Scott Swanson is set to be appointed the new fire chief of the St. Charles Fire Department at Monday's special meeting of the St. Charles City Council. Swanson had been serving as acting fire chief since October, when former chief Joseph Schelstreet retired. Monday's meeting will be a audio/visual teleconference. Swanson joined the St. Charles Fire Department full-time in 1988. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1992, captain in 2003, battalion chief in 2009, and assistant fire chief in 2013. Swanson also previously served as acting fire chief in 2007, during the transition between previous fire chiefs. Swanson holds a bachelor degree in fire service management from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and a master degree in management and organizational behavior from Benedictine University in Lisle.  

One person was killed in a fiery one-car crash on North Wolf Road at Wolf Court in Wheeling early Saturday, police said. The Daily Herald is reporting a vehicle was traveling north on Wolf Road when it hit and crossed a raised concrete median and went into the southbound lanes of traffic before leaving the road, hitting a parked unoccupied vehicle and tree and starting on fire. Firefighters responding to the scene found one person inside the car, which was fully engulfed in flames. The unidentified person was pronounced dead at the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office, according to the Daily Herald.  

The investigation continues into a fire that gutted the Two Eagles restaurant in downtown Freeport. Fire officials are combing through the debris after the blaze roared through the restaurant at 18 E. Main St. on Thursday night. Freeport firefighters were called to the scene about 9:15 p.m. and quickly realized additional help was needed. The entire fleet of fire vehicles and all three shifts were needed to battle the blaze because it broke through the roof in the rear of the building and scaled the wall of the adjoining building. Several area fire departments assisted, including Lena, Cedarville, Freeport Rural, Davis, Orangeville, Pearl City and Monroe, Wis., among others. The building sustained heavy smoke and fire damage, and smoke also spread next door to Flack Sewing Center. Freeport Fire Chief Brad Liggett said the restaurant is a total loss and will have to be demolished.  

Three minors escaped a house fire Sunday afternoon on North Wacker Drive that caused an estimated $40,000 in damage. Two of the occupants, aged 12 and 13, escaped without injury. Another, an 18-year-old female, suffered a minor burn, said acting battalion chief Scott Strum. The incident at the northwest Peoria home occurred at 2:44 p.m. When firefighters arrived on the scene, they spotted smoke, but had the fire under control within three minutes. Cause of the fire was listed as unintentional from cooking. The teenagers and the 12-year-old were the only occupants of the home at the time of the blaze. They were all out of the house before the firefighters' arrival. The eldest received a minor burn to her right wrist and hand as she tried to extinguish the flames.  

A man has been charged with starting a fire at the Thompson Center Thursday minutes before Gov. J.B. Pritzker gave his daily COVID-19 news conference in the building. Lawrence Reed, 44, is charged with a felony count of aggravated arson knowing people were present, according to Chicago police. Reed poured an "unknown substance" on the glass of the building about 2:15 p.m. in the 100 block of West Lake Street and lit it, police said. A video shared on social media appears to show flames licking the outside of the Thompson Center. A couple of red-colored containers sit on the sidewalk. Reed was taken into custody in the 100 block of West Wacker Drive, police said. No injuries were reported. Pritzker and state heath officials delivered their daily coronavirus news conference from the Thompson Center about 2:30 p.m.  

A fire that damaged a Mexican restaurant and grocery store in Rantoul was intentionally set, authorities said. A press release from Champaign County Crime Stoppers said the April 13 fire, which police reported seeing at about 12:43 a.m., occurred at Mi Pueblo Mexican Grocery Store, located in the 100 block of North Garrard St. Flames caused extensive damage to the building and its contents. Authorities said three people were seen in the area on surveillance video captured just before the fire. Police have not yet identified them and their possible connection to the fire is unknown. There was a second fire on the same date at Las Flores Incorporated, which is located next to Mi Pueblo. It's unclear if this fire might also have been intentionally set.  

According to the International Association of Fire Fighters, firefighters across the country are battling on the front lines of COVID-19 and fire departments are feeling the strain of this massive public health emergency. The IAFF has released the following numbers as of Friday, April 24, 2020: 1,653 firefighters have tested positive for COVID-19; 4,304 isolated; 66 hospitalized; Six deaths. "Firefighters need more – and faster – testing so they can stay on the job and know they are not bringing the virus into the fire house, or back to their homes. They need priority access to PPE," said Tim Burn, IAFF Press Secretary. "Meanwhile, Congress must pass funding for state and local governments to help counteract the budget shortfalls during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This funding is essential to keeping firefighters and other critical workers on the job across the country."  

Parma Heights (International Association of Fire Fighters) IAFF Local 1690 recently filed an unfair labor practice charge with the State Employment Relations Board (SERB) related to the city's attempt to unify pay periods across all departments. Representing Parma Heights IAFF Local 1690 is Susannah Muskovitz and Arish S. Ali of Muskovitz & Lemmerbrock, LLC. "The city is holding back one week of pay from all of the firefighters for the whole rest of their career," Muskovitz said. "It's a 2-percent wage reduction that was not negotiated. The city is in the middle of negotiations (with Local 1690 regarding a new contract). "The city has every right to propose this at the bargaining table -- and in fact they have proposed it at the bargaining table. The union has countered, and there has been a back and forth on the issue. That's normal -- and how the process is supposed to work -- but then the city one day out of the blue said they're just going to do it anyway and they unilaterally implemented it."  

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) today said it will take heroism in Congress to save fire and EMS in communities across the country. Legal and regulatory minutiae prevent CARES Act money from immediately helping firefighters protect their communities and themselves during the current COVID-19 crisis. IAFC President Gary Ludwig says it's clear only Congress can expedite the money by clearing regulatory logjams within the Assistance for Firefighter Grant Program (AFG). "Firefighters need a hero," Ludwig said. "So do the people they serve. It's up to Congress to fill that role by solving two crucial COVID-19 problems. One is a classic Washington logjam and the other is ensuring enough money to keep fire/EMS stations open around the country. "Our brothers and sisters in law enforcement are already putting to work some of their much needed $850 million from the March CARES Act," Ludwig said.  

The new coronavirus doesn't care about a blue uniform or a shiny badge. Police, firefighters, paramedics and corrections officers are just a 911 call away from contracting COVID-19 and spreading it. With N95 masks hanging off their duty belts and disposable blue gloves stuffed in their back pockets, they respond to radio calls, make arrests and manage prisoners. But their training never covered something quite like this — what has been called an "invisible bullet." It's sickened thousands of America's first responders and killed dozens more. But many have recovered, and they're going back to work — back to the crime scene, back into the ambulance, back to the jail. Going back to this deadly pandemic's front lines. They go with a lingering cough and lost weight. They toss and turn at night, wondering if the claims of immunity are true. They fear that picking up extra overtime shifts may expose them, and their families, to additional risks.  

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released additional symptoms related to novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Health officials recommend those experiencing any of these symptoms contact their physician or the local health department. Previously, guidance from state and federal health officials cautioned people not to call unless experiencing the three traditional symptoms of COVID-19. A patient must have fever, shortness of breath, and a cough to receive a test. Now, with expanded testing throughout the state, there is new guidance. Anyone who feels they may have the virus should be tested.