A new state law that goes into effect Jan. 1 requires all homes to have smoke detectors with a 10-year sealed battery life or a hardwired system. The Rockford Fire Department and the Illinois Firefighters Association held a news conference on Wednesday to draw attention to the law and urge property owners to make the necessary changes now. The sealed-battery smoke alarms are considered more reliable than previous technology, where 9-volt batteries could run out of power or be removed by owners while cooking who then forget to replace them. "We do know that smoke alarms save lives, only when they work," said Matt Knott, Rockford Fire Department division chief. "A working smoke alarm reduces the risk of dying in a home fire by up to 50%."  

A 27-year-old man is charged with arson after University of Illinois Police said he lit a car on fire last week in Campustown. Devonte Moore is charged with a single count of arson. UIPD officials said Moore was identified as the person who witnesses saw last Thursday lighting a pool of liquid beneath a car on fire and then walking away from the scene near Third and Chalmers Streets. The car was soon engulfed by the flames and was deemed a total loss. No one was hurt. Officials said a detective reviewing surveillance camera footage immediately recognized Moore. The detective was familiar with Moore from previous unlawful activity in Campustown; moreover, the detective saw Moore earlier that day wearing the same clothes as the suspect. The identification was relayed to patrol officers, who found Moore on Saturday in the area of Sixth and Chalmers Streets.  

Being a first responder is a difficult job, but few people think about the mental stress that goes along with the job. "You need that fight or flight response for the job, it's not a normal thing to run into a burning building or cut people out of a crashed car," said Lt. Jamie Hudson, a member of the Moline Fire Department. The rush of adrenaline and other brain chemicals that are vital on the job can lead to hypervigilance, anxiety and anger issues off the job. "We experience things that 99% of people never do and we do it every day." That's why Hudson and several other Moline firefighters created the MABAS 43 Peer Support Team in 2019. MABAS is an acronym for Mutual Aid Box Alarm System and is a statewide mutual aid program in Illinois for fire, EMS and specialized incident operational teams.  

Zachary Jeffers' dream of becoming a firefighter is now coming true thanks to a generous donation by the Blue Crew Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club. "I mean I've wanted to be a firefighter since I was a little kid. Its the only thing I can see myself doing-- and its my world," Jeffers told WAND News. Each year the club sponsors an Illinois Fire Institute student in honor of Chaz McCrone, a Pesotum firefighters and founding member of the Blue Crew Motorcycle Club. McCrone lost his life in 2018. "To think that I would be the recipient of it. I'm just bravo 10- nothing special. So it was a big shock and I was thrilled," Jeffers said.  

Firefighters battled a massive blaze that ripped through a three-story commercial building in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday evening. Flames ripped through the roof of the boarded-up building located near the intersection of Los Angeles and 3rd streets. The blaze erupted just after 7:30 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Smoke billowed from the building after most of the flames were extinguished an hour later. It is unclear what sparked the blaze. No injuries were immediately reported. About 135 firefighters battled the fire. The building was red-tagged. LAFD says an official knockdown won't be declared most likely until Thursday morning.  

VIDEO: Laura Kavanagh will be named New York City's next fire commissioner today. She will also become the first woman to lead the FDNY in its 157-year history. Mayor Eric Adams will make the announcement at Engine 33, Ladder 9 in Noho, a historic building where the city's first fire commissioner was headquartered. Kavanagh has been serving as acting FDNY commissioner since February. She's been at the helm of the nation's largest fire department since Daniel Nigro stepped down as commissioner without naming a successor. Nigro appointed Kavanagh as his second-in-command in 2017. Local 2507, the union representing the FDNY's EMTS, paramedics and fire inspectors, issued a statement about Kavanagh's appointment saying, "We congratulate her. She's a great candidate. She's a champion who fought for EMS and will continue fighting for us."  

A new state law that goes into effect Jan. 1 requires all homes to have smoke detectors with a 10-year sealed battery life or a hardwired system. The Rockford Fire Department and the Illinois Firefighters Association held a news conference on Wednesday to draw attention to the law and urge property owners to make the necessary changes now. The sealed-battery smoke alarms are considered more reliable than previous technology, where 9-volt batteries could run out of power or be removed by owners while cooking who then forget to replace them. "We do know that smoke alarms save lives, only when they work," said Matt Knott, Rockford Fire Department division chief. "A working smoke alarm reduces the risk of dying in a home fire by up to 50%."  

From house fires to car accidents, firefighters are trained to respond to emergency situations. If we already trust these men and women in those moments, why not trust them with smaller jobs around the home? That's the idea behind a new app called "Hidrent," spelled a little differently. It's a service that connects off duty firefighters with anyone in the area who needs a task completed. Hidrent was first launched in 2018 but recently became available in the Bangor area. The app's founder says he was inspired by a firefighter in his family who told him that many in the profession are also quite handy. "Especially for older adults who are aging in place, it's perfect because we provide them a direct connection to that off-duty firefighter that can help them with a small home task" said Dave Himbuch, Founder and CEO of Hidrent.  

For years, Allentown EMS has had carbon monoxide detectors available for crew, but only one detector per ambulance. After a significant number of carbon monoxide incidents last year, the city moved to get a wearable monitor for each full-time EMS employee. "We've had the meters, but we wanted to take it a step further, use them more," said Mehmet Barzev, chief of EMS operations for the city of Allentown. Then, earlier this month a carbon monoxide leak sickened nearly 30 children and five adults at an Allentown day care center. Carbon monoxide monitors carried by responding firefighters were crucial to the early detection that the odorless, colorless gas was the culprit.