PHOTOS: While high temperatures sweeping Central Illinois this week caused air conditioning complications for many, one local farmer experienced a different side effect of the heat. According to the Teutopolis Fire Protection District, a local farmer contacted the department on Friday just before noon with concerns that the hay inside his barn might ignite as it was getting extremely hot. Firefighters responded non-emergency to the farmer's barn where the farmer was moving the bales out. Officials with the fire department said there was evidence that some of the hay had began to smolder, captured in photos the department posted to their Facebook page Saturday afternoon. They said while none of the bales ended up catching fire, they were hot to the touch. They added that the property owner was close to losing hundreds of hay bales as well as a barn.  

VIDEO: Independence Day celebrations can be fun, but it can be dangerous as well. In Illinois, buying and possessing fireworks without a permit has been illegal since 1942. Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger said only people who obtain state-registered permits can buy fireworks. "Even though you get a permit, you can't just set the fireworks off on your own," Sollberger said. "You have to secure an operator that's registered with the state." In the City of Peoria, Sollberger said the fire department must inspect fireworks setups and be present when they are showcased. "You're dealing with interstate commerce. [People] are going to Indiana or Missouri, buying fireworks and then crossing state lines," said Gwen Daniels of Illinois Legal Aid, an online website helping people with legal issues. "Once you cross state lines, federal law comes into play."  

VIDEOS: A Los Angeles firefighter's ear has been surgically reattached after being severed in an explosion that occurred as he and his colleagues were responding to a brush fire near Encino. The injured firefighter, who has not been publicly identified, was initially listed in critical condition after the blast. He was later upgraded to stable condition and released from the hospital, officials said. Crews were called shortly after 1:30 p.m. Monday to a homeless encampment in the 15700 block of West Burbank Boulevard near the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, where a grass fire had ignited. Moments after first responders evacuated the area, a device near the encampment exploded, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Crews on the scene halted the spread of the brush fire in about 30 minutes.  

VIDEO: Bryan firefighters are participating in tactical yoga this week to work their job performance. Firefighting can take a huge mental toll on the first responders. The city of Bryan is hoping to mitigate the mental health effects on its firefighters with the Well(th) Initiative program. With the Well(th) Initiative Program, Bryan firefighters will work to keep mentally and physically fit so they can continue to keep the community safe. The tactical yoga training sessions are a part of the Well(th) Initiative. The training sessions will take place Tuesday through Thursday at Bryan Fire Stations 1, 2 and 5 and is offered to the entire Bryan Fire Department. The co-founder of the program, Greg Propst, said the program focuses on 3 areas: fitness and prevention, nutrition, injury rehab, and recovery and stress.  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Las Vegas area fire departments are collaborating on a new effort to combat 4th of July fires. The Fireworks Bucket Brigade is an educational outreach program that raises awareness of the effectiveness of the buckets for fire safety. "I do think something as simple as having a bucket of water could make a world of difference," said Rick Rozier, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue deputy fire marshal. Rozier said the effort was inspired by a Colorado bucket-based effort that showed promising results in promoting fire safety. The idea is to have a 5-gallon bucket of water for emergencies and as a reservoir to properly extinguish used fireworks. It is a simple solution, Rozier admitted, but oftentimes, people do not think about the consequences of improper fireworks usage.  

VIDEO: The Biden administration has tightened disclosure rules for trains carrying hazardous cargo, with railroads now required to inform local first responders about hazardous material immediately after a derailment. The new federal requirement, announced Monday, caps significant scrutiny of the railway industry after a Norfolk Southern train released toxic chemicals into the town of East Palestine, Ohio, last year, after derailing. Firefighters who responded to the East Palestine incident have said they had a difficult time identifying the chemicals the train was carrying because of a lack of communication from the railroad company. Train operators will now be required to issue an emergency notification to local public safety officials following accidents with trains carrying hazardous material.