VIDEO: Eight children and two adults made it out of a home safely that caught on fire overnight Thursday into Friday. The fire broke out on Marilyn Lane just after 12:30 a.m. Crews from five departments were called in to fight the blaze. Even though all 10 people inside made it out safely, several pets did not. Firefighters say the fire may have started on an unattended stove.  

The Peoria Fire Department responded to an apartment fire near the 1700 block of West Marigold Drive on Thursday morning. According to a department news release, when firefighters arrived on the scene, they saw flames from the rear balcony area of a three-story building. Firefighters advanced two lines to fully extinguish the fire. The building was checked, but most of the damage was found on the outside of the building. The building was evacuated during the fire. No injuries were reported. A fire investigator determined the fire caused $20,000 in damages. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.  

VIDEO: Crews say the day a person needs to call 911, it's one of the worse days of their life. Charlotte Fire didn't get that call for help right away. "There was some sort of delay in dialing 911, a five-to-six-minute delay, so we were already behind the eight ball with that," a CFD communications officer described Thursday, a week removed from the 5-Alarm fire in the SouthPark community. That delay is still part of the investigation. When the Ladder 6 crew arrived, it was just smoke coming out of the building. "In just a few minutes, everything changed," said Capt. Brian Benson. "Smoke got heavier; we started hearing reports of people trapped in the building. So, my crew transitioned from a firefighting role to a rescue role." One firefighter was standing on the third floor. "I spotted the victims, and I heard the screaming," added Chris McMillan, a firefighter with Ladder 6.  

The roles and responsibilities of firefighters have changed significantly over the past few decades. Firefighters must perform structure firefighting, search, rescue, mitigation of hazardous materials, and disaster response. Also, increased calls for firefighters to respond to potentially violent emergencies, such as active shooters these conditions demand better physical protection. No other item is more classically associated with firefighters than their helmets. It not only provides a sense of security but also a sense of confidence when worn. Although designed to protect firefighters' heads from thermal and low-velocity direct impact, helmets often contribute to additional exertion and sprain-related head and neck injuries because of their bulk and weight. Firefighters need effective, affordable equipment they can rely on to support their increasingly demanding jobs.  

Front Range Fire Rescue Chief Michael West pictures mental health for first responders as a bucket filling with water. Each difficult call a first responder takes, every high-stress response and struggles outside of work all add water to the bucket. If first responders don't have a way to dump some water out once in a while, the water, or stress, will overflow the bucket. Overwhelming stress can lead to dangerous physical and mental health issues that can impact first responders' ability to adequately perform their duties and provide help when people need it the most. Front Range Fire recently partnered with the David Lynch Foundation to teach agency staff Transcendental Meditation. The effort is one of many at Front Range Fire to promote employees' wellness. The idea began with West's personal observations in the fire service and his own mental health needs.  

VIDEO: The Elmira Heights Fire Department is rolling out a piece of history for Memorial Day. A restored 1938 Ward LaFrance fire engine will be taking part in Memorial Day parades in Elmira Heights and Horseheads. "I don't know if people are drawn to it because it looks different or just because they believe it's a part of history, but it always attracts attention no matter where it goes," said First Assistant Chief Jason Mitchell. "How does it drive?" asked 18 News reporter Nicolas Dubina. "It's a chore. It's complicated," said Mitchell. "There's no power anything. The gears are not synchromesh, the brakes are about the only powered thing on it. It's great responsibility knowing that if anything happens, there's no more like it. When it was in operation, you used to be allowed to ride on the sideboards and the beaver tail. If you had two in the cab, you would often see three or four men on each side plus another three or four guys hanging off the back on the way to the call..."