26 firefighters responded to a multi-alarm fire at Pierce Distribution Services in Rockford Friday afternoon that caused an estimated $400,000 in damages. On Friday, April 14 around 12:32 p.m., the Rockford Fire Department responded to a report of a commercial structure fire located at 3686 South Central Drive. The first units that arrived on scene reported a heavy smoke condition from the roof of the building. All occupants and employees were already out of the building when Rockford Fire units arrived. The fire was put out by the building's sprinkler system and Rockford Fire units on the scene in about 35 minutes. No one was injured during the incident. Pierce Distribution Services released the following statement: "The fire was quickly brought under control, and all employees are safe. We are working with the Rockford Fire Department to assess damage and the cause of the fire. We thank the department for their quick response."  

One person lost their life in a fire at Rockford motel on Saturday. Firefighters were called to the Travel Lodge Motel, 3851 11th Street, around 2:04 p.m. for reports of a possible electrical fire, according to the Rockford Fire Department. Crews arrived within four minutes to find light smoke showing from a motel room. A small fire was located and extinguished. A male victim was located in the room. He was confirmed dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. Damage is estimated at $20,000. The victim's name is being withheld pending notification of family.  

A Peoria home went up in flames early Monday morning on N. Stephen Drive, just off War Memorial Drive. Crews were called to the scene around 12:30 a.m. They were told enroute that someone was inside the home and was unconscious. Peoria firefighters were initially unable to gain entry to the home due to the amount of fire and heat. Fire Battalion Chief Steve Rada said half of the home was fully engulfed in fire, with heavy black smoke coming from the front door. Several firefighters were able to remove the victim from the home, taking them to the front yard, where the person was unresponsive and barely breathing. Fire crews began life-saving efforts to stabilize the patient until AMT arrived and took over, taking them to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. It was reported the patient was breathing and had a pulse at the hospital, but their condition was unknown. One dog died in the fire.  

A roof collapsed at a church after a three-alarm fire sparked Monday morning in southwest Oklahoma City. Shortly before 5:15 a.m., a passerby called authorities to report a fire at a church near Southwest 74th Street and Walker Avenue, just off Interstate 240. Fire department officials said crews arrived and found heavy flames on the front side of the God of No Limits Family Ministries. The fire quickly spread through the center of the church and quickly grew into a two-alarm fire. Oklahoma City Fire Department officials tweeted that the situation was a three-alarm fire. The flames caused almost all of the roof to collapse into the church. Authorities said nobody was found inside the church, and no injuries were reported.  

New information is emerging about a train derailment in Somerset County that sent flames and smoke above Moosehead Lake Saturday morning. Bill Jarvis, chief of the Jackman-Moose River Fire & Rescue Department, was one of the first responders on the scene. Jarvis said it was an ‘absolute miracle' the three workers, all from Maine, were not more seriously hurt. "One of them did tell me as they were coming along with the train, 35 mph with approximately 15 million pounds of freight in the train, that they could suddenly see the rail still there but with the washout they knew nothing was underneath the rail and they knew there was nothing they could do and the lead locomotive they were in went right down," Jarvis said. The Jackman-Moose River Fire & Rescue Department is roughly 20 miles from where the train derailed in Sandwich Academy Grant Township.  

VIDEO: Ten years ago today, the tiny town of West, Texas drew the attention of the world when a fertilizer plant exploded. It was a fire inside the West Fertilizer Company, which sparked the detonation of 30 tons of fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate. While ammonium nitrate is powerful enough to make bombs in Afghanistan, it's also been used for crop production in America for decades. Fifteen people lost their lives, hundreds were injured and hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed. Seismic stations registered a 2.1-magnitude earthquake, from the explosion, that shook the town to its foundation. That measurement was based on waves absorbed through the ground. The actual force of impact was much greater above ground. The panic, and destruction at the scene, was overwhelming for first responders. As many as 400 emergency officials from across Texas, including Dallas-Fort Worth responded to the explosion, even without being asked.  

VIDEO: As a tribute to Volunteer Fire Departments (VFDs), Straub Brewery, along with their wholesale and retail partners, recently launched a statewide program to raise awareness and support the critical role of VFDs in protecting Pennsylvania's communities. In March of 2023, over 2,000 cases of Straub Brite Cans were packaged with a commemorative label honoring VFDs and shipped to Wholesalers. "The commemorative package serves as a reminder of the service and sacrifice of those volunteer firefighters who respond when called upon to safeguard their communities," said William Brock, President, and CEO of Straub Brewery. This program also hopes to raise awareness of the enormous cost of the equipment needed to maintain an effective VFD and ensure the well-being and safety of firefighters.