Pritzker signed a package of legislation on Thursday, aimed at protecting the physical and mental health of first responders. Some of the legislation signed into law include Senate Bill 1913, House Bill 3656, and Senate Bill 1575. The legislation signed on Thursday aims to strengthens Scott's Law to help keep first responders safe on the roads and improves mental health resources. The governor was joined by legislative and administration leaders as well as Lauren Frank, wife of State Trooper Brian Frank, in critical condition following a Scott's Law violation. "When we are in crisis, first responders show up with the tools, skills, and courage to help us at a moment's notice – without hesitation. It's our responsibility to provide our heroes with the protection and resources they need to make their work safer," said Governor JB Pritzker.  

An individual was found dead after a Libertyville house fire early Friday morning, police said. A Libertyville police officer on patrol spotted the fire just after 3:20 a.m. in the 100-block of Johnson Avenue, according to law enforcement officials. Man loses half his savings in bank transfer scam Libertyville fire crews, several other fire departments and police responded to the scene to extinguish the blaze. Once the fire was put out and first responders searched the home, a deceased individual was found, police said. The Libertyville Police Department, Lake County Major Crime Task Force, Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office, Libertyville Fire Department and Lake County Coroner's Office are investigating the incident. The individual's identity is being withheld, pending notification of next of kin.  

Chicago police are questioning a person of interest after a newborn was found abandoned in an alley Tuesday morning. One of the firefighters who rescued the infant spoke only with CBS 2's Marissa Parra, saying he does not want to think about how different this would have been if the baby hadn't been called in. It was hot and humid Tuesday morning, and the baby was found wrapped in blankets and a rosary in the bottom drawer of a dresser left in an alley. On the way to the scene Chicago firefighter Matthew Lang was bracing for the worst from the back seat of his fire truck. "I look out the window, and I just see this woman, hysterical, waving her arms," he said. She was pointing to the open drawers stacked on top of one another in a Montclare alley. An d in that bottom drawer he would find the most emotional assignment of his firefighting career.  

Mendon Fire Chief Rob Simmons hopes his department never needs to use its latest donation. But the firefighters now have a grain rescue tube, along with the training to use it, just in case of emergency. "Fortunately we haven't had the need for it as far as having anybody trapped in a bin. If that does happen, we'll have the proper equipment," said Simmons, who has served on the department since 1985 and been its chief since 2008. Nationwide and Mealiff Insurance and Financial Services provided the tube and training, presented Thursday night, through Nationwide's grain bin safety advocacy campaign. "We all can do different things for our community. This is one thing we were able to do," said Greg Mealiff, who nominated the Mendon department for the program.  

The deadline to apply for the Illinois Fire Department COVID Assistance Grant has been extended. The deadline will now be extended to Friday, August 20. Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois State Fire Marshal Matt Perez announced an innovative funding opportunity specifically addressing Illinois fire departments impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under this one-time grant opportunity, a total of $1,000,000 will be available to assist approximately 80 impacted fire departments that operate in diverse communities throughout the state. Eligible Illinois fire departments can receive up to $15,000 in funding to make up for dollars lost due to a lack of fundraising opportunities during the past year.  

VIDEO: An investigation is underway after a commercial building in Panorama City caught fire early Friday morning. The fire was reported shortly after midnight as flames engulfed the single-story building in the 14600 block of West Titus Street. The building appeared to house a packing company business. Materials used for the business were creating difficult firefighting conditions. The owners said no employees were inside the building at the time of the fire. Crews stopped the fire's progress as of 2:20 a.m., according to a Los Angeles Fire Department update. Several dozen firefighters were still fighting the blaze as of 5 a.m. Aerial video from Sky 5 showed several pockets of fire still burning in side the structure. Flames were contained to the single structure, which is surrounded by apartment buildings and a nearby school. No injuries have been reported.  

Three women hold top leadership roles at a Fairfax County Fire station. It's the first time in the history of the department that three women have run the day-to-day operations at a fire station. Captain Emily Murphy, Captain Katja Lancing and Captain Felicia Barnes work different shifts at Fire Station 37 in Kingstowne. Capt. Murphy, who works the A shift, came to the station two and a half years ago. Capt. Lancing, who works the B shift, arrived in 2020. Capt. Barnes was assigned to the station in May. In an industry that is striving to acquire more diversity, especially in leadership roles, it signals progress. Since they all work different shifts, they don't work directly with each other, but must work together as a team to keep the station operating efficiently.  

VIDEOS/PHOTOS: Two firefighters received minor injuries after a bridge near the intersection of Alden Highway and Comfort Road in Bellaire collapsed from underneath their firetruck, leaving it teetering on the edge of the fallen roadway. It happened early Wednesday morning around 12:49 a.m. as much of the region was caught up in the downpour of severe thunderstorms. One of the firefighters was treated on scene for their injuries while the other was taken to the hospital. Both are expected to be ok.  

PHOTO: Tropical Storm Eta presented a challenge for Longboat Key first responders. As tides and rain runoff rose during the November 2020 storm, north-end roads began flooding. And then, Longboat Key Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Carr recalled, there was a 911 call about a fire in Longbeach Village. There never was a question about responding into the rising salt water to protect lives and property, but ... "We were told by our fleet services maintenance that we were probably about four inches from destroying a truck completely," Carr said. "So it was that close to the air intake." Enter the town's newest vehicle, a behemoth of a four-wheel drive machine that can easily roll through almost anything Longboaters can expect do see and looks perhaps more suited to a Tom Clancy novel than a day by the beach.  

VIDEO: Firefighters picked up an unexpected tagalong while training in Colorado Springs recently. Kara Lewis, videographer and TikTok content creator with over a million followers on the platform, approached Colorado Springs firefighters and asked if she could film them as they trained. That's something Lewis is known for. In June, she approached players in a Powder League game, a Utah-based Pro-Am basketball league, and produced an energetic mashup of the game's action. Lewis showed her work to firefighters, and they agreed to let her shadow and film them as they practiced extracting dummies with ladders from windows, battled blazes in tight stairwells, and blasted buildings with a fire hose. One of the fire department's captains accompanied Lewis as she filmed in difficult areas.