A house in Lincolnwood was destroyed by fire on New Year's morning. The Lincolnwood Fire Department was called at 7:45 a.m. for a fire in the house at 6616 Kenton Ave. "We're about a block away, we can see smoke all the way across the street," said Lincolnwood Fire Department Battalion Chief Bryan Pierce. Upon arriving, firefighters found heavy smoke and flames pushing through the roof. The first floor of the house began to collapse, and crews could not get inside to fight the fire. "I saw the flames coming out of the top of the roof and was concerned, walked over, feel very sorry for our neighbors because they're good people," said Marty Michonski, who lives on the next block. The family was on vacation at the time. "Somebody knocked on the door and said they saw smoke coming out of the house, so we called 911 and the Fire Department was here in a few minutes, and I'm glad that no one was home.  

A house fire Wednesday on the East Bluff resulted in hospital trips for an occupant and a firefighter, according to authorities. The blaze began about 4 p.m. at 2406 N. Wisconsin Ave., just south of McClure Avenue and across from the Wisconsin Plaza Shopping Center. Firefighters arrived to find a large amount of smoke seeping from the 1½-story brick house. They called for reinforcements, according to Nate Rice, a Peoria Fire Department battalion chief. "We had a lot of fire," he said. "Most of that second floor is burned up. It took multiple hose lines to get it under control and get it put out." That process took about 10 to 15 minutes, Rice said. From behind the house, an ambulance carried away someone who had been inside. Rice didn't know the nature or extent of the victim's injuries, nor to which hospital he or she was transported.  

No one was hurt Monday in a house fire on Hemlock Avenue. The Dixon Fire Department responded at 9:39 a.m. to 1208 Hemlock Ave. for a reported fire that was coming from the backside of the house. Firefighters extinguished a fire located in a back bathroom area that caused a reasonable amount of damage, according to a news release. No one was home during the fire. The department was assisted by fire departments from Dixon Rural, Polo, Rock Falls, Sterling, Mount Morris, and Amboy. The fire is being investigated by the State Fire Marshal.  

The Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District will be purchasing "The Safety Challenge" fire prevention program to utilize at local school districts to ensure every home has working smoke detectors and alarms thanks to a grant from Illinois American Water. The Illinois American Water Firefighter Grant Program provides financial assistance to fire and emergency organizations serving communities in its service areas. The program awards grants to provide personal protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water handling equipment, training materials and classroom programs. The grant winners were announced in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 6-12, to raise awareness about the importance of fire prevention and emergency planning.  

The number of people who died in fires fell by 25% last year, even as emergency crews responded to a record number of medical emergencies, the FDNY said Wednesday. Sixty-six people died in fires across the five boroughs in 2019, 22 fewer than the 88 victims in 2018, officials said. Yet the number of medical emergencies jumped by more than 2,300, bringing last year's total to 1,531,870 — the second highest in the FDNY's history, officials said. More than a third of the medical calls were for life-threatening emergencies such as heart attacks, people who fell unconscious or choking victims, officials said. "Thanks to the brave work of every FDNY member, and despite a growing number of medical emergencies our members face, fewer New Yorkers lost their lives in fires in 2019," FDNY Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said in a statement Wednesday.  

A Birmingham firefighter who says the conditions at an East Birmingham fire station made him sick has now filed a lawsuit against the City of Birmingham and Mayor Randall Woodfin. Michael Horsley who started with Birmingham in 2006 claims he, former and current employees of the City of Birmingham Fire Department ("BFD") have been forced to work in dangerous conditions at Fire Station 27 in the Huffman area. Horsley says when he went back to work at Station 27 he started suffering from sinus infections, chest congestion, dry cough, increased blood pressure and chest palpitations. The station which recently reopened was closed during the summer of 2019 because of health concerns, but the city says those problems have been fixed and the station is safe for employees.  

Tuesday night saw the end of a 73-year-old tradition. The Burlington Rescue Squad, a volunteer emergency medical service that has covered the City and Town of Burlington since 1946, officially disbanded when the clock struck midnight. "It's bittersweet," said Burlington Rescue Squad Chief Jeff Koenen, who frequently refers to the volunteer service as a tight-knit family and bonafide lifestyle. "Basically, it's grief." With the end of one era begins another. The City of Burlington Fire Department will now run EMS calls in the town and city, picking up where the Rescue Squad left off. "The city is prepared to assume the responsibilities that come with providing EMS services to the city and the township," city Fire Chief Alan Babe said Tuesday morning in his office. "We'll be staffed accordingly." The writing was on the wall for the Rescue Squad's dissolution for quite some time. Volunteerism is down and call volume is up.  

Detroit's fire commissioner says he will investigate the circumstances of a social media photograph posted on New Year's Eve showing 18 firefighters posing in front of roaring house fire, according to media reports. The photo was posted on the "Detroit Fire Incidents Page" on Facebook along with the caption "crews take a moment to get a selfie on New Years!" In the background is a house engulfed in flames. The post has since been taken down. Detroit Fire Commissioner Eric Jones told WXYZ-TV in a statement that if the photo "is verified," then "discipline will be in order." "There are a lot of ways to celebrate a retirement," Jones said in the statement. "Taking a photo in front of a building fire is not one of them." Sources told the TV station the engulfed house and the neighboring house were vacant, and that firefighters could not go inside the house to battle the blaze, only attack it defensively.  

A week after passing a measure to set up what's called a 401(a) plan, tax-deferred retirement saving accounts for retiring public safety employees, the City Council on Monday afternoon rescinded the resolution. Members of the City Council approved the repeal without opposition in an emergency meeting. Municipal officials cited a pair of reasons for rescinding the measure. "Numerous" retiring police and fire employees "objected" to their unions' plan to channel a portion of their payouts into tax-deferred accounts. Under the approved plan, retires "lack discretion" as to how much of their funds get directed to the accounts"It just didn't look good to me, didn't sound good," said Flavio Rivera, councilman at-large, chairman of the finance committee.