A fast-moving fire that continues to scorch farmland has swelled to at least 150 acres in size as of 6 p.m. Saturday. The blaze reportedly was sparked by a lightning strike south of Washtucna earlier in the day and is burning eastward, away from town towards SR 26. No evacuations have been issued due to the direction the fire is burning, but it is situated about a mile away from the small town.
- PUB DATE: 9/3/2022 6:09:00 PM - SOURCE: iFiber One News Radio

A first-of-its-kind fire truck in Central Texas will make its debut in the upcoming weeks, CBSAustin.com reported Friday.

Travis County ESD No. 2 is expected to unveil its new blocking apparatus built to save lives when firefighters are working incidents on major highways, the report said.

What makes this new blocking apparatus unique is that the fire department chose to take the old and turn it into something new, the report said.

Travis County ESD No.2, also known as the Pflugerville Fire Department, is taking a retired fire truck and repurposing it into a blocking apparatus, according to the report.

A fire official said it’s meant to save lives when responding to crashes on busy interstates and to prevent line of duty deaths.

Longview (TX) police say the driver of a Longview fire engine failed to yield right-of-way, resulting in the death of a Hallsville man, KLTV.com reported Friday.

According to the police Facebook post, an initial investigation revealed an LFD fire engine was traveling west on Alpine Road at 6:35 p.m. Thursday and failed to yield right-of-way while turning onto East Ann Drive. James Ray Neuville, 60, was driving a motorcycle east on Alpine Road and laid his motorcycle on the ground to avoid collision with the fire engine, the report said.

Fire personnel on scene immediately began providing aid to Neuville. Neuville later died at a Longview hospital, according to the report.

According to a Longview fire official, the driver of the fire engine has been placed on administrative leave.

Fire officials at the Kansas City (MO) Fire Department did not know about the concerns raised about one of their pumper-truck drivers until after the deadly crash in Westport, according to court documents obtained by the KSHB.com.

An email sent months before the crash detailed concerns and complaints about the fire truck driver, the report said.

For more on this story, please go to the report.

The Golden Triangle Regional Airport (MS) recently took delivery of a second Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Truck, WCBI.com reported.

The state of the art Striker 4×4 truck can carry up to 1,700 gallons of water and handle off-road conditions. A Federal Aviation Authority covered $878,000 price tag, the report said.

The firefighting crew has completed training on the truck, and it is already in service, the report said.