Illinois is sending help to Louisiana after the state was pounded by Hurricane Ida. Monday morning, about 45 firefighters from across the state headed to Baton Rouge. From there, they will be sent to other cities to help with search and rescues, building stabilization, and anything the local fire departments need. "The EMAC system and the mutual aid system in the state of Illinois allows us to respond, not only in the state, but out of state, to provide assistance and needed assets in needed communities that are overwhelmed during a major disaster. So, part of that is allowing those firefighters to respond wherever they're needed," Tim Walsh, with the Illinois Fire Service Institute, said. A similar group assisted with Hurricane Katrina. They are specifically trained at the Illinois Fire Service Institute in Champaign to help when disaster strikes.  

An Amazon truck caught fire Monday evening in a crash on the Eisenhower Expressway. The Fire Department said three people were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital from the scene of the crash on the westbound Eisenhower at Western Avenue. The delivery truck collided with another vehicle and then burst into flames. Video posted to Twitter by user @eGoJaleel showed black smoke billowing into the air as a man rides in a vehicle past equipment on the Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line tracks. It later comes into view that an Amazon truck is on fire on the opposite side of the expressway. The Fire Department could not immediately provide the conditions of the people who were hospitalized.  

Whether it be due to pay, long hours, or time commitment, volunteer agencies are having a hard time finding employees and volunteers. Local fire departments have been facing these shortages for years. "Typically the daytime is a shortage for most volunteer agencies and that's pretty much across America, Dunlap is no exception," Dunlap District Fire Chief Jim Hanson said. "We do have a duty crew with two people here Monday through Friday, but that's usually as good as one call." Logan Trivoli is not an exception, neither. "We are also in a recruitment campaign right now. We're attempting to get additional personnel to be able to respond and provide coverage," Logan Trivoli Fire Protection District Fire Chief David Tuttle said. In the event where the fire department will have slower response times, these stations have mutual aid agreements with neighboring towns.  

Three people were rescued by authorities after their sailboat capsized on Bangs Lake in Wauconda Sunday afternoon. The Wauconda Fire District and Wauconda Police Department responded to multiple reports of a water rescue on Bangs Lake at around 2:06 p.m. Sunday. Emergency crews arrived and spotted three people clinging onto a capsized sailboat approximately 50 yards from shore, according to a statement released by the Wauconda Fire District. A Wauconda Police Department boat reached the victims first, the fire district said. The victims were brought to shore by the boat where they were evaluated by paramedics. No injuries were reported. All of the passengers were wearing life jackets, according to the fire department's statement. It is unknown what caused the boat to capsize.  

Village of South Jacksonville Fire Chief Rich Evans Jr. has put in significant time over the last year to bring back the village's ambulance service. The village voted on July 2, 2020 to cease operations of the service because it was not a self-sustaining service for the village's budget. Evans told the Village Board of Trustees last night that he had formed an ambulance committee among the village's fire department and come up with a phased-in plan to bring the ambulance service back. Evans believes he has a good plan to make it work financially this time: "The fire department has set down and had a really good committee on the service. We've put a lot of plans together to make this an operation that we could sustain for years to come. We are focusing on South Jacksonville our main focus of service, and obviously helping outside agencies, as well.  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: The cause of a fire that destroyed a large boat at Pope's Island Marina Monday evening is under investigation, according to New Bedford Deputy Fire Chief Scott Kruger. Kruger tells 12 News the boat has been deemed a "multi-million dollar loss." The boat contained 500 gallons of fuel, according to Kruger, which made fighting the flames difficult. "It's a stubborn fire, even though it's low in the water," Kruger said. The boat is also made of fiberglass, Kruger said, which when burned creates toxic fumes and poses a health risk for firefighters. Smoke could be seen for miles as flames tore through the vessel. Firefighters were seen spraying water and foam onto the boat from WPRI-12's New Bedford Harbor Cam. No injuries were reported, Kruger said.  

Photographer Tom Franklin wasn't even supposed to be in The Record's newsroom in Hackensackthat morning. He'd been in the Dominican Republic for a baseball project and had stopped by to talk to his editor. They were discussing the assignment when someone interrupted with the news that a plane had hit one of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center. Franklin joined the rush of journalists to Jersey City to document history from across the Hudson River. He'd spend most of the day in Exchange Place, which has a clear view of the Manhattan skyline, before boarding a boat to lower Manhattan. During the chaotic morning, Franklin even lost some of his equipment. One of the images he captured that afternoon would become among the most recognizable photos in history. He saw firefighters "fumbling" with an American flag near where the Twin Towers had fallen and fired off a burst of photos.  

All eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 26 near exit 35 in Spartanburg County were blocked Monday due to a crash involving a semitrailer and fire truck. The South Carolina Highway Patrol said the fire truck was in the area putting out a vehicle fire when it was hit by the semitrailer. Troopers said no one was in the fire truck when it was hit. Troopers say the driver of the semitrailer was injured. Sky 4 got saw one person put into a medical helicopter and flown from the scene. They said the crash happened at 10:40 a.m. Just after 10 p.m., all lanes reopened, according to the Spartanburg County Emergency Management Facebook page.  

Dozens of motorcycle riders hit the road on a cross-country ride to honor many of those first responders who died on September 11th. It's something every member of the Fire Hogs motorcycle club, and friends of the club feel strongly about. 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of 9-11...where 343 New York City firefighters lost their lives that fateful day while trying to save others. "The story, images of human loss of life always trigger memories of terror and fear," said L.A. Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas. "However, it is also identified with stories of incredible bravery, determination, and personal sacrifice. I believe the role of the LAFD is to never forget 9-11. We will do this remembering those who lost their lives and keeping alive those memories of those heroic acts made by many."  

Hurricane Ida has pummeled Louisiana's parishes, strapping hospital and health resources as thousands remain without power. Experts worry Ida's impact will worsen COVID-19 spread in the state's low-lying parishes, where vaccination rates are low – in some only about a third of the population – and cases have surged to all-time highs. Crowded shelters, delayed treatments and inundated hospitals and intensive care units make a recipe puts under-vaccinated communities at dire risk for more infections, experts said. Forty-one percent of Louisiana's population has been vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The unvaccinated account for the majority of deaths and hospitalizations.