The Wilbur Ellis plant near Moses Lake collapsed after it caught on fire. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office says the building on fire was around three miles southeast of Moses Lake. It is not known what caused the fire. Grant County Fire District 5 was on the scene looking to put out the fire. GSCO says there are no evacuation requests are needed at this time.
- PUB DATE: 10/25/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KXLY-TV ABC 4 Spokane

In the investigation into a deadly floatplane crash off Whidbey Island, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it did not find a lock installed to a part that controls pitch on the aircraft, which could have led to the loss of control in the air. The crash off Whidbey Island killed the pilot and nine passengers Sept.
- PUB DATE: 10/25/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KREM-TV CBS 2 Spokane

The Nakia Creek Fire remained at 1,918 acres and rose to 54 percent containment, thanks to rain and cooler temperatures in the region, according to a Sunday morning update posted by Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency. The cool and cloudy conditions were expected Sunday followed by intermittent rain Monday.
- PUB DATE: 10/24/2022 3:52:00 PM - SOURCE: The Daily News - Metered Site

Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District was awarded $50,241 to replace its 20-year-old air filling station, which is used to fill firefighters’ self-contained breathing apparatus and SCUBA bottles, according to a news release, Patch.com reported.

In addition, the grant will be used to purchase equipment to annually test breathing masks, hazardous materials masks, WMD masks, and other equipment. The Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District will replace all their out-of-date radios, the report said.

The federal grant funds are intended to help the local fire departments improve and replace personnel safety equipment, upgrade to the latest technology, purchase new fire trucks, and hire new firefighters.

FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security award these grants through the AFG program. According to the news release, the purpose of the AFG program is to help fire departments improve their ability to protect the health and safety of the public and their personnel. Since 2001, the AFG program has awarded approximately $7.7 billion in grants to fire departments nationwide that go through a thorough application process, the report said.

On November’s ballot, the city of Flagstaff will be asking voters to approve a $5.287 million bond to address local fire, flood and wastewater infrastructure needs, AZDailySun.com reported.

If passed, Proposition 441 would fund $2,185,000 in replacements for four of the city’s fire response vehicles – two 21-year-old engines and two 22-year-old water tenders, the report said.

Replacements would mean “reliable, safer and more advanced equipment to protect Flagstaff from wildland fire and its devastating impacts,” a fire official said.

The city’s current wildland fire fleet is experiencing up to 35% downtimes due to breakdown, meaning a reduced, less-effective response to fire, according to the report.

The city budgeted more than $3 million for other fire equipment replacements in the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years, but does not have resources available to replace the vehicles, the report said. While it has considered alternate funding sources, impact fees are only available for new or additional units (which does not include replacements) and the city has not yet obtained grant funding, according to the report.