A local option tax levy for fire equipment and personnel was approved by voters on Tuesday, according to a report in The Daily Astorian (OR).

The five-year levy — expected to generate $2.3 million — will provide fire apparatus, the purchase of a new training tower and a training and safety officer for the Seaside Fire Department, the report said.

Ferrara—Pointe Coupee Fire District No. 5, New Roads, LA, tanker. Freightliner M2 cab and chassis; Cummins L9 360-hp engine; Hale Qmax 1,250-gpm pump; 500-gallon polypropylene water tank; Fol-Da-Tank 3,000-gallon aluminum frame water tank; 102-inch-wide extruded aluminum body; Whelen warning lights. Dealer: Jim Stover, Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Holden, LA.

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Editor’s note: This is part one of a two-part series about Georgetown Fire Department’s efforts to replace aging apparatus on a tight budget. Part two will appear in the Nov. 17 edition of the Georgetown Gazette.

Funding fire departments is an ongoing struggle. With that in mind, Georgetown (CA) Fire Department has gotten creative, GTGazette.com reported.

GEO Fire determined it needed to replace a 1999 wildland pickup engine (Type 6), the report said. After checking on pricing and finding the cost to be in the neighborhood of $100,000, GEO Fire reached out to federal and state partners and for no cost acquired a “new to them” 2006 Ford F-350 4×4 dually pickup truck with only 40,000 miles. A flat bed, compartments and a wildland pump/engine will be installed, estimated to cost less than $35,000, the report said.

GEO Fire also reached out to the California Office of Emergency Services to purchase a structure fire engine (Type 1), according to the report. The 2005 engine cost $40,000 and came with more than $40,000 worth of firefighting equipment. GEO Fire again painted it red and it is now in service as the first engine out of the main fire station in downtown Georgetown in the winter months. GEO Fire switches to running a wildland engine as first out in the summer months, however both units are capable of fighting all types of fires and are available year-round, the report said.

GEO Fire’s main command response vehicle, a 2015 Ford F-250, is approaching 100,000 miles and needs to be transitioned to backup status to be used as a utility vehicle with a tremendous amount of specialized rescue equipment on it. When the GEO Fire staff began checking on pickup trucks they found prices had dramatically increased and a special order would be delayed 18 -24 months, according to the report.

As Georgetown is the “Gateway to the Rubicon” and the department actually responds to the Rubicon Trail for emergencies, GEO Fire reached out to Thompsons Family of Dealerships in Placerville to see what kind of partnership would be possible. Jeff Thompson personally responded and agreed to a partnership that resulted in a 2022 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon being purchased by GEO Fire at a reduced cost of $57,000 with a number of options added by Thompson’s, including a 2-inch lift kit, tires, a camper shell and a winch, the report said.

For more on this story, please go to GTGazette.com.

North Baltimore residents narrowly approved an additional 1.15-mills levy for fire protection, TheCourier.com reported.

According to unofficial results from the Wood County Board of Elections, the 1.15-mill, five-year levy was approved with 429 votes in favor and 404 opposed, the report said. The levy will provide for the provision and maintenance of fire apparatus or other fire equipment. The rate of the levy is 1.15-mills or $0.115 cents for every $100 of value.

Safe Fleet: Fire, EMS, and Industrial (FRC, FoamPro, Elkhart Brass, ROM) is excited to announce the addition of Steve Falke as Senior Director of Industrial Sales. In his new role, Falke will be responsible for the leadership of the FEI industrial sales team, developing new business opportunities and creating customized solutions to customer needs.

Falke has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Missouri and brings more than 20 years of experience in the fire safety industry. His prior experience includes leading the sales teams at Xtralis and Fike Corporation. As a Director of Sales, Falke successfully grew the business by prioritizing business opportunities that drove the highest sales volume and market share growth. He also successfully improved channel partners’ relationship and profitability. Steve’s extensive experience will make him a great asset to the Industrial sales team.