Man rescued from the Illinois River by Peoria’s Marine 1 rescue boat

A man suffered minor injuries and was taken to an area hospital after being plucked from the Illinois River by a crew on a Peoria Fire Department rescue boat. The man was near the bank on the Peoria side of the river and on a cement structure that was in the water. He was standing on that in waist-deep water, said Battalion Chief Jeff Hascall. But had he left that area, the water would have been over his head and there is some current in that area, the chief said. Firefighters were called shortly after 11:30 a.m. and after a Peoria police officer had seen him in the water. It was unclear how long the man was in the water. The crew on the boat was able to throw a rope to the man and put a life jacket on him. They then were able to pull him into the boat. He was taken to Carle Health Methodist Hospital for treatment.
WMBD-TV CBS 31 Peoria

Wamac home destroyed by fire

PHOTOS: A home in the 100 block of South Wall in Wamac was destroyed by fire late Thursday night. The Centralia Fire Protection District initially responded to a report of a possible shed on fire and instead found a house engulfed in flames. At that point, mutual aid was called to the scene from the City of Centralia and the Sandoval Fire Protection District. Odin and Irvington were called to standby at the Centralia Fire District Station in the event of another fire. With the big head start, firefighters took a defensive stance from the exterior attacking several different fires inside the nearly full structure. A small pickup truck sitting near the house was also destroyed. Wamac Police say the home was vacant and most recently appeared to have been used for storage.
WJBD-AM 1350/FM 92.1 Salem

Bloomington Fire Department wants community input

The Bloomington Fire Department announced the launch of a new Community Engagement Survey on Wednesday. According to a City of Bloomington news release, the fire department wants to more proactive with community needs. Fire Chief Cory Matheny said, “At the Bloomington Fire Department, we believe in putting the community first. This survey is a valuable opportunity for residents to voice their opinions, share their experiences, and help us tailor our services to better meet their needs.” The survey covers resident perceptions of fire and emergency services and suggestions for improvement.
WMBD-TV CBS 31 Peoria

House fire disrupts Rock Falls Fire Department training

VIDEO: The Rock Falls Fire Department started its day Wednesday preparing for search and rescue training exercises. The Whiteside County Health Department donated a house next door to its expanding clinic. The house will be torn down later this month and become extra parking spaces, but in the meantime, the old house is the fire department's training facility. Most of the time, Rock Falls firefighters simulate training scenarios at the fire station. "We don't get these very often, maybe a couple a year and they're in varying stages of disrepair," Deputy Chief Kyle Sommers said. "Some structures we're very limited on what we're able to do based on the condition of the home. This home is actually one of the better scenarios where we can have a lot of options on what we can do."
WQAD-TV ABC/MyNetworkTV 8 Moline

Fire rages in shuttered hotel in Waukegan

PHOTOS: A fire broke out in a shuttered hotel in Waukegan early Wednesday evening. Firefighters battled the stubborn blaze near the rear of the former Ramada Inn at 200 N. Green Bay Rd. Firefighters worked from the parking lot, so no streets were blocked. No injuries were reported. The cause and origin of the fire were unknown Wednesday night. The hotel has been closed since 2018. In October, two people were found shot and killed inside the abandoned hotel.
WBBM-TV CBS 2 Chicago

Fire Department Coffee, a Rockford coffee company, brews success

For Luke Schneider, military veteran, former firefighter and founder of Fire Department Coffee, the mission of his coffee company goes deeper than just a great cup of joe. “Our vision, our goal, our mission is to make great coffee, but to do more than just make great coffee. It’s how can we have an impact in the communities that we are connected to,” he said. The mission and the communities have grown far beyond what Schneider envisioned when he started roasting coffee in a strip mall storefront roastery for friends and family. The story of Fire Department Coffee starts with a love story. “I met my wife at a business class I was taking. She was a barista, so I would go in and visit her at her work,” Schneider said. Both loved coffee. Schneider started his coffee habit while serving in the U.S. Navy and then as a full-time firefighter with the Rockford Fire Department in northern Illinois.
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