Quad-Cities first responders expressed concern Thursday about maintaining levels of needed personal protective equipment (PPE) as the number of COVID-19 cases continue to climb. Linda Frederiksen, executive director of MEDIC EMS, said during an afternoon news conference that there had been nearly 980 calls since March in which her personnel needed to wear extra protective equipment as a precaution. Of those, 66 involved patients who did test positive for the coronavirus and about 33% (22) of those positive patients were transported during the first half of July. The next highest number was 32%, during the entire month of April, according to a news release that accompanied the conference. "We can definitely see an uptick," Frederiksen said. The Moline Fire Department has not seen a similar climb in transports in July, the release stated. Of the 18 positive cases transported, 10 were in April. Only one has been in July.  

A new Wheeling Fire Dept. deputy chief was sworn-in July 6 and two other fire department personnel were promoted. Lt. Steven Mella, a 25-year veteran of the fire department, was promoted to the position of deputy chief. Fire Chief Mike McGreal served as deputy chief for three years until he was promoted in May following the retirement of Keith MacIsaac. McGreal described Mella, who served for the last 14 years as a lieutenant, as a "very active" member of the department. Mella leads public education efforts and has worked with many community members and local agencies, McGreal added.  

A man caught on camera during civil unrest downtown in late May has turned himself in to face arson charges. Police said Jacob Fagundo, 22, of Rogers Park, was caught on camera shortly after he set fire to a Chicago Police squad car on Saturday, May 30, at 30 E. Kinzie St., when protests turned violent after the killing of George Floyd. Police said Fagundo turned himself in at the Area Three Police Headquarters at 2452 W. Belmont Ave. on Wednesday after recognizing himself in a community alert. He was charged with four felony counts of arson and was due in Central Bond Court on Friday. Chicago Police, FBI, and ATF investigators have scoured hours of surveillance video from the looting, and released images and video of 18 people believed to be responsible for 53 acts of arson between May 30 and June 3.  

A young man died Thursday afternoon, after he went swimming in the turbulent waters of Lake Michigan off Promontory Point, and never resurfaced, Fire Department officials said. Firefighters responded to Promontory Point, at 5500 South Lake Shore Drive, after the young man went missing while swimming in the lake. Chicago Fire Department divers eventually located the victim, after he had been underwater for 30 to 45 minutes. He was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The victim's friends told rescue teams he was a good swimmer, but divers who went in described the water as a "washing machine" because of the high waves and strong currents.  

VIDEO: A massive 4-alarm fire tore through a waterfront apartment complex under construction in Everett Thursday, creating a raging inferno that damaged two homes up a nearby hill and partially burning an ambulance and fire truck that had responded to the scene. The fire in one of the two large buildings broke out around 5:45 p.m. at the upcoming Waterfront Place Apartments and quickly spread across the building. Videos from social media showed towering flames stretching high across the sky as dozens of firefighters scrambled to the scene to start dousing the blaze. Gusty winds then blew the flames and burning embers across West Marine View Drive, sparking additional brush fires along 16th Avenue that severely damaged one home and caused some minor damage to another, Everett Fire officials said. A KOMO photographer found embers on the streets more than a mile away from the fire scene.  

Nationwide, firefighter suicides have been growing and are continuing to outpace line of duty deaths. It's a trend that has persisted in the last few years, especially for states like Nevada and California who are hit hardest by wildfires. One study found that 37 percent of fire and EMS professionals have contemplated suicide, nearly 10 times the rate of American adults. In 2017, there were 103 reported firefighter suicides and 93 line-of-duty deaths. The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance estimates about 40% of firefighter suicides are reported and if this estimate is correct, the actual number of suicides would be 257, more than doubling the number of line-of-duty deaths. At least two Nevada firefighters have committed suicide in the past year, including a Truckee Meadows firefighter who took his own life in 2019. That loss of life hit Northern Nevada emergency response agencies especially hard and forced a re-evaluation of their mental health approach.  

For years, the department has lacked manpower in emergency situations, making response times longer when timing is crucial. Lives could be in danger in Georgetown County, where firehouses face chronic manpower shortages. In some cases, fire engines continually go out with only one firefighter on the truck, while national standards call for a minimum of four. That can leave one person handling the duties of an entire crew for minutes — in situations where minutes matter — until other trucks can arrive. A lot can happen in the first few minutes of a fire, according to Doug Stern, spokesman for the International Association of Fire Fighters. "One firefighter by himself is not going to be enough," said Stern, noting the essential tasks required after arriving on scene, from locating a water source to dragging a hose. "One person alone cannot accomplish those tasks before a fire gets out of hand."  

The city of Oakland, California, will pay more than $32 million to settle lawsuits brought on behalf of victims of the deadly 2016 "Ghost Ship" fire in which 36 people died, officials announced. "This was a horrific tragedy that deeply impacted every corner of our community," a statement from the city attorney's office said. The fire occurred in a warehouse that had been converted without permits into a residence for artists. There were no fire sprinklers or alarms. When the fire broke out Dec. 2, 2016, there was an electronic music party on the second floor. Fire officials and former residents have described the first floor of the building as a "labyrinth" and a firetrap, and a survivor testified that people who were unable to escape came up a flight of stairs shaking their heads and saying, "No." The stairs were built out of wooden shipping pallets. The settlement announced Friday allocates $23.5 million for the families of those who died, as well as $9.2 for someone who survived, Sam Maxwell, the city statement said.  

The Magic City will host the World Police and Fire Games (WPFG), an event featuring more than 10,000 first responders competing in 1,600 medal events, from June 27 to July 6, 2025. The city's successful bid for the event was announced in May by local officials and The World Police and Fire Games Federation. "From the beginning, we were impressed by all that Birmingham has to offer," said LC Collins, president of the WPFG. "We believe that this city is the whole package – from its venues, infrastructure and history of hosting major events, to its entertainment, dining and attractions." The decision comes following a presentation to the Federation's Board of Directors by the Birmingham Bid Committee, which was led by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, the city of Birmingham and Jefferson County. The games are "expected to have an economic impact of $75 million on the Birmingham region and will showcase our home to over 150,000 people between athletes, supporters and spectators," said Jefferson County Commissioner Steve Ammons.