Rockford apartment fire causes $275K in damage, no injuries

VIDEO/PHOTOS: First responders hurry to Rockford’s west side to put out an apartment fire late Wednesday evening. Just after 9 p.m. on July 24, Rockford firefighters rushed to the scene of an apartment fire in the 2100 block of Auburn Street. First responders on the scene reported seeing heavy fire from the second story of the building. Crews battled heavy smoke and fire conditions on the second floor, but they say they contained the blaze within 30 minutes. Firefighters did not find any residents inside the apartment at the time of the fire. The Rockford Fire Department estimates the fire caused $275,000 in damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
WIFR-TV CBS 23 Rockford

Abandoned Danville church destroyed in three-alarm fire

VIDEO: An abandoned church in Danville was reduced to rubble overnight after a three-alarm fire broke out. The church was at Fowler Avenue and Clyman Lane and the fire started around 9 p.m. It was an all-hands-on-deck situation for the Danville Fire Department, and they needed even more help from the surrounding area. “Our Chief arrived on the scene first, saw smoke, realized that it was the church, which is a large structure,” said Captain Neil Yelenick. “Immediately called for a second alarm, which brings in another crew, and with the workload and the humidity last night, it escalated to a call back to the entire department.” A total of 35 firefighters were needed to fight the fire, and Chief Aaron Marcott said nearly all resources of the DFD were exhausted over the next 12 hours.
WCIA-TV CBS 3 Champaign

Three children hospitalized after fireworks ignite mattress, start fire at Chicago Housing Authority building

Three minors are in the hospital after a fire at a Chicago Housing Authority building in the city’s Douglas neighborhood Wednesday afternoon. “When initial companies arrived, there was heavy fire on the fourth floor,” said Deputy District Chief John Giordano. “We extinguished the fire pretty quickly and there were three children that were transported to Comer Children’s with non-life threatening injuries.” According to officials with the Chicago Fire Department, all three children were under 12 years old and taken from a six-story apartment building in the 2900 block of South State Street around 1 p.m. to Comer Children’s Hospital. Fire officials said one of the children suffered a minor burn, while the other two experienced slight smoke inhalation.
WGN-TV 9 Chicago

Fire erupts at Cook County home after reported lightning strike

PHOTOS: A fire broke out at a home in unincorporated Orland Township Tuesday night. Around 10:30 p.m., a homeowner in the 165000 block of Lee Avenue called 911 to report that he suspected his property may have been struck by lightning. He stated that his house shook and that he was experiencing electrical issues. Additionally, the homeowner walked through the house to check all the rooms but did not see anything out of the ordinary. He said he also checked the attic but didn't notice any damage. The Orland Fire Protection District sent crews to the home to do an inspection. Minutes later, the homeowner called 911 again and told the dispatcher that he smelled a heavy odor of smoke. The response was then upgraded to a reported structure fire. Firefighters arrived at the scene in minutes and found heavy smoke coming from the back of the house.
WFLD-TV FOX 32 Chicago

Charleston Fire Department celebrating 150th anniversary

VIDEO: The Charleston Fire Department will be celebrating a milestone anniversary this weekend: their 150th. For more than a century, the Charleston Fire Department has served generations of people. Countless firefighters have called the station their second home. Last month marked the big milestone. “Well, I take exceptional pride in it because my dad actually started here as a as a firefighter in the ’90s,” Lieutenant Jordan Philpott said. He said continuing his father’s legacy adds a whole new meaning to his job. “You know, as a kid, growing up and being able to come into the fire station and being exposed to that, it made me have the desire to do it,” Philpott said. “And so that’s that’s what got me here today.” The Charleston Fire Department was established in 1874. About 100 years later, in the 1970s, they took over the ambulance service from a private company.
WCIA-TV CBS 3 Champaign