Latest news with #OSFM
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal warns about ‘Chromebook Challenge' causing fires, smoke
MARYLAND (DC News Now) — The Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) said that there is a 'concerning' new Officials said that students have been putting electrically conductive items into electronic devices' charging ports in what is called the 'Chromebook Challenge.' 'This reckless behavior has been linked to several incidents resulting in fires, smoke, and property damage,' OSFM said in a news release. OSFM said that this 'challenge' started being documented on May 5. In some cases, there have been emergency evacuations at schools across Maryland. School officials: students setting laptops on fire, connected to TikTok trend 'We want to emphasize the importance of educating students about the dangers associated with these acts,' Acting State Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray said in the release. 'It is crucial that parents and educators work together to promote a culture of safety and responsibility regarding electronic devices.' OSFM encourages parents to discuss the dangers of such acts with their children. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Galesburg firefighters honored with awards
On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, the Galesburg Fire Department held its Annual Department Firefighter Awards Ceremony for 2024 at Central Station. The awards ceremony is held to recognize firefighters whose quick actions resulted in the saving of lives during an emergency incident, as well as those who exemplify dedication and professionalism to the fire service in the Galesburg Fire Department. Fire Captain Kyle Harms, Firefighter Josh Webber and Firefighter Kyle McGee all received the Galesburg Fire Department Unit Citation Award for their actions in rescuing individuals from a balcony and an apartment that were on fire during a structure fire in 2024. All three will also be recognized at the 32nd Annual Firefighting Medal of Honor Awards Ceremony in Springfield, IL, with the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Firefighter Unit Citation Award. Fire Captain Justin Moffitt (not pictured), Firefighter Tyler Brackett and Firefighter Nick Morrissey all received the Galesburg Fire Department Unit Citation Award for their actions in rescuing a woman who was trapped in the basement of a residential structure fire in 2024. They will also be recognized at the 32nd Annual Firefighting Medal of Honor Awards Ceremony in Springfield, IL, with the OSFM Firefighter Excellence Award. Firefighter Nick Morrissey received the 2024 Firefighter of the Year Award for his actions on the above mentioned structure fire, for his dedication to maintenance and training of the water and ice rescue program, training of RIT skills within the department that he learned while attending outside training, membership on the pension board, and his dedication to the training of new Galesburg Fire recruits and the betterment of the shift that he is assigned to. Firefighter Morrissey exemplifies what all fire departments hope to see in their members. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBC
25-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
New paid parking system sparks concerns for businesses in Old Strathcona
Social Sharing Some businesses are concerned that the City of Edmonton's changes to the parking system at the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market (OSFM) will impact their operations. Free two-hour parking at 83rd Avenue and Gateway Boulevard lot on Saturdays will be no more, as the City is set to take over the lot's management staring April 6. The market has leased the parking lot from the City for the last 40 years, which allowed it to provide parking to visitors, along with discounted parking for other businesses around the area. In June 2023, city councillors voted to not renew the lease. Farmers' market patrons — and anyone parking there any other day of the week — will have to pay $2.50 per hour, with different maximums depending on the time of day. No EPark machines will be installed there, so all drivers will have to pay with an app or online. WATCH | What lies ahead for the parking lot near the OSFM? Old Strathcona Farmers' Market parking lot could become a park 6 months ago Duration 2:17 The City said the change is part of its Old Strathcona Public Realm Strategy, aimed at preparing for the future of the area. "The transition of the parking lot back to the City enables the City to begin the early preparation and scoping towards the long-term goal of establishing a district park," said the city of Edmonton in a statement to CBC News. "An additional park will add space for the public visiting Old Strathcona to play, be active, and relax." Micaela Szpigiel, the OSFM communications coordinator, said that although the new parking fee is relatively low, it could discourage people from visiting. "Unfortunately, there are a lot of comments being made of people not coming to support our market because of the free parking," she said in an interview. "But we're hoping that our team can really get the word out about this parking change so that people don't get tickets from the city and they can still come and support their favourite local farmers market." For the OSFM, it says these parking changes could impact foot traffic, particularly tourist visitors, many of whom arrive in motorhomes. To help mitigate the impact of the new parking system, the OSFM is making some changes of its own. Starting in May, the market will open on Saturdays and Mondays, and they're exploring the possibility of opening on additional days during the week. It is also offering some giveaways to help customers pay for their parking fees between April and May. The Varscona Theatre, located just across the market, was one of those businesses that benefited from the discounted parking offered by the market. Kendra Connor, the theatre's executive director, said the market's parking has been essential for their patrons. "We've had a $3 discount for six hours of parking for our customers, which is really generous," she said. "It's allowed our patrons to come see a show, perhaps stay for drinks or dessert afterwards, or go for dinner before a show." Though the hourly rate will decrease from $3.15 to $2.50 and the daily rate will drop from $18 to $10, Connor said the switch raises concerns about accessibility for some of their visitors. "Many of them are older, some of them have mobility needs or are disabled," she said. "So their ability to get close, accessible parking is really crucial to them coming and enjoying our shows." Both the OSFM and the Varscona Theatre expressed their support for the overall goals of the Old Strathcona Public Realm Strategy, but they aren't convinced that eventually replacing the parking lot with a park is the best solution for the community. The Varscona Theatre plans to communicate the parking changes to their patrons through social media, newsletters, to ensure a smooth transition, said Connor. "Some of our patrons have a difficult time using apps, so we'll be on hand in the lobby to make sure that we can answer any questions and get their parking set up for them," Connor said. "We just want to make it as clean and easy and simple for folks to get to the theatre."
