Normal Fire Department

Construction of the 10,000-square-foot Fire Station #2 marks the second phase in an ongoing strategic plan to realign Normal's fire stations.

A person was freed after being trapped in a Livingston County grain bin on Thursday afternoon. Normal and Gridley fire departments were part of a multiagency response in Flanagan.

The Normal Town Council has approved a site plan and construction contract for a new fire station in development for several years. The council, meeting Monday, also approved an amended site plan for Rivian for another expansion of its electric vehicle plant.

Two unanimous votes by the planning commission recommend Rivian's new building and expansion, and a new fire station in northeast Normal. Both will now go before the town council later this month.

At a brief meeting Monday evening, the Normal Town Council approved a new memorandum of understanding about security at Unit 5 schools, and a routine intergovernmental agreement with Illinois State University concerning reimbursement for fire protection services.

The Normal Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on plans for a new fire station at its meeting on Thursday. The 10,000-square-foot station will be located at Hershey and Shepard roads. The commission also holds a public hearing the same day for a planned expansion at Rivian.

The Normal Fire Department said no injuries were reported to the occupant or to firefighters in the fire in the 300 block of Highland Avenue, a cat died of smoke inhalation. The occupant’s three dogs escaped safely.

Firefighters extinguished what was determined to be an accidental cooking fire around 3 a.m. Thursday at 410 W. Vernon Ave.

The Normal Fire Department is helping write the book on safety and firefighting at electric vehicle plants, notably with lithium-ion battery fires. Rivian and NFD are working together to navigate the challenges of fire safety at an electric vehicle manufacturer.

Bloomington-Normal emergency personnel are reminding people of the importance of knowing CPR in case of emergency.