Following a 45-year career, including the last nine as Buffalo Grove Fire Chief, Mike Baker is set to retire. The firefighter will call it a career officially on July 14, with Deputy Chief Lawrence "Larry" Kane set to be his successor. "Chief Baker leaves behind a remarkable legacy by his unwavering commitment to public safety and commendable accomplishments throughout his career," Village President Eric Smith said. "Buffalo Grove is home to the best fire and EMS services you can get, and that can be attributed to Chief Baker's leadership and the incredible Department he's cultivated." Baker joined BGFD as deputy chief in 2013 before being promoted to fire chief two years later. "I am immensely thankful for the support, camaraderie and opportunities for growth that I have experienced during my time here in Buffalo Grove," Baker said.  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Two men, a dog and a cat were found dead after a fire in the far northwest suburbs early Tuesday morning, fire officials said. The Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts and Union Fire Protection District responded just after 4 a.m. to the 9600-block of Knolltop Road in unincorporated Union for a reported residential fire, a Marengo fire spokesman said in a news release. The fire was initially reported by a passerby who saw flames coming from the front of the home, the spokesman said. Firefighters arrived just before 4:20 a.m., and saw heavy flames coming from the roof of the one-story home. Fire crews called for more help as the blaze spread quickly, and nearly 15 neighboring agencies responded. Firefighters found two men, a dog and a cat inside the home. They were all pronounced deceased, officials said.  

PHOTOS: Early Tuesday morning about 5:30 a.m., fire was reported at the fire station in town. "The firehouse has burned. It is a total loss," Shannon County First Responders state in a release of information. "Devastating way to begin a day, Eminence Area Volunteer Fire Department lost their entire station and equipment this morning," states Missouri State Fire Marshal Tim Bean. He is also Ret. Chief West Plains Fire Dept. "They will need us to pull together for them in the weeks to come." Fire companies from Winona, Ellington, Summersville, Thayer and Timber assisted Eminence Area Volunteer Fire Department fight the fire. Shannon County First Responders thank all area departments for their help, also "Howell - Oregon handled utilities, and Mercy EMS and Eminence and Birch Tree First Responders stood by in case of injuries."  

VIDEO: There's a new tool in the Tempe Fire Department's arsenal that they hope will make the challenge of fighting electric vehicle fires a thing of the past. "It's very easy to use and it has way less kick back than any of our firehoses," said Tempe Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Chris Snow. It's called the Coldcut Cobra, and like the reptile it references, it helps firefighters strike at the heart of a fire. "The biggest problem that we have when we fight these EV fires is getting penetration into the battery pack that's underneath. Generally, it's underneath the floorboards of the vehicles," said Snow. The souped-up power washer has two modes: the first mode uses water to cut a tiny hole in objects; the next douses whatever is on the other side of the hole, like a burning car battery, with water.  

A museum documenting the history of the Harrisonburg Fire Department is now equipped with a video tour led by the agency's long standing leader. On July 4th, 1944, an ice delivery truck had a short in its wiring, causing a vehicle fire. Another day, an oil stove blew up, causing over $1,500 in damage. Cigarettes caused accidental fires on Warsaw Avenue and many other locations throughout the year. These vignettes are recorded in a logbook from the 40s, one of the historical artifacts on display on the third floor of the public safety building in Harrisonburg. It sits alongside giant fire hose reels, rescue nets, and hazmat suits collected from the last 170-some years of firefighting in the city. And now, whenever you visit the museum, retired Fire Chief Larry Shifflett can be your guide – through a series of videos linked to QR codes at each exhibit.  

VIDEO: Nobody wants to get the axe, but in this case it's a good thing. A Toledo firefighter can now add world champion to his resume. Marcus Waugh is the World's Strongest Firefighter. He took home that title at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus this past weekend. "I've always been very passionate about lifting weights. I love the feeling of lifting something really heavy and putting on a show for the crowd. I like being a showman as well as a strong man. I sat there for a second and looked at the crowd and everything boiled up. I lost my composure a bit on stage. It's still sinking in. I haven't fully realized what happened. I trained for over a year for the competition," Marcus Waugh said. And yes, the competition's namesake, Arnold Schwarzenegger, congratulated Marcus Waugh personally.