City officials and the Springfield Fire Department broke ground Wednesday for two new fire stations. Both are part of the city's plan to relocate the stations so trucks and emergency vehicles can have better access to their neighborhoods. Golden shovels hit the dirt Wednesday afternoon as plans for relocating two fire stations began after about five years of planning. Officials and firefighters celebrated the start of construction for these new firehouses, which Chief Brandon Blough says is needed to best protect the city of Springfield. "Station 8, which is a couple of miles to our east, is a firehouse that serves the citizens of Springfield well. But as population and demographics change, we have to change with them," Blough stated in the groundbreaking press conference.  

A house fire caused about $60,000 in damage to an East Bluff home late Wednesday night, according to a fire department news release. At 7:33 p.m., firefighters were called to 1827 N. Atlantic St., on a report of a working fire. When they arrived, they saw heavy smoke coming from the 1 1/2-story home. One group of firefighters began to put out the fire while the other set searched for occupants. They were able to remove six dogs from the fire, four of which died. Two were revived at the scene, the release. said. One resident escaped before fire trucks arrived but was taken to an area hospital for smoke-related injuries. A total of three people lived there and will need to find another place to stay. A fire investigator determined the cause of the fire was electrical. No firefighters were injured.  

Elk Grove Village Fire Chief Richard Mikel is temporarily trading in his firefighter's helmet for a police hat. Mikel, the Northwest suburb's fire chief since 2012 and the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association's chief of the year in 2018, was appointed interim police chief Tuesday as village officials continue their search for a permanent replacement for Chuck Walsh, who retired in March. Deputy Police Chief Dan Burke had been serving as acting chief while the village sought assistance from the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police to identify someone for an interim role, before beginning the search for a long-term successor. But Mayor Craig Johnson, who recommended Mikel with the advice and consent of the village board, turned down the idea of bringing in someone from the outside on a temporary basis.  

A fire ignited at an auto salvage yard in Grapeview Wednesday, according to Chopper 7 video from the scene. Live video from the scene showed several piles of tires on fire, with flames extending to the largest building on the property. According to Washington State Patrol Trooper Katherine Weatherwax, seven 500-gallon drums of oil caught on fire. One person was airlifted to an area hospital for smoke inhalation. Heavy black smoke was seen rising from both sides of the building and flames were spotted throughout. "We had to bring in tenders that shuttle water," said Norma Brock, public information officer for Central Mason Fire & EMS. "So we had to go down the road to wherever they're getting it — I believe at Spencer Lake — they fill the trucks then they shuttle up and take turns running water into our engines and hoses and ladder truck."  

VIDEO: At her school's recent career day, Penelope Montenegro knew immediately what she wanted to be: a firefighter. She came to class dressed like her father, Paul, who works for the Fort Myers Beach Fire District. But some older kids in Penelope's school didn't understand how a girl could be a firefighter. "At different points throughout the day, people snickered," Paul said. "They made comments." But on Wednesday, Penelope got confirmation she can be anything she wanted. Female firefighters from across Southwest Florida showed up at Oasis Elementary South to show support for the third grader. "We are here to show there are amazing things about this job," Jennifer Gordon, a firefighter on Fort Myers Beach, said. "Anyone can be anything they want to be."  

Quincy officials are looking for state lawmakers to approve a request that would allow retired firefighters to come back on board for support duties. The Quincy City Council supports giving the fire chief the power to appoint retirees as "special firefighters" who'd help cover detail assignments. A home rule petition the council filed this week requires approval from the state Legislature for such positions to be created. An increased workload within the fire department has sparked the need for the special firefighters to man detail assignments, particularly at construction sites, said Tom Bowes, president of the Quincy Firefighters Association Local 792. Developers are required to get a fire watch detail when welders and pipefitters are performing work inside a building, and the fire department sometimes has a hard time making sure someone is at the site, Bowes told the Herald on Wednesday.  

VIDEO: National Arson Awareness Week is May 7- May 13. Fire officials are using it as a reminder to educate on the dangers of fire. It comes as youth fire setting continues to be a problem throughout the United States. Juveniles account for more than 50% of all arson arrests in the United States, according to Burn Prevention Network. Statistics show many of the children who set fires lack both parental supervision and fire education. "This has been an ongoing problem," said E.S.C.A.P.E. President Michael McLeieer. "It's not something that's just happened in the last couple of years since COVID. This has been a multi-decades problem, and we often forget about how we handle this problem, so with a multidisciplinary approach with schools, with law enforcement, with court systems, juvenile justice, mental health, we can provide the best opportunities for the family," he said.