed a building in India’s capital where handbags and other items were made by workers earning as little as 2 dollars per day, killing at least 43 people.
6 killed in New Jersey gunbattle, including police officer
Six people, including a police officer and three bystanders, were killed in a furious gun battle that filled the streets of Jersey City with the sound of heavy fire for hours, authorities said.
Woman gets 30 years in arson that killed three firefighters
A Delaware woman who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for an arson that left three firefighters dead has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Australia’s most populous state declares wildfire emergency
Australia’s most populous state of New South Wales declared a seven-day state of emergency as oppressive conditions fanned around 100 wildfires, with around 2,000 firefighters battling the fires.
6 killed, 13 injured in Las Vegas apartment building fire
A fire in a three-story apartment building in downtown Las Vegas where residents were apparently using their stoves for heat killed six people and forced some residents to jump from upper-floor windows to escape the heavy smoke, authorities said.
Police: 7 killed in Hawaii tour helicopter crash
There were no survivors of a December 26 tour helicopter crash that killed three minors and four adults, officials confirmed Saturday.
5 stabbed at Hanukkah celebration in latest attack on Jews
A knife-wielding man stormed into a rabbi’s home and stabbed five people as they celebrated Hanukkah in an Orthodox Jewish community north of New York City.
Plane crash kills 5, including LSU coach’s daughter-in-law
A small plane en route to a college football playoff game crashed into a post office parking lot in Louisiana shortly after takeoff on Saturday, December 28.
Official: 1 dead from plane crash in Maryland neighborhood
A small plane crashed in the Maryland suburbs of the nation’s capital Sunday, December 29, hitting a home’s carport and killing the lone person aboard the aircraft, authorities said.
