VIDEO: A new program is launching in Orland Park that will alert citizens trained in CPR when they receive emergency calls about cardiac arrest near them. Imagine if thousands of average citizens were ready and able to respond to an emergency in their community. "People really want to help their brothers and sisters," said Orland Fire Protection District Chief Mike Schofield. "They want to help their community. But they need to know how and when." The district launched a new app called PulsePoint that alerts people who are trained in CPR if someone is in cardiac arrest nearby. "It alarms kind of just like an amber alert does on your phone. Very loud, audible alarm. Look at your phone, it'll tell you exactly where there's somebody in cardiac arrest within a quarter mile of your location," said EMS Coordinator Lt. Joshua Girdick.  

VIDEO: It's an expectation of no expectations that keeps those like Derek Tessendorf on the Freeport Fire Department's hazmat unit for nearly a decade. "There's never a day to day, this is what's going to happen here," says Tessendorf. "There's always a different scenario." Tessendorf, a hazmat team leader for Freeport FD and Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, is one of 20 department members who responds to toxic leaks or spills in the Stephenson County area; a response area that grows depending on the scope and nature of a hazardous event. Still, reaching his leadership post was no stroll. Brandon Reese, a hazmat trainee, awaits on the other end with 150 hours of training before becoming an active member of the team. "My wife and everybody, they understand that there's a bunch of training that goes into this," says Reese.  

A massive fire tore through a 23-bedroom historic mansion in Northbridge, Massachusetts. The fire at the Whitin Lasell Manor, which is more than 100 years old, started just after 1 a.m., fire officials said. Several people were living inside the manor that has stood on Hill Street since 1890. According to a Facebook post by Estate of Mind, an artist collective that operates at the home, all of the residents escaped without injury. Northbridge Fire Department Chief David White said firefighters encountered heavy flames on the second and third floor of the manor when crews arrived. "They are always a challenge -- the way they're constructed -- lots of pockets. Took a while to get the fire under control," White said. Officials said the fire appears to have started on the second floor and does not appear suspicious.  

PHOTOS: Greeley Fire's newest ride — a walk-in hazardous materials response truck — has been on nearly a year's worth of calls involving hazardous materials, a number that approached 230 in 2023. Already, the hazmat team says, it has made everybody's lives easier. The truck equipped with most — if not all — the bells and whistles carried a price tag of $710,000. But Greeley Fire Apparatus Project Manager Tim Logston said it was well worth the money. "That's actually on the low end of what our vehicles cost, but we chose that truck for more than just financial reasons," Logston said. "It's going to meet the needs of the citizens and that team for 20 years." The truck — equipped with five computer workstations, gas detectors, chlorine kits, chem sets, waste treatment equipment and much more — made its debut in April of last year.  

VIDEO: Alachua County Fire Chief Harold Theus is excited for the public to check out their newest and largest station. Chief Theus is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside Alachua County Manager Michele Lieberman, Commission Chair Mary C. Alford, and Public Works Director Ramon Gavarrete. The 11,500 square foot building fits 10 beds and three bays. It was built with sustainable features incorporating solar power, a backup generator, and wind-load resistance. The $6.5 million project includes the cost of construction and furnishings inside the station, like gear lockers, beds, and everyday living essentials.Theus says this new station will have a fire engine and rescue moved over from their old station on Southwest 43rd Street. They're also finishing up a brand new water tanker.  

Fairdale High School in Fairdale, KY is making waves by training the next cohort of fire fighters and EMTs. During a recent ceremony held at the school, Dan Shirley, an instructor at the school's Fire and EMS Academy, announced the acquisition of the school's new Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) license allowing students to undergo testing before graduation. "The CPAT is crucial for students aspiring to pursue a career in the fire service," said Shirley. "Having the opportunity to prepare for the test from the moment they enter the program until their senior year provides them with a significant advantage." International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) CPAT Coordinator Bill Bussing said the school is the first high school in the U.S. to receive the license.