The Effingham Fire Department responded to a furniture and home improvement store Sunday night after it caught fire. The fire happened at Bob's Discount, 1905 South Banker Street. Chief Brant Yochum said the department got the call at 10:16 p.m. after the building's fire alarm activated. When crews arrived, they saw smoke through the front windows. Yochum said the building's sprinkler system prevented it from growing in size. Damage from smoke and water was estimated to cost $100,000, but fire damage was significantly limited. "This incident underscores the critical importance of having a functional sprinkler and alarm system in businesses," Yochum said. "These systems not only provide early detection and suppression, preventing potentially catastrophic damage, but they also help protect the safety of occupants and responding firefighters."  

The Peoria Fire Department extinguished a fire at a one-story home near Westminister Avenue and Wellington Drive on Sunday. According to Battalion Chief Mike Ralston, fire crews responded to the fire at about 5:56 p.m. When they arrived on the scene, they saw smoke and fire coming from the back of the house and quickly extinguished it. Firefighters then entered the house and found heavy fire in the attic. Fire crews cut a hole in the roof for ventilation. The fire was extinguished within 15 minutes. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No injuries were reported during this incident.  

A massive fire destroyed the Wolf Lodge Inn near Coeur d'Alene Monday. The fire was reported around noon and multiple fire trucks and ambulances responded. Firefighters upgraded to a four-alarm fire requesting assistance from Idaho Department of Lands, Idaho State Police, Spokane County, and Shoshone County. The fire spread to the woodlands behind the lodge causing a small wildfire that firefighters were able to contain. Kootenai County Fire said one person was taken to the hospital for burns. Three firefighters were injured when the windows blew out and they suffered smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion. They were not transported to the hospital. The first fire crew on scene said the fire began in the back of the building and rear attic.  

PHOTOS: George C. Hale served as the Chief of the Kansas City, Missouri, fire department for 31 years. At the end of the 19th century, he revolutionized firefighting with his more than 60 patented inventions, including the Hale Water Tower and the telephone fire alarm, and helped bring the country's fire departments into the modern era. Fire was a constant danger in Kansas City's early history. Most homes were built of wood and heated with coal. Chimney fires were common and every second mattered for the crews tasked with putting them out. Ray Elder, the official historian with The Kansas City Fire Historical Society, began documenting the history of Kansas City's fire department when he retired after 35 years — 16 years as its captain.  

PHOTOS: The Anne Arundel County Fire Department officially welcomed the newest addition to its maritime fleet with the first of two state-of-the-art 50-foot Defiant NXT Fireboats on Tuesday at Sandy Point State Park. Representatives from Metal Shark, which manufactured the boat, delivered the first fireboat via waterways from Louisiana to Maryland. This powerful and versatile vessel is set to significantly enhance the county's ability to respond to emergencies on the water. The new fireboat, whose name will be released in the coming months, represents a significant investment in the safety and security of Anne Arundel County. With over 500 miles of shoreline, this new asset is faster and better equipped to handle a wide range of maritime emergencies, from fires on boats and waterfront structures to medical emergencies and search and rescue operations on and around the county's vast waterways.