VIDEO: The East Millinocket Fire Department recently received a new upgrade to their fire gear. They are now said to be the first fire department in Maine to be fully outfitted with PFAS-free gear.

With the support of a $90,000 grant from the Gloria C. MacKenzie Foundation, East Millinocket Fire has received new gear for all full-time and volunteer members. Chief Kevin McAdam says most of their previous gear was around 10-20 years old in age needed to be replaced.

“Since the mill shut down, we were able to buy one set of gear here and there, maybe two in a year,” said McAdam, referring to the closure of the Great Northern Paper mill in 2014,“This grant enabled everybody in the department to get a new set.”

Manufactured by companies Milliken & Company and the Philadelphia-based Ricochet Manufacturing Company, Inc. Each piece of new gear averages at around $4,000 apiece. The fire chief noted the new gear to be less bulky, more maneuverable and flexible.

WABI-TV CBS/CW+ 5 Bangor

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All tanks have been extinguished at the Explorer Pipeline tank farm in Glenpool after a suspected lightning strike sparked a fire that spread to three tanks Monday morning.

Officials said there were no active flames, but firefighters would continue to apply foam to the tanks overnight to cool them and prevent reignition. No injuries have been reported, and nearly 50 personnel were involved in the response.

The incident began around 8:34 a.m. with one tank before spreading to three. Crews continued to apply foam to the smoldering tanks to prevent it from reigniting. The tanks contain liquid petroleum products.

Glenpool Fire Public Information Officer Mandy Vavrinak said the fire could not be fought with water alone and requires specialized chemicals, equipment and personnel.

Multiple local departments and specialized industrial fire teams assisted with the response, including Cushing Fire Department, Sinclair Refining Fire Team, Coffeyville Resources Fire Team, Williams Fire and Hazard Control, U.S. Fire Pump and Kiefer Fire Department. Tulsa Fire Department was also at the scene earlier Monday.

KOTV-DT CBS 6 Tulsa

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PHOTOS: A new wildfire in Okanogan County has burned 250 acres and prompted Level 2 and Level 3 evacuation orders along Highway 20, according to fire officials. The Reevas Basin Fire started around 2 p.m. Saturday near Tonasket. Its cause is under investigation, officials said. The fire is not far from the Sinlahekin Fire, which remains the state’s largest wildfire.

Crews said that blaze has grown to nearly 153,000 acres and was 44% contained as of Sunday. In Chelan County — the Little Giant Fire is holding at 132,000 acres after growing Sunday. Fire crews said gusting winds from a passing thunderstorm increased fire activity along the eastern side of the Chiwawa River. The fire was started by a lightning strike last month.

KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

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Firefighters and the Department of Natural Resources responded to a structure fire in Medical Lake near Lakeland Village on Sunday afternoon. Ryan Rodruck with DNR confirmed that the fire began as a structure fire and spread to a wildland fire.

According to Spokane County Fire District 3, the fire is 1.5 acres in size and 100% lined. As of about 5 p.m., fire officials said the fire was fully contained. There are vehicles on fire near the wildland area.

SCFD 3 said the fire originated behind a house, but there was not complete structure loss. Aerial resources have been cleared. No injuries have been reported.

KHQ-TV NBC 6 Spokane

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Firefighters had to use the jaws of life to free an Olalla woman suspected of DUI from her crashed car. Deputies said the woman crashed her car along Long Lake Road on Sunday. Only her vehicle was involved. The woman was trapped in her vehicle, so South Kitsap Fire & Rescue had to remove the car’s roof to get her out.

She was hospitalized with a 0.40% BAC (blood alcohol concentration), according to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office. That amount is five times the legal limit, which in Washington is 0.08%. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, someone with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.31 to 0.45 is in danger of an overdose and has a significant risk of dying.

KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

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