An I-Team data investigation has uncovered many Illinois homes where the first line of fire defense is up in smoke: smoke alarms out of date, not working or nonexistent. Using data provided by fire departments after incidents from a nationwide database called the National Fire Incident Reporting System, or NFIRS, the I-Team found that only 53% of homes that had fires so far this year in Illinois had working smoke alarms. Statewide, that's nearly half of homes in fire incidents that were unprotected by smoke alarms. "We know that things need to improve for sure," said Phil Zaleski, Executive Director of the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance. "We need to start getting more of these smoke alarms into the homes because if we're not, they're at risk." So far in 2019, according to NFIRS data, many Chicago suburbs beat the state's protection average.  

With Princeton City Manager Rachel Skaggs' announcement that she would be stepping down from her position earlier this year, the Princeton firefighters union came to her and asked to negotiate a union contact before her departure. The contract won't go into effect until May 1, 2020, but with Skaggs' good record with doing three favorable union contracts with the city without the need of an attorney, union members figured why not try negotiations while she was still around. This work went on without some city council members knowing, until last week when Skaggs emailed them an update on what she was working on. The idea that the negotiations went on without some of the council members knowing didn't sit well with council member Ray Mabry, which is one of the reasons why he cast the lone "no" vote for the firefighters union contact during Monday's regular city council meeting.  

A barge exploded on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in Lemont on Monday morning, according to the Lemont Fire Protection District. About 9:45 a.m., fire crews rushed to the barge, which was near the 15330 block of Canal Bank Road, after receiving a report of an explosion, Lemont Fire Chief Frank Jareczek said. As far as he is aware, Jareczek said, the cause of the explosion remains unknown. The explosion damaged the barge, Jareczek said, and firefighters doused a small blaze on the vessel. No one was aboard the barge at the time of the explosion, Jareczek said. "It could've been worse, but it went well," Jareczek said. Jareczek said firefighters remained on the scene for about three hours to make sure the fire was extinguished and that no hazardous materials were caught on fire.  

A Park Ridge fire truck that is nearing its 19th year of service and sustained damage to its aerial ladder this summer could be replaced next year. Aldermen on Oct. 28 gave the city's fire department the OK to start the process of securing bids for a new ladder truck, which is estimated to cost $1.4 million. Once bids are obtained, the recommended bid is expected to go before the council for approval. "It's our biggest vehicle, the most complicated and obviously the most expensive vehicle in the fleet," Park Ridge Fire Chief Jeff Sorensen said. Sorensen said the truck, which allows crews to access heights above 20 feet, has required "numerous" repairs by city mechanics over the last year and was further impacted in July when it responded to a fire involving hazardous materials.  

The report of a suspicious package Monday morning Illinois American Water Company call center on Discovery Parkway in Alton elicited the response of several area emergency departments, including the Madison County Hazmat Response team, but officials determined there was no danger. Alton Fire Department Deputy Chief Brad Sweetman told The Telegraph that the incident involved an unknown white, powdery substance, but it was found to not contain a hazardous substance. The Edwardsville Fire Department and Wood River firefighters also responded, along with Alton police. A U.S. Postal Service inspector was also called to the scene. The call, which lasted over three hours, began at 10:18 a.m.  

A couple is temporarily displaced after a fire began in their garage, firefighters said. Tolono Fire Chief Ken Haluzak said responders found heavy black smoke coming from the garage at a ranch home in the 600 block of Marshall Street. Authorities were called to the area at 2:18 p.m. Monday, according to The News-Gazette. The homeowner believes the origin of the fire could have been in the area of a garage clothes dryer. The cause is under investigation Monday night with help from Mutual Aid Box Alarm System officials. At one point in their response, the newspaper said firefighters had to take down part of the garage ceiling to make sure the fire didn't make it into the ceiling area. The couple is expected to have to temporarily relocate after the home took heavy smoke damage, Haluzak said.  

PHOTO: Thousands of acres damaged by the ongoing Kincade Fire in Northern California's Sonoma County are visible in this new image from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite. The image was taken at 11:01 a.m. PST on Nov. 3, 2019. The burned area appears dark gray in ASTER's visible channels. Hotspots, where the fire is still smoldering, appear as yellow dots in ASTER's heat-sensing, thermal infrared channels. After starting on Oct. 23, forcing residents to evacuate, the fire had burned 77,758 acres and destroyed 372 structures by Nov. 3, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It is now over 80% contained. The town of Healdsburg is in the center of the image, which covers an area of about 24 by 25 miles (39 by 40 kilometers).  

A Wild Dunes Resort expansion project is worrying South Carolina Fire Fighter advocates. A new hotel is being built with 153 rooms, as well as meeting and event spaces. The Professional Fire Fighters Association of South Carolina said doesn't believe the Isle of Palms fire department has enough staffing to respond to a building of this size. "They don't even have the right amount of people to respond to a regular structure fire in a home. Let alone a high rise like that," said William Pesature, Vice President of Professional Firefighters Association of South Carolina. Pesature is an advocate for South Carolina firefighters and also spent over eight years as an Isle of Palms firefighter. "Even back when I started there in 2009, they didn't have the right amount of people on a vehicle," said Pesature. He believes the number of people in their fire trucks right now, will not cut it.  

At just 11 years old, Zechariah Cartledge runs a mile for every first responder who loses their life in the line of service. Since January, he's run 283 miles. "All I think about during the runs is the fallen heroes, the fallen officers, the fallen firefighters, their families. That's my mission for the run," he said. Inspired by New York's Tunnel to Towers 5K, which honors the fallen 9/11 first responders, Cartledge started his tribute when he was 8. Near his home in Seminole County, Florida, Sheriff Dennis Lemma said the runs come at a critical time for law enforcement. "I think it's important that our communities at all age groups know the sacrifices that are being made," Lemma said.  

At 8:40 a.m. Sept. 10, 2018, Cedar Falls dispatched four fire-response units — including a rescue truck with special "confined space" equipment — to the University of Northern Iowa, where a massive amount of steam was spewing from the campus Commons. But "due to staffing," only two of the four units rushed to the scene, arriving five minutes later. The truck with confined-space equipment didn't go initially, showing up 30 minutes after the first call after being re-dispatched. A ladder truck also dispatched never came. As the initial crew of seven firefighters crafted a plan to retrieve a UNI worker they understood to be inside the campus' compromised steam system, they assumed roles and assigned posts — including one that called on a captain to take on a different job — again, "due to staffing."  

York City firefighters have a new tool to teach children about the dangers of fires, how to prevent them and ways to escape a burning home. The city's fire safety house is a haulable trailer that's been turned into a mobile classroom, with bleachers for kids to sit on, mock rooms including a kitchen, bedroom and living area, a window so children can practice climbing to safety and more, according to Lisa Altland. "It's equipped with smoke detectors, a smoke machine and a phone for (mock) calling 911," she said. "The door actually heats up to show children what to do if they're caught in a fire." Altland, the wife of retired York City Assistant Fire Chief Greg Altland, said she started raising money for the fire safety house about three years ago.