Houston's acting fire chief has fired three firefighters, saying each was culpable in an incident in which a racial epithet was entered on an EMS report using an ambulance computer terminal.

The head of the firefighters union called the firings a "travesty" and said the department failed to determine who actually was responsible.

Sept. 08--WESTBROOK -- Two female members of the Westbrook Fire and Rescue Department who sued the city for failing to address complaints of sexual harassment would get a combined settlement of about $846,000 under agreements reached with city officials.

Lisa Theberge and Kathy Rogers, who filed a harassment complaint about two years ago and sued the city in 2009, have agreed to drop the lawsuit in exchange for a settlement that includes back pay, damages and attorney fees.

Sept. 08--SPRING HILL -- There was drinking, shirt pulling and mugging for the cameras; and it all took place at a fire station and at a house party attended by firefighters.

The photos were posted on Facebook.

There were three dozen photographs submitted by an offended resident during Wednesday's public meeting of the Spring Hill Board of Fire Commissioners.

Fire Chief Mike Rampino vowed to start an internal investigation.

FOOTVILLE, Wis.

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A volunteer firefighter in Rock County has been arrested on suspicion of making false 911 calls.

The Rock County Sheriff's department said Dustin Bentivegna was arrested Saturday on misdemeanor charges of making four false 911 calls within a two-week period. Officials said the calls were all concerning a gas odor.

Bentivegna is a new employee and still in training. He was booked and released from jail, authorities said.

TACOMA, Wash.
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A couple siphoning gas from a Salvation Army van caught fire when it suddenly erupted in flames in Washington state.

A witness told police two people were trying to siphon gas Wednesday night in a Tacoma church parking lot. As the witness approached and startled the suspects, the fire broke out.

Police spokesman Mark Fulghum (FUL'-jum) told The News Tribune both suspects, the van and a nearby vehicle caught fire. The man was able to put out his own flames and fled before police arrived.

PENBROOK, Pa.

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A longtime Dauphin County firefighter was arrested Wednesday on charges of stealing more than $100,000 from the Penbrook Fire Company.

Miles Hummer

LOUISVILLE, Ky. --

A two-alarm fire broke out at a Louisville apartment complex early Thursday morning, injuring several residents.

Just before 1:30 a.m., Louisville firefighters were called to the Autumn Run Apartments on Bardstown Road and Goldsmith Lane.

Officials said the fire started in an apartment in the 500 block of Wimbleton Court near Trafalgar Square.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. --

There's a baking marathon happening in one Goodlettsville woman's kitchen. For the next two days, Dana Hight will be baking her Dutch apple pies to say thank you to local firefighters.

Hight's pies have become a Sept. 11 tradition for local firefighters.

"I just felt like it needed to be done, so I'm doing it," she said.

SAN BRUNO, Calif. --

A massive explosion sent flames roaring through a neighborhood in the hills south of San Francisco Thursday, destroying more than 50 homes and leaving at least one person dead.

The utility company that serves the San Francisco Bay area said one of its gas lines ruptured in the vicinity of the blast, which left a giant crater and sent flames tearing across several suburban blocks in San Bruno just after 6 p.m.

The weather has helped firefighters make progress against a raging wildfire outside Boulder, Colorado, but high winds forecast for Thursday could whip up the blaze again, authorities said Thursday.