A 5-year-old girl was taken to the hospital after a fire at a home in Dupo early Thursday morning. Fire crews were called to the house along Edwin Drive after midnight. The fire started at the back of the home and flames and smoke could be seen coming through the roof. There was damage to the upper side of the home and to the back deck. At this time, it unknown if the young girl suffered injuries in the fire or was taken to the hospital as a precaution. Fire officials have not released information on what caused the fire.  

A fire engine shut down because of a tight Peoria budget last year during the COVID-19 pandemic will start operating again Monday. Opponents in the Peoria City Council's 6-4 vote Tuesday to restore the engine company charged the discussion came out of nowhere, and questioned whether it was legal since it wasn't formally on the agenda as part of their continuing budget debate. City Attorney Chrissie Kaputska told councilmembers that as long as the Fire Department had the funds on hand to staff the engine, it was well within the city manager's power to approve. At-large councilmembers Sid Ruckriegel, Zach Oyler and John Kelly, and 3rd District councilmember Tim Riggenbach, voted no. Denis Cyr, the 5th District member, was absent because of a death in the family.  

A massive amount of area first responder brothers and sisters escorted the late Pontoon Beach Police Officer Tyler Timmins home Wednesday afternoon. Young and old filled with emotion, lined all sides of Sixth Street in Wood River as Officer Timmins was carried by a Granite City first responder vehicle to Marks Mortuary. Timmins, 36, was shot outside the Speedway Convenience store on Tuesday morning and later died at a St. Louis hospital. His body was brought back in the large procession beginning at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday from St. Louis, then across the Poplar Street Bridge, Illinois Route 111, and eventually Downtown Wood River. Marks Mortuary in Wood River is in charge of the arrangements for Officer Timmins. As of noon Wednesday, Marks Mortuary said nothing definite had been decided on the funeral or visitation.  

VIDEO: A massive fire has spread to three homes in Pittsburgh's Perry South neighborhood. The fire broke out early on Thursday morning in the 300 block of Kennedy Avenue. Several fire companies are on the scene battling the flames. According to Pittsburgh Public Safety, the residents of the homes were able to make it out safely. Crews on the scene said the residents of the first house that caught fire were forced to their roof, called 911, and had to jump off. They were not hurt and did not have to go to the hospital. All three homes were heavily damaged and lost their roofs. However, the cause of the fire is unknown and the investigation will determine if these homes are a total loss. Firefighters are asking people to avoid the area.  

With a vaccine mandate for FDNY members days away from kicking in, officials warned fire companies across New York City could close and ambulances could be taken off streets because of worker shortages. Many firefighters and emergency medical workers are still unvaccinated and have no plans of getting the COVID jab. An estimated 20 percent of fire units could close, officials said. New Yorkers could see around 20 percent fewer ambulances on the road. FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said the agency has plans in place to mitigate staffing issues. "The Department must manage the unfortunate fact that a portion of our workforce has refused to comply with a vaccine mandate for all city employees," he said. "We will use all means at our disposal, including mandatory overtime, mutual aid from other EMS providers, and significant changes to the schedules of our members. We will ensure the continuity of operations and safety of all those we have sworn oaths to serve."  

Is there a haunted fire station in North Charleston? A couple of firefighters seem convinced an entity named "The Hag" is residing in old Station 6. The city of North Charleston released a video ominously titled "Is this place haunted?" on YouTube today where two fire personnel tell about their encounters with the mysterious spirit. The Hag is supposedly known to move chairs, turn faucets on and off, wake up firefighters and hold them down when they are trying to move. We think she needs to make up her mind. "One individual actually said he saw the outline of a shadow," one official said in the video. "He was in the top bunk, so the shadow was quite tall, and the shadow actually told him to get out of bed. He tried to get out of bed, but it felt like something was holding him down."  

A Delray Beach firefighter is running in the New York City Marathon on Nov. 7. He's hoping his run will help bring to light an important issue. Tyler Adams has been with Delray Beach Fire Rescue for 12 years. He's been preparing for a big race that is scheduled to occur in less than two weeks. "I was fortunate enough to be chosen by the "Movember" charity to run the New York Marathon in the 50th anniversary of the marathon," Adams said. November is a month where men will grow out their facial hair to help promote awareness for prostate cancer. "I don't grow a mustache that well," Adams joked. With his mustache and all, Adams said he has been a big advocate for awareness after seeing men in the department get diagnosed -- even losing a fellow firefighter several years ago.  

The Springfield Fire Department may begin registering new firefighters into the U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program. In September, Springfield City Council voted to approve an agreement between the Springfield Fire Department and the U.S. Department of Labor. The fire department sought out the program to provide opportunities for firefighters to earn credit while accomplishing their formal fire academy and fire service-related on-the-job training. Assistant Chief Olan Morelan says the goal of this partnership is to help with the recruitment and retention of firefighters. "It gives the firefighters credit for what they're already doing and the training they've received," Assistant Chief Morelan says." SFD has registered 46 firefighters as apprentices in their new program. The program consists of 6,000 hours of on-the-job training for firefighters new to the fire service. Assistant Chief Morelan says that takes about three years to complete.