The Peoria Fire Department has launched their first apprenticeship program. It is a three-year program designed to train and educate those between the ages of 18-21 about the firefighter profession. The department has been working on the creation of this program since last year. It's meant to create opportunities for young Peoria residents while also diversifying the workforce. Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger said that while they only have 3 apprentices this year, it is a long-term process. "We have this gap between 18 to 21 that we're trying to fill, and we know that some people may look at this and be like ‘you're only talking about 3 people,' well that's just the start, if we can show a level of success with this program, we're hoping to be able to expand that from 3 firefighters to 4, 5, 6, wherever this leads us," Sollberger said.  

PHOTOS: Moline firefighters with mutual aid from five other Quad-City departments battled a fire Thursday night at Gold Star FS, a propane company located at 2607 4th Avenue. Homes in the 2500-2700 block of 4th Avenue were evacuated due to the possibility of explosions, Moline Fire Chief Steve Regenwether said. It was not known Thursday night how many people were evacuated. "With the number of propane tanks and the various sizes of propane tanks, we were concerned about possible explosions being a danger to the public, so we have evacuated all residential structures near Gold Star FS," Regenwether said. Regenwether announced at 11:30 p.m. that residents were allowed to return to their homes.  

Flames lit up the sky over southwest Phoenix Thursday night as firefighters battled a massive blaze that broke out at a wood pallet facility near 35th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road. According to Captain Todd Keller with Phoenix Fire, crews were called to the area around 8 p.m. after receiving a call about a fire coming from the business. When firefighters arrived, heavy smoke and flames were already engulfing most of the business. The fire was quickly upgraded to a 3rd-alarm response, allowing for additional help from neighboring cities. The owner of Javier Pallets confirmed with Arizona's Family that his business is involved in the fire. All nearby businesses, including a Circle K store, were evacuated as a precaution, Captain Keller said.  

VIDEO: The Dickinson Fire Department has been actively engaged in a series of rigorous training activities this summer. While their schedule is not atypical for their firefighters, the number of eyes witnessing the behind-the-scenes efforts is new. Throughout the year, Dickinson firefighters participate in a diverse range of training exercises, including bailout drills and downed firefighter CPR, which aim to enhance their skills and better serve the community by ensuring their readiness for emergencies. In recent weeks, the department has expanded its presence on social media platforms, showcasing training drills through video content. These posts have not only allowed community members to gain insight into the intricacies of firefighter training, but have also attracted international viewers, extending the department's reach beyond the streets of Dickinson and North Dakota.  

VIDEO: Twenty five years ago Thursday, what at the time was the world's larges grain elevator exploded southwest of Wichita, killing seven and injuring 10. The results and recovery efforts by emergency crews at the DeBruce Grain elevator went on for weeks. On June 8, 1998, Sedgwick County firefighters Ray Hensley and Robert Timmons responded to the hectic scene southwest of Wichita. Hensley as off-duty at a hospital with family when he heard the explosion. "We heard the explosion and kinda felt, heard the windows shake," he said. Hensley had no idea what happened until his chief called him. "I was like, What's going,' and he said, ‘DeBruce elevator blew up,'" Hensley recalled. When he did get on scene... "There was huge, massive chunks of concrete the size of cars hanging off the side of the building, and they didn't want us around there for the potential something might still collapse," Hensley said.  

VIDEOS: When Ina Garten, the celebrated host of Food Network's Barefoot Contessa, steps into the kitchen, culinary magic happens. But what transpires when she dons her apron not in her classic Hamptons home, but in a bustling fire station? In the episode "Drill Dinner," Garten combined her culinary prowess with a local hero to whip up a decidedly un-Barefoot Contessa meal for East Hampton's bravest. Prepare to embark on this captivating gastronomic adventure that goes beyond Garten's regular fare and ventures into the realm of sloppy joes and beef barley soup. Garten is no stranger to unconventional recipes. But in a 2012 episode of Barefoot Contessa, she got some extra help to create a dish a bit unusual for her style. In the second installment of season 6, titled, "Drill Dinner," Garten visited some local firefighters to cook them a special meal.