House fire on Peoria’s West Bluff causes $100,000 in damage with no injuries

VIDEO: A West Bluff house fire early Monday morning caused $100,000 in damage but no injuries, the Peoria Fire Department said. Firefighters were called to the house, which is on the corner of West Brons Avenue and North Broadway Street just after 6 a.m. When they arrived on the scene crews observed smoke and fire coming from the home’s first and second floors, said Peoria Fire Battalion Chief Mike Ralston. Multiple fire hoses were deployed to both put out the fire in the home and to prevent it from spreading to neighboring homes. The home was searched, and no one was found in the residence. Ameren was called to the scene to secure the home’s electrical and gas utility. A fire investigator and arson dog were also called to the scene. The fire department confirmed that the fire was an arson.
WMBD-TV CBS 31 Peoria

Dixon firefighter retires after 20 years of service

PHOTO: A recently retired Dixon city firefighter/paramedic has been honored for his many years of service. The Dixon City Council at its meeting last week recognized David Boucher, who began his career with the department in July 2004 and retired Feb. 17. “Through his 20-year career of serving the community of Dixon, he’s obtained certifications in advanced firefighting, Fire Officer 1, extrication, and rope rescue,” said Dixon Fire Chief Ryan Buskohl. “Dave was also our juvenile firesetter intervention specialist working with youth identified as a risk of starting fires.” Boucher is a U.S Army veteran and earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University. Boucher was presented with framed firefighter memorabilia and a retirement axe.
Northwest Herald - Metered Site

Peoria firefighters demonstrate how they fight fires

VIDEO: The Peoria Fire Department showed the public how they tackle fires during their third live burn demonstration in April. More than 30 attendees, mostly insurance adjusters, participated in the live burn demonstration at the Peoria Fire Academy in Peoria. “The important thing they will take away from it is how fast a fire grows or doesn’t grow. And how does it grow with extra ventilation, with no ventilation and things like that,” said Brad Pierson, arson investigator at Peoria Fire Department. Pierson said fires double in size every minute, then keep compounding. To determine the cause of the fire, investigators look at the makeup of the house or car, location, weather, time of day, videos and fire patterns. “Everything leaves a pattern that burns. Then we can look at that and determine the area of origin,” he said.
WMBD-TV CBS 31 Peoria

Litchfield Fire Department Receives Grant

Litchfield gained a significant boost in emergency response capabilities as the Litchfield Fire Department has been awarded a grant from the Illinois State Fire Marshal. The grant, totaling $19,811, is earmarked for the acquisition of essential rescue equipment. The funds will be utilized to receive Turtle Plastic Cribbing and the Apex Deluxe 4-point Rescue Jack System, both are important tools that enhance the department's capacity to handle complex rescue scenarios efficiently and safely. Captain David Rogers played a large role in securing the grant, investing considerable effort and expertise in the application process. His dedication and strategic approach have been instrumental in guiding the competitive grant landscape and securing this vital funding for the department.
Taylorville Daily News

Elderly man rescued from Rockford house fire

An elderly man is in the hospital after a house fire Monday afternoon. First responders were called to the 300 block of Howard Avenue around 4:30 p.m. for a house fire where an elderly man was trapped on the second floor. When firefighters got to the scene, they found an elderly man hanging out the second floor window with smoke billowing out behind him. Rockford firefighters used a ladder truck to rescue the man and get him to the hospital. The man's condition is unknown at this time. The Rockford Fire Department says the fire caused around $25,000 in damage and are still investigating how the fire started.
WREX-TV NBC 13 Rockford