Fake Texas Hydrant Made to Look Real

HOUSTON --

A fake fire hydrant in a Spring Branch garden was painted to look like the real thing by a city of Houston worker, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.

Fire Burns House in Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore.

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A massive house fire Tuesday morning burned a home in southeast Portland.

Crews were called to 81st Avenue and Taylor Street at 4:08 a.m. after a report of a fire. Video from the scene showed large flames shooting out of the fully engulfed house.

Firefighters were forced to take a defensive stance initially, but they eventually gained control of the blaze. Crews were still trying to put out the remnants of the fire at 6 a.m.

Winnipeg FFs Embarassed by Photos

WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg fire department says it is investigating to find out why two firefighters battling a blaze that caused $100,000 damage to a vacant house took time out to pose for pictures in front of the inferno.

Winnipeg Free Press photographer Boris Minkevich captured the scene, in which one firefighter stood in full equipment in front of the burning building while another snapped shots on his cellphone camera.

The pair were waiting for aerial equipment to be set up.

N.Y. FF Pleads Guilty to Arson

Roberto Ruiz, a retired Buffalo Fire Department lieutenant, pleaded guilty Friday to a felony arson charge for the gasoline fire that only partially damaged his leased car last spring, prosecutors and court officials said.

Ruiz, 47, of Grayton Road, Town of Tonawanda, was allowed to remain free without bail following the pre-indictment plea proceeding before State Supreme Court Justice Russell P. Buscaglia.

N.H. FFs Recognized for Their Heroics

HOOKSETT -- The firefighter who was trapped and got burned inside Mow Town Power Equipment during a fire Nov. 9 and the six firefighters who saved him have been officially recognized for their heroic efforts.