March is Women's History Month, and Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt is making history in Chicago. She is the first African American woman to lead the city's fire department. Nance-Holt has served the Chicago Fire Department for more than 30 years, breaking other barriers along the way. As a younger woman, she said there were no female firefighter role models. Ironically, her decision to take the CFD test started with a dare. "It just happened that I went with my then-boyfriend and his brothers, and some more friends, and took the test on a dare, recalled Nance-Holt. "I was was very athletic, and I ran with them, and I was in great shape and I was like this sounds like a great opportunity," she said.  

VIDEO:An adult and a child are dead and six evacuated from a house fire on Fleming Road, and three more are missing and presumed dead, officials said. Boone County Sheriff's Deputies and fire departments from around the county were called to a house in the 11000 block of Fleming Road around 2:20 a.m. Police said six people were evacuated to local hospitals, but their condition is unknown. Brian Kunce, Boone County District #2 Fire Chief, told Eyewitness News an adult and child were killed. Police said five individuals are unaccounted for but believed to be dead. The investigation into the cause of the fire is still underway.  

The St. Joseph-Stanton Fire Protection District announced the passing of one of their own. In a Facebook post, the district announced Ross Booker was involved in an accident on Saturday night while working for a towing company when he was hit by a vehicle. He was taken to the hospital and died on Sunday, according to the Champaign County Coroner. Ross, 20, was a SJO graduate and hometown kids, the district wrote. "He walked in the doors at the station, sought information on joining & literally latched on with a passion that inspired more of us, then he will ever know. This young man was dedicated to serving, whether it was his career, being a part on this department, or his hopes & dreams, his visions were always on helping people. Not only that, but the young man had a smile that could light up a room."  

Firefighters say nine people were displaced after a house fire damaged parts of a two-story home late Saturday night. Investigators say the cause was "undetermined". Just after 10:00 p.m., Peoria firefighters and paramedics responded to the 600 block of Phelps Street - near the corner of NE Rock Island Avenue - for a report of a two-story, residential structure fire. Firefighters say all nine people living in the home were able to exit safely, but the layout configuration of the home made the fire difficult to get under control. Additional fire companies were called to the scene to relieve exhausted firefighters, and firefighters say the house suffered major smoke damage throughout, as well as heavy fire damage to the basement and a second story bedroom.  

After 35 years of service to four different fire departments, Urbana Fire Chief Charles Lauss is planning to retire. "I have been blessed beyond what I deserve in this career. From the first day I started to the very last day, I have been excited to come in," Lauss said. "I tell people I love my career so much, I've never gone to work in 35 years." Having just turned 63, Lauss is leaving the city on good terms. "Other than being overweight, I'm in good health," he added. Lauss started as fire chief in September 2018 after the retirement of Brian Nightlinger. He came to Urbana from Peoria, where he served as an assistant chief and as fire chief for about five years. Just before the Peoria post, he was fire chief at Caterpillar in the Peoria area for five years. The bulk of his fire career 22 years was with the Pekin Fire Department, where he was chief for more than six years.  

Several people were displaced after a fire damaged several apartments Sunday night. Around 9:15 p.m., the Normal Fire Department received a call about a fire and people evacuating the Lincoln Square Apartments on N. School St. First responders saw heavy fire out of the back and front of the apartment, and a greater alarm was requested. Off-duty personnel from the Normal Fire Department were requested, as well as assistance from the Bloomington Fire Department. The main section of the fire was put out within 15 minutes, however, crews worked on ventilating the building and checking for hot spots for another hour. Several apartments were impacted by the fire. The American Red Cross is helping those who were impacted. The occupants were evaluated by paramedics but they were not injured. Officials are working to determine the cause of the fire.  

PHOTOS: Rural firefighters had to get creative while fighting a house fire in a remote area Saturday night. Swan Valley Fire Department spokeswoman Kat Brainard said the call came in around 9:15 p.m. at 224 Pine Creek Bench Road. A witness had spotted a chimney fire at the home that was spreading to other areas of the residence. The problem was that the home was located at the end of a steep, narrow one-mile driveway. Brainard said firefighters quickly realized their fire engine would not be able to get to the home due to the nature of the driveway. Firefighters and members of the community were in the process of moving things away from the blaze, when the homeowner arrived with a tractor to tow the fire engine from the bottom of the driveway to the home. "We don't always have what we need to get to a scene," Brainard said. "So we have to work with what there is."  

Firefighters around the country are just starting the tedious process of removing firefighting foam that contains "forever chemicals." This toxic foam contains PFAS, or poly-fluoroalkyl substances, which can remain in the environment and in human bodies. This foam may cause health problems, including cancer. Firefighters have used this foam for more than 20 years to help them put out difficult fires, not knowing it could actually be hurting them. "We assumed this chemical was something that was not only effective on the fire ground but also safe to us," Denver Fire Capt. Greg Pixley said. In a methodical, step-by-step process, the Denver Fire Department is removing the foam known as AFFF, or aqueous film-forming foam. The fire engines can carry 25-50 gallons of the concentrate. They've called in a company that specializes in hazardous materials removal. They drain and flush all of the fire engines.  

VIDEOS: Memphis Fire Department arrived on the scene of an active fire at Baymont Inn hotel on the 6000 block of Shelby Oaks Drive Monday, March 7 at 12:57. According to an official statement released from MFD, the fire started when several mattresses were placed against the hotel building and intentionally set on fire. Massive flames spread across the building, reaching the third floor. One MFD firefighter was transported to Baptist East from heat exhaustion and is in non-critical condition. According to MFD, 118 people were displaced from their hotel rooms. MFD tweeted advising drivers to avoid the area and that those traveling in the area should expect delays due to the ongoing investigation.  

The massive fires that seemed to engulf building after building in the borough back in the late 1970s and early ‘80s led many declaring the "Bronx is burning." In fact, it almost felt unusual to not use the word "fire" in conjunction with "Bronx," because the two had become so synonymous during that time. Yet, while times have changed, some things have remained the same. That's because over the last six months, a string of major fires has plagued the borough. But don't worry, none of that is lost on Michael Kozo. He's the director of the New York Fire Department's fire safety education unit, and has provided training presentations to just about any group that extends an invitation — including Community Board 8's housing committee back in January. "The information we give (at these meetings) are always increasing," Kozo said.  

Arecent CDC study found that around 140 million Americans have been infected by the coronavirus, almost double the number regularly reported in national COVID-19 case counts. And while some experts say this increase in population immunity could help stem future surges, others remain cautious about potential new variants, as well as waning immunity in the future. For the study, CDC analyzed 72,000 blood samples collected by commercial labs nationwide between Dec. 27, 2021, and Jan. 29, 2022. The blood samples were originally sent to labs for reasons unrelated to COVID-19 but were also tested for coronavirus antibodies. The study counted each person only once and included only antibodies from natural infection, including asymptomatic cases.