Central Illinois firefighters are helping the Champaign Fire Department after the loss of one of their own. Decatur, Urbana, Peoria, Springfield, and Kankakee firefighters are covering shifts there so the Champaign fire crews can attend the funeral of Firefighter Dominc Smith and his wife. Both were killed in a car accident last week. Smith served as a Champaign firefighter for over 16 years, and he also served as the Woodland Fire Department Fire Chief.  

A fire in a mechanical room at the Warner Hospital and Health Services was one of 20 calls the Clinton Fire Department handled on Sunday. The fire was contained quickly and an evacuation of the hospital was not necessary. Crews remained on the scene for several hours to help ventilate the smoke from the hospital, said Fire Chief Jeff Hoke in a statement on social media. The department also pulled several power lines from houses including one which caused smoke or a burning smell inside four homes in the 600 block of West Washington. The department also investigated a gas leak in a residence and requested Ameren Illinois to shut gas and power off, to decrease the risk of an explosion. "Several of these calls came out at the same time or while on the scene of other calls," Hoke said. Assisting the Clinton Fire Department were departments from Kenney, Wapella, Maroa and Waynesville. Ameren Illinois, the DeWitt County EMS, DeWitt County CenCom and Clinton police also assisted.  

A fire in the 1800 block of Piasa Street in Alton caused substantial damage both from the original call at 8:30 p.m. Monday of heavy smoke, then the fire rekindled at 4:30 a.m. Alton Fire Department Chief Jesse Jemison said the home where the fire broke out is a "total loss" and the roof collapsed to the basement in the second blaze. He said also a home adjacent to it suffered damage and the family that lived there had to be escorted to safety. Jemison said the cause of the main fire remains undetermined at this time, but he said at the present is being treated as an "electrical fire." Ameren Illinois had to be called when the fire started the first time to disconnect the power. When firefighters arrived back at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jemison said flames were visible again at the same residence as they were shooting through the roof.  

The American Red Cross of Greater St. Louis has been busy helping fire victims in the days since Dec. 25. Monday, the Red Cross said it has helped more than 110 people following house fires in the Greater St. Louis area from Dec. 25 to Jan. 3. Statewide, the Red Cross said it had helped more than 350 people since Dec. 25, including greater metro counties in Illinois and Kansas. That's an increase from this time last year. The Red Cross said in the same timeframe a year ago, they helped about 80 people in the Greater St. Louis area. The Red Cross said it helps offer "immediate assistance following home fires including emergency lodging, support for food and clothing and other urgent needs, and help with recovery planning."  

Due to the pandemic, the city of Oakland is facing a huge $62 million budget deficit this year. So far, one of the proposed cuts drawing the most heat is to the Fire Department. With all the revenue it's lost during COVID-19, Oakland has some difficult choices to make. Mayor Libby Schaaf and City Administrator Ed Reiskin sent a letter to city employees last month saying without massive cuts, "…the General Purpose Fund will be insolvent before the end of the fiscal year… Even the City's emergency reserve will be completely exhausted." So, in a long list of cuts, city staff is proposing three of the city's 25 fire engine companies be put out of service. That represents 15% of the city's firefighting force. "We've never closed firehouses, we've never closed three at a time," said Zac Unger, president of Oakland Firefighters Local 55. "That's a number that is just astronomical. It's going to mean that there are parts of Oakland that won't be able to get a response from a fire engine for 10 to 15 minutes."  

The Baltimore City Fire Department said history was made in 2020 as the department recorded its lowest number of fire fatalities in the history of the department, according to Fire Chief Niles R. Ford. Reaching a historic low, the department confirmed that there were only seven fire fatalities in 2020. "I want to thank Chief Ford and the Baltimore City Fire Department for their hard work and unwavering dedication to the residents of Baltimore," said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "Every life saved is monumental for us all and a testament to the efforts of our first responders who continue to make a huge impact in this city. Within the past decade, fire fatalities soared into the double-digits. Causes range from smoke inhalation, lack of working smoke alarms and portable heaters.  

For want of $500 in repairs, the Porter County Courthouse was destroyed by fire on Dec. 27, 1934. It was a spectacular fire that changed the face of downtown Valparaiso. Firefighters from as far as Gary and LaPorte raced to Valparaiso to fight the fire. A LaPorte firefighter's face was frozen while driving the firetruck without a windshield in subzero weather. A LaPorte firetruck overturned on the way back to LaPorte, injuring four firefighters. Several other firefighters were injured while fighting the fire, said Kevin Pazour, executive director of the Porter County Museum. The building was a costly loss. In 1886, the county auditor put the building's final cost at $157,348.10 — about $4.3 million in today's dollars, Pazour said. Among the contents lost were valuable murals in the circuit courtroom, where the fire apparently began, along with records of current and previous trials and some tax records.  

PHOTO: Nineteen-year-old owner/operator Dylan Mercier is waiting to get his unique Mack Vision out on the road. The St. Anne, Ill., firefighter and owner/operator purchased the 2005 truck with his dad, Ralph, a little over a year ago, and it didn't take long for his vision to become a reality. "I purchased a firefighter costume for the Mack bulldog on the hood, and after that, I knew what needed to be done," Mercier said. Mercier outfitted his rig with numerous aftermarket accessories before having the truck and grain trailer wrapped in a vinyl visual that pays tribute to fallen firefighters. "As a firefighter myself, I drive this truck with pride and joy," Mercier said. "I love the new graphics that were installed by Fastlane Wraps. They did an amazing job on the installation. I also really love the Minimizer fenders, tool box, and slick plate. We've used these products on the farm for years, and they are incredibly durable. And how can you not love the six-inch chrome pipes? All in all, it turned out awesome."  

VIDEO: An evening fire heavily damaged an 11-unit apartment complex Monday in Muskegon. The involved apartment building is located at 1850 Valley Street, where Porter School was once located. Firefighters on scene said the fire started on the first floor and then spread up the stairs. According to a Facebook post from the Muskegon Professional Firefighters Unit, crews had water pressure issues while fighting the flames. Supply lines had to be moved to hydrants across Laketon Avenue. Firefighters on scene told us that there are currently no reported injuries and that everyone has been accounted for. However, the building has severe damage and will be demolished.