PHOTO: Three people were injured after escaping an apartment fire in Old Town overnight. Just before midnight, flames were shooting from the fourth floor of the building near Wells Street and North Avenue. A man and woman were taken to Northwestern Hospital in fair condition for smoke inhalation. A man was taken to the same hospital in good condition with a possible ankle injury. A fourth floor resident said who escaped the fire said he heard something so loud, he thought it was a gunshot. "I'm like nah, I've never heard a gunshot that loud inside and sure enough I started smelling something," Resident Connor Weston said. "I was like, let me look outside of my window sure enough, there's smoke, fire, embers every where." An investigation is underway.  

In collaboration with firefighters, the Chicago Bulls are imparting essential knowledge about fire safety to children. With winter identified as a crucial time for practicing fire and carbon monoxide safety, given the higher incidence of home fires during this season, the safety program emphasizes emergency procedures. As part of the program, students were prompted to discuss and establish a designated meeting place with their parents in case of an emergency. "The house is on fire! I go outside. Where am I supposed to go? So, we call this a meeting place," a member of the Chicago Fire Department said while teaching the students. Additionally, the kids had the opportunity to explore a fire truck and gain insights into the actions firefighters take when responding to a fire.  

PHOTO: One person was injured and residents were displaced after a fire fully engulfed a house, leaving it uninhabitable, in Crystal Lake early Monday morning. The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department and Crystal Lake Police Department responded around 1:29 a.m. Monday to the 500 block of Parkside Terrace in Crystal Lake for a report of a structure fire. Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Chief Craig Snyder said firefighters arrived to find a single-family house fully involved in fire. Fire crews learned that all four residents inside had evacuated the home prior to the fire department's arrival. Firefighters conducted a defensive attack on the fire from both the front and rear of the home, Snyder said. The fire took approximately 60 minutes to get under control and crews remained working to extinguish hotspots and secure the structure.  

PHOTOS: Multiple fire departments are still battling a large fire burning at a chicken farm in a rural part of Northeast Brazos County. The fire was reported just after 5 p.m. at Feather Crest Farms near Fickey Road east of Kurten and officials Monday night said it could be days before it's fully extinguished. Black plumes of smoke could be seen as far away as Limestone County as two buildings burned on the property, but it's unclear what exactly started it. There is no public threat or hazmat concerns linked to the blaze, authorities said in a news conference Monday evening. According to Brazos County Sheriff Wayne Dicky, Democrat Road is closed and all lanes of Highway 21 are back open, but authorities are urging people to stay away from the area and not stop on the side of the road to take photos.  

Imagine that you're jogging down a trail and you trip on a rock. You've twisted your ankle, and there's nobody around. So you call 911, but the dispatchers don't know where you are and neither do you. Well, you're in luck. Orange County has implemented a new form of emergency communications technology that allows residents to make video calls to first responders. That means people in need can not only describe their emergencies, but also show them — helping responders to identify locations and assess more precisely the level of danger someone may face. This technology is the first of its kind in Central Florida and has the potential to save lives in a new and innovative way. There are many different scenarios in which the 911 video software may be useful, Kimberly Stewart-Horan, Division Chief of Communications for Orange County Fire Rescue, said.  

A new bill proposed by State Representative Daniel Pae (R-Lawton) would void costs of medical screenings for Oklahoma firefighters. House Bill 3573 was named "Fighting Chance for Firefighters Act." The yearly screenings covered in the bill are for lung, prostate, testicular, skin, colon and breast cancers. The bill not only covers all permanent firefighters, but umbrellas over volunteer firefighters as well. "The Fighting Chance for Firefighters Act, devoid of deductibles and co-payments, is a testament to our commitment to safeguarding those who risk their lives and health tirelessly protecting our communities," Pae said. "By confronting cancer head-on and encouraging early detection, we can give all of Oklahoma's firefighters their best chance for a healthy and resilient future."