Fire trucks, SWAT vehicles and exercise equipment adorned a parking lot in Mead on Sunday. Dozens of people spent the day climbing stair machines, honoring those who gave their lives responding to the September 11th attacks and raising money for local charities. "Just trying to honor the men and women that sacrificed everything, and getting a great workout in at the same time," said Jeremy Tracy, a firefighter for Spokane County Fire District 9.
- PUB DATE: 9/11/2022 10:24:00 PM - SOURCE: KHQ-TV NBC 6 Spokane

Residents in multiple communities west of Index received an incorrect wildfire emergency evacuation alert on their phones Saturday causing confusion as the Bolt Creek Fire continues to burn. Residents in communities including Duvall, Bothell and Everett received the alert that read in part "Evacuation alert for Bolt Creek Fire.
- PUB DATE: 9/11/2022 12:09:41 PM - SOURCE: KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

Jim Kasuba

The News Herald, Southgate, Mich.

(MCT)

Sep. 10—The Gibraltar Fire Department didn’t have to look far to find an artist to paint a mural at its fire station.

As a matter of fact, they got two artists for the price of one, in a manner of speaking. Their “price” was hard to beat, since they agreed to work on the project at no charge.

Fire Chief William Cain said that the Fire Department has a longstanding practice of involving the community and schools in its events and special projects, including students at Parsons Elementary School, Shumate Middle School and Carlson High School.

So in looking for someone to paint a mural at the fire station, he knew who he needed to turn to.

He contacted Katie Beidelschies from Carlson’s Art Department to see if any of her art students would be interested in the project. He soon had his answer.

Kira Lewis and Julia Stein stepped forward to say they would be glad to do it. Cain supplied the paint and brushes and told the girls to feel free to work at their own pace. They got started the first week in July and spent two to three hours during each session.

“I had a starting point for the girls to see what it was that we were looking for and then they took the lead,” Cain said. “Kira and Julia started about a month ago and traced out the mural with pencil and then completed it with four visits to finish the painting, and came up with the beautiful mural that now exists.”

The teens used the city of Gibraltar logo, as well as the Maltese cross as a symbol of the Fire Department as their starting point, and then used their creativity to include elements of the Detroit River that include waves at the bottom of the mural, a lighthouse and geese in flight.

Although many people probably are familiar with the Maltese cross as a symbol often used by firefighters, they may not know that it symbolizes protection. It has come to stand for a firefighter’s willingness to lay down his or her life to protect others in danger of perishing in a fire.

“Kira and Julia are very talented and have a promising future in art,” Cain said. “We are very pleased with the outcome and are happy to know that it was completed by two graduates of Carlson High School.”

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(c)2022 The News Herald, Southgate, Mich.

Visit The News Herald, Southgate, Mich. at https://www.thenewsherald.com/

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Three of the San Juan Island Fire & Rescue Department's firefighter/EMTs - Lt. Michael Henderson, firefighters Tom Eades and Craig McConnell are helping to fight the Bolt Creek Wildfire in King County, Washington. They took a wildfire brush apparatus filled with firefighting equipment to be deployed where needed in order to either attack the fire directly or protect threatened homes.
- PUB DATE: 9/11/2022 5:45:50 AM - SOURCE: San Juan Islander

Eight Paterson firefighters were injured when a pair of fire trucks collided Saturday evening while responding to a call, officials said.

Around 5:30 p.m., authorities were responding to a fire at a Targets Closeout store at 141 Main St., which was brought under control without injuries.

But as two fire trucks were en route to the fire, they collided at the intersection of Broadway and Straight Street, sending one vehicle careening into a tree and the other into the Golden Mango supermarket at 200 Broadway. Eight firefighters were seriously injured in the crash, said Jerry Speziale, the city’s public safety director of police and fire, who was on the scene Saturday evening.

All firefighters were rushed to St. Joseph’s medical center in Paterson. The three most seriously injured were in stable condition with “non-life-threatening” injuries, Paterson Fire Chief Brian McDermott told NorthJersey.com. No one was injured in the supermarket, Speziale said.

Paterson Mayor Andrew Sayegh told News 12 New Jersey that three of the firefighters were in critical condition.

“Paterson’s firefighters are the bravest and most talented group of individuals,” Speziale said. “We’re all praying for them. They do this everyday for the residents of Paterson.”