Firefighters battled heavy fire and smoke Tuesday morning when the responded to a blaze that destroyed a barn north of Woodstock at Route 47 and Charles Road. Equipment from throughout the area was dispatched to the scene shortly after 8 a.m. when several passersby reported the fire to 911. Additional water resources also were dispatched to the rural area with no hydrants. The first arriving crews from the Woodstock Fire Rescue District reported heavy fire and smoke conditions along the roof line, according to a news release from WFRD. The fire was determined to be under control within an hour. No injuries or loss of animal life was reported. Because of the size of the barn, the effort was upgraded to a second level and a defensive fire attack was begun on three sides of the barn while rural water operations was being set up at the road, the release said.  

A statue of a Naperville firefighter in rescue mode rushing into danger illuminates the night sky along Jefferson Street in a tiny park nestled near the bridge over the west branch of the DuPage River. "Ladder of Light" created by Naperville artist Paul Kuhn in partnership with Dark Moon Designs and Intelligent Lighting Creations was unveiled Monday just after dusk on the 50th anniversary of the day three Naperville firefighters were killed when their fire truck was struck by another vehicle. About 200 people were on hand in the park and in the parkway across the street for the hourlong ceremony at Fireman's Memorial Park, which unintentionally included the lights and sirens of an ambulance and fire truck headed east on Jefferson Street in response to an emergency call. What makes this piece different from other sculptures in Naperville are the two large beams of light projected from the base that at night make it appear that the firefighter is climbing a ladder.  

After 21 years of dedicated service, Evanston Fire Chief Brian Scott has announced his retirement from the Evanston Fire Department, effective Jan. 15, 2021. Mr. Scott, who has served as Evanston's fire chief since 2017, has accepted a position to serve as the deputy chief of the Western Springs Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department. "Chief Scott has served the City of Evanston with honor and dedication for 21 years," City Manager Erika Storlie said. "Thanks to his outstanding leadership, the Evanston Fire Department has been recognized as one of the top fire departments in the nation and a leader among fire departments in the Chicago area. As fire chief and as a member of the City's emergency management team, Chief Scott has also been instrumental to our City's COVID-19 response, helping to prevent infections and save lives in our community."  

VIDEO: A Christmas tree catching fire is a rare thing. National statistics show it only happens about a 150 times every year. But Chicago firefighters want to remind you how fast a real tree can go up in flames. The Chicago Fire Department presented its yearly demonstration Tuesday morning. It's a reminder to keep your Christmas tree from drying and to keep it away from any sort of fire source. People should also check smoke alarm batteries to make sure they're working properly.  

A semi truck driver died in a fiery crash in Effingham County early Wednesday morning. The crash happened around 1:30 a.m. on eastbound Interstate 70 at the Interstate 57 Interchange. Officials said the semi was hauling dog food and going east on I-70 when it left the road while negotiating the exit to southbound I-57. Fire crews said there were about 300 feet of skid-marks on the road before the semi went off the left shoulder and overturned. Illinois State Troopers were first on the scene, and the semi was already fully involved in fire. Firefighters from Effingham were assisted on the scene by Altamont Fire District Firefighters who responded to the scene with a Water Tender and personnel. Fire Chief Bob Tutko said the Truck Tractor was fully consumed in fire when they arrived. They found the driver of the semi still inside the cab, deceased.  

Firefighters extinguished a two-alarm fire Wednesday morning in Englewood on the South Side. Crews began to battle the blaze about 5:30 a.m. in the 5800 block of South Ashland Avenue, according to the Chicago Fire Department. A hazardous materials response was also ordered, and the fire was struck by 6:20 a.m., fire officials said. No injuries were reported.  

An EMS unit was robbed in Brooklyn after the suspect apparently made a bogus call to lure them to him. The incident was reported Monday at 11 p.m. at a location at 365 Sackman Street. Police say a 45-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman, party of a voluntary ambulance squad, responded to that location for reports of a patient experiencing "difficult breathing." They took the elevator to the 11th floor where they were met my a masked man with a firearm. The suspect took their supply bag and send them back downstairs to the lobby. The bag was later found with the radio and tablet missing. Authorities say there was no patient, it was a fake call to lure them to the location. No injuries were reported, but the suspect remains on the loose.  

VIDEO: "This happens when we all pull together." That's what Jim Graybeal said in a Facebook post after catching something pretty incredible on video. A fire broke out last week at a place called Wholesale Hardwood Interiors in Campbellsville, Kentucky. That's in Taylor County, just a few counties south of Louisville. According to Graybeal's post, a firefighter asked people nearby to help pull a hose across the road so he could put out the flames. Based on his video, you can see more than 20 people sprung into action. The video has been shared more than 400 times since then. One commenter said, "This is how we are supposed to be, fighting together against all odds." Graybeal said the fire was out quick.  

A statue of a Naperville firefighter in rescue mode rushing into danger illuminates the night sky along Jefferson Street in a tiny park nestled near the bridge over the west branch of the DuPage River. "Ladder of Light" created by Naperville artist Paul Kuhn in partnership with Dark Moon Designs and Intelligent Lighting Creations was unveiled Monday just after dusk on the 50th anniversary of the day three Naperville firefighters were killed when their fire truck was struck by another vehicle. About 200 people were on hand in the park and in the parkway across the street for the hour-long ceremony at Fireman's Memorial Park, which unintentionally included the lights and sirens of an ambulance and fire truck headed east on Jefferson Street in response to an emergency call. What makes this piece different from other sculptures in Naperville are the two large beams of light projected from the base that at night make it appear that the firefighter is climbing a ladder.  

VIDEO: A massive blaze erupted at a vacant commercial building right next to the 10 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles, prompting a response from more than 100 firefighters Tuesday evening. A massive plume of smoke was visible from miles out as the fire raged at the one-story building, located at 651 E. Washington Blvd. Multiple eastbound lanes of the 10 were shut down to help battle the fire just off the freeway. The flames were so close to the 10 that fire trucks were parked right on the lanes. A knockdown was declared around 5:40 p.m., about 66 minutes after the fire first erupted, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. A short time later, freeway lanes also reopened. LAFD says the building appeared to be housing "filming or training props" but was otherwise believed to be unoccupied. No injuries to firefighters were reported and no other structures were damaged. It not immediately known what caused the blaze.  

The pandemic may have changed how first responders answer calls for help, but their focus remains the same – saving lives. Both firefighters and EMTs face new risks in this time of coronavirus. "As a manager, it scares me more for the well-being of our employees," says Jason Flegner, deputy director of operations for Bell Ambulance. Flegner has been an EMT for nearly 20 years. Since March he's had about 30 employees test positive for coronavirus. He admits his staff is tired, but they're commitment to the job remains the same. "We're staffing on average of 35-40 ambulances a day which is a few more than this time last year," says Flegner. He says the biggest impact has been time. "Before COVID hit, a crew could turn around a call in 30-45 minutes," says Flegner. "Today it's almost double that because of all the PPE that's used and the time it takes to get that on. The procedure from the hospital to the nursing home too." It's a similar impact for firefighters.