Rescuers from area part of state team giving assistance

They don't know exactly where they're headed – somewhere in New Orleans – and they're not entirely sure what they'll do down there.

But nearly 600 firefighters from Illinois – 16 from East Central Illinois – left Monday for the Gulf Coast. They drove their red ladder and pumper trucks to Effingham, where they met with fellow firefighters from around the state, then set off south on I-57.

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