Hema Sivanandam
Bay Area News Group
(TNS)

BRENTWOOD — Just days after the Brentwood Planning Commission rejected plans for a new downtown fire station, a city councilmember filed an appeal. Now, the issue is headed to the City Council for discussion.

Set to be heard on June 10, Councilmember Tony Oerlemans said he filed the appeal and scheduled the discussion because he felt planning commissioners “weren’t asking any questions” and dismissed the application.

Oerlemans said commissioners instead focused on details such as a lack of trees, generator location, and brick materials. The councilmember said he wanted to be “a little more informed and knowledgeable” about the project to make an informed decision on it.

“I felt the City Council should research it themselves and be able to make that decision. I think maybe we could ask if you (fire district) are interested in changing any of that? Could you make any modifications? Is there a reason it’s set this way, or are you guys so set that it has to be this way, then we have to deny it?” said Oerlemans. “I don’t think it was there. It was just a flat no.”

As a Brentwood resident for over 20 years, Oerlemans said he remembers the obsolete Fire Station 54, which was previously used by East Contra Costa Fire Protection District in the same location where the recently rejected Fire Station 94 was proposed.

Oerlemans said firefighters used to hand out stickers to kids, bringing them closer to the community rather than merely responding to emergencies.

“Now I’m not 100% set (the fire station) has to be downtown, but if that’s where the fire department plans on building it, and if it’s going to get delayed to move to a different location, I would prefer not to wait,” he said. “I don’t think the residents of Brentwood should have to suffer for another two or three years without an additional fire station.”

On May 6, the Brentwood Planning Commission denied a design review application from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District to construct the new 8,137-square-foot Fire Station 94 next to Brentwood Veteran’s Memorial Hall on First Street.

In their denial, commissioners cited the building’s architectural design as lacking in resemblance to others in the area. They said it also did not reflect the city’s agricultural roots.

Commissioners also found the project fell short in meeting the adequate landscaping required under the city’s Downtown Specific Plan.

This was the second time the project came before the planning commission. In March, commissioners deferred their decision despite hours of discussion as they instructed city staff to provide details on the impact that Fire Station 94 would have on traffic, noise, and air quality.

Following the May 6&nb

CARBONDALE — If you see a shiny new fire truck on the road in Carbondale, you’re not imagining things.

The Carbondale Fire Department held a dedication ceremony on Thursday afternoon for Fire Engine 6, a 2025 model rescue pumper truck that replaces a retiring engine.

“This is a very big moment, and something that we’re very proud of that’s going to serve the citizens of Carbondale for upwards of 20-25 years,” Carbondale Fire Chief Rob Miller said.

The new engine — replacing a 1996 model engine, as the department aims for a lifespan of a little over two decades with each vehicle — joins a fleet of three engines, two ladder trucks and one rescue truck.

Its role as a rescue pumper truck means that it will be able to carry out the duties of a traditional fire engine, while simultaneously carrying a variety of equipment that would typically be found on a rescue truck.

During the dedication ceremony, Carbondale residents helped push the truck into the station’s garage on College Street.

Miller said the practice is an homage to the early days of firefighting.

“Whenever the horse-drawn carriages would come back to the fire station, they would unhitch the horses and the firefighters would push their carriage back into the station,” Miller said. “The community would help push that stagecoach back into the firehouse.”

Additionally, residents rinsed off the engine with a provided commemorative towel. Pastor Bob Gray delivered a brief blessing.

As he invited the community to lend a hand in dedicating the fire engine, Miller emphasized the relationship between Carbondale and the fire department that serves the city.

• Peoria (IL) FD Adds New Ladder Truck, Two Pumpers for $3.2M
• Ashton (IL) FPD Has Midwest Fire Build Its New Pumper-Tanker
• Peoria (IL) Marks 150 Years as a Paid Career Fire Department

“The fire station is a part of your neighborhoods,” Miller said. “This firehouse is always open. It’s a very busy place. We have a lot of people going in and out just from the community, and it’s part of home.”

Miller thanked city staff in attendance, particularly Mayor Carolin Harvey and City Manager Stan Reno, for their help in getting the department a new truck.

Reno and Harvey joined several city employees and a few councilmembers in participating in the dedication ceremony.

“I know it’s well needed, and this is an important piece of equipment that will last a long time,” Reno said. “I hope that it brings more safety and resources and support to the fire department for the community at large.”

© 2025 The Southern Illinoisan, Ill.. Visit www.thesouthern.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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The city of Peoria paid $3.2 million for a new 100-foot ladder truck, replacing Truck 1, and two new pumpers, 25newsnow.com reported.

