A fire broke out in an industrial park near O'Hare Airport Tuesday morning, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky. The fire started around 7 a.m. in a semi-trailer near the west end of O'Hare's airfield in the industrial park near Pan Am Boulevard and United Lane in Elk Grove Village. The fire spread to at least one other semi-trailer that was nearby in the transportation bay. Several streams of water were being put on the fire. Aviation officials have not said if any flights have been impacted. There is no ground stop at O'Hare as crews work to extinguish the fire. No injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire is unknown.  

PHOTO: Students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale learn through experiential programs, and Badd Axe Ladies, a special job shadowing opportunity, is another example of that. The SIU Public Health program and the Carbondale Fire Department are partnering to offer this program in March to SIU female students from any major. Participants will gain valuable experience, add to their resumes, learn about public service and enjoy some team building time. Their experience will include time in the fire station and doing ride-alongs on fire calls March 15 and 21 and will wrap up with hands-on fire drills, doing a live training exercise in full firefighting gear March 23-24. The program's inaugural year at SIU was 2023, and about a half-dozen women participated.  

VIDEO: East Peoria Fire Department promoted five of its own Monday morning during a swearing-in ceremony at East Peoria City Hall. Lieutenant Andy Ogburn was promoted to the rank of assistant chief, and firefighters Drew Ranney, Drew Rubel, Jordan Noe, and John Raymer were promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Ogburn is in his 24th year with the East Peoria Fire Department and has served as a lieutenant since 2009. He said with the upcoming opening of the new fire station, the promotion couldn't have come at a better time. "I don't think most will change as far as the day-to-day operations. It's just going to give us an advantage to help our citizens at a faster response time and just provide better coverage throughout the city," said Assistant Chief Ogburn. The new fire station will be located on Centennial Drive by ICC and is currently being worked on.  

A house under renovation caught fire Monday night in Fishers, leaving crews scrambling to control the blaze before it spread to nearby homes. Crews from the Fishers Fire Department were dispatched to the Breakwater subdivision off Brooks School Road around 10:45 p.m. after a resident across Geist spotted heavy flames and called 911. When firefighters arrived, the home was fully ablaze. "Over 35 firefighters battled the blaze, as well as the ensuing woods fire located behind the residence. Additional homes beyond the woods were a concern with fire extension, however, firefighters were able to contain the fire without additional spread to other buildings," the fire department said in a release. Firefighters remained at the scene early into the morning, putting out hot spots.  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: A big labyrinth ball game is being used as a teaching tool for some local firefighters. The maze was created by a captain in the Colerain Fire Department. It's meant to help firefighters practice using hydraulic air lifting bags. The reinforced rubber pillows can help lift cars or other heavy objects. They could be used in car crashes to help rescue trapped victims. The training will help firefighters to be prepared and comfortable when using the tools in an emergency situation.  

The Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) has launched the RecruitNY 2024 statewide firefighter recruitment campaign, accompanied by a revealing survey of New York State residents' sentiments towards volunteer firefighters. The survey, conducted from January 18th to the 22nd, involved 1,000 New Yorkers outside New York City who were not already volunteer firefighters, offering valuable insights into public perceptions of this vital service. Edward Tase, Jr., President of FASNY and a dedicated volunteer firefighter in Niagara County, expressed enthusiasm about the survey results during a press conference at the Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center in Uniondale. Tase stated, "This survey has provided FASNY and the entire volunteer fire service with valuable insights into what New Yorkers think and know about their volunteer fire service."  

VIDEO: 37 pairs of pants, 18 jackets, and five pairs of boots are headed from the Lake Charter Township fire department in Berrien County to a fire department in Africa. Firefighters aren't allowed to keep gear for more than 10 years, according to Lake Township Fire, a rule that isn't enforced in other countries. So rather than throwing it all away, the department had the gear professionally cleaned before shipping it off to Malawi. A Bethel student and former chaplain for Niles Fire Department set up the donation, saying firefighters in Malawi battle fires largely without protection. "It's a blessing. So excited that they had to fill that, just thinking to help people in Africa, it's a blessing," said Mphatso Mwalwemi, a pastor in Malawi.