VIDEO: The month of October marks Fire Safety Month and Rockford Fire Department is emphasizing how to stay safe from cooking fires during Fire Prevention Week. "If we're slow-cooking something we tend to leave things at a low temperature for a long time," Arson Investigator for RFD, Michael Schnaper said. "After that you might forget to turn it off even though you're done cooking." The number one mistake that results in residential fires is leaving something unattended. This includes everything from a coffee pot, to a burning stove, and even a slow cooker. Once a fire starts in the kitchen, it grows quickly in seconds. "If you walk away just for two or three minutes, something that starts off just the size of a small pan... to three minutes later, it's the size of your entire oven range area," Schnaper said.  

In preparation for Halloween, the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) are collaborating to ensure the safety of haunted house attractions. They're conducting thorough inspections to guarantee a secure experience for visitors. Brian Fox, the Carnival Manager at the Illinois Department of Labor, underlined the importance of these inspections, stating, "Inspectors with IDOl's Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Division, along with other State and local partners, walkthrough, inspect and permit haunted houses before they're open to the public." Illinois requires inspections for all haunted houses, except those run by not-for-profit religious, educational, or charitable organizations, which can request exemptions.  

VIDEO: A 15-year-old allegedly threatened EMS workers with a gun at the Canton Township EMS station in Washington County on Wednesday night. Police said the teenager walked through the garage doors with a loaded 9mm handgun. "All the sudden, I see the red lights and blue lights," said Harold Plants, who lives nearby. "They took the guy out of the garage in handcuffs." The on-duty paramedics, ages 24, 51 and 53, called the police and restrained the teenager until troopers arrived. The director of the Washington County Ambulance and Chair EMS station said the suspect has no connection to the station or any of the employees. Those who live nearby said they are not surprised that something like this happened. "People breaking into cars, stealing this, stealing that, shootings, stabbings," Plants said. "It happens everywhere."  

VIDEO: A Vacaville city firefighter is now a viral sensation after an image of him on the phone in a sea of San Francisco fans was broadcast during Sunday's blowout game. Eugene Hernandez was sitting front row, decked out in his Dallas blue, when not long into the third quarter his phone started to ring. "That's when all the pictures started to roll in, and shortly after that, Dak Prescott threw the interception that was headed straight towards us," Hernandez said. "I kind of already knew, just looking at the image, it was going to be an instant meme." Wearing a decommissioned fire helmet he handmade into a Cowboys hat, he soon found the photo was taking off on social media. Hernandez is used to putting out fires, but it was quickly clear he was starting one on the internet.  

VIDEO: A growing North Idaho fire district is opening their doors to their neighbors in a bright new way. At the Mica Kidd Fire District just south of Coeur d'Alene, when the red light is on outside the fire hall, it's an open invitation to the community to grab a cup of coffee, come inside, and meet their firefighters. "We have the beautiful peaceful beauty of CDA, away from the noise and we have our own quiet little section of the world to enjoy," said Steve Isaacson. On Thursday, the crew included Steve Isaacson, a retired firefighter who lives right down the road. "This is the way to meet the people who are here to serve you and they want to do it, it's an open arm and it's a great idea," said Isaacson. Steve saw the red light and decided to stop by, which is the overall goal of this new initiative started by Chief Robert Matue. When the red light is on, it's inviting the community in.  

VIDEO: It's been three months since a vicious attack at a Birmingham fire station that left one firefighter dead and another injured. July 12 was when an assailant fired multiple shots into the bay of Fire Station 9, and to this day no arrests have been made. Firefighter Jordan Melton died from injuries he suffered in that attack. Firefighter Jamal Jones was badly injured when the gunman opened fire in broad daylight. According to Birmingham Fire officials, Jones has not yet been able to return to work and is still recovering. The company of Fire Station 9 have been operating out of other stations since the incident, currently operating out of Station 8 in Kingston, while renovations are made to Station 9. Until renovations are complete, they'll continue operating at other stations. No arrests have been made in the case, and Birmingham Police have not named any suspects.  

VIDEO: Three years after a devastating fire destroyed her home, Rachael Ray is helping others who have lost theirs to disaster in a brand new show. On Rachael Ray's Rebuild — her first series since she ended her talk show after 17 seasons in March — the celebrity cook and Kitchen Cousins' contractor Anthony Carrino team up to rebuild houses for families in need. It premieres Monday, October 23 on Hulu. "I can say from personal experience that when disaster strikes your home, your life doesn't change in an instant, it changes forever," Ray, 55, says in the trailer, premiering exclusively with PEOPLE. Ray's New York home burned to the ground in a massive fire in 2020. At the time, Ray tweeted to her fans thanking them for their well wishes, and showed gratitude to the firefighters who showed up to help.