A full investigation into the cause of a massive blaze at the former Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles is underway. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Office of the Illinois State Marshal are assisting the St. Charles police and fire departments in the probe, which is expected to take several weeks, according to a statement Monday afternoon from the city of St. Charles. Fire departments from across the region assisted at the scene of the blaze, which broke out at about 4:40 p.m. Saturday and burned for hours. As of Monday afternoon, one fire unit from the St. Charles Fire Department remained at the former resort, located at 4051 E. Main Street in St. Charles, and worked to control a few remaining hot spots.  

Firefighters in St. Charles were still chasing hot spots Monday evening at the old Pheasant Run Resort – after a huge fire this weekend. The three-alarm inferno broke out Saturday afternoon. Several buildings, including the main lobby of the resort, were destroyed. Also destroyed was the indoor replica of New Orleans' Bourbon Street, and the A, B, and E wings of hotel rooms. A full investigation into the fire was under way Monday evening. The St. Charles police and fire departments are working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal to investigate. Investigators expect it will take two weeks to figure out a cause.  

First responders who serve the Bolingbrook community were honored on Sunday at a local church that held a service that recognized the service of local firemen, police officers, and other public servants. The Independent Baptist Church hosted the Bolingbrook police and fire departments along with other first responders as part of the church's annual First Responder Appreciation Day. Representatives from the Illinois State Police, Will County Sheriff's Department, and several other agencies also participated in the event. Troy Shoaf, the church's pastor, and Bolingbrook Police chaplain presided over the service which recognized the service and sacrifice of all first responders and their families, the Bolingbrook police department said.  

Firefighters are still working to extinguish hotspots after a massive fire broke out inside a Newport hotel Monday evening. Crews responded to the Wayfinder Hotel on Admiral Kalbfus Road shortly after 8 p.m. as heavy flames and smoke could be seen for miles pouring from the roof and windows. Departments from six different communities were called in as mutual aid to help put out the flames at the four-story hotel, which is across the street from the old Newport Grand Casino. Newport Deputy Chief Mark Riding said three firefighters suffered minor injuries and no residents were hurt. "We actually had one firefighter go through a floor, he was rescued by the crews that were with him," Riding said. "We don't know if it was from the heat or the water weight that was causing collapses."  

Traditional weddings are, you know, traditional — and they don't typically include things like setting yourself on fire as you head off into the night. For one Utah couple, however, being sprayed with a fire extinguisher to douse errant flames is commonplace, so doing the same on their wedding day was just par for the course. Gabe Jessop and Ambyr Mishelle, of Ogden, are stunt doubles who work on film and television sets for shows such as "Yellowstone" and "Hereditary." According to Jessop, having a wedding that showcased their "day job," was a way to show friends and family what brought the two of them together. So, with the help of professionals in pyrotechnics, securing the proper permits and all that jazz, the couple blazed their way down a beachy aisle on the shores of Wasatch County's Jordanelle State Park in front of family and friends and millions of viewers who caught wind — or shall we say smoke — of their flaming wedding.  

The1930 American LaFrance Tiller Truck is now back home. The Middletown Fire Department used the truck from 1930 to about 1963 and recently got a call from someone in Binghamton, New York – the old truck was sitting on a lot there. Jim Loewenthal, a retired Middletown firefighter, enlisted his friends and fellow former firefighters and had the 75-foot fire truck brought back to Middletown. Now, the restoration work is beginning. "It's a lot of history and we've had a lot of fun restoring it. It's been nothing but a team effort and it's been a wonderful journey," said Loewenthal. Among those admiring the antique fire truck at a recent restoration day in Middletown was John Cryulik. Cyrulik is now 103 years old and used to drive the Tiller fire truck. "it's wonderful to see it again because I remember when they took it away…. It's a nice truck," said Cyrulik.  

The IAFF has been collaborating with the U.S. Navy on a program to improve the fitness, health and wellness of Navy fire fighters by encouraging them to become more active. In January 2022, the IAFF launched Integrated Group Navy Fire Instruction, Training and Education (IGNITE), a comprehensive 18-month wellness-fitness program, in collaboration with fire fighters from Navy Region Mid-Atlantic (NRMA). The program has been funded by the Navy through a two-year federal grant. The IGNITE program involves eight IAFF federal locals in the Mid-Atlantic region representing more than 500 federal fire fighters. If successful, the program could be rolled out across U.S. Navy bases nationwide. Created as an extension of the IAFF's Fit to Thrive (F2T) program, IGNITE aims to do more than provide exercise routines and nutrition tips.  

The Kissimmee Fire Department will begin integrating telemedicine and patient navigation into the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system with the Tele911 program beginning Monday, June 6. The use of Tele911, Inc. by Kissimmee Fire Department is intended to reduce ambulance transports to the Emergency Room for residents who call 911 with non-emergency medical issues. KFD is one of the first fire departments in Florida to use this service. Patients will be evaluated by KFD paramedics, who will determine if they are stable and can participate in a live telehealth visit. The Tele911 emergency physician will then make an appropriate disposition and treatment plan that meets the patient's needs. The patient will also receive a next day follow-up with a physician. Patients who are not transported will also receive a follow-up by a Tele911 social worker to provide them with linkage to primary care and social services.