As part of a multiyear process of updating the city's fleet of fire engines, Fire Chief Bob Tutko proposed leasing a new truck at a recent city council meeting, where he was met with pushback from council members concerned about overspending. The replacement was planned for 2018, but was initially delayed because former Fire Chief Joe Holomy retired. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, the purchase was delayed again. "It kind of got lost in the transition," said Tutko. The engine in question is one of the city's two pumpers. They are trucks that carry water, pump water from hydrants and carry much of the department's equipment. The National Fire Protection Association recommends limiting fire engine service to 25 years. The proposed fire engine will cost about $650,000, spread out over a five-year lease. The engine is sold by fire truck manufacturer E-ONE and was custom designed by a committee of Effingham firefighters.  

The vaccination of homebound residents is another step in the race toward herd immunity, and a growing number of Chicago-area health and fire departments are up to the challenge. The Naperville Fire Department has partnered with the DuPage County Health Department to vaccinate residents who may have difficulty leaving their homes. "I think the fire department in every community is uniquely positioned to be able to deliver these [vaccinations]," said Division Chief John Sergeant of the Naperville Fire Department. "One: We have the personnel. Two: We have the familiarity with the people in the community. We know the situations that they're facing." David Good of Naperville said his mother, Shirley, 94, recently moved into his house. "My mom gets around with a walker and getting her out of the house would be quite a process," Good said. Good registered his mother for a homebound vaccination, and on Tuesday afternoon two Naperville firefighters arrived to provide the shot.  

A Macon County camper fire shut down two lanes of traffic along I-72. Troopers said they responded at 4:56 p.m. Tuesday to I-72 westbound east of mile post 145 (Illinois 48) for a report of a fire involving a U-Haul pulling a camper. They said the camper became fully engulfed "for unknown reasons," causing the U-Haul to also catch fire. There were no injuries reported. Two right lines were shut down for the investigation at 4:56 p.m. and remained closed for another 30 minutes. ISP issued a safety reminder to drivers following this situation. "The Illinois State Police would like to remind all motorists to remain vigilant and drive responsibly," a statement said. "When approaching an emergency vehicle with its lights activated, including IDOT Help trucks, tow trucks, or any other vehicle on the roadway with their hazard lights activated motorist are required by law to MOVE OVER and slow down if changing lanes is unsafe.  

Three dogs were saved from a house fire in Litchfield. At approximately 10:16 a.m. on Monday, May 10, the Litchfield Fire Department responded to the 1000 block of East St. John Street for a report of smoke coming from a structure. At the scene, first responders saw a single-story residence with smoke coming from it. Firefighters entered the home and found fire in the living room. Then, they discovered it had progressed into the attic space. Multiple crews worked to extinguish the flames. Three dogs were rescued from the burning house. Two of the dogs were not breathing or responding, but paramedics were able to revive them. No injuries were reported in this fire. Fire officials say the blaze originated in the northwest corner of the living room.  

An undetermined number of cars on a northbound freight train derailed Tuesday evening in southern Champaign County. Champaign County sheriff's Sgt. Ed Moody said preliminary information is that no one was injured in the incident, reported about 7:45 p.m. U.S. 45 between County Road 300 N to 600 N, just north of Pesotum to just south of Tolono, will remain closed for at least the next 24 to 36 hours, Sheriff's Sgt. Andrew Good said early Wednesday. That includes the two east-west crossings in Pesotum. Heavy equipment is currently working to remove affected cars and sheriff's deputies are trying to make contact with Canadian National officials.  

VIDEO: A multi-business plaza went up in flames in South Fargo. "At 1:20, we had a report of a fire here at 3242 20th Street South. When crews arrived, they found smoke showing and fire in the attic of the building. They struck a second alarm to bring in additional crews and as you see here, there's an extensive fire involved of the attic, so they were working to get that stopped. We did bring in a third alarm, which brought in all of our on-coming shifts. The off-duty crews," Fargo Fire Marshal Ryan Erickson said. Fire tore through both Bodyworks Physical Therapy and GiGi's Playhouse. Fire Marshal Erickson says, "We did confirm that both of those units were vacated prior to our arrival." Erickson says there were no injuries. He says he is not sure where the fire first started.  

When firefighter Teresa Mauldin was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2013, she attributed it to the dangers of the job. But Mauldin and more than four dozen San Jose firefighters now attribute the danger to the equipment they used and wore every day. "I feel betrayed," she said. A group of 49 current and former San Jose firefighters, along with three of their spouses, filed two lawsuits in December and March against 27 manufacturing companies including 3M and DuPont. The firefighters allege the suppressing foam they used and their protective equipment—otherwise known as turnout gear—contained per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, known to cause cancer according to the Environmental Protection Agency. PFAS is nearly indestructible and can linger on clothing for decades, where it can be absorbed into the skin.  

Sheldon has a nose for solving arson cases, and he proved it on his very first day at work. The dog — part golden retriever, part black Labrador — was trained by State Farm Insurance to use his incredibly sensitive snout to detect fuels and other accelerants, when authorities suspect that a fire was set on purpose and need evidence to support their case. Sheldon's handler, Saginaw fire battalion chief John Tadlock, remembers the eager pooch's very first case, in the spring of 2018. The human-canine duo, having just completed a month of training on the east coast, had returned to Tarrant County and was called to a car dealership where several vehicles had mysteriously burned three days earlier. Local and federal authorities had video of a suspect leaving the dealership minutes before the fire, but didn't have evidence of what caused the fire itself. They were baffled.  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Both the West Bend and Town of Sheboygan fire departments recently added new vintage fire trucks to their fleets. The West Bend Fire Department recently refurbished a 1929 Model Ford A fire truck. According to the fire department, they believe it was originally owned by the Germantown Fire Department and then purchased by the West Bend FD in the 1940s. "The records were bad back in the day, so this could have been an actual working engine for the West Bend Fire Department sometime in the 1940s," said Captain Kenny Asselin, the fire prevention captain, said. He added that it hasn't been used in a firefighting capacity in at least 50 years. It went to the West Bend Firefighters Club, but when the club was disbanded, the truck changed hands to the city. It was used in various parades, but it became too expensive to continue with scheduled maintenance.  

Scott Martin, a 12-year veteran with the Buffalo Fire Department, was fired from his job earlier this year because he tested positive for marijuana. Martin doesn't deny using marijuana. The 37-year-old firefighter who served with the Air Force in Iraq and Afghanistan said he is a certified medical marijuana patient who uses cannabis to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and back pain and that cannabis has greatly improved his health and well-being. Now he's fighting to get his job back. On May 5, he filed a lawsuit against the City of Buffalo and the Buffalo Fire Department be reinstated to his position, rank and seniority, receive back pay but most importantly to him, to be reassigned to Truck 14, 1st Platoon. "He's been terminated wrongfully because the collective bargaining agreement hasn't been updated," said Martin's New York City-based attorney, David C. Holland, who specializes in laws related to cannabis.