Chicago firefighters put their lives on the line every day, and the risks of their jobs are ramped up even more during the coronavirus pandemic. But hundreds of Chicago firefighters who got COVID-19 said they were stunned when they were told it is not considered an on-the-job illness. They told CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov it impacts their pay and medical bills – and they're fighting it. Chicago firefighters and paramedics are usually the first to help victims of violence, fires, and since March of 2020, COVID-19 patients. The Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 said more than 1,000 CFD members have gotten COVID, and three department members have died from it. Yet union leaders said the Chicago Fire Department still classifies COVID-19 as a non-duty injury. "The only three who are considered duty in the eyes of the Chicago Fire Department are the three who have died," said Joseph Senorski, political director for the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2.  

Evanston City Manager Erika Storlie today appointed Deputy Chief Paul Polep as interim chief of the Evanston Fire Department. Polep, an Evanston resident, is a 24-year veteran of the department with 30 years of fire service experience. He will assume his new role following the retirement of Fire Chief Brian Scott on Friday, Jan. 15. "Deputy Chief Polep is an experienced and capable leader dedicated to protecting the health and safety of Evanston firefighters and the greater community," Storlie said. "I appreciate him stepping up to lead the Evanston Fire Department in this critical role." Polep began his service with the Evanston Fire Department in 1996 and has risen through the ranks, serving as captain, division chief of emergency medical services and most recently as deputy chief of operations.  

Firefighters turned a Kia Rio into a convertible Tuesday morning in an effort to extricate the driver. At about 7:50 a.m. Tuesday, the driver of the vehicle smashed into a guardrail on Illinois 143 east of the former power plant in East Alton's jurisdiction. No other people were in the vehicle, and no other vehicles were involved in the accident. Authorities at the accident scene said the driver, whose name had not been released Tuesday, suffered facial lacerations and chest pains in the crash. East Alton firefighters were unable to free the driver from the vehicle, prompting a nearly hour-long extrication effort using hydraulic rescue tools to cut through the car's support posts and remove its roof. During the extrication, East Alton Fire Chief Tim Quigley was inside the vehicle with the driver, covered with a sheet to keep glass and debris from falling on them. Once freed from the vehicle, the driver was transported to a local hospital by Alton Memorial Ambulance paramedics.  

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 6,642 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 117 additional deaths. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,040,168 cases, including 17,743 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 93,491 specimens for a total 14,263,477. As of last night, 3,553 in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 757 patients were in the ICU and 409 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from January 5–11, 2021 is 7.5%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from January 5–11, 2021 is 8.6%.  

A subcontractor was injured after a tree fell on him in Busse Woods in Elk Grove Village. Fire officials said a crew was clearing trees deep in the woods around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday when one of them fell and struck a worker on the side. With the ground covered in packed snow and ice, the Elk Grove Village Fire Department said efforts to reach the worker using vehicles, including an ATV, were not successful. Due to the challenging terrain, firefighters used a Stokes basket to deliver the injured man to a waiting ambulance. The worker was transported to AMITA Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village with non-life-threatening injuries, fire officials said.  

A Prince George's County firefighter fell out of a fire engine truck that was traveling to a call around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the Prince George's County Fire Department (PGFD). The fall from the truck happened around the intersection of Bell Station Road and Annapolis Road in Fairwood, Maryland. It's still under investigation by PGFD why the firefighter fell out of the apparatus that he was attached to on the fire engine truck. The firefighter has been transported to a hospital for injuries, but his condition is not known at this time. Engine 818 from Station 818/Glenn Dale is being transported to the apparatus maintenance facility for full mechanical evaluation.  

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has partnered with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA JPL) to develop firefighter tracking technology. The effort would allow first responders to locate team members in burning buildings more accurately. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, domestically, approximately 80 to 100 firefighters are lost in the line of duty each year. Last month, S&T and NASA JPL successfully tested the Precision Outdoor and Indoor Navigation and Training for Emergency Responders (POINTER) technology at the Veteran's Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. Multiple POINTER devices were evaluated with members of S&T's First Responder Resource Group and industry partner Balboa Geolocation Inc. to ensure they met first responder requirements.  

Chicago firefighters put their lives on the line every day, and the risks of their jobs are ramped up even more during the coronavirus pandemic. But hundreds of Chicago firefighters who got COVID-19 said they were stunned when they were told it is not considered an on-the-job illness. They told CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov it impacts their pay and medical bills – and they're fighting it. Chicago firefighters and paramedics are usually the first to help victims of violence, fires, and since March of 2020, COVID-19 patients. The Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 said more than 1,000 CFD members have gotten COVID, and three department members have died from it. Yet union leaders said the Chicago Fire Department still classifies COVID-19 as a non-duty injury. "The only three who are considered duty in the eyes of the Chicago Fire Department are the three who have died," said Joseph Senorski, political director for the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2.  

A Houston firefighter who works two jobs and fought COVID-19 received a surprise live on "TODAY" Tuesday morning. Josue Rios has been with the Houston Fire Department for more than a decade, and works hard to provide for his family by working most 24-hour shifts and managing his second job at his family truck mechanic business, according to "TODAY." When he and his wife contracted COVID-19, he told "TODAY" it was frustrating to stay on the sidelines. "The virus doesn't take names, doesn't care what you are. It affects you in a certain way," he told Hoda Kotb on "TODAY." "I was anxious, because I saw what the virus has done and there were times that the virus has hit close to home." He also told "TODAY" although his family was fortunate, his firehouse was hit hard by the virus, losing one of his beloved friends and colleagues, Veteran HFD firefighter Tommy Searcy.  

VIDEO: Las Vegas Fire & Rescue (LVFAR) says a two-alarm fire destroyed a vacant wedding chapel and caused an estimated $1 million in damages Tuesday night. The building was located near the STRAT on South Las Vegas Boulevard. Authorities say several 911 calls were received reporting thick smoke coming from a "large white building" at 1431 South Las Vegas Boulevard. Some reports also indicated someone may have been inside the building, according to LVFAR. Ultimately, there were no injuries reported. Arriving crews observed thick smoke coming from the one-story building. Authorities say the structure was boarded up and appeared secured. At least 30 units and 70 personnel battled the fire at its most intense point. Responding fire crews came from Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Clark County.