An outbuilding at Hanford High School caught fire Saturday morning before reigniting Sunday afternoon. Richland Fire Battalion Chief, Brenda Rogers, said the day's heat most likely re-kindled the shed. Rogers said crews were scheduled to be checking on the fire periodically, but arrived late on Sunday due to the Ironman Race.
- PUB DATE: 9/22/2024 11:36:00 PM - SOURCE: KNDO-TV NBC 23 Yakima

A fire that quickly spread outside a building Sunday morning heavily damaged a daycare in Seattle’s Mount Baker neighborhood. Fire crews say the flames started on the outside of the building and extended to the inside of the preschool. Firefighters arrived at the scene at S. Massachusetts St. and 28th S.
- PUB DATE: 9/22/2024 5:08:22 PM - SOURCE: KIRO-FM 97.3 Tacoma

VIDEO: The City of Redmond prepares to receive the state’s first electric fire truck as it looks to electrify its municipal fleets. With the city’s goal of electrifying at least 50% of its fleet by 2035, the Redmond Fire Department will receive its first electric fire truck by the end of the year. In August, the mayor of Redmond joined 350 U.
- PUB DATE: 9/22/2024 4:31:00 AM - SOURCE: KIRO-TV CBS 23 Seattle

The City of Hendersonville celebrated the grand opening of Fire Station 1 with a ceremony that brought together city officials, fire department personnel, partnering organizations, and community members. The event, held on Friday, Sept. 20, at the new station located at 851 North Main Street, marked a significant milestone in enhancing the city’s emergency response capabilities. 

“The construction of this fire station represents the hard work and dedication of many people who have prioritized the safety of Hendersonville residents and visitors,” said Hendersonville Fire Chief D. James Miller. “From City Council’s vision and ongoing support to the tireless professionalism of the men and women of this department, I thank them for their commitment which makes the construction of a state-of-the-art facility like this possible.” 

The ceremony commenced with a welcome from City Manager John Connet, who introduced Captain Cameron Womack for an invocation. Budget & Evaluation Director Adam Murr followed with remarks, highlighting the collaborative efforts that made the new station possible. Chief D. James Miller then addressed the attendees, reflecting on the station’s importance to the growing Hendersonville community and the proud history of the department which has faithfully served since 1892. 

Mayor Barbara Volk, joined by City Council members, presented resolutions of appreciation to partnering organizations which provided temporary homes for engine companies, staff, and equipment while the new station was under construction. Thanks to the collaboration of Henderson County, Henderson County Emergency Management, Henderson County Rescue Squad, Valley Hill Fire & Rescue, Dana Fire & Rescue, Green River Fire & Rescue, and Carolina Village, the Hendersonville Fire Department was able to provide uninterrupted service of the highest level while Station 1 was rebuilt.  

Instead of a typical ribbon-cutting to unveil the building, the event featured a hose uncoupling, followed by a traditional fire-service push-in ceremony. Attendees witnessed the new engine and tower apparatuses being ceremonially pushed into the station bays by firefighters. 

Following the ceremony, attendees were invited to tour the state-of-the-art facility designed by ADW Architects and built by EDIFICE Construction. Station 1 spans 19,745 square feet and houses three companies and their Battalion Chiefs, along with living quarters, administrative offices, and a Fire Department training room. Sustainability features include photovoltaic solar panels, a rainwater harvesting system, and permeable pavers for stormwater management. Air quality/apparatus exhaust venting improvements, a decontamination area, and built-in equipment for rescue training were incorporated into the station’s design to better protect and train firefighters. 

The Hendersonville Fire Department appreciates all the community members who joined them in celebrating Fire Station 1. 

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PRESS RELEASE

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) announced an award of $11,600,000 to Grand Sky in Grand Forks to enhance emergency response capabilities and improve safety for its growing community by building a new fire station. The new facility will serve as the primary fire response unit for Grand Sky, in addition to the southern portion of Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB).

This award, provided under the Defense Community Infrastructure Program, will ensure GFAFB’s ability to respond adequately and swiftly to emergencies, protect valuable assets, maintain missions, and safeguard the health and well-being of personnel. The groundbreaking of the fire station will commence once all environmental requirements have been met.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), issued the following statement regarding the announcement:

“The partnership between Grand Sky and Grand Forks Air Force Base is essential to our state’s defense ecosystem, and with rapid growth comes infrastructure challenges,” said Cramer. “The completion of this fire station will protect our airmen and Grand Sky by improving resiliency and response time. Meeting these infrastructure needs will ensure safety, while supporting the partnership’s potential.”  

Cramer has used his seat on SASC to support military installations and defense ecosystem partnerships in North Dakota. In August, Cramer flipped the switch to bring the Space Development Agency (SDA) Operations Center North online at GFAFB, participated in a Grand Forks Base Retention Committee meeting, toured the University of North Dakota (UND) National Security Corridor, and announced new Navy personnel at GFAFB. Cramer also joined E-Space CEO Greg Wyler in meeting with UND faculty and SDA staff to discuss workforce development and initiatives, and announced educational initiatives between SDA and UND.

Grand Forks Air Force Base

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. — The DOD Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation has has awarded Grand Sky a federal grant of $11 million through the Defense Community Infrastructure Program.

The Defense Community Infrastructure Program addresses deficiencies in community infrastructure supportive of military installations. It aims to enhance military value, cadet training at educational institutions, installation resilience, and military family quality of life.

The grant money will be used to enhance emergency response capabilities and improve safety for the growing community at Grand Sky by building a new fire station.

“Grand Sky needs fire response,” said Thomas Ford, Grand Forks County administrator. “We appreciate our relationship with the city’s fire teams, but a 20-minute response time presents several risks.”

Should they occur, the fire response team at Grand Forks AFB can handle runway fires from crashes or similar emergencies but cannot respond to structural fires due to leased perimeter restrictions.

Planning for the new fire station has been nearly a decade in the making. Grand Sky previously lacked the resources needed to address the absence of nearby fire response.

“It’s been a long time coming, and a lot of people have contributed,” Ford said. “These types of grants are highly competitive, and this is the first one the city of Grand Forks has received, so we’re glad to make good use of it.”

This year saw the highest number of applicants for the program, with about 160 signing up for the federal grant fund, which had $100 million available.

“It’s a big part of helping build resilience and support for our military installations,” said Gracie Lian project coordinator. “Communities the size of Grand Forks don’t always have the resources to spend on large-scale renovations, making grants like this invaluable.”

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