VIDEO: Chicago Fire Department Lt. Jan Tchoryk died last week battling a high-rise fire in the Gold Coast neighborhood, and hundreds turned out to pay tribute to him at a visitation service on Wednesday. The visitation in Norridge is the first to be held this week, as the department and the city mourn Tchoryk and firefighter Jermaine Pelt, both of whom died in the line of duty earlier this month. "He was just really a wonderful fella," said John O'Shea of Tchoryk. "Well liked…well liked by everybody. And it's just really sad what happened." O'Shea and his wife Kristin walked into the funeral home to say their final goodbyes to their friend, and they were far from alone. "It didn't really hit me till I pulled up," said fellow Lt. Jim Pack. When that mayday call went out last week Pack knew his long time friend was in danger, and Wednesday was especially difficult for him.  

Schools across Illinois fell victim to "swatting" calls Wednesday morning, including Marion High School, Carbondale Community High School and Mount Vernon Township High School. "Swatting" is a form of harassment in which a caller informs law enforcement about an incident — often involving a shooter — only for authorities to arrive and find there is no threat. Many of the swatting incidents making headlines in the past few years have involved one individual swatting another, often in retaliation for a perceived slight. Swatters are now targeting schools, calling police departments to report fake school shootings. More than 50 New York school districts were targeted by swatting threats in early April.  

Part of S. 19th St. on Milwaukee's south side was blocked off Wednesday night after several houses were destroyed in a fire. The fire started around 4 p.m. at a home near S. 19th St. and Burnham St. "So windy outside. So, I just checked out the window, and I saw the noise, where it was coming from, and I saw the house on fire," said neighbor Delia Velez, who told CBS 58 she heard a loud boom before seeing the fire. High winds likely helped the spread of flames, which engulfed four houses. "All four of them had extensive damage. Three of them are considered a total loss," said Battalion Chief Tom Sells with Milwaukee Fire Department. Officials on scene said there is no word of injured residents or firefighters. Crews believe everyone got out safely, but two individuals are still unaccounted for.  

VIDEO: Uber is funding a new program that aims to get electric bikes with dangerous non-certified lithium-ion batteries off New York City streets. The company said on Wednesday it will soon allow the thousands of New York City delivery workers who use e-bikes the ability to trade-in their bikes for newer, safer models. The news follows a string of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, which have been known to overheat when charging and cause massive explosions. Earlier this week, the New York City police department said an e-bike's lithium-ion battery was behind a fatal two-alarm fire in Queens. The FDNY's Chief fire marshal John Hodgens said it was the 59th fire in the city this year caused by a lithium-ion battery. Part of the issue is that not all lithium-ion batteries are created equal.  

PHOTOS: Niles firefighters saw a 1940s-era fire truck — one steeped in local history — rejoin the village's fleet last month. On May 1, 1941, the village of Niles purchased a Model 21 Pirsch Triple Combination Fire Engine for $6,150. Last month that engine, with its designation of "Niles Fire Dept. No. 2", returned home to Niles, where it will be displayed and driven in parades by firefighters. Fire Chief Marty Feld said the designation at the time meant the engine was the second engine purchased by the department. He said the engine was in service in Niles from 1941 into the 1960s. "I wish (former Niles Fire) Chief (Harry) Kinowski could have seen this, he would have driven this," Feld said. The chief said he would like to get in contact with any remaining Niles firefighters who might have been serving when the truck was in service. "Chief Feld brought back a very important piece of Niles history," Mayor George Alpogianis said.  

VIDEO: An explosion, early Tuesday morning, rocked a garage in Erie while firefighters were inside. It was so powerful, it completely blew off the garage door. Fire officials have issued a warning about electric vehicles and electric modifications at your home. A total of three Mountain View Fire Rescue firefighters were inside the garage when water made contact with the electric vehicle's battery, officials said, causing that explosion. "The homeowner came and found smoke and woke up her son and got out of the house when the smoke alarms went off as well," Doug Saba said. Saba is the deputy fire marshal for Mountain View Fire. A family living at a home in the Morgan Hill neighborhood saw and smelled the fire, so naturally, they called fire crews.  

VIDEO: With law enforcement's swift actions front and center, we're beginning to hear first-hand accounts from those first to respond to Monday's mass shooting. "It's horrifying once you realize that it's real, it is happening here," Jesse Yarbrough, chief of Louisville EMS, said. "I think it strikes you when you arrive at the scene and see everyone doing what they've been trained to do and realize that [it's] not a training, it's a real event." Maj. Bobby Cooper, Louisville Fire's battalion chief, said it was clear "that it wasn't just another run." Cooper has responded to countless scenes during his tenured career with Louisville Fire, but said the Old National Bank mass shooting stands out among the rest. "It's tragic. It's amazing how much damage can be done in nine minutes, and how much can be lost in nine minutes," Cooper said.