Two people suffered life-threatening injuries Wednesday following a single-vehicle crash into the garage of a Crystal Lake residence. Authorities say a crash investigation is underway after an SUV heading eastbound on Ballard Road drove through the intersection of Briarwood Road and veered off the roadway. The airborne vehicle struck the garage of a residence in the 100 block of Heather Drive, resulting in injuries to the driver and a person inside. Police said the vehicle's male driver was extricated by Crystal Lake Fire first responders and flown to Condell Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The person struck inside the home was also flown to Condell Hospital with life-threatening injuries.  

Four teenagers have been charged in a massive fire that destroyed parts of the former Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles. Flames tore through the property in May. More than 100 firefighters from 20 area fire departments helped put out the fire. Thankfully, no one was injured. As firefighters worked to contain the fire, people stopped by to take in the scene and recalled their memories of the resort. "To see it like this, it's just sad," said Paige Staroske. "Memories came flooding back of when my parents were still alive. My mom and I would come out here and go to the plays. A lot of the conventions and things were held out here." The teenagers face several charges, including felony arson and trespassing. The resort has been closed since 2020. Prosecutors said the teens' ages range from 14 to 17 years old.  

Ken Waters the Chief of the Rantoul Fire Department, is set to retire this upcoming Sunday. Waters has been working in the Fire Department for nearly 50 years, and decided that after serving as Chief for nearly 2 decades, it was time to retire. His family has a history of working in the Rantoul Fire Department, as his father was employed there since before he was born. "I've been doing it for a long time. It's been in the family a long time since my dad was a firefighter before I was born. So, it's going to be bittersweet but, it was time." Mayor of Rantoul, Charles Smith says the department has grown because of his leadership and guidance. Smith also stated that it is sad that he is leaving but, he really did make a difference.  

The Peoria Fire department is now better equipped to handle emergencies involving dangerous liquids. On Wednesday, BioUrja donated five proximity suits to local firefighters, made of a special aluminized outer material. They will allow crews to get closer to fires created by flammable liquids and can handle temperatures of around 2,000 degrees. Typical firefighting gear can withstand about 1,200 degrees. Fire officials said the new equipment will help when working with materials such as ethanol, which BioUrja produces. "When you have a fire involving a chemical such as that, then it obviously can put out some very high temperatures and it takes some strategic work to be able to fight a fire of that nature. Now, having these suits, we'll be able to mitigate that in a much more efficient and safer way," said Nate Rice, Division Chief of Fire Prevention for the Peoria Fire Department.  

No one was injured, but a home in the 1700 block of Annapolis Drive is "uninhabitable," following a Wednesday afternoon fire, according to fire officials. The Glenview Fire Department said the cause of the fire was a lightning strike that occurred during passing storms at around 3:30 p.m. Except for a dog, who was rescued, the house was unoccupied at the time of the fire. No civilians or firefighters were injured during the incident. Firefighters responded to a reported fire with smoke coming from the roof. According to a news release, the first Glenview engined arrived at the scene at 3:39 p.m. and firefighters were advised by neighbors no one was inside except for the dog.  

People who have wanted to become a firefighter now have a chance to do so with the Champaign Fire Department. The Fire Department is recruiting new firefighters and they are expected to have five open positions by fall. "It's definitely a career worth looking into," said Probationary Firefighter Nathan King. "The career itself is really rewarding, to be able to work with the community and give back." Deputy Chief Tyler Funk said the department updates its eligibility list every two years. "We start now because there is a written test, we have oral interviews, we have an orientation night and then the firefighters have to complete a physical agilities test, a CPAT test and a ladder climb," Funk said. Funk said that during the process, recruits are ranked based on their performance and they are hired directly from that list.  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: On one of the hottest days of the year so far, firefighters were working Wednesday evening to extinguish a three-alarm fire at a sprawling apartment complex that sent plumes of flames and thick black smoke billowing into the air. Firefighters were called to the apartment complex, named Terra Apartments and located in the 35200 block of 21st Avenue SW, shortly before 4:30 p.m. for a call of a resident trapped in a burning apartment, South King Fire Capt. Brad Chaney said. A firefighter suffered heat exhaustion and had to be treated but no other injuries were reported from the blaze. Video from the scene showed firefighters rescuing at least one woman from an upper floor of the apartment building by escorting her down a fire truck ladder. Investigators said the woman was rescued shortly after the roof of the building had collapsed.  

The city of Oakland has a new fire marshal, Felicia Bryant, who is making history as the first woman to ever hold the position. "I was born and raised in Oakland," she said. Bryant is an 18-year veteran of the department and a trailblazer, just like her great-grandfather, Bill Williams. He was one of the first Black firefighters hired by the Oakland Fire Department in 1920. There's even an oral history of Williams at the Oakland Museum archives. "Growing up, I was always inspired by that story and I was like, it's in my blood," said Bryant. Bryant started her career as a firefighter working at stations in east Oakland, and driving an engine. "One of the biggest joys I had when I was on the engine was seeing little girls. It was just a little girl to look up and be like, Wow, she's a woman firefighter she's a girl like me. And I get to give hope to people who don't think it's for them or who may feel like I can't achieve that," said Bryant.  

PHOTOS: 2020 Indiana University Graduate Olivia Rusk was in Hidalgo Mexico earlier this year as an English Teaching Assistant for COMEXUS Fulbright-Garcia Robles. One day she was out exploring nearby towns. When she got off of a bus, she noticed an old fire truck sitting in a nearby parking lot. "My dad loves old vehicles so I went over to get some photos to send to him," she said. "When I got closer, I was shocked," continued Rusk. "The markings on the truck said ‘Hartford City Fire Department!" "How did a fire truck from Hartford City end up in a parking lot in a small town in Mexico, thousands of miles away," she thought. "I grew up in Fort Wayne. My dad now lives in Marion, and we're familiar with the area," explained Rusk. "I sent the photos to my father and he contacted former Hartford City Fire Chief, Ron Parrott."  

VIDEO: You often hear how people get labeled by what they do for work, like "He's a police officer" or "a firefighter." For one emergency responder in Springville, that's harder to do. ABC4 News shares the different hats he wears, in this edition of Behind the Badge. Suiting up for work when you're Dakota Klauck of Springville, could easily mean three different things. Depending on the day, Klauck is a police officer, a firefighter, or an army combat medic. "People will joke with me sometimes how do you keep anything straight? I've got my schedule is all over the place," said Dakota Klauck, Springville emergency responder. Klauck serves as a Patrol Corporal for the Springville Police Dept., an advanced EMT Firefighter with Springville Fire, and an Army Combat Medic with the Utah National Guard 145th Field Artillery Unit.  

First responders from around the area are honoring the 19 firefighters who sacrificed their lives over 60 years ago in the Shamrock McKee Refinery Explosion. The memorial service starts at 6:30 p.m. on July 29 at the Moore County Courthouse in Dumas. On July 29, 1956, 19 firefighters rushed into the flames to protect everyone in the Shamrock McKee Refinery Explosion in Moore County. This is the fourth largest firefighter loss of lives in the U.S. for a single fire incident involving industrial or structural fire protection. Dumas Fire Department, Sunray Fire Department and Valero Emergency Response Team will participate in the service.