PHOTO: There must be something in the water in DeKalb, Illinois! Take a look at this adorable picture shared by the DeKalb Fire Department. Those are eight firefighters all from the same department, all with their little babies. The department proudly posted this picture with the caption: "Our recent baby boom at DFD!" Congrats to all of the new parents!  

A handful of accidents in Boone County has prompted officials to warn drivers. First responders have gone to nine crashes that sent people to the hospital in less than a week. One emergency responder said that a car is a lethal weapon, one one false move can mean life or death. That is why it is crucial for drivers to be aware of what they are doing while operating one. "Our biggest goal is good patient care, get them out of the vehicle, get them into the ambulance," said Chief Dan Zaccard of North Boone Fire District #3. Zaccard described protocol while responding to crashes, something that firefighters have done multiple times in the past week. The department responded to nine accidents in just a five day span, the most recent being an accident involving two cars at Beloit and Spring Creek Roads on Tuesday.  

Residents of a Chicago-area apartment complex were back home Tuesday after an ammonia leak forced them to evacuate, authorities said. The 40-unit complex in Glendale Heights was evacuated for about three hours Monday night following the ammonia leak at a nearby manufacturing plant, the Arlington Heights Daily Herald reported. Authorities were notified just after 9 p.m. Glenside Fire Protection District officials said no injuries were reported. Firefighters traced the leak to an outdoor ammonia tank at a powdered metal manufacturing plant. Fire officials said the apartment complex was about 250 feet (76 meters) downwind from the business.  

The Rock Island Fire Department is partnering with Every Child to conduct a car seat inspection station on Sept. 10. Caregivers can stop from 9 a.m. to noon at Central Fire Station, 1313 5th Ave., Rock Island, according to a media release. This event helps caregivers ensure that their children are placed in the correct seat in the correct manner, according to the department. Firefighters ask that caregivers bring the seat, child, and the owner's manual, if possible, to this event. There is no appointment necessary and is first come first serve, the department said.  

A large apartment fire that broke out overnight in northeast Colorado Springs has displaced 64 people from 34 apartments, according to the Colorado Springs Fire Department. The fire, which happened in the 6000 block of Olympic Park Point in downtown Colorado Springs, was under control in an hour and a half according to CSFD. In total, 50 firefighters responded to the blaze and there were no reported injuries to those living at the complex or to firefighters. CSFD determined the fire was caused by a lightning storm. Firefighters worked all day to try and recover belongings. CFSD did report that there was a bright spot in their recovery efforts. A dog was rescued from the apartment more than eight hours after the fire started. CSFD said they are now working with the American Red Cross to help those displaced.  

VIDEO: It's quickly gaining a global following. Surf therapy is defined as a "method of intervention combining surf instruction or surfing and structured individual or group activities that promote psychological, physical and psychosocial well-being." Sharing this effective therapy with veterans and first responders is why West Michigan based non-profit Third Coast Rising exists. 13 ON YOUR SIDE got to see firsthand why it works. The beautiful blue waves of Lake Michigan can bring healing. "It's all about mindfulness, I feel like surfing is the best thing for being mindful," said Mark Cox, the veteran contact for Third Coast Rising. He first learned of surfing's benefits while serving in the Air Force. "It's going to be so awesome for veterans and first responders to get out here because they don't have to think about the past or the future or the worries they might have, they just think about the moment," Cox said.  

VIDEO: With less than a week until the 21st anniversary of Sept. 11, News 12's Greg Thompson sat down with a firefighter to speak about the memories he still has. James McCarthy remembers exactly where he was on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 – at home, on his day off. When he saw what happened, he drove to his ladder in Melrose, then headed to the World Trade Center. McCarthy says he and his fellow firefighters weren't concerned about time as they reached ground zero, and recalls spending weeks, and then months cutting and digging through the remains of the World Trade Center. "I wouldn't say anything has faded except for the raw emotion of it and the trauma of going down there," said McCarthy.  

VIDEO: On the morning of Sept. 6, 2018, a man holding a 9 mm handgun walked into Fifth Third Center and opened fire. Omar Enrique Santa-Perez shot 35 rounds in four minutes and 28 seconds, killing three people and wounding two others. Cincinnati police arrived on scene almost immediately, and first responders did everything they could to help those shot. Four years after the shooting, survivor Whitney Austin said she constantly thinks about those who didn't make it home. "I get to be with my children, I get to be with my husband, I mean everyone I love — I've been given four bonus years," Austin said. "But on the flip side of that, I think about those who lost their lives on this day and how their family members have an entirely opposite experience."