The old ladder truck will be sold at auction, according to the report.

• Peoria (IL) Marks 150 Years as a Paid Career Fire Department

Pumper Specifications

Chassis	Impel®
Body	Pumper
Actual Overall Height	9′ 9″
Engine	Cummins L9
Horsepower	450 hp
Front Suspension	TAK-4® Independent Front Suspension
Rear Suspension	Spring
Electrical System	Command Zone™
Pump	Waterous Midship
Pump GPM	1250 gpm
Tank	Water
Tank Size	500 gallons

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At approximately 7:15 p.m. Thursday, May 22, Suisun City (CA) firefighters heard unusual noises and observed individuals inside the apparatus bay of the fire station, the Suisun City Fire Department said in a Facebook post. Upon investigation, one of the firefighters witnessed a male subject attempting to steal tools from the station’s maintenance shop.

The suspect, described as a Hispanic male, fled the scene with two additional individuals who appeared to be juvenile males. Firefighters were able to recover cordless power tools that had been placed in a bicycle basket before the trio fled the area.

The incident was immediately reported to the Suisun City Police Department. Officers responded promptly and conducted a search of the surrounding area. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact the Suisun City Police Department’s non-emergency line at (707) 421-7373.

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Oxygen-gasoline torches have been found to perform very well and cut faster than oxygen-acetylene/propane torches. They have been around for decades. They run on a several types of liquid fuel (most commonly gasoline) and oxygen. The fuel is delivered to the torch through hoses from a pressurized gas tank (hand pumped) and a cylinder of oxygen.

The fuel tank is pressurized by a built-in hand pump. Use only fresh fuel and flush the lines if liquid fuel is going to sit in the lines for even a few days. White gas or camp fuel is cleaner and lasts longer.

The fuel and oxygen are combined in a mixer in the head of the torch. The fuel mixture travels to the tip of the torch, where it is lit. After a few seconds of heating, the tip of the torch becomes hot enough to vaporize the gasoline in the tip. Unlike acetylene and propane, you purposely hold the flame tip against the metal to heat the tip. The rapid expansion results in a high-velocity stream of highly combustible oxygen/ gas vapor that fuels the cutting flame of the torch.

Vaporization of the fuel in the tip is an endothermic process that reduces overheating of the tip and extends its life. In this way, this torch is safer because the fuel is liquid all the way to the tip, making a flashback impossible. The torch doesn’t come with a flashback arrestor on the fuel line.

Gasoline vapors, like propane, are heavier than air. Vapors will settle to the ground and flow similar to a liquid. This is why gasoline vapors tend to find their way into drains, sewer lines, basements, and other low spots. Stay alert and monitor; keep the area ventilated.

1 To light this torch, turn the fuel valve and the oxygen valve both halfway on, and light the mist. Once lit, place the tip directly on the work piece. (Photos by author.)

2 Build pressure to deliver the fuel by pumping the black knob handle to the pressure corresponding to the installed tip according to a tip chart.

Gasoline is more efficient than equal amounts of acetylene (2U gallons gasoline = 250 cubic feet acetylene). It is also less expensive and cuts thicker metal. Cutting through rust, debris, stainless steel, concrete-caked rebar, some exotic metals, and across air gaps is not a problem, whereas an oxygen- acetylene/propane torch does not do as well in the same situations. There are even high-heat tips that allow it to burn several kinds of liquid fuels, including diesel, biodiesel, kerosene, and military jet propellant (JP) 8, 5, and 24.

LIGHTING AND CUTTING

The liquid fuel mist created by the mixing in the tip and pressure from the oxygen can be hard to ignite. Sometimes your striker will become wet with gasoline, making sparks impossible. Hold the striker a bit off to the side of the mist to ignite.

To light this torch, turn the fuel valve and the oxygen valve both halfway on, and light the mist. Once lit, place the tip directly on the work piece, something you should not do with an acetylene or a propane torch. Do this to heat the tip to help vaporize the liquid fuel. As the tip heats the flame, quality will improve. If needed, slowly add fuel to develop an orange star pattern flaring from the tip 2 to 3 inches round. As the tip is against the work piece, it should begin to reach kindling temperature. Readjust (only using the fuel valve) as needed to produce a dark blue inner flame of about ¼ inch long. Better too much fuel than too much oxygen. Once properly adjusted, this flame will sound loud and aggressive. If this torch doesn’t light and adjust