A new consultants report is asking the city of Springfield to consider replacing fire safety officers with civilian personnel. It's an effort to cut costs. Instead of six fire captains working in the fire safety division, some could be replaced with trained civilians. But not everyone is convinced this is the way to go. "Even though we're not putting out the fires, we're preventing fires before they start," said Division Chief Ed Canny, who oversees the Fire Safety Division for the Springfield fire Department. Canny and his team plan fire protocols in new buildings, inspect Springfield structures, and investigate fires after they happen. They also create educational programs for schools, nursing homes, and more to prevent fires.  

Safety is the number one value at Nicor Gas and the company works closely with fire departments across the company's service territory in northern Illinois to ensure that their firefighters are ready to respond to emergencies in the field. To support this partnership and provide continued support that enables training and development of firefighters across the state, Nicor Gas recently provided $20,000 to the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) for their programs. The IFSI is the statutory State Fire Academy for Illinois, reaching approximately 60,000 firefighters, and serves as the oldest continuous fire training institution in the United States. Additionally, Nicor Gas provided a $10,000 grant to Illinois Fire Chiefs Association (IFCA) Foundation to fund development opportunities and training programs for firefighters.  

VIDEO: A police officer and firefighter rescued a woman from a vehicle that had driven into a freezing retention pond here Saturday. Rescuers were called around 1:30 p.m. to the 1600 block of Eastport Plaza Drive where a vehicle had driven off the road and into the water. A bystander filmed the rescue as Collinsville police Officer Dylan Madron, tethered with two dog leashes, waded into the freezing pond followed shortly after by firefighter and paramedic Jason Warner. The two worked on opposite sides of the car to try to free the woman as the vehicle continued to fill with water, officials said. Warner eventually broke the passenger window, opened the door and pulled the woman out.  

Crews from multiple fire departments have responded to a fire at Bethel AME Church in Brookport, Illinois. Massac County Fire and Rescue, the Brookport Fire Department, Metropolis Fire Department, the Illinois State Fire Marshal, Illinois State Police and the Massac County Sheriff's Office are all responding to the fire. A Local 6 crew at the scene tells us the building appears to be a total loss. The Brookport Fire Department shared multiple photos from the scene via Facebook. The fire department says it and the Massac County Fire Department were called out to respond to the fire at 11:32 a.m. The church is at 803 Crockett St. in Brookport.  

VIDEO: An Amazon truck caught fire on the Tri-State Tollway in Northbrook Sunday night. It happened around midnight on the northbound lanes of Interstate 294 at Lake Cook Road, Northbrook fire officials said. The cab of the truck was completely destroyed, Northbrook fire said. The driver managed to escape. There's no word yet on how that fire may have started. Fire officials said the truck was carrying "general packages," but the blaze did not spread to the trailer because firefighters dumped about 1,000 gallons of water and foam on it.  

A dramatic video of a firefight in Sherman Oaks shows the moment when a Los Angeles firefighter falls through the roof of a garage that had caught on fire. Remarkably that firefighter was not hurt, according to officials. Advertisement The fire broke out at a home in the 4500 block of N. Sunnyslope Avenue just before 6 p.m. It took 26 firefighters about 14 minutes to put out the fire, the L.A. Fire Department said. Firefighters were seen working on the roof of the home's smoldering garage when it suddenly collapsed, and that firefighter rode the roof down into the interior of the garage. Fellow crew members rush inside to help. Moments later, they were all seen coming out unharmed. The fire was contained to the garage, and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.  

VIDEO: This week marks 20 years since a prank at a student apartment complex turned deadly in Greensboro. Janet Danahey, a UNCG student, set outside items on fire at a Campus Walk apartment. She said she was trying to get back at an ex-boyfriend. The fire spread to the entire building. Four people, sisters Rachel and Donna Llewellyn, Elizabeth Harris and Ryan Bek, died, and many others were injured. It was the deadliest fire in Greensboro history when it happened. David Douglas was the chief fire investigator when it happened. He said he thinks of it every year. "I feel sad for the people who lost their kids," Douglas said. "I obviously always think about that but also for all the other people impacted, as a firefighter, how fire traumatizes people." Danahey was sentenced to life in prison without parole.  

VIDEO: Gabriel Shaffer had just gone back inside from watching Krewe du Vieux when he says he saw the bright light from a flame thrower out his back window. According to police this happened Saturday evening in the 900 block of Royal St. "It was dumb and disrespectful at the same time in my head," said Shaffer. The New Orleans fire code states a permit is needed for the use of any "open flame device" for display, entertainment, amusement or non-food warming purposes. The gallery owner who posted the video to his Instagram says he wished he would have gone over to tell them to stop, but he froze in disbelief of what he was witnessing. "There was a lot of obvious flaws in the logic that was happening there…let alone the disrespect to the block," said Shaffer.  

With less than a week to go before it stops accepting applications, the Dayton Fire Department says it could have its most diverse pool of fire recruit applicants ever. The fire department is overwhelmingly white but has become more diverse in recent years. Officials say new, enhanced and ongoing initiatives to reach minorities and women seem to be working. "While there is more work still to be done, the Dayton Fire Department is making clear progress in achieving a more diverse and inclusive workforce," said Dayton Fire Capt. Brad French. The fire department started accepting applications for its recruit classes in early January, and the deadline to apply is Sunday, Feb. 20. The city has received more than 680 applications, and early data suggest this could be the most diverse group of applicants in the department's 159-year history, officials said.  

PHOTOS/VIDEO: Waukon firefighters used hundreds of thousands of gallons of water to fight the fire, running through Waukon's water supply. Schools in the community held virtual class Monday and businesses had reduced hours due to the water issues. City officials say the issue was too much water going through a strained system. "So we were constantly, constantly pumping to maintain water levels to fight the fire as well as pressures throughout the city," said Gary Boden, Waukon's City Manager. "And over time those pumps took a hit." Firefighters were fighting the fire downtown until late Sunday night around midnight. They have continued to try to put out the smoldering wreckage through the morning. Boden said firefighters will have to continue monitoring the debris for re-ignitions until the site is totally clear.