Three firefighters were hurt and more than two dozen people are displaced after a fire tore through two buildings in the city's Back of the Yards neighborhood. The fire started around 11 p.m. Wednesday on 45th Street and Hermitage Avenue. Three firefighters were transported to area hospitals: one for back pain, another hurt their knee and the third was treated for exertion. Over 25 people were displaced due to the fire. Ald. Ray Lopez (15th Ward) tweeted the fire was in retaliation from a homicide earlier in the evening, several blocks away at 48th and Wolcott. "Five hours later and retaliation ensues," Lopez said. Chicago police have not confirmed that information. The fire is under investigation.  

The East Alton Fire Department and the Village of East Alton have recognized Lieutenant Andrew Mortland and Engineer Jeremey Diveley for their outstanding work in securing three grants in a year's time. The three grants totaled $75,970.90. "Because of their due diligence on and off duty these two men were able to accomplish something that hasn't been done in the history of the department," East Alton Fire Chief Tim Quigley said. "To put in perspective, most departments have a chief officer working on grants as part of their job. These two men realize that being a small department they have to go above and beyond what is expected of them to help the department function. Thank you for what you have accomplished."  

Two men are dead, another person critically injured and a fourth person is missing after three separate water emergencies in Lake Michigan. Chicago Fire Department crews recovered a man from the water around 12:20 a.m. Thursday in the 200 block of West Montrose Drive. He was transported to Weiss Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The cause of death is still to be determined. Around 7 p.m. Wednesday, the Chicago Police Department's Marine Unit was activated after two people fell off a boat near the Jardine Water Filtration Plant. A man, whose age was not given, was transported to Northwestern Hospital in critical condition. Chicago police were searching for the second person until 9 p.m. Wednesday, then the Coast Guard picked up recovery efforts. The person is still missing as of Thursday morning.  

VIDEO: Police are looking for the person who torched two cars owned by a Illinois state representative. Behind the ash and rubble, you can see the remains of the garage of Illinois Representative La Shawn Ford (D-101) in Austin. It's his vintage Corvette and Ford SUV. Police said someone stole a car and parked it in front of Ford's garage before setting on fire. No one was injured but the cars are likely totaled.  

The massive fire at a metal recycling warehouse in Madison, Illinois has now been referred to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul for potential enforcement action. The fire is still smoldering one week after it started. Firefighters have been making about three return trips every 24 hours. "We dump 3,000 gallons of water on it at a time," Madison Fire Chief David Klee said. "We do what we can with it. We just can't get to the seat of the fire yet." A cleanup company hired by the business owner, Interco, must begin its work and expose the lowest levels of the debris before there can be a final extinguishment, the chief said. There's still no word on the cause of the fire, but residents and first responders really want to know what's in the smoke. Residents wonder what they've been breathing. Leonard Latham was using a blower to try to blast every trace of it from his fiancée's air conditioner.  

VIDEO: Four people, including firefighters, were injured in a massive fire that destroyed two buildings in Beaver County early Thursday. The fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. in the 100 block of Brighton Avenue in Rochester. Rochester Assistant Fire Chief Mike Mamone said the fire started in an apartment and then spread to an antique shop and other parts of the buildings. A man was living on the second floor of the building, and police said they rescued him and his two dogs. That man was taken to a hospital with chest pains and his dogs were taken to the Humane Society. They're expected to be OK. Three firefighters were also taken to a hospital with shoulder and leg injuries. They have since been released and are expected to fully recover. Mamone said crews are using a county drone so they can better see where the water is most effective.  

VIDEO: Sit down and talk to J.C. Defeats, as his friends call him, and you'll immediately see his humble nature. The former U.S. Air Force pararescueman, and now Oldsmar firefighter and paramedic knows how to handle stressful situations. Little did he know he would be in the center of one. "That thing was huge. That thing wasn't a little gator. It would be funny if it was a little gator," J.C. said. J.C. was attacked by what he believes was a 12-foot alligator in Lake Thonotosassa on August 3. He was shooting an instructional video for his company, DefeatX. His friend unknowingly caught video footage of the attack on his drone from above. "Later on, all he told me was he heard a scream, and then he didn't know what happened to me," J.C. said. J.C. said almost instantly he knew what was happening.  

With close to 25% of its roster comprised of women, the East Tawas Fire Department (ETFD) exceeds the national average for the percentage of female firefighters. According to the most recent available data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), females account for roughly 8% of the overall firefighter population in the United States. Further, less than 5% of career firefighters across the country are women. But with the ETFD, Chief Bill Deckett points out that six of the 27 firefighters are female, currently putting the department at 22%. "We are very proud of these ladies and the job they do," he stated, adding that four of the six are part of the ETFD's Medical First Responder (MFR) group, as well. The other two work for Ascension St. Joseph Hospital in Tawas City, one of whom is also enrolled in a nursing program at college.  

VIDEO: Responding to crisis after crisis, day after day takes a toll on the mental health of firefighters and paramedics. Even veteran first responders struggle with their mental health throughout their careers. To address the issue, the Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue Department is developing new initiatives to address mental health in their team. "Trying to adjust to this new lifestyle and running the calls and everything like that, it's just been kind of a lot for me," Quinn Kaiser, a firefighter and paramedic, said. "So, I have been using these services available to us." And the problem is widespread. The International Firefighters association reported the rate of post-traumatic stress disorder among firefighters is about 20%— which is four times higher than the general population and is comparable to that of combat veterans.  

Authorities are warning that a more potent form of fentanyl is making its way along the West Coast after a bag of the drug was seized during the execution of a warrant in Portland recently. Deputies found body armor, $5,000 in cash, nine guns, some of which were modified and stolen, and drugs including meth, heroin, 800 pills of fentanyl and four grams of multi-colored, powdered fentanyl, often referred to as ‘rainbow fentanyl.' in the suspect's home in Northeast Portland, according to a statement on Tuesday. "We are partnering with Multnomah County health departments to sound the alarm," SIU Sergeant Matt Ferguson said. "The public needs to be aware of the rising use of powdered fentanyl. We believe this is going to be the new trend seen on the streets of Portland."