Since 1978, East Taylor Volunteer Fire Company has relied on the same modified pickup truck to battle brush fires and other blazes, a fire official said, TribDem.com reported.

Such trucks are designed and equipped to allow responders to get to fire scenes faster than larger apparatus, and to start fighting flames as soon as possible. But after 44 years, the company’s truck can’t match up to modern models, according to the report.

That will change though, even if it won’t be immediate.

The fire department was one of seven across the 13th Congressional District notified that federal funding is flowing in to replace antiquated apparatus and gear, the report said.

East Taylor is receiving more than $261,000 to add a new mini-pumper Quick Attack truck, while nearby Cover Hill received funds to purchase new gear to protect them on scene, the report said.

A new model will enable crews to carry more gear, valuable lighting for nighttime emergencies and bolster the truck’s pumping force to 750 gallons per minute, according to the report.

Toyne—Wayne Township (NJ) Fire Company No. 2 POL aerial platform quint. Spartan Gladiator LFD with 10-inch raised roof cab and chassis; Cummins X 600-hp engine; Hale Qmax 2,000-gpm pump; 100-foot rear-mount aerial platform; dual Akron electric monitors; UPF Poly 400-gallon water tank; Onan 7.5-kW generator; AL-ll aerial information system. Dealer: Toyne Inc., Breda, IA.

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The city of Carlsbad is moving forward with plans to address gaps in fire protection, by adding crews and a seventh fire station west of I-5, CBS8.com reported.

The temporary Fire Station 7 will sit at the old Encina Power Plant site, on Carlsbad Boulevard, just north of Cannon Road, the report said.

In 2021, a ‘Standards of Cover’ evaluation found the department was behind on some response times and needed more apparatus and crews. According to this video from the city, the Department’s goal is to get to a fire within 7.5 minutes from the first call.

So far, the city is planning to spend about just under $2 million to build the temporary station, the report said. The city hopes to start construction next month and be operational by January 2023.

In the meantime, voters will have to approve construction on a permanent Fire Station 7 in the future.

The Mount Vernon Volunteer Fire Department will be breaking ground on a new fire station in early October, MitchellRepublic.com reported.

According to a fire official, the new building, estimated to cost $750,000, is a long time coming, the report said.

After a decade and a half of collecting taxes, donations and throwing fundraiser after fundraiser, exciting new things are planned for the Mount Vernon Volunteer Fire Department, the report said.

The 24-person crew of volunteer firefighters has spent its funding on necessary equipment like bunker gear, lockers and, recently, scrounging up funding for the lifesaving “jaws of life” saw, used to pry victims of car crashes from out of their vehicles, according to the report.

Even fire trucks have been adapted from regular trucks into fire trucks, with huge metal water tanks fused onto them. Some trucks even turn multi-purposed in the winter, when volunteers load medical supplies into them due to the fire station’s close proximity to Interstate 90 and the amount of crashes that occur, the report said.

Years of patience and hard work have paid off for the crew, however, and the new station is set to break ground in early October and will feature the original, red welded-metal sign and large garage doors on the corner for easy access, the report said.

Members of the Sea Girt Fire Company No. 1 planned to celebrate the arrival of their brand-new engine during a wet-down ceremony on Saturday, October 1 from 1-5 p.m. at Baltimore Park, StarNewsGroup.com reported. Those plans have been postponed due to the weather forecast.

Here’s what Sea Girt Fire Company No. 1 President, Joe Accurso, wrote on the company’s Facebook page:

“Unfortunately the weather is not cooperating with us for this weekend and we are going to postpone the wetdown of 44-75. At this point we are looking at the spring of 2023. This decision was based on an abundance of caution by the truck committee.

I would like to thank all of you for your continued support to Sea Girt Fire Company No. 1.”

The new apparatus will be designated as Engine 4475 and was custom built by Ferrara Fire Apparatus located in Holden (LA), the report said.

The new engine was designed as a “fast attack” engine with four pre-connect hand lines, a 1,000-gallon tank on board and 2,000 gallons-per-minute of pumping capabilities, according to the report. 

It was first put into service by the department this summer, the report said.

Other features include seating of up to eight firefighters and that the fire truck will have all the latest safety equipment including a seat belt warning system, cameras that cover 360 degrees for driver and firefighter safety, as well as LED scene lighting, the report said.