Champaign and Urbana revise fire response jurisdictions
March 9, 2016
After 18 years, the Urbana Fire Department will no longer respond to incidents on private properties in Champaign.On March 1, the Champaign City Council voted unanimously to change the interpretation of an agreement between the Urbana and Champaign fire departments. “There were different interpreta...
Fraternity members in shock after house burns down
February 1, 2016
As the flashing lights and loud sirens of fire and emergency responders’ trucks contrasted against the dark hours of the early morning, senior Phi Delta Theta member Robert Penicook was in shock. Sitting in a provided bus, Penicook stared at the smoking, blazing shell of his home.“At first I was just ...
House fire affecting students still under investigation
January 22, 2016
UPDATE: The residence at 908 S. Oak St. that caught fire early on Jan. 22 was confirmed to be a senior house of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. According to a report issued by the Champaign Fire Department, firefighters appeared on the scene at 3:51 a.m. and had the fire under control by 7:06 ...
UPDATE: Illini-Alert issued for 600 block of White Street
May 14, 2015
UPDATE: 11:15 p.m. — According to a press release from John Kroll, Champaign Fire Department fire marshal, fire crews responded to a call about a fire at 604 E. White St. at 8:18 p.m. Upon arrival, crews noticed "heavy fire" from the second story extending to the third story, on the north...
Accident on I-57 closes road, causes evacuations
February 2, 2015
A tanker carrying a substance used in manufacturing shampoo overturned on I-57 in Champaign Saturday, causing area homes to be evacuated. The crash, which happened around 7 a.m., is causing reroutes going both northbound and southbound on I-57, according to a press release from the Illinois State Police. B...
McKinley to host ninth-annual “Alcohol Awareness: Think Before You Drink”
October 16, 2014
The Illini Union side of the Quad became littered with shards of glass and metal on Monday. A “junked” four-door black car made an appearance to promote the issue of irresponsible drinking on college campuses. Today, the McKinley Health Center will host its ninth annual event “Alcohol Aware...
Fire reported at Empire Chinese Restaurant
April 5, 2014
Champaign firefighters responded to a fire at Empire Chinese Restaurant, 410 E. Green St. at 4:17 p.m. When firefighters arrived on scene they found smoke coming from the front of the building, according to a press release from the Champaign Fire Department. The fire initially started in the restaurant’s kitchen and al...
Fire crews respond to early morning fire on First Street
March 7, 2014
The Champaign Fire Department responded to a report of a large fire at 808 South First St. at around 1 a.m. Friday morning. The fire was located inside the basement of the Roland Realty apartment building, according to a press release from the Champaign Fire Department. No smoke or flames could be seen fr...
Crews respond to late night fire on John Street
January 21, 2014
The Champaign Fire Department responded to a fire in an apartment building at 207 E. John St. at around midnight Monday night. The fire was located in a storage room in a parking garage at the apartment building, according to Champaign Fire Marshal John Koller. The building was evacuated, and the fire w...
C-U combats arson, fewer cases in 2013
November 14, 2013
Four arsons have hit Champaign since Aug. 1, although the total number of cases has decreased since last year, said Champaign Fire Marshal John Koller. “I don’t know that this is anything unusual, necessarily,” he said. “When we have a cluster of a few close together in the same neighborhood, that...
