City commissioners approved the purchase of a $727,000 pumper truck for the fire department at their meeting Monday, RiverCountry.NewsChannelNebraska.com reported.

The city has set aside $150,000 in ARPA funds and will use $220,000 in the equipment reserve fund, leaving $357,000 left to be financed, the report said.

The new pumper will replace a 1979 pumper, which has not passed certification and is beyond its 20-year life expectancy.

A monstrous fire devoured a factory in Queens' Long Island City early Tuesday, spewing thick black smoke into the air as bright orange flames leaped into the pitch-black sky overnight. The blaze erupted at a commercial laundromat on 30th Street, near Hunters Point Avenue, around 2:30 a.m. and quickly escalated, triggering a fourth alarm -- which means more fire companies are called in -- a few hours later.
- PUB DATE: 10/18/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WNBC-TV NBC 4 New York

Tracy Williams got started in the fire service at a young age. “They asked me if I wanted to be a part of the junior program. Well, I said yeah just something new, getting ready to get out of high school I’ll just try it. From that day on, I’ve been hooked,” he explained. That was nearly 40 years ago for the current Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Marshal at the Westview-Fairforest Fire Department in Spartanburg County.
- PUB DATE: 10/18/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WHNS-TV FOX 21 Greenville

VIDEO/PHOTO: A lack of oxygen can reduce even the most furious flame to smoldering ash. But when fresh air rushes in, say after a firefighter opens a window or door to a room, the blaze may be suddenly and violently resurrected. This explosive phenomenon, called backdraft, can be lethal and has been challenging for firefighters to anticipate.
- PUB DATE: 10/18/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Tech Explore

33 years ago the Bay Area was rocked by the Loma Prieta earthquake. Experts warn it's not a matter of if a major quake will strike again, it's a matter of when. First responders have an important message. Emergency responders are urging all of us to take this time to reflect on the past, and prepare for the future.
- PUB DATE: 10/18/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTVU-TV FOX 2 Oakland