The Galesburg Fire Department has named their Firefighter of the Year. GFD firefighter Kyle Harms received the award, recognizing the significant contributions, achievements, character, and long-term dedication. In a Wednesday release, Battalion Chief Derek Perry said that it was an "easy choice even among stiff competition" in naming Harms as the firefighter of the year. "Kyle has stepped up and worked tirelessly on important departmental projects which include: the business self-inspection program, replacement of the aging Galesburg Regional Fire Training Site Tower, and a much needed remodel of the central station dormitory to improve firefighter health and comfort and ready it for female firefighters." "His commitment to the job and exemplary performance have brought great honor to the Galesburg Fire Department and we are proud to recognize him as Firefighter of the Year," as stated in the announcement.  

There have been four fires over the past week in Decatur with three out of four being in the exact same neighborhood. It all started at a home at 843 North Edwards street in Decatur. If that sounds familiar, that is because that is because this same house was the site of possible arson almost exactly one year ago. Residents like Brandon Boey want something done about what he is calling an "arsonists playground." "Right, yeah it's been a ridiculous situation," Boey said. The Old Kings Orchard neighborhood in Decatur has been the home of resident Boey and his family for decades. "Unfortunately, in that neighborhood there are a lot of abandoned houses so, if there is an arsonist that is running through that neighborhood, he has plenty to work with," Decatur fire chief Jeff Abbott said.  

No injuries were reported in an early morning house fire in Carpentersville today. Carpentersville Fire Department Chief John-Paul Schilling said firefighters were dispatched at 12:43 a.m. to the house on the 1700 block of Papoose Road. Upon arrival, they found heavy fire and smoke coming from the one-story, single-family home. Three residents of the home were able to escape before firefighters arrived, officials said. Firefighters were on the scene for about three hours, but Schilling said the blaze was "under control" within 30 minutes. Damage to the house is estimated at more than $200,000. Schilling said the fire left the home uninhabitable. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.  

A grocery store in central Illinois was destroyed in a fire early Friday morning. Lincoln Fire chief Bob Dunovsky told WAND News that he called 911 shortly before 4am when he saw a passerby seeing a flame coming out of an IGA grocery store. Fire officials reported a big fire from the store's font. The WAND News crew at the scene reported that the storefront was completely burnt and the contents were destroyed. The firefighters quickly put down the fire, but when the business was closed for a long time, the chief shared it with WAND News.  

Illinois State Police and firefighters and paramedics from Schaumburg responded about 3:36 p.m. Thursday, June 10, 2021 to a report of a serious rollover truck crash on the ramp from I-90 WEST to Illinois Route 53 SOUTH near Rolling Meadows. Firefighter/paramedics on arrival reported a semi-trailer truck rolled on its side with one person lying on the ground. The driver of the truck was out of his cab before firefighters and paramedics arrived. Paramedics were evaluating one patient and firefighters were working to control an oil leak by about 3:50 p.m. The call was initially reported as I-90 EAST and Route 53 which brought a response from Schaumburg Fire Department instead of Arlington Heights Fire Department.  

An apartment complex in Silvis, Illinois faced severe structure damage after a fire broke out Thrusday afternoon. Firefighters responded to the Loma Linda Apartments just before 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 10 after a fire broke out in one unit of the building. Everyone in the building was able to quickly escape the building before the blaze worsened. Eventually, the flames climbed up to the attic, which caused the roof to collapse inward. The damage was mostly contained to the one unit, although authorities believe another unit may have sustained some water damage. According to Fire Chief John Winters, authorities believe the fire began in the back of the building before it spread upward. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.  

VIDEOS: At least 16 people were displaced Thursday night when a large fire destroyed a condominium building in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The three-alarm blaze broke out around 8 p.m. on Shawsheen Court. Flames were already going through the roof before fire crews arrived. The roof collapsed, and smoke could still be seen rising from the rubble hours after the fire began. No injuries were reported, but some pets have gone missing, fire officials said. Crews had trouble getting water on scene, Lawrence Fire Chief Brian Moriarty said, and had to use a thousand feet of hose across multiple streets. "It's not good water in this area so we had long lays down to Osgood St., Market and Osgood, Salem and Osgood, to try and get good water and that's a good three, four pump leg - 1,000 feet of hose on a truck - each one," Moriarty said. "So that was the challenge - getting the water to get the ladder pipes fed."  

The city is creating a multi-agency task force to crack down on illegal fireworks this summer, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced earlier this week. The task force will be comprised of 32 agents — 10 officers from the NYPD Intelligence Bureau, 12 fire marshals from the FDNY and 10 deputy sheriffs from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The officers will also collaborate with the Port Authority, New York State Police, Yonkers Police, New Jersey State Police and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to share intel and resources. The task force will aim to prevent fireworks from entering New York City by targeting major suppliers. "We're going after the people who bring these fireworks into New York City to begin with," de Blasio said. "We're getting right at the source." New York City residents lodged thousands of complaints regarding illegal fireworks last summer, including in Queens.  

Photos obtained by News4 Investigates show two massive fires, nine years apartment, at the Brentwood Oaks apartments show both buildings had a sprinkler system that did not prevent it from burning to the ground. Additional documents obtained by News4 Investigates show that firefighters also faced additional problems during the May 24th fire, including a delay in getting through the gates. On June 26, 2012, a fire at the apartment complex burned more than two dozen units. In the May 24, 2021 fire at the complex, more than 18 apartments were destroyed. News4 Investigates obtained photos from inside one of the units in 2012 before it burned, showing two sprinklers on the wall. We also obtained a photo from inside one of the units in 2021 before it burned, where two sprinklers can be seen in the background.  

PHOTOS: A 7-year-old with a big heart wanted one thing for her birthday, and it wasn't anything to keep for herself. The Superior and Duluth Fire Department's teamed up with 7-year-old Monroe Kroll, to give extra comfort to those in the community who may need it most. For Kroll's 7th birthday, instead of gifts to keep for herself, she requested that her friends buy stuffed animals to give to children in need of comfort. Both fire departments jumped on board with the plan to help distribute the toys to the less fortunate. The 7-year-old hugged each stuffed animal, before giving the toys away so each child receiving the stuffy also receives a hug from her. The departments are grateful for Kroll's donation and send their appreciation.  

VIDEO: Tom Hill is also known as "Bull" where he's from. A retired firefighter for Orange County Fire Rescue in Central Florida, Bull has walked close to 3,000 miles now for firefighters who have passed. He came up Highway 17 and made a stop in Richmond Hill on Saturday, and said for the 33 years he was a firefighter, there was no help for families who lost firefighters due to cancer, and that's why he's walking to Charleston now. The walks began with a walk that started at mile marker zero in Key West Florida, and close to 50 days later he walked up the Florida capitol steps carrying 74 items from firefighters who have passed. Bull and his fellow walkers now have over 1,500 items, including helmet shields that were the only thing recovered of firefighters who died in 9/11. They have ashes, even sobriety coins.