Six Naperville firefighters challenging a COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirement in federal court will seek a preliminary injunction to prevent the city from enforcing the mandate until their case is resolved. The firefighter-paramedics -- Gil Cortez, Joel Fox, Chris Garon, John Halgren, Robert McCormick and John K. Stiegler -- are suing the city of Naperville, Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare and Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The lawsuit is asking a federal judge to declare one of the governor's executive orders to be unconstitutional. The Sept. 3 mandate requires health care workers to be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing. The lawsuit also alleges that government officials and Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare overstepped their authority by enforcing the mandate. The firefighters had asked for a temporary restraining order.  

An 11-year-old was among two people stabbed, several people were displaced after a man set an apartment on fire Thursday in Avalon Park on the Far South Side. Police found the girl and a 31-year-old woman stabbed and a man barricaded inside a residence about 2:25 p.m. in the 1400 block of East 79th Street, Chicago police said. The 11-year-old was stabbed in the leg, while the woman was stabbed in her arm and leg, police said. Both were taken to Trinity Hospital, where they were in good condition, police said. The suspect, a 38-year-old man, allegedly set an apartment on fire and jumped from a third floor window, police said. Seven people were displaced, but there were no reported injuries resulting from the fire, authorities said.  

The Decatur Fire Department responded to three night fires on Friday morning with all trucks and on-duty firefighters. The fire department considers all three to be suspicious. The fire department was first called to the house on 1746 East William Street at 12:19 am on Friday. When the crew arrived home, they saw both smoke and fire appearing. At that time, there was no one in the house. The state fire marshal's office has been contacted and the fire is believed to be suspicious. The crew extinguished the fire by 2 am and left the fire scene. At this point, the fire brigade estimated the loss of the house to be $ 10,000.  

To keep the legacy of Chaz McCrone alive, the Blue Crew Motorcycle Club awarded one Illinois Fire Service Institute firefighter a scholarship. In August 2018, Chaz McCrone tragically died. He was a member of the Pesotum Fire Department. His friend, Randy Shannon, told WAND News McCrone was also a member of the Son's of the American Legion and was one of the original founders of the Blue Crew Motorcycle Club. "He was the most selfless person I ever met," said Shannon. When McCrone died in 2018, his friends in the motorcycle club knew they needed to keep their friend's memory alive. The group created a scholarship fund and each year they award one firefighter the scholarship at IFSI.  

A fire that swept through a front bedroom of a South Jacksonville house had fire crews working into the early hours of Thursday. South Jacksonville firefighters were called about 10:35 p.m. Wednesday to 216 E. Greenwood Ave. The fire was fully engulfed and had made its way into the attic when they arrived. "All the occupants were out of the structure upon arrival," South Jacksonville Fire Chief Rich Evans said. "There were no injuries, thank goodness." Jacksonville Fire Department also assisted in battling the blaze. The cause of the fire has not been determined, but Evans said foul play is not suspected. The state fire marshal is investigating.  

Springfield firefighters helped Decatur crews extinguish a warehouse fire overnight into Thursday. The fire happened at 2380 Millikin Parkway in Decatur. Firefighters said they responded at 11:13 p.m. Wednesday and found the loading dock area of the 300,000 square foot warehouse on fire, with smoke filling the inside of the warehouse. Decatur firefighters said Springfield crews brought a mobile ventilation unit to help ventilate the fire overnight. There were no reported injuries.  

VIDEO: After an hours-long battle on Thursday, a massive 3-alarm fire at a distribution center in Carson is under control, according to fire officials. It took about 200 firefighters to get the blaze under control. According to an employee, a barrel of hand sanitizer exploded and prompted the fire. It started around 2 p.m. near S Avalon and E Alondra boulevards. An employee told ABC7 a barrel of hand sanitizer exploded and believes it prompted the fire. The official cause of the fire has not been released. Video from above the fire at its peak showed the flames being fueled by hundreds of burning pallets. Fire officials confirmed to Eyewitness News that some of those pallets were packed with a variety of items, including products made with rubbing alcohol. They say the distribution center consists of several floors, all stocked with different items.  

Cancer is a serious health threat facing today's firefighters. Studies have shown that firefighters have an increased risk of developing several types of cancers, due to the occupational hazards they face. However, there are steps firefighters can take to protect themselves and their crew. The National Volunteer Fire Council and International Association of Fire Chiefs' Volunteer and Combination Officers Section released the Lavender Ribbon Report to present 11 specific actions firefighters need to take to lessen their risk of occupational cancer. Make these standard operating procedures in your department. The Lavender Ribbon Report Update, released in September 2021, takes things a step further by sharing personal stories, examples of how departments are implementing the best practices, and other information to reinforce the actions firefighters need to take to lessen their exposure risks.  

PHOTOS: You could say Winter Park Firefighter-Paramedic Alfredo Escalera Jr. is a little bit of an adrenaline junkie. Born in Puerto Rico, Escalera moved to Casselberry with his mother when he was a small child. Later, he followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a boxer. His father, also named Alfredo Escalera, was a professional boxer with 70 bouts between 1970 and 1983. "He was a Super Featherweight World Champion from 1975 to 1978. So boxing was something that I grew up with, whenever I would visit him back in Puerto Rico. Boxing has kind of always been in my life," Escalera said. Escalera himself turned pro in 2005, with 24 bouts until his last fight in 2013. "I finished my record at 19-4-1. I made it as high as number 15 in the world," Escalera said.  

VIDEO: Entertainment One (eOne) today shared the first trailer and poster for family animated feature Fireheart, coming to cinemas early next year. The CG-animated movie centers on a girl who finds a way to follow her dream of becoming a firefighter and crack a mysterious case of serial arson across jazz age Broadway. The second feature film produced by Montreal's L'Atelier Animation (Leap!), Fireheart is directed by Laurent Zeitoun & Théodore Ty. Ever since she was a child, Georgia Nolan has had only one dream: to become a fireman, just like her father. Unfortunately, in New York City in 1930, women are not allowed to be firefighters. But, when the city's firemen begin to disappear in a series of mysterious fires at Broadway theaters, Georgia sees a golden opportunity.  

VIDEO: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and to recognize this vital period of information and education, we've kicked off a new project — TODAY Paints the Town Pink. To get things started, on Friday, that meant turning a bright pink spotlight on three people whose lives have been impacted by the disease. These heroes each found their own ways to turn pain and fear into hope and help. We turned the spotlight to Marshall Moneymaker, a retired firefighter from Rockville, Maryland, who still suits up and gets behind the wheel of a pink firetruck every day. But he's no longer battling blazes. Instead, he's raising awareness about the disease that took the lives of all three of his sisters, and he's offering outreach to others with his nonprofit For 3 Sisters. "We help people get products, services, financial aid," he said.