Local heroes who have risked their lives to protect and serve were recognized Wednesday by the 100 Club of Illinois during its 43rd Annual Valor Awards. Held at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, police officers, firefighters and paramedics from Chicago and surrounding cities were honored. "Just as important as it is for us to be there for those families who lose a loved one in the line of duty, it's important for us to say ‘thank you' and to appreciate our first responders who go above and beyond every day," said Caitlyn Brennan, 100 Club of Illinois CEO. Founded in 1966, the 100 Club of Illinois assists first responders through mental health resources and other support, while also helping families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty. "Valor is caring, valor is compassion, and valor is showing up on the hard days," said Interim Chicago Police Superintendent Eric Carter.  

VIDEO: A Chicago fire lieutenant passed away Wednesday after collapsing while battling a high-rise blaze in the city's Gold Coast neighborhood Wednesday, marking the second firefighter death in as many days in the city. "This has been a tragic week for us," said Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt. "Unprecedented." The fire sparked just before 7:30 a.m. on the 27th floor of a building in the 1200 block of north Lake Shore Drive, according to fire officials. The fire, which was elevated to an extra alarm, involved a "very large apartment," prompting response from several fire houses. Among those responding was Tower Ladder 10, led by Lt. Jan Tchoryk, a more than 20-year veteran with the department and a Navy vet, who collapsed while climbing stairs up to battle the flames after elevators were shut down.  

A massive two-alarm fire destroyed a former Elks Lodge in northeast Portland early Thursday morning. The fire started at about 2 a.m. at a building on Northeast 100th Avenue, near Northeast Irving Street. PF&R said crews are very familiar with this building as there have been multiple fires at the building over the past few years. Crews arrived on scene and found an active fire showing. PF&R said since they know the inside of the building is dangerous due to holes in the floor, crews attacked the fire from outside. Much of the fire had been extinguished by 4 a.m., according to PF&R. Crews are going to let the fire burn itself out and monitor any hot spots.  

VIDEO: A retired firefighter is breaking records in weightlifting competitions and he's doing it with only one arm. "I was a firefighter for the city of Franklin and we had just come back from a fire, I was guiding the truck back into the bay for the driver and it was just a freak accident I got pinned in between the truck and the wall," said Mike Diehl. Having lost the use of his arm, doctors made the decision to remove it. Mike was back in the gym just weeks later, and he's taken his routine to new levels by competing in powerlifting meets and the Strong Man. "I've been traveling the world, winning comps, I've never not podiumed. Every comp I've ever been to, I've won a medal," said Diehl.  

VIDEO: Every second matters for first responders, and Martin County Fire Rescue now has another tool that will help heighten its response time during emergencies. "Once our emergency lights are activated, it communicates through a transmitter within the vehicle, that's going to communicate wirelessly through GPS as well to the traffic preemption cabinet," Division Chief Christian Montoya of Martin County Fire Rescue told WPBF 25 News. "When it preempts the cabinet, it's going to tell it to turn the light green." The system is known as Glance Preemption. Officials said by signaling an emergency vehicle's approach to an intersection, it will also turn on the left and right arrows and stage the lights past the initial light they're headed towards.  

PHOTOS: In the eighteenth century, fire protection was usually by citizens rallying around the fire battling the flames with bucket brigades. Winchester required buckets on each floor of every building and fifty-gallon tubs of water placed about the town. If a fire broke out, a bell was rung and the towns folk were expected to turn out and fight the flames including women and children. In early days, people were the original fire alarms. These individuals would hustle around the town, ringing bells to warn the community of imminent danger and alerting folks to come equipped with buckets to fight the fire. Very often, by the time the bucket brigade volunteers were organized to fight the fire, there was nothing but glowing embers remaining at the scene. Throughout the 1800s, the purpose of firefighting was more about salvage.  

Firefighters are asking for help from the community with clearing fire hydrants of snow in case of an emergency. The Kaysville City Fire Department has been spreading the word for months with humorous posts, hoping to bring more attention to the message. Cameron McKinnon, public information officer for the Kaysville Fire Department, said it's really helpful if people can take the extra second to clear space around the fire hydrants in their neighborhoods (preferably 3 feet around the hydrant) as they do with sidewalks and driveways. "The problem is if we have a legitimate fire, when we arrive we have to do that and as the snow freezes and becomes ice it can be really difficult," he said. "If we have a fire, the last thing we want to do is be clearing out that fire hydrant. We need to be able to hook up really quickly."