A fire at a historic building in downtown Rockford sends two people to the hospital and displaces several from their apartments Saturday night. The Rockford Fire Department says crews were called to a fire alarm at the Faust Landmark apartment building in the 600 block of E. State St. just before 10:30 p.m. Saturday. First responders found heavy smoke on the fourth floor of the 15-story building. The smoke was found to have come from a garbage fire that had been taken out by the building's sprinkler system. Two people were taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Firefighters say water damage was extensive, causing several residents to be displaced from their apartments. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Damage caused by the fire is estimated at $50,000.  

Eight people were left homeless by an apartment fire in Crystal Lake on Sunday. The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department said they responded to a fire at Skyridge Club Apartments at 12:30 p.m. and found flames and smoke coming out of a second-floor apartment. The occupants of the burning apartment were not at home, and the people in the other seven units had already evacuated. One person suffered smoke inhalation and was treated at the scene. The apartment where the fire started was a total loss. Three other apartments suffered significant smoke damage, but four were spared thanks to a "fire separation wall" that divides the building in half. The American Red Cross is helping residents find shelter.  

One person was taken to the hospital after an early morning house fire in Rockford on Saturday. The Rockford Fire Department says they were called to the fire just after 5:30 a.m. Saturday at the home in the 3700 block of Preston St. As first responders got to the scene, they found a large fire coming out of two windows in a corner bedroom. The fire was brought under control within 30 minutes. Firefighters say the adults in the home were alerted to the fire when one of the two visiting children woke them up when they realized the house was on fire. One of the adults was taken to UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital where they were treated for minor injuries and possible smoke inhalation.  

Tenants from two of the apartment units at 1100 Parkwood Drive on Joliet's far east side were left without a place to live following Sunday's late morning fire. City of Joliet firefighters from Stations 1, 4, 5 and 6 were sent to the Pine Ridge Apartments, a large apartment complex near Route 6. According to Joliet Fire Department Battalion Chief Victor Stachelski: The fire department was notified of the blaze at 10:42 a.m. Four minutes later, Joliet firefighters saw light smoke coming from the third-story roof. Firefighters were initially told there may be several people still inside the multi-unit apartment complex, but that turned out not to be the case. Everyone made it outside safely.  

One local first responder, military member, or veteran will be chosen each month on FOX 2 to receive $500 and the Proud to Serve award. Sarah Jansen is an Edwardsville firefighter, a member of the 182nd Airlift Wing of the Illinois National Guard, and is studying to complete her training to become a paramedic. Sarah is following a long line of family members who also serve the residents of Southern Illinois. Her dad is still active in the Air Guard at Scott Air Force Base, and she has uncles and aunts who served as well. "Sarah works hard and dedicates herself to helping others in all she does, with little time for herself. She is currently employed with the Edwardsville Fire Department, Belleville 911 Dispatch, and the 182nd airlift wing in Peoria. She is a certified EMT and is currently in school to be a paramedic. I'd love for her to know that she is a true asset everywhere she is."  

Boston firefighters were battling an aggressive fire Sunday night at a triple decker in the city's Roxbury neighborhood that had spread to a nearby home, injuring one firefighter and displacing 15 people, including two children. The Boston Fire Department said they were called to 41 Quincy Street around 8:30 p.m. where they encountered heavy fire that extended to 43 and 45 Quincy Street. Additional firefighters were called to help battle the blaze, which was on all three floors of the original home. At one point, there were between 80-100 firefighters on scene. Not only were they navigating icy sidewalks, but crews had to navigate nearby power lines as they were getting ladders up to the multi-family homes. The flames quickly spread to the adjacent structure due to the close proximity of the buildings and the high volume of fire, the fire department said.  

VIDEO: Lolita Jackson was at her 72nd-floor desk in the World Trade Center, feeling like she worked at the top of the world. Then came the boom, and smoke started curling in from an elevator shaft. Unsure what was happening, she joined thousands of other office workers on a harrowing trek down dark, smoky stairs, emerging into the scene of a terror attack. It wasn't Sept. 11, 2001. This was Feb. 26, 1993, when a deadly bombing killed six people, one of them pregnant, and injured more than 1,000 — becoming a harbinger of terror at the twin towers. Jackson hopes that Sunday's 30th anniversary serves as a reminder that even though decades have passed since the seismic acts of terrorism in the United States' most populous city, no one, anywhere, can say the threat of mass violence is over. She knows that more personally than most: On 9/11, she had to flee the trade center's south tower again. "I'm a living testament that it can happen to you, and it can happen to you twice," Jackson said.  

VIDEO: Roy City Fire and Rescue Station 31 replaced its aging fleet with two new ambulances. And on Saturday, KSL got an inside look at the new ambulances. The station went into service last week and has already gone out on calls. They said this gives their firefighters and first responders a way to provide better patient care. When asked if crews could tell the difference between these new ambulances, their answers were a resounding "Yes." "Plenty of power: It gets us where we need to go," said Battalion Chief Jake Rast. Morgan Palmer has worked as a firefighter and advanced emergency medical tech with Roy City Fire and Rescue for the last year and a half. She has noticed a big difference after working and driving the new ambulances. "It's bigger — more spacious — lets us get ready quicker for those fire calls," Palmer said.  

Five generations of Schellhammers have passed through the ranks of Cover Hill Volunteer Fire Co., which is celebrating 100 years of battling fires, floods and other tragedies. The Schellhammers and others recognize the strong bond among the families that have labored side by side since 1923 in Conemaugh Township, Cambria County. "We try to keep the family tradition going," Assistant fire Chief Shaun Schellhammer said. "It's like the whole family is basically involved in the fire company." Shaun's wife, Gina, is the fire company's recording secretary. His brother, David, is the treasurer. His father, Ronald Schellhammer, was active in the fire service until his death in 2020 at age 85. The fire company responds to calls in Conemaugh Township, which has 1,800 residents, and Daisytown Borough, with a population of 300. As with many small fire companies, recruiting and retaining volunteers is a challenge. Family ties are crucial.  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: At least nine tornadoes were reported in Kansas and Oklahoma on Sunday night as a massive winter storm moves east across the U.S. One tornado destroyed a home, toppled trees and knocked over power lines in Liberal, Kansas, near the state line with Oklahoma, according to local authorities. At least 12 people were injured due to the severe weather in Oklahoma's third-largest city, Norman, located about 20 miles south of the state's capital. None of the injuries were critical and there were no reported fatalities, according to the city. Drones are helping assess damage on Monday, Norman Police Chief Kevin Foster said. Some roads have been shut down and two Norman elementary schools are closed, Foster said. Wind gusts over 70 mph and hail measuring 1 inch in diameter were reported in Oklahoma City.