The Richton Park Fire Department recently created an award specifically for a Richton Park civilians that go above and beyond. These individuals must show outstanding efforts to support Public Safety and quality of life for others. This award was established to highlight and feature stakeholders of the community that do not currently work in public safety, but have chosen to support the Village's public safety efforts, events, and initiatives. These citizens are truly STARS! The department's very first recipient of the "Shooting Star Award" goes to none other than our retired Fire Chief, Rodney Wilson! Wilson retired in 2021, after 31 years of dedication to Richton Park. He has battled hundreds of fires, handled thousands of EMT calls, responded to hundreds of vehicle accidents, and not to forget Richton Park's "Dueling Tornados" in 2008.  

PHOTO: Firefighters responded to a structure fire in the Marion area on Thursday afternoon. The Marion Fire Department told News 3 a fire crew responded to a fire near the area of Westminster Drive a little after 4 p.m. Evelyn Brewer submitted photos to WSIL, showing a structure was on fire in this area during this time as well. Firefighters on scene tell us the structure that caught fire was a pole barn. No injuries were reported, however, firefighters urged people to avoid the area. The fire is not considered suspicious, a fire official said.  

VIDEO: Owners of Tri-Star Cabinets & Top Co. said they plan to rebuild their nearly 60-year-old business after a fire destroyed it in the south suburbs. Chopper 7 was over the scene about 11:30 a.m., and large flames and heavy smoke could be seen coming from the company located at 1000 S. Cedar Road in New Lenox. There were about 60 to 70 employees inside the building at the time the fire started. The company owners were devasted to see their business, that's been open since 1970 burn to the ground. "It was just a normal workday here and then fire alarms went off," Owner of Tri Star Cabinet Joe Wilda III said. "Buildings can be replaced but at the end of the day our employees are what matter first and most and everyone's okay." More than 22 different agencies responded to the scene near Cedar Road.  

A massive fire severely damaged a $1 million home in rural Collin County Thursday afternoon. Firefighters responded around 2 p.m. to the blaze at 598 Justin Pl. at around 2 p.m. By the time CBS News Texas Chopper arrived about 30 minutes later, large portions of the roof were gone and flames engulfed other parts of the home, sending thick black smoke into the sky. Nine municipal fire departments from Collin, Rockwall and Hunt Counties responded to the scene. The home is just over 7,000 square feet and sits on a 2-acre lot, according to a listing from the last time the property was for sale in 2022. No one was hurt in the blaze. Nevada Fire Chief Chavez Wilson said firefighters did not have good access to water supply due to the home's rural location.  

A fire medic is in stable condition at Temple University Hospital and expected to make a full recovery after being stabbed in North Philadelphia. Speaking outside the hospital Thursday morning, Philadelphia fire and police officials said a fire medic crew of two people first responded to a sick person call at 18th Street and Ridge Avenue around 6:15 a.m. Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said the medics located the individual, put him in the ambulance and started transporting him to the hospital. One medic was driving and the other remained in the back with the patient. According to Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson, it's standard for medic units to have just two crew members. Vanore and Thompson said shortly after 6:30 a.m. the driver noticed a "commotion" happening in the rearview mirror and pulled over near 22nd and Diamond streets.  

PHOTOS: Nice stache, bro! We had Greg White, a firefighter for the Cloquet Fire Department, on the show to discuss an upcoming competition. The 7th Annual Stache Salt contest begins on November 1st. They are looking for the best mustaches in the world. Registration for the competition ends on Friday, October 18th. Greg is trying again this year to win the grand prize. We'll get to that more later. Greg has been working as a firefighter for a few years now for the Cloquet Fire Department. I asked him about the firefighter culture with mustaches. The reason firefighters don't have full beards is because the beard gets in the way of the respirator or fireman's mask. Mustaches don't, but just think because you get a job as a firefighter you can grow one. People know him in Cloquet as the mustache firefighter.  

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) has recognized Dr. Sara Jahnke as the latest recipient of the Foundation's Arthur J. Glatfelter Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Jahnke serves as Director of the non-profit Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research at NDRI USA, Inc., where she leads research projects aimed at understanding the health risks faced by firefighters—and developing evidence-based interventions to mitigate those risks. Known for her dedication to translating scientific findings into practical solutions, Dr. Jahnke has made significant contributions to understanding and addressing the unique health challenges individuals face in the fire service. Jahnke also serves as president of Science to the Station: A Health and Wellness Alliance and sits on Board of Directors of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.  

PHOTOS: Nearly 90,000 Colsen-branded tabletop fire pits sold by major retailers nationwide are being recalled after dozens of alarming incidents left 19 people with burn injuries, some requiring surgery and others permanently disfigured. The products are a burn and fire hazard in that alcohol flames can be invisible and lead to flame jetting when the pit reservoirs are filled, causing fire to flash back to the alcohol containers, unleashing burning alcohol onto people nearby, according to a notice posted on Thursday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. "Use of the recalled fire pits can lead to injury quickly and unexpectedly, causing burns in less than one second that can be serious and deadly," CPSC stated. The federal agency said it has received 31 reports of flame jetting and flames escaping from the product's concrete container, burning 19 people.