Emergency units, including fire, rescue, ambulance and police, responded quickly to an address near Lincoln College on Tuesday when a reported lightning strike touched off a fire in a backyard shed.

Lincoln firefighters quickly assessed the situation and quickly extinguished the fire after gaining access.

[pictures by Jim Youngquist] click on pictures for larger images

• County budget ready for presentation

• Gov. Blagojevich and President Lech Kaczynski of Poland sign agreement to strengthen ties between Poland and Illinois

• President declares major disaster for Illinois

• First Response Coalition celebrates inaugural 'National First Responder Appreciation Day' on Capitol Hill

• World, national news

  • Myanmar generals begin crackdown to rein in protests

  • Administration seeks $190B for wars

  • Bush credits Karzai for a safer Afghanistan

  • More...

[Revised Aug. 29]