Alexander Gard, who served with the Naperville Fire Department as a paramedic and firefighter for the past two years, died while off duty, the department announced on Saturday. Gard, 27, worked out of Station 2 in Naperville and was a member of the department's union, Local 4302. He is being remembered as an "outstanding firefighter" who was respected by all. Amy Scheller, the deputy Naperville fire chief, told Patch on Monday that Gard was killed in a traumatic single-vehicle accident in Wisconsin on Saturday. No further information was available, Scheller said. "Please keep the Gard Family, the City of Naperville community and Naperville Fire Department in your thoughts, as we mourn the loss of an outstanding firefighter and loved member," the department announced in a social media post on Saturday.  

After nearly half a century with the La Salle Fire Department, Assistant Chief Charlie Lishewski retired. The city he served celebrated his many years as a fireman with a plaque and recognition during Monday's City Council meeting, also naming his successor. "We are here (Monday) to honor Lishewski on his retirement after a 49-year career with the city of La Salle fire department," Fire Chief Jerry Janick said. "He started his career in 1972. Back in 1972 the fire department was dispatched by landline telephones in houses." Lishewski has much change in his career with the department as Janick said. From the way the firemen are notified, which has evolved to pagers where the firefighter can notify the station they are on their way at the press of a button, to the breathing apparatuses that were once heavy, lower-pressured tube masks changing to a lightweight carbon fiber model with a heads-up display, Lishewski has witnessed a growth in firefighting.  

The Peoria Fire Department said three people were in critical condition after Monday morning's fire at Glen Oak Towers. They were among seven people taken to local hospitals. No firefighters were hurt, the fire department said. The cause is listed as accidental, and damage is estimated at $300,000. The fire department also said the building's elevators were not working because of damage caused by the sprinkler system that activated on the fourth floor. Crews said they searched all 15 floors and evacuated residents using two stairwells. "The rescue and evacuation of residents at this incident was complex and taxing for firefighters," the department said in the news release. Temporary housing was found for about 40 people, while remaining residents returned to their apartments," the fire department said.  

Police, firefighters and paramedics from Arlington Heights responded about 9:26 p.m. Monday, November 1, 2021 to a report of an apartment fire at "The Residences" apartment complex, 417 East Seegers Road in Arlington Heights. Initially firefighters on arrival reported nothing showing but then discovered flames showing from a second floor apartment. Firefighters initially called for a working fire, but extinguished the fire with a pump can, and canceled the working fire response. Firefighters were working with a fan to ventilate smoke out of the building by 9:34 p.m. Primary search of the building was clear by 9:38 p.m. Firefighters were working on overhaul by 9:41 p.m. The fire was declared out immediately. All fire crews were returned by 9:50 p.m. except the first due engine (Engine 3) and the Battalion Chief.  

Taylorville Firefighters have begun to stock up toys for the 2021 Christmas season. This year, the toy stock starts earlier than usual. Cody Rogers, Captain of the Taylorville Fire Department, believes since the supply for toys is expected to be backed up, it will be harder to find toys closer to Christmas Day. Additionally, he said with the toy prices going up due to supply shortages, it will be a challenge for people to get a lot of toys for kids. Nicholas Zepin, a Taylorville Firefighter, said the toy stock will allow the firefighters to fill all angel tree cards, helping to make sure every kid will have a toy. The toy stock is a part of the Angel Tree Program – a charity that the Taylorville Firefighters put on to help raise money for families with financial difficulties to celebrate Christmas.  

A massive four-alarm warehouse fire broke out in Marcus Hook, Delaware County Monday night. Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours at the 200 block of East 10th Street. The fire marks the second warehouse fire this week. On Sunday, a warehouse fire occurred in Port Richmond. Although the Marcus Hook fire started Monday evening, crews wrapped up putting out the fire Tuesday morning. Firefighter crews from Delaware and Chester counties and New Castle, Delaware responded to the fire just after 6 p.m. Monday. It quickly became a four-alarm fire. Officials tell Eyewitness News that these types of fires take a while to get under control. Residents in the area were asked to stay inside until the smoke lifted. They said the fire was intense.  

The toughest two minutes in sports will kick off in Fort Pierce on Tuesday. The World Firefighter Combat Challenge Championship is meant to test and showcase the physical demands that comes with being a first responder. "When you're dealing with life and property, and this is what they do everyday on their job, that's the whole fuction about why the firefighter combat challenge was created," said Chris Dzadovsky, Chairman, St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners. "It's to have fitness in departments, so that they can actually do their job and save as many lives as possible." The event scheduled from November 2-6 is expected to bring in more than $2 in economic impact, according to Dzadovsky. Teams from around the world will race against others, themselves, and the clock.  

Some of Maryland's most decorated first responders past and present were celebrated over the weekend with a permanent place in Maryland Fire history. The Maryland Fire Chiefs Association held its first Hall of Fame induction ceremony Saturday for members previously awarded a number of named commendations distinguishing their service to their communities. Fifty-eight people were inducted as charter members of the MCFA Hall of Fame in front of other Maryland fire personnel and families of first responders posthumously honored at the event on Kent Island. Each inductee was presented with a certificate, pin and medal for the various awards given. Additionally, each charter member's name was added to a plaque.  

VIDEO: For an estimated 30 minutes, the Eastern Guilford High School community went about their days, unaware flames were spreading to their school's roof, which in turn, started feeding the fire. Not long after, firefighters were swarming the scene only to learn they were way behind. They never caught up. As firefighters broke through the ceiling tiles in a science lab where the fire was started, they were met with flames and thick smoke. They described the room as going "from day to night." Months ago, we here at FOX8 started going through videos and stories we'd shot years ago. When searching for story ideas, our chief photographer, Keith Hale, presented one of the more notorious crimes in the Triad's history. It's something that would have been almost immediately solved in today's world.  

A potentially faster-spreading "sub-lineage" of the coronavirus Delta variant named AY.4.2 has been spotted by labs in at least 8 states, and health authorities in the United Kingdom say they are investigating a growing share of cases from this strain of the virus. Labs in California, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Washington state, plus the District of Columbia, have so far spotted at least one case of AY.4.2. While it may spread somewhat faster, health authorities have not found evidence of more severe illness caused by the variant, and they say current vaccines remain effective against it. The sub-lineage has remained a small fraction of circulating cases in the U.S. for several weeks, but American health officials say they are already ramping up efforts to study the new Delta variant descendant.