A Naperville home caught on fire after storms knocked down a power line Wednesday morning in the south suburb. Around 4:34 a.m., a tree fell outside a home in the 900 block of Anne Road and sheared a power line, causing it to lean against the home's aluminum siding, according to Naperville fire officials. The energized line cause multiple small fires in the walls of the home. Two residents who were at the home at the time safely evacuated before crews arrived. Crews turned off the power at the pole and firefighters used hose lines to contain the fire. The fire was deemed under control around 6 a.m. and crews stayed on the scene for half an hour to address hotspots. No injuries were reported. The fire is expected to have caused $20,000 in damages.  

Normal has taken its most important step yet toward building its first fire station east of Veterans Parkway. The council voted unanimously to hire Core Construction Services of Illinois at a cost of up to $4.75 million dollars to build the fire station at Shepard and Hershey Road, on the town's northeast side. "This station will not only reduce response time in the area, but also better distribute staff and equipment in the community," town staffers said in a report to the council. Also, on Tuesday, the council extended City Manager Pam Reece's contract and gave her a raise, though the vote on her contract extension was not unanimous. The town government paid $450,000 to buy land for the new fire station in 2018, prompting opposition from some residents of the nearby Blackstone Trails subdivision who were worried about noise and possibly lower property values.  

PHOTOS: A rapidly spreading fire consumed as many as six rowhomes near Patterson Park. SkyTeam 11, Baltimore's only news helicopter, reported that firefighters were called Wednesday afternoon to the 300 block of South Robinson Street. Baltimore City Fire Department said commanders on the scene found one two-story row home involved with flames eventually spreading to a total of six homes. A second alarm was called due to the nature of the fire. Most of the flames have been contained, but crews remained on scene to douse hot spots, fire officials said. Baltimore Gas and Electric crews were called to respond because utility poles were arcing, causing a hazard to firefighters.  

VIDEO: The Wichita Fire Department hosted a special surprise presentation on Wednesday for a former Wichita firefighter. Rebecca (Downum) Chandler became Wichita's first female firefighter in 1983. "It was a wonderful time. I didn't really know how long I could do it, but I did it as long as I could," she said, "I enjoyed doing it. I felt like, a woman had to jump in and be the first." Chandler said she was working part-time with EMS when she made the transition to a full-time firefighter. She said she has fond memories of being a firefighter, but there was a lot of tension when she joined the department. "They were caught off guard, they had no idea they didn't know really that I would be," she said, "let alone pass the agility to go into training." Wichita Fire Chief Tammy Snow joined the department five years later. She said she still appreciates that Chandler paved the way.  

VIDEO: New York and Nashville researchers studied blood cell mutations in 9/11 first responders and determined some cells were cloning out of control and causing cardiovascular disease. Thanks to this research, an exercise fanatic discovered he had underlying and extensive heart disease. Roger Grad exercises 90 minutes a day, five days a week. "My doctor told me 'you look like you're in absolutely perfect physical shape, perfect health, and you should be dead,'" said Grad. Doctor Michael Savona, director of hematologic research at Vanderbilt University, suspected cardiovascular disease, but standard tests showed nothing. However, he had studied the blood of 9/11 responders to see how certain genetic mutations could trigger cardiovascular disease by replicating out of control. "I looked at some genetic screening and found mutations in his blood cells," said Savona.  

VIDEO: Fairfield firefighters gathered Thursday night to shave a mullet for a good cause. The mullet had been growing out for 798 days by Lt. Lee Corbo. Corbo decided to create a fundraiser and shave his hair in support of the Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer. He is also supporting a Norwalk firefighter who has been diagnosed with cancer. "The Tommy Fund is a charity we spend a lot of money in, and a lot of time and effort to raise the money for them. We do our Santa ride for them, it's our main charity. Supporting all of us, we all know someone who's been touched by cancer and I'm just trying to do my part to help them out," said Corbo. All proceeds from the event will be donated to The Tommy Fund for Childhood and Cancer and the Luca Feola Fund.