VIDEO: Illinois chemical plant explosion at Chemtool causes major fire, smoke

An explosion close to Rockton, Ill. took place at a chemical plant Monday morning. Large flames from the Chemtool plant caused heavy smoke to cover the air in the area. A mandatory evacuation order is in place for parts of the area, according to the Rockton Police Department. Rockton Fire ordered the mandatory evacuation, and the notice affects all residents and businesses south of the plant on Prairie Hill Road. Traffic is advised to avoid the area, according to Rockton police.
WLS-TV ABC 7 Chicago

Police Say Indiana Firefighter Stabbed in Face While Responding to Emergency

An Evansville firefighter was injured on Saturday while responding to a home for a man not breathing, according to an affidavit filed by an Evansville Police Department Officer. According to the affidavit, the incident happened Saturday afternoon at a home on Ridge Knoll Drive in Evansville, Indiana, after Evansville Dispatch received a call about a man not breathing. Members of the Evansville Fire Department were first to arrive at the home. The affidavit explains that a firefighter knocked on the door of the home but that no one answered. The firefighter said that he could hear people inside and that he heard a "very disturbing scream" from inside the home. After opening the interior door and announcing "Evansville Fire Department," the affidavit says a hand grasping a large kitchen knife reached out from inside the door, puncturing him in the face near the nose.
WEVV-TV CBS/FOX Evansville

Facing the flames, Firefighter Combat Challenge takes place in South Dakota

VIDEO: Some firefighters from all over the US competed with Rapid City firefighters in a race. The race is called the firefighter combat challenge, and puts physical feats in the job description to the test. The Rapid City Regional Firefighter Combat Challenge Organizer, Bill Cina, says it seeks to makes sure those on the front lines battling the flames are in tip top shape. “This course started 30 years ago with Dr. Paul Davis back in Maryland. They were coming up with a way to test firefighter fitness. An agility test to set as a standard for what firefighters should be at,” says Cina. Firefighting requires vigorous, intense, physical effort on a near daily basis, and the challenges during the race simulate the real deal. Not before long, the race got competitive.
KOTA-TV ABC 3 Rapid City

EMS Union in Texas calls for units stationed downtown for quicker access following mass shooting

VIDEO: Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) had difficulty maneuvering around various barriers to get to victims involved in Saturday's Sixth Street shooting. The union president said their response would have been faster with a unit stationed downtown. "We have seven patients," first responder audio said." We have one CPR in progress. We need an ambulance up here. We are about to load them up in a cop car otherwise." Audio from first responders detailed the moments where Austin police sprung into action, rendering aid to the Sixth Street mass shooting victims. "At this point, we believe all patients are being transported by APD officers," the audio continued. ATCEMS said it was difficult to get to the victims because they had to maneuver around barricades that closed off Sixth Street and corralled the large chaotic crowds.
KVUE-TV ABC 24 Austin

Retired Florida firefighter distributes free Narcan across the country

A retired firefighter from Boynton Beach is doing his part to combat the opioid crisis. Luis Garcia has traveled across the country offering free first aid classes and giving away free Narcan through his nonprofit, USA Opioid Crisis Mortality Reduction." In the last four years, he's donated more than 6,000 doses -- saving 95 lives, according to Garcia. On Saturday, he partnered with Sol Oasis Yoga Studio to offer his classes and give out more of the life-saving medicine. "Narcan should be carried by anybody. Really, it's no different than a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, an epi-pen, a defibrillator, so I encourage people who are willing to be a Good Samaritan to carry Narcan," Garcia told CBS12 News. Studies show opioid overdose is one of the leading causes of death for Americans under the age of 50.
WPEC-TV CBS 12 West Palm Beach

Large Fire Destroys Massachusetts Condo Building, Displacing at Least 16

VIDEOS: At least 16 people were displaced Thursday night when a large fire destroyed a condominium building in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The three-alarm blaze broke out around 8 p.m. on Shawsheen Court. Flames were already going through the roof before fire crews arrived. The roof collapsed, and smoke could still be seen rising from the rubble hours after the fire began. No injuries were reported, but some pets have gone missing, fire officials said. Crews had trouble getting water on scene, Lawrence Fire Chief Brian Moriarty said, and had to use a thousand feet of hose across multiple streets. "It's not good water in this area so we had long lays down to Osgood St., Market and Osgood, Salem and Osgood, to try and get good water and that's a good three, four pump leg - 1,000 feet of hose on a truck - each one," Moriarty said. "So that was the challenge - getting the water to get the ladder pipes fed."
WBZ-TV CBS 4 Boston

New York City Creating Special Task Force to Crack Down on Illegal Fireworks

The city is creating a multi-agency task force to crack down on illegal fireworks this summer, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced earlier this week. The task force will be comprised of 32 agents — 10 officers from the NYPD Intelligence Bureau, 12 fire marshals from the FDNY and 10 deputy sheriffs from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The officers will also collaborate with the Port Authority, New York State Police, Yonkers Police, New Jersey State Police and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to share intel and resources. The task force will aim to prevent fireworks from entering New York City by targeting major suppliers. “We’re going after the people who bring these fireworks into New York City to begin with,” de Blasio said. “We’re getting right at the source.” New York City residents lodged thousands of complaints regarding illegal fireworks last summer, including in Queens.
Sunnyside Post

Two destructive fires, 9 years apart, at the same Tennessee apartment complex had one thing in common: a sprinkler system

Photos obtained by News4 Investigates show two massive fires, nine years apartment, at the Brentwood Oaks apartments show both buildings had a sprinkler system that did not prevent it from burning to the ground. Additional documents obtained by News4 Investigates show that firefighters also faced additional problems during the May 24th fire, including a delay in getting through the gates. On June 26, 2012, a fire at the apartment complex burned more than two dozen units. In the May 24, 2021 fire at the complex, more than 18 apartments were destroyed. News4 Investigates obtained photos from inside one of the units in 2012 before it burned, showing two sprinklers on the wall. We also obtained a photo from inside one of the units in 2021 before it burned, where two sprinklers can be seen in the background.
WSMV-TV NBC4 Nashville

Minnesota first responders help make 7-year-old’s birthday request come true

PHOTOS: A 7-year-old with a big heart wanted one thing for her birthday, and it wasn't anything to keep for herself. The Superior and Duluth Fire Department's teamed up with 7-year-old Monroe Kroll, to give extra comfort to those in the community who may need it most. For Kroll's 7th birthday, instead of gifts to keep for herself, she requested that her friends buy stuffed animals to give to children in need of comfort. Both fire departments jumped on board with the plan to help distribute the toys to the less fortunate. The 7-year-old hugged each stuffed animal, before giving the toys away so each child receiving the stuffy also receives a hug from her. The departments are grateful for Kroll's donation and send their appreciation.
KBJR-TV NBC 6 Superior

Retired Florida firefighter walking to honor fallen firefighters

VIDEO: Tom Hill is also known as “Bull” where he’s from. A retired firefighter for Orange County Fire Rescue in Central Florida, Bull has walked close to 3,000 miles now for firefighters who have passed. He came up Highway 17 and made a stop in Richmond Hill on Saturday, and said for the 33 years he was a firefighter, there was no help for families who lost firefighters due to cancer, and that’s why he’s walking to Charleston now. The walks began with a walk that started at mile marker zero in Key West Florida, and close to 50 days later he walked up the Florida capitol steps carrying 74 items from firefighters who have passed. Bull and his fellow walkers now have over 1,500 items, including helmet shields that were the only thing recovered of firefighters who died in 9/11. They have ashes, even sobriety coins.
Bryan County News