Hundreds of residents in the Lakeview neighborhood were jolted out of bed, by an explosion at a bank. Silent surveillance video shows the bright flash from the explosion at the Fifth Third Bank near Belmont and Clark around 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The incident took place in the 3100 block of north Clark Street. Neighbor Patrick McCarron heard a huge boom and saw someone standing near one of the outdoor bank machines. That person took off before Chicago police arrived on the scene. Chicago's bomb and arson squads responded. There was damage to an ATM and the blast broke through cement around it.  

An extra-alarm fire left seven people displaced Saturday in Greater Grand Crossing on the South Side. The two-alarm fire was reported at 2:27 a.m. on the third floor of a three-story apartment building in the 6800 block of South Perry Avenue, according to the Chicago Fire Department. The blaze was under control shortly before 3 a.m., the fire department said. No injuries were reported, but the Illinois Department of Human Services was called to assist five adults and two children with housing, according to fire officials. Warming buses were also brought to the scene for affected residents.  

Police and firefighter/paramedics from Rolling Meadows responded about 6:32 a.m. Sunday June 14, 2020 to a report of a serious crash involving an SUV and a tree in the block of 2300 St James Street in Rolling Meadows. Police first on the scene reported a male adult unconscious and not breathing in the driver's seat. Police were unable to open the door, and the fire department response was upgraded to an extrication operation response. Firefighters extricated the driver from the vehicle by 6:46 a.m. and paramedics were working on the driver who was in traumatic cardiac arrest at the scene. Emergency Department personnel at Northwest Community Hospital personnel were notified of an incoming patient in traumatic cardiac arrest.  

One Spring Valley resident is being treated for burns after a Friday fire. Fire Chief Todd Bogatitus said the apartment landlord at 101 East Erie called about a lower apartment on fire about 4pm. Firefighters were later notified by police that a burn victim was in St. Margaret's Hospital and was going to Rockford for treatment. No other information was given regarding the burn victim. Fire personnel were able to enter the building and knock the fire down in short order. While damage was limited to the lower level apartment, there was smoke damage throughout. All other occupants got out safely. A State Fire Marshal has examined the scene, but Bogatitus is listing the cause as undetermined. Spring Valley firefighters went to a porch fire late Friday night about 10pm at north Strong street. Damage was limited to a deck.  

One person was injured in a mobile home fire in the Park Ridge Mobile Home Park Sunday afternoon. A neighbor was able to get the occupant out of the mobile home before Springfield Fire crews arrived around 1:40 p.m., said Fire Chief Allen Reyne. The occupant was transported to Memorial Medical Center. Reyne said fire crews reported fire and smoke coming from the mobile home when they got on scene, though the fire was knocked down quickly. There was no immediate report on the extent of damage to the mobile home. The mobile home park is located in the 1700 block of North Grand Avenue West. The fire is under investigation.  

Chief Gary Ludwig, IAFC President and Chairman of the Board, asked Congress to support local fire and EMS departments as he testified before the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. During his testimony, Chief Ludwig highlighted the importance of local fire and EMS departments to helping victims of COVID-19. "Regardless of whether they are from career, volunteer or combination departments, fire and EMS personnel are providing aid every day to victims of COVID-19. When a person suffering from COVID-19 calls 9-1-1, fire and EMS personnel meet them in their homes, provide aid and transport them to the hospital," said Chief Ludwig. Chief Ludwig's testimony highlighted the challenges that local fire departments face during the pandemic.  

Survivors of COVID-19 are donating their blood plasma in droves in hopes it helps other patients recover from the coronavirus. And while the jury's still out, now scientists are testing if the donations might also prevent infection in the first place. Thousands of coronavirus patients in hospitals around the world have been treated with so-called convalescent plasma — including more than 20,000 in the U.S. — with little solid evidence so far that it makes a difference. One recent study from China was unclear while another from New York offered a hint of benefit. "We have glimmers of hope," said Dr. Shmuel Shoham of Johns Hopkins University. With more rigorous testing of plasma treatment underway, Shoham is launching a nationwide study asking the next logical question: Could giving survivors plasma right after a high-risk exposure to the virus stave off illness?  

Firefighters across Ohio are mourning the death of Russell Brode, the former president of Akron's firefighter union, who they said died Saturday from what's referred to as "occupational cancer," or cancer he acquired through fighting fires. Brode, 54, spent years pushing for better care and training for Ohio firefighters facing the same risk from inhaling cancer-causing toxins released by smoke and other chemicals. The International Association of Firefighters has said cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters. "In the last month, I've been to three funerals of recently retired firefighters who've died of cancer way too young," Brode told WKYC in 2015 when the Cleveland television station was reporting on cancer risks among firefighters. Two years later, Ohio passed a law allowing firefighters and former firefighters with occupational cancer to file claims for workers' compensation. The law also provided funding to train firefighters on how to prevent exposure to cancer-causing toxins.  

VIDEO: Over 150 firefighters battled a fire at a vacant building in Shelton. Crews were called to the vacant building on Canal Street around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, firefighters said. Firefighters from Shelton, Derby and Ansonia responded to the fire and it took more than 155 firefighters to help put out the flames, authorities added. Due to the age and condition of the building, crews said they utilized a defensive strategy. Embers from the fire spilled over into the Apex Fire Warehouse, according to fire officials. Crews are expected to stay at the scene to clean up and put out hot spots. The building was the old Star Pin Company and it was built in 1870, according to fire crews.  

The firefighter's fraternity is a tight one. Due to the many perils of the job, they must rely on each other to remain safe while saving structures and lives. "There is a lot of trust there," said third-generation Elk River firefighter Chad Kreuser. But for Kreuser and fellow firefighter Ryan Wolcenski, it's grown to be so much more: Kreuser learned that he suffers from polycystic kidney disease and in rapid need of a lifesaving kidney transplant. "It's kind of one of those things that you have no control over, so you hope for the best," said Keuser. So when the search began for possible donors, fellow firefighter Wolcenski didn't bat an eye. He quickly volunteered to be tested to see if by chance he would be a suitable match. "I didn't, didn't even hesitate," Wolcenski explained. A couple months later, Kreuser got the news few expected and was both shocked and pleased to learn his kidney was a perfect match. "I got an email from my [medical] team that said, ‘congratulations! you're a match,'" said Wolcenski.