Carlock ambulance assisted Fire and EMS resources from Hudson, El Paso, Normal, Towanda and a pair of Lifeflight Helicopters from OSF St. Francis Medical Center Friday night on a multiple vehicle accident which claimed the life of a 4-month-old boy and left at least 10 others hospitalized.

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From The Pantagraph (http://www.pantagraph.com) --

"HUDSON -- A semitrailer truck that apparently failed to reduce speed on Interstate 39 when traffic slowed for an accident Friday night crashed into several vehicles, sending 10 people to area hospitals and snarling traffic for hours, police said Saturday.

An initial crash was reported around 9 p.m. around three miles north of Hudson on northbound I-39, near mile marker 8. The semitrailer truck failed to reduce speed as traffic slowed for that initial crash, and it plowed into several vehicles around 9:30 p.m. about two miles south of the original crash site, Illinois State Police said in a statement Saturday.

In all, seven vehicles — three semis and four passenger vehicles, including one towing a trailer — were involved in the crashes. Ten people were transported to area hospitals by ambulance and helicopter, two or three of them critically injured, authorities said. All lanes of Interstate 39 in both directions were reopened Saturday morning, and state police were continuing their investigation into the crash due to the number of victims and vehicles involved."

Read more about this story at http://www.pantagraph.com/

From FireSafety.gov...

The high cost of home heating fuels and utilities have caused many Americans to search for alternate sources of home heating. The use of wood burning stoves is growing and space heaters are selling rapidly, or coming out of storage. Fireplaces are burning wood and man made logs. All these methods of heating may be acceptable. They are however, a major contributing factor in residential fires.

Many of these fires can be prevented. You can prevent the loss of life and property resulting from heating fires by being able to identify potential hazards and following these safety tips.

Wood Stoves

Wood stoves cause over 4,000 residential fires every year. Carefully follow the manufacturer's installation and maintenance instructions. Look for solid construction, such as plate steel or cast iron metal. Check for cracks and inspect legs, hinges and door seals for smooth joints and seams. Use only seasoned wood for fuel, not green wood, artificial logs, or trash. Inspect and clean your pipes and chimneys annually and check monthly for damage or obstructions. Be sure to keep combustible objects at least three feet away from your wood stove.

Electric Space Heaters

Buy only heaters with the Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) safety listing. Check to make sure it has a thermostat control mechanism, and will switch off automatically if the heater falls over. Heaters are not dryers or tables; don't dry clothes or store objects on top of your heater. Space heaters need space; keep combustibles at least three feet away from each heater. Always unplug your electric space heater when not in use.

Kerosene Heaters

Buy only UL-approved heaters and check with your local fire department on the legality of kerosene heater use in your community. Never fill your heater with gasoline or camp stove fuel; both flare-up easily. Only use crystal clear K-1 kerosene.

Never overfill any portable heater. Use the kerosene heater in a well ventilated room.

Fireplaces

Fireplaces regularly build up creosote in their chimneys. They need to be cleaned out frequently and chimneys should be inspected for obstructions and cracks to prevent deadly chimney and roof fires. Check to make sure the damper is open before starting any fire. Never burn trash, paper or green wood in your fireplace.

These materials cause heavy creosote buildup and are difficult to control. Use a screen heavy enough to stop rolling logs and big enough to cover the entire opening of the fireplace to catch flying sparks. Don't wear loose-fitting clothes near any open flame. Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving the house or going to bed. Store cooled ashes in a tightly sealed metal container outside the home.

Finally, having a working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. And remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.