In January 2020, several Quad City first responders helped to create a mental health support group for other first responders. Now, almost three years later, members of that support group are trying to broaden their message to a larger audience about making it okay to not be okay. The group is called Mutual Aid Box Alarm System 43 Peer Support Team and it's just one support group of an Illinois statewide, mutual aid response system for fire, EMS and specialized incident operation teams. "We have police, fire dispatchers, we have emergency management personnel, we have retirees and we do have some spiritual guidance with a couple of our members," team organizer Lt. Jamie Hudson said. "We're not counselors, we're not therapists. We are just people who have experienced trauma ourselves and offer peer-on-peer assistance if the situation was to arise."  

A local firefighter died unexpectedly Sunday, leaving two departments mourning his loss. Thomas Harkelrode, 35, of West Farmington, worked for the Niles and Middletown fire departments. He began working for Niles as a firefighter and paramedic in August 2018. A statement from the Niles Fire Department asked the community to keep Harkelrode's friends and family in their prayers. The death is being investigated by the Trumbull County Coroner's Office, although no details could be released as of Monday.  

The State Fire Marshal's office is investigating the cause of a fire that damaged two homes in Peoria Heights Monday night. "No information is available about injuries at this time," the Peoria Heights Fire Department said in a news release. The call came in just after 8 p.m. Monday in the 1100 block of East Lake Avenue. The fire department said first responders saw heavy fire showing in the front of one of the homes, and a house next door to the west was also on fire, according to the news release. There was major fire damage on the first floor and substantial smoke damage on the second floor of one of the houses. The second home had only exterior damage, according to the fire department. Peoria, West Peoria, Dunlap, and Chillicothe Fire Departments helped Peoria Heights crews at the scene, while the Limestone Fire Department staffed the Peoria Heights station to handle other calls, the news release said.  

First responders in Springfield come out for their annual Toys for Tots drive. Santa, Police Officers, and Firefighters gather in the Crowne Plaza parking lot with dozens of toys and plenty of food for families across Central Illinois. Santa Claus says it's important for the community to see the good from our first responders. "A lot of people only see them in a bad situation. Today's the day that they get to give back. They get to show everybody that they've got a kind heart and giving heart and they want the community to come out here and do the same thing." said Santa. Many families came out with their little ones to talk to Santa and Police Officers. They were even more excited to donate gifts to families that couldn't afford any this year. "I think it's important because some kids don't get toys so they should be able to have fun for Christmas Eve." said Haddie Hendren.  

A two-alarm fire has destroyed a building on Leavenworth Street just behind the Wendy's on Lake Avenue. Crews were called to the scene around 12:30 a.m. and worked for hours putting out the flames. They are still cleaning up debris. Rochester firefighters say they got the call for a report of heavy smoke and flames coming from a one-story commercial building. Crews tried to fight it from the inside but the extreme heat forced them to use hoses and ladder pipes to fight it from the outside. We saw some firefighters being treated by EMTs at the scene. RFD says the fire caused the roof of the building to collapse. "Companies were able to make a push inside, they were able to take attack lines to go inside and try to put the fire out, but once they got inside there was heavy smoke," said Rochester Fire Department captain David Abdoch.  

VIDEO: Dale Melanson wasn't ready to leave the Plymouth Fire Department when a devastating diagnosis of ALS forced him to retire earlier this year. But, part of him did stay - his helmet. Now, it's traveling from department to department across Massachusetts. This week, Braintree firefighters delivered it to the Quincy Fire Department where it rode in the fire truck, even responding to calls. It's been to 27 fire departments so far. At each one, members sign the helmet and make a donation toward Melanson's medical bills. It's an emotional show of support and a way to raise awareness of ALS - a neurological disease that slowly takes away a person's strength and ability to move and speak. "The fire service is a true brother and sisterhood and when we know someone is down and especially in circumstances like this, we want to be there for them in any way we can," said Braintree Fire Lt. Fredrick Viola.  

A driver is in critical condition after a crash between an 18-wheeler and a box truck left one of the vehicles dangling over the Grand Parkway in Montgomery County on Monday morning. The latter vehicle, the box truck, ended up on the lanes below. Texas DPS said they responded to the crash at about 8:06 a.m. on the Grand Parkway westbound at Birnham Woods. Officials told ABC13 that the box truck went off the road during the crash, landing on the lanes below the overpass, while the 18-wheeler's cab ended up hanging partially over the overpass. Amazingly, both drivers survived, with the 18-wheeler driver being pulled out. The box truck driver was taken to the hospital with critical injuries. Photos from the Spring Fire Department posted to Twitter just before 9 a.m. showed the perilous aftermath.  

VIDEO: A new class of men and women are training to join the ranks of the Seminole County Fire Department, and more and more of the recruits are coming from a military background. For the first time, nearly a third of the new class of recruits are military veterans. Robert Garcia says he's building a brotherhood much like what he had in the military, a group that will help him launch a career as a first responder. "Just knowing that I have these brothers behind me, and that I have this tight knit family makes being able to do a job that's hectic and distraught as this one a lot easier, and it makes me that much more passionate about it," said Garcia. Garcia is one of 27 new recruits training to join the Seminole County Fire Department. He's one of 8 veterans in the class. Garcia says his drive to protect the safety of others was drilled into him in the military.  

The Natural Disasters Expo is a show all about the best when it comes to protecting us from the worst. On the show floor at the Anaheim Convention Center: firefighting gear, ready to eat meals, instant shelter tents and more. The biggest trend: portable backup power. Goal Zero was showing off power banks that use the sun to recharge. "It's all about solar but being able to take it wherever you want to go," said Chris Allen of Utah-based Goal Zero. Zendure's plug and play home energy system raised 5 million dollars on Kickstarter almost overnight. Why? "There are a lot of outages… so people are really concerned what if there is no power… I need backup power, so this is a product to fix your worries," said Zendure's Cindy Deng. A British company named Zenova was showing off their FP paint, or fire protection paint, which resists the spread of fire. It was an impressive demo.