Fire sprinklers save lives, and soon it may be cheaper to add one to a home in Illinois. A bill being pushed by the National Fire Sprinkler Association would let homeowners who add a fire sprinkler to their house be reimbursed half of the cost of the system on their state income taxes, up to $10,000. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) and Sen. Rob Martwick (D-Chicago). NSFA officials estimate the median cost for a home sprinkler system is $7,200, which would leave the state responsible for $3,600 per unit under the proposed bill. Officials from the organization argue the fire sprinklers save lives. Since 2007, no one in the U.S. has died from a residential fire in a building with a sprinkler system, compared to 967 fatalities in homes without fire sprinklers.  

The Buffalo Grove Fire Department (BGFD) received Accredited Agency status with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) for meeting the criteria established through the CFAl's voluntary self-assessment and accreditation program. Buffalo Grove Fire Department is one of fewer than 325 agencies worldwide to achieve "Internationally Accredited Agency" status with the CFAI and the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. (CPSE). "The Buffalo Grove community should be proud that its fire department is now one of only eleven fire departments within the state of Illinois to receive this meaningful recognition," Village Manager Dane Bragg said. "Our residents expect the very best from their fire department, and this accreditation demonstrates the commitment of our fire and EMS professionals to providing them with the highest level of service."  

On a fateful Wednesday, March 15th, 24 years ago, the City of New Orleans train, operated by Amtrak, met with a devastating fate. It was a dark day for Bourbonnais, as 11 innocent lives were lost, and 122 more were left injured in the aftermath of this gruesome train wreck. As the world remembers this tragic incident, join us in a somber reflection on the memories and lessons we have learned from Kankakee County's train accidents spanning from 1885 to 2023. The "City of New Orleans," once an icon of travel luxury and nostalgia, became a scene of horror and chaos on that fateful day. The train, packed with 216 passengers and crew members, was hurtling towards New Orleans from Chicago, tracing the historic route of the Illinois Central Railroad. But fate had a different plan in store. As the train approached Bourbonnais, a massive truck carrying a colossal load of steel from the Birmingham Steel Co. crossed its path.  

A late-night fire Tuesday left four people unable to remain in their Moline home, though no injuries were reported. Subscribe today and support local journalism! The fire occurred at 9:53 p.m. at 2609 6th Ave., according to a news release from the Moline Fire Department. When firefighters reached the address they found a two-story home that had visible fire and smoke coming from its front. The occupants, including a child, had already left the home by the time the firefighters arrived, the release states. The fire was on the exterior of a porch, and firefighters kept it from spreading from that area, the department said. It took about 10 minutes to get the fire under control. The residents declined the services of the Red Cross, the department said.  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Springfield will be building three new firehouses across the city. This is a project the city has been working to do for years. The said they think these new firehouses would help firefighters get to scenes more quickly in certain parts of Springfield. Improving response times across the city, that's what the Springfield Fire Department is hoping to do with three new firehouses. "We have some folks in the panther creek and piper glen areas that it takes way too long for us to get there," Chief Brandon Blough, Springfield Fire Department, said. Those new firehouses will be located on 11th and Ash, Lawrence Avenue, Rickard Road, and Spaulding Orchard Road west of Route 4.  

The Peoria Fire Department believes a house fire Wednesday night on the city's south side was intentionally set. Two people were home when fire broke out shortly before 9:30 p.m. on West Malone Avenue and South Ligonier Street. Firefighters say they found one of the residents sleeping in the basement. Another person who lived there was awake and alerted authorities. A dog and a cat also made it out of the house unharmed. The Red Cross is helping the two residents find other housing. The fire caused an estimated $25,000 damage, the fire department said.  

A drone was used to spray water on a downtown Oswego building that was on fire for almost two hours Wednesday, firefighters said. At 3:11 a.m. firefighters arrived at 39 West Bridge St. to find a fire at the back of the second-story apartment building, according to a news release from the City of Oswego Fire Department. The building has a bar called Raven in it, according to a Facebook post from Mayor Billy Barlow. One person was home at the time of the fire but managed to get out, firefighters said. People in neighboring buildings were evacuated by the fire department. The fire was heavy in the attic and cockloft, or area between the ceiling and roof, firefighters said. The firefighters were forced to exit the building and fight the fire from the outside, they said. For 90 minutes firefighters fought the fire with a large quantity of water, firefighters said.  

Shocking video of a crash last month on Interstate 80 in Warren County shows what happens when drivers fail to "Move Over" for emergency responders. New Jersey State Police, Allamuchy-Green First Aid Squad and the Allamuchy Fire Department responded to a crash the night of Feb. 23 on I-80 at mile 17.6 in Allamuchy Township, Warren County. The left and center lanes were closed with flares and New Jersey State Police vehicles as emergency crews worked, but a tow truck towing a box truck traveled into the scene, crashing into three NJSP vehicles, an ambulance and a firetruck. The responding troopers were outside of the three vehicles that were struck and were unhurt, but an EMT inside the Allamuchy-Green First Aid Squad ambulance reported a minor injury, state police previously said.  

Livy and Abby are two sisters visiting the Gulf Coast from Tennessee. When they went for lunch with their parents at DeSoto's, they got kids menus unlike any other. The menus included beach safety tips and information. Their mom, Michelle King, says it's a great reminder as they kick their family vacation off. "It's just nice, letting them know, if you see the flags, help us remember, if there is red we need to not go in and if there are two reds then we probably should definitely not go in," said King. "It's been a while since we been here so they have no idea what the colors mean, so it was nice going over it." The man who came up with the idea is Justin Parks, a Gulf Shores firefighter. "I have a daughter who is younger and two young boys as well and when they are doing those activity sheets, I am engaged in what they are doing, so the goal with these is the kids are looking at these activity sheets and the parents are looking at them as well," Parks said.  

Wildfires and drought in California, hurricanes and flooding in Florida and power outages in Texas have rendered all three states distinctly less livable in recent years. People still flock to Florida and Texas, drawn by low taxes and warmth. (California, not so much.) But climate change is on everyone's minds, and dire dispatches about fires and floods dominate the daily news cycle. "The data actually shows that some of the fastest-growing cities are some of those that are at the greatest risk of disasters," said Diane Vukovic, disaster-preparedness expert at Primal Survivor, a popular "prepper" website. A recent Census Bureau list of the 15 fastest-growing cities includes three each in Texas and Florida. Yet, climate change has posited a new idea in American culture: Parts of the United States may not be habitable for much longer.