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
OSFM announces $4M in grants for fire departments, EMS across Illinois
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Of the 178 fire departments and EMS providers receiving a share of $4 million in grant money, 32 are located in Central Illinois. Those 32 first responder departments located in 14 different local counties will receive a total of $737,372.80 towards essential tools and equipment. On Wednesday, the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced the full list of recipients for the 2024 Small Equipment Grant Program. Illinois spring trout season opens at select locations in April This program was started to provide grants of up to $26,000 each for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment. It is a financial approach to a problem that has caused issues for Illinois fire departments and nonprofit ambulance services, specifically for those who have issues generating the necessary revenue for this equipment. The grant program gives eligible applicants the opportunity to buy the equipment they otherwise may not be able to afford. The OSFM received 346 applications overall, requesting around $7.7 million in funding for this grant period. 'Grant programs like our Small Equipment Grant Program are critical in providing fire departments and ambulance providers with the necessary equipment to ensure their staff can perform their duties safely and efficiently,' said Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera. The majority of all state fire departments, fire protection districts, township fire departments and stand-alone, nonprofit ambulance service providers were eligible to apply across Illinois. Additionally, all fire departments, fire protection districts and township fire department applicants were required to have participated in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) for a minimum of two years before applying. 'These grants alleviate the burden of tough financial decisions, allowing departments to acquire essential tools without delay, ensuring they have what they need when they need it,' Rivera said. How do I claim my Illinois tax returns before the April 15 deadline? The full list of grant recipients and awards are as follows: Alexander: Cairo Fire Department $20,728.50 Bond: Smithboro Fire Protection District $26,000 Shoal Creek Fire Protection District $25,950.40 Boone: Boone County Fire Protection District #2 $25,271.64 Brown: Versailles Fire Protection District $26,000 Bureau: Mineral-Gold Fire Protection District $24,991.73 Calhoun: Hardin Fire Protection District $23,124.99 North Calhoun Fire Protection District $8,968 Calhoun County Volunteer Ambulance Service $25,130.63 Carroll: Lanark Fire Protection District $26,000 Milledgeville Fire Protection District $16,331.20 Cass: Beardstown Fire Department $25,996 Chandlerville Volunteer Fire Department $20,224 Champaign: Homer Fire Protection District $7,200 Eastern Prairie Fire Protection District $24,426.88 Cornbelt Fire Protection District $21,174 Thomasboro Fire Protection District $25,022.80 Gifford Fire Protection District $15,500 Pesotum Fire $22,322 Tolono Fire Protection District $26,000 Christian: Taylorville Fire Department $24,500 Clinton: Wheatfield Fire Protection District $26,000 Huey Ferrin Boulder Fire Protection District $25,557.40 Cook: LaGrange Fire Department $26,000 Rollings Meadows Fire Department $7,189 Berwyn Fire Department $8,398 Palatine Fire Department $25,740 Streamwood Fire Department $23,820 Calumet Park Fire Department $21,435.64 Schiller Park Fire Department $4,159.97 North Maine Fire Protection District $25,863 Des Plaines Fire Department $25,500 Mount Prospect Fire Department $11,915 Glenwood Fire Department $26,000 Franklin Park Fire Department $12,126 Evanston Fire Department $24,943 North Palos Fire Protection District $23,820 Stickney Fire Department $4,905 Cook/DuPage: Elk Grove Village Fire Department $26,000 Cumberland: Greenup Fire Protection District $21,210 DeKalb: Lee Community Fire Protection District $25,000 Malta Fire Protection District $11,997 DeWitt: Kenney Fire Protection District $26,000 DuPage: Warrenville