VIDEO: We all know that firefighting is a dangerous job. But there's a hidden danger inside all that smoke that you might not know about. "Cancer rates are significantly higher than that of the general public," said Michael Oquendo, Chief of Logistics for the Chicago Fire Department. "Last time I read it was 20 percent to 30 percent more than what the general public is susceptible to." That's because the smoke firefighters encounter is increasingly comprised of potentially carcinogenic chemicals from petroleum products, which stick to firefighting gear even after it's washed with water. "Furniture is no longer made of wood. Carpet is no longer made of typical textiles," said Mark Smith of Alliance Safety Solutions. "Everything is now petroleum-based. So that petroleum base burns hotter. It burns quicker. And it has more polyaromatic hydrocarbons."  

VIDEOS: One person was critically injured in a fire at a north suburban home on Monday evening, officials said. An Evanston Fire Department spokesperson said firefighters responded to a building in the 2600-block of Harrison Street around 6 p.m.. When crews arrived, they saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the building, and people were evacuating. Chopper 7 was over the scene around 6:30 p.m. and captured video of crews working on the roof as smoke came out of windows. Firefighters rescued a person from the building's second floor. That person, who suffered severe burns, was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. No firefighters were injured. Two people were displaced, and the American Red Cross has been contacted to help the displaced residents by providing shelter and support services.  

A massive multi-alarm fire destroyed a Catholic school building in Springfield Township, Delaware County. The call came in around 5 p.m. Monday for flames showing from the St. Francis of Assisi School, which is located on Saxer Avenue. Chopper 6 was overhead as plumes of heavy smoke billowed from the roof of the building. Firefighters knocked down the bulk of the fire but remained on the scene Monday night to extinguish any hotspots. The school was founded in 1929 and serves students from Pre-K to 8th grade. "At this time, the fire appears controlled to one building. All classes at the school will be cancelled for at least tomorrow. Efforts are already underway to locate an alternate learning location for those who will be affected by the loss of classroom space," said a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in a statement.  

VIDEO: Three people died after a medical helicopter crashed in northern Kentucky, and a report from the Federal Aviation Administration has released information about what may have happened. The crash happened around 5:37 p.m., in Owen County, near State Route 22, about two miles north of Owen County High School. The helicopter that crashed was with Air Evac Lifeteam 133, out of Williamstown, Kentucky. Kentucky State Police identified the victims of the crash as Gale Alleman, Bethany Aicken, and James Welsh. A report from the FAA says the helicopter struck a guy wire, a tension cable that gives stability to freestanding structures. It then crashed and caught on fire.  

Charlotte Fire Department officials said they have a plan to improve rescues and avoid fires like the SouthPark blaze that killed two workers trapped on an upper floor. CFD Chief Reginald Johnson on Monday presented an after-action report of the five-alarm SouthPark fire to the Charlotte City Council's Housing, Safety and Community Committee. It detailed what went wrong in May 2023 and what the department needs to do to prevent a similar incident. The SouthPark fire, which reached 2,000 degrees, occurred at a seven-story, mid-rise building with five stories of wooden construction, no fire suppression systems and no drywall, Johnson said. The building was under construction at the time. As construction across Charlotte shows no signs of slowing down, Johnson said the department is making necessary changes to prevent deadly construction fires.  

VIDEOS: The Tropicana Las Vegas is just days away from joining the list of Las Vegas hotels that have been blown up over the years. At 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9, the implosion button will be pressed to bring down the historic resort's two hotel towers. They're expected to collapse within a matter of seconds, according to recent information from Bally's Corporation, which owns the hotel. Much has been said about the Tropicana's storied history in the months leading up to its impending demise. But the resort will be in good company as it joins the growing list of Las Vegas landmarks that now exist only in our memories. We combed through Channel 13's archives to find videos of the moments some of those properties were turned to rubble.