VIDEO: Once a firefighter, always a firefighter. Gary Workman retired from the profession in 2018, but continues to have nostalgia for the big red trucks. An 80-year-old fire truck was handed down to him from his father, Phillip, who was also a firefighter. The senior Workman found the vehicle in Hamilton, Illinois, in 1970. The truck sat idle for the next 15 years, with an occasional parade route through the years. His son wanted to restore the truck, but needed the time. "I had told myself that when I retired I was going to start on it," Workman said. "I retired in September of 2018 and started on it that winter." Now the bright red, 1933 Chevy fire truck looks as important as it did in its heyday. With a six-cylinder 207 engine, it strolls smoothly down the road, although Workman prefers to transport the truck to events in a special trailer.  

Illinois will take a first step toward reducing the use of firefighting foam containing harmful "forever chemicals" under a bill signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker Friday. The measure aims to curb the use of one source of PFAS chemicals that are tied to a host of health threats, largely through a limitation on using the foam for anything other than emergencies. Fire departments that want to conduct emergency drills or test the foam have to take precautions that prevent the chemicals from reaching waterways through sewer systems, for instance. The bill, a compromise between environmental groups, an association of fire chiefs and industry groups, does not restrict any use in an emergency.  

A semi-truck carrying oil overturned and spilled Monday evening on I-55 in Sangamon County, authorities said. Multiple lanes 2343 closed at the scene of the crash, located on I-55 northbound at mile post 91, which is south of Springfield. The road was reopened before 10 p.m. Monday. A hazmat team responded to the scene to attend to the oil, Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell told WAND News. The substance had spilled all over the interstate. One person was extricated and taken to a local hospital, the Springfield Local 37 firefighters union said on Facebook.  

Multiple fire agencies converged on a section of Holiday Shores Sunday to extinguish a fire that started in the basement garage of a single-family home in the 1100 block of Bermuda Drive. Holiday Shores Fire Chief Steve Cooper said Monday that the fire's cause is still unknown at this time. Cooper confirmed there were no deaths and the fire was contained to the home. Cooper also said one of his firefighters was transported to an area hospital Sunday for heat exhaustion but he said Monday that the officer has since been released from the hospital and is doing fine. Edwardsville Capt. Mark Mayfield, who was on scene as well, strongly advises residents to sleep with their bedroom doors closed, so the doors act as firewalls.  

VIDEO: One hundred and thirty years of history were destroyed in minutes after a fire ripped through one of Pueblo's longest-standing buildings. The Albany Event and Wedding Venue has stood on Albany Avenue between East 7th and 8th streets since the late 19th century. It's now in ruins following Monday afternoon's devastating blaze. Smoke began pouring from the building just before 2:45 p.m. "Extremely old timber, dry conditions, the temperatures we have today, the wind all contributed to a very fast spread of this fire through the building," said Woody Percival with the Pueblo Fire Department. Everyone inside escaped before the flames overtook the structure, but the fire moved too quickly for crews to save the building.  

PHOTOS: Eugene Richards lives in Brooklyn, but was out of the country on September 11, 2001. When he returned to New York City four days later, he has written, he "metamorphosed into a bruise." He stayed home, convinced that no one needed another photographer surveying the wreckage. But Richards's wife and collaborator, Janine Altongy, insisted that they go see it. "You can't avoid history, not when you're so close to it," he remembers her saying. Over the course of several months, Richards and Altongy traversed the city, recording scenes of loss from the long aftermath of the attacks. Their 2002 book, Stepping Through the Ashes, is a collection of Richards's photographs and Altongy's interviews with survivors, bereaved family members, first responders, and others.  

VIDEO: Dayle Keefer, a Medina County man who calls himself "the Picasso of fire hydrants," is giving back to the community, one brushstroke at a time. Keefer moved to Brunswick not too long ago from Jamestown, New York to be closer to family. The 72-year-old retired from his job as a church pastor after more than 50 years. 'I'm praying and painting' Dayle Keefer, a Medina County man who calls himself "the Picasso of fire hydrants," is giving back to the community, one brushstroke at a time. Keefer moved to Brunswick not too long ago from Jamestown, New York to be closer to family. The 72-year-old retired from his job as a church pastor after more than 50 years. "We were walking the dog and we saw these grungy fire hydrants all around," Keefer said. That was the catalyst for Keefer to become involved in the city's Adopt-A-Hydrant Program.  

A local fire station transformed into center stage for a Nashville first responder who starred in a new music video from award-winning country artist Tenille Townes. Townes enlisted Nashville firefighter Shannon Wells for a video accompanying "Girl Who Didn't Care," a summer anthem about women following their dreams with child-like courage and passion. The video shows actress Kinley Mosley portraying a young Wells with firefighting ambition before transitioning to the actual 36-year-old suiting up and hopping aboard a fire engine. Along with Wells, the video features coming-of-age montages from groundbreaking Vanderbilt football player Sarah Fuller and aspiring astronaut Alyssa Carlson. "As soon as they sent me the song, I was like, 'Oh, yeah. I definitely have to be a part of this,'" said Wells, a Nashville native and Middle Tennessee State University graduate.  

Illinois will take a first step toward reducing the use of firefighting foam containing harmful "forever chemicals" under a bill signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker Friday. The measure aims to curb the use of one source of PFAS chemicals that are tied to a host of health threats, largely through a limitation on using the foam for anything other than emergencies. Fire departments that want to conduct emergency drills or test the foam have to take precautions that prevent the chemicals from reaching waterways through sewer systems, for instance. The bill, a compromise between environmental groups, an association of fire chiefs and industry groups, does not restrict any use in an emergency. The foam is used for serious industrial fires like those that can occur at a refinery, chemical plant or another source of flammable liquids.