Fire Protection District $16,059 Wheaton Fire Department $26,000 Bloomingdale Fire Protection District #1 $26,000 Itasca Fire Protection District $10,400 Downers Grove Fire Department $12,200 Wood Dale Fire Protection District $26,000 Glen Ellyn $25,895 Edgar: Paris Community Fire Protection District $26,000 Effingham: Effingham Fire Department $10,999.20 Fayette: Brownstown Fire Protection District $25,200 Franklin: Cave Eastern Fire Protection District $26,000 City of Zeigler Fire Department $20,000.08 Fulton: Farmington Fire Protection District $26,000 Cass-Putman Rescue Service NFP $23,815 Gallatin: Shawneetown Fire Department $26,000 Greene: Carrollton Fire Protection District $25,900 Grundy: Coal City Fire Protection District $18,750 Gardner Fire Protection District $12,142.42 Hancock: Nauvoo Fire Protection District $26,000 Hardin: Rosiclare Fire Department $25,669.55 Henry: Colona Community Fire Protection District $21,500 Kewanee Fire Department $21,455.46 Iroquois: Watseka Fire Department $26,000 Gilman Fire Protection District $25,974 Crescent-Iroquois Fire Protection District $26,000 Jackson: Carbondale Township Fire Department $24,525 Murphysboro Fire Department $12,450 Village of Gorham Volunteer Fire Department $25,989.85 Jo Daviess: Apple River Fire Protection District $26,000 Johnson: Buncombe Fire Department $26,000 Goreville Fire Department $25,945.15 Kane: Burlington Community Fire Protection District $23,000 Geneva Fire Department $24,695 Kankakee: Aroma Fire Protection District $22,123 Bradley Fire Department $23,420 Limestone Township Fire Protection District $22,793 Kendall: Oswego Fire Protection District $25,440 Lake: Lake Forest Fire Department $9,087.30 Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District $26,000 Mundelein Fire Department $26,000 LaSalle: Grand Ridge Volunteer Fire Department $16,927.50 Ottawa Fire Department $10,198 Tonica Volunteer Fire Department $10,650 Sheridan Community Fire Protection District $10,747 Livingston: Emington-Campus Fire Protection District $18,297.50 Forrest-Strawn-Wing Fire Protection District $24,776 Macon: Harristown Fire Protection District $25,912 Mt. Zion Fire Protection District $20,763.30 Long Creek Fire Protection District $25,840 Macoupin: Area Ambulance Service (Medora) $26,000 Unit 7 Fire Protection District $25,200 Medora Community Fire Protection District $13,545 Madison: Long Lake Fire Protection District $25,965 Mitchell Fire Protection District $26,000 Fosterburg Fire Protection District $8,684 Roxana Fire Department $25,149 Alton Fire Department $26,000 Worden Fire Protection District $26,000 Hartford Fire Department $26,000 Maryville Village Fire Department $15,265 Grantfork Fire Protection District $25,002.20 South Roxana Fire Protection District $25,557 Marion: Odin Fire Protection District $26,000 Salem Fire Protection District $19,664.90 Marshall: Toulca-Rutland Fire Protection District $25,992 Mason: Easton Rural Fire Protection District $25,992 Mason City Fire Protection District $24,150 Massac: Joppa Fire Department $26,000 McDonough: Macomb Fire Department $24,254.90 Good Hope-Sciota Fire Protection District $26,000 McHenry: Wonder Lake Fire Protection District $24,970 McLean: Bellflower Fire Protection District $25,250 Monroe: City of Columbia Ambulance Service $26,000 Maeystown Rural Fire Protection District $24,575 Montgomery: Witt Volunteer Fire Department $3,138.80 Taylor Springs Fire Department $22,890 Coffeen Fire Protection District $25,985.34 Farmersville Waggoner Fire Protection District $24,786.30 Fillmore Community Fire Protection District $26,000 Morgan: Waverly Fire Protection District $26,000 Franklin Fire Protection District $24,390 Chapin Area Rescue Squad $14,607.95 Peoria: Limestone Township Fire Protection District $23,178 Dunlap Community Fire Protection District $21,985 Logan-Trivoli Fire Protection District $14,954 Perry: Pinckneyville Fire Department $23,480 City of Du Quoin Fire Department $26,000 Pinckneyville Rural Fire Protection District $23,480 Piatt: Cisco Fire Protection District $26,000 Hammond Fire Protection District $25,770 Bement Fire Protection District $26,000 Monticello Fire & Rescue