Troy Fire Protection District firefighters along with mutual aid from several area agencies extinguished a house fire Friday night that left long-time resident Ezequiel Torres temporarily homeless. Torres told Patch at the scene that he will stay with family for the time being. Troy Fire Chief Paul Hertzmann told Torres that his house at 205 Arrowhead Drive needed to be boarded up as a result of Friday night's extensive fire damage. The fire broke out around 9:15 p.m. at the tri-level. The fire chief said the fire damage was mostly confined to the living room and the roof on one side of the house. Torres told Patch that he, his wife, and their granddaughter escaped as the fire started. The homeowner said he believed the fire may have started around his gas meter.  

Beginning in 2025, a fire suppressant containing so-called forever chemicals that never break down in the environment will be prohibited from manufacture, sale and distribution in Illinois -- and suburban fire departments are getting ready for the ban. Two chemical products are at the center of the issue. Aqueous film forming foam is used at industrial facilities and airports, and by fire departments to extinguish flammable liquid fires such as fuel fires. The foam contains PFAS, the acronym for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that are widely used in commercial and consumer products. Due to long-standing environmental and health concerns about PFAS, and thanks to the emergence of alternatives that don't contain them, the foam is slowly being phased out.  

A massive fire erupted in a Pompano Beach apartment building overnight. Residents of the Royal Atlantic Apartments, at 110 NW 7th Avenue, said they woke to fire alarms blaring around 2 a.m. and heard people screaming. Arriving firefighters were met with flames shooting through the roof and thick smoke coming from one the units. Residents said it was terrifying as they made their way to safety. "It was hectic and scary. It was just black smoke, we could barely see anything. We had to use our phone lights to run down the stairs and other people's flashlights to run down the stairs. It was terrible, a few of us have asthma, it was terrifying, the worst experience ever" said Phylicia Eubanks. Firefighters were able to quickly contain the blaze.  

Beginning in 2025, a fire suppressant containing so-called forever chemicals that never break down in the environment will be prohibited from manufacture, sale and distribution in Illinois -- and suburban fire departments are getting ready for the ban. Two chemical products are at the center of the issue. Aqueous film forming foam is used at industrial facilities and airports, and by fire departments to extinguish flammable liquid fires such as fuel fires. The foam contains PFAS, the acronym for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that are widely used in commercial and consumer products. Due to long-standing environmental and health concerns about PFAS, and thanks to the emergence of alternatives that don't contain them, the foam is slowly being phased out.  

VIDEO: In Mid-City L.A., Station 68 is home to two very special firefighters, who are also mothers and inspiring a new generation of first responders. At Station 68, one of the busier stations in Los Angeles, you'll find Tanya Crabbe and Jessica Jackson – women (and mothers) who have been firefighters for 15 and 20 years respectively. They love their job and are integral in the response and care provided to the community. It is not for everyone, and they know that. But with such a small percentage of women in the LAFD – just 3.5% of the total LAFD workforce – there is certainly room to grow. And thanks to the LAFD Girls Camp, girls between the ages of 10 to 18 can see how they might play a part in the future of firefighting.  

A driver is facing charges after crashing into an ambulance and injuring multiple people, including two paramedics, police said. Medic responded to a crash at North Tryon Street and West Mallard Creek Church Road around 12:30 a.m. While paramedics were treating someone hurt in the initial crash, a driver allegedly ran a red light and crashed into the stopped ambulance. Two Medic employees were taken to the hospital with injuries. Both were released Friday morning and are recovering at home, officials said. Medic issued the following statement after the crash: "Medic's crew was discharged & are at home recovering. Our thoughts are with all involved. We are extremely grateful for those who responded on scene, including our own."  

In the second half of the 19th century, after the conclusion of the Civil War and into the 20th century, there was a major influx of immigrants looking for work, as well as advances in technology. This boom happened faster than safety measures like labor laws and fire codes could advance to anything like what we have today. As a result, many of the most catastrophic fires and explosions in American history happened. To identify the deadliest fires and explosions in U.S. history, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on fire casualties from the National Fire Protection Association. Fires and explosions were ranked on an estimated number of deaths. (It is important to note that death estimates for these disasters may sometimes vary by source.) Dates, casualty estimates, and locations came from NFPA.