Department $26,000 Pike: Pleasant Hill Fire Protection District $25,990 Pope: Rural Pope County Fire Protection District $20,239.80 Pulaski: Grand Chain Fire Department $17,813.53 Olmsted Fire Department $25,290.06 Randolph: Sparta Fire Department $23,559.54 Red Bud Fire Department $25,950 Rock Island: Hampton Fire Rescue $17,500 Sangamon: Springfield Fire Department $23,801.62 Chatham Community Fire Protection District $24,575 Divernon Fire Protection District $25,486 Scott: North Scott Fire Protection District $25,770 Shelby: Oconee Fire Department $25,574.55 St. Clair: Belleville Fire Department $15,315 St. Libory Fire Protection District $25,800 Mascoutah Fire Department $25,812 Marissa Volunteer Fire Protection District $25,200 Stephenson: Davis Fire Protection District $18,505 Rock City Fire Protection District $24,840 Tazewell: Creve Coeur Fire Department $7,416.88 East Peoria Fire Department $13,692 Green Valley Fire Protection District $19,725 Union: Ware-Wolf Lake Fire Protection District $9,822.91 Warren: Little York Fire Protection District $17,280 Washington: Hoyleton Community Fire Protection District $22,400 Addieville Community Fire Protection District $25,989.44 Wayne: Wayne County Ambulance Service $24,162.07 Wayne Fire Protection District #1 $26,000 White: Enfield Fire Protection District $26,000 Village of Crossville Fire Department $22,065.06 Norris City Fire Protection District $25,346 Whiteside: Erie Fire Protection District $23,919 Will: Troy Fire Protection District $26,000 Elwood Fire Protection District $19,395 Braidwood Fire Protection District $25,495.44 Romeoville Fire Department $26,000 Beecher Fire Protection District $19,742 Bolingbrook Fire Department $24,200 Williamson: Marion Fire Department $26,000 Cambria Fire Department $21,200 Williamson County Fire Protection District $26,000 Williamson/Saline: Stonefort Fire Department $13,410 Winnebago: North Park Fire Protection District $12,897.75 Woodford: Metamora Fire Protection District $25,910 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
QCA fire departments receive state grants to buy small equipment
Several fire departments in the QCA recently received grants to help them buy more equipment. The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has announced the recipients of the 2024 Small Equipment Grant Program. A total of $4 million was awarded to 178 fire departments/districts and EMS providers statewide. The program was developed to provide grants of up to $26,000 each to buy small firefighting and ambulance equipment. This program addresses a problem that has caused difficulties for fire departments and not-for profit ambulance services in Illinois, especially those that have trouble generating enough revenue for small equipment. The grants give eligible applicants an opportunity to purchase small equipment that they may otherwise not be able to buy. The OSFM received 347 applications, requesting about $7.7 million in funding for this grant cycle. 'Grant programs like our Small Equipment Grant Program are critical in providing fire departments and ambulance providers with the necessary equipment to ensure their staff can perform their duties safely and efficiently,' said Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera. 'These grants alleviate the burden of tough financial decisions, allowing departments to acquire essential tools without delay, ensuring they have what they need when they need it,' Most Illinois fire departments, fire protections districts, township fire departments and stand-alone, nonprofit ambulance service providers were eligible to apply for the grants. All applicants were required to have participated in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) for a minimum of two years before applying. Local fire departments that received grants include: Bureau: Mineral-Gold Fire Protection District $24,991.73 Henry: Colona Community Fire Protection District $21,500 Kewanee Fire Department $21,455.46 Jo Daviess: Apple River Fire Protection District $26,000 Rock Island: Hampton Fire Rescue $17,500 Whiteside: Erie Fire Protection District $23,919 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
