VIDEO: Crews responded to a structure fire in West Central, at the intersection of Broadway and Cedar in the morning of Aug. 23. The Spokane Fire Department reported there were no injuries or fatalities. The fire caused the nearby Spokane County Courthouse to be evacuated. That evacuation was lifted later in the morning.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KHQ-TV NBC 6 Spokane

Burn bans still remain in effect for most places in Central and Eastern Washington as fire danger remains high. This means do not light at fires at your home, including bonfires and controlled burns, and especially do not light a campfire if you go camping. A fire safety burn ban protects people and property when wildfire danger is high, according to The Washington State Department of Ecology.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KNDO-TV NBC 23 Yakima

Richland Firefighters now have a new structure to utilize for training, thanks to a company just east of the Tri-Cities. “Everybody’s extremely excited, yeah,” Deputy Fire Chief Randy Aust said. Aust said shipping containers as a firefighting prop is common, what’s new is a mobile prop on the structure’s right side, created by Taylor’d Containers, from Spokane.
- PUB DATE: 8/23/2022 6:31:22 PM - SOURCE: YakTriNews-Metered Site

The Seneca (KS) Volunteer Fire Department have planned a day-long celebration to mark the 100th birthday of its prized 1922 Model K Baby Stutz fire engine, according to a report published by Hiawatha World Online.

According to the report, The Baby Stutz is one of only two known left in existence and was bought new by the City of Seneca and been owned by the city ever since. The apparatus was restored in 1976 for the nation’s bicentennial celebration, but is in need of a refreshing with repairs to the fuel tank, new tires, paint and some gaskets for the engines.

The Stutz, as it is commonly called in Seneca, was purchased in March of 1922 by the City of Seneca and has been owned by the city ever since. The Stutz Motor Company produced 23 Model K fire engines between 1922 and 1928, to the knowledge of the Seneca Volunteer Fire Department Seneca’s Stutz is one of two left in existence. Restored once before in time for the 1976 bicentennial the Stutz is once again in need of repairs and restorations. A new fuel tank, tires, and radiator are needed along with updating the paint job, re-gasketing the engine, fixing the spokes on the wooden wheels, and other crucial repairs. Thus the observance of the Stutz’s 100th year will not only be a celebration but also an opportunity to raise the needed funds to perform these restorations. Much of the proceeds from the event will be used for the work according to the paper.

According to the report the event begins with a fire truck show starting a 9 am, a parade at 5 pm, a pipe and drum concert at 6 pm with a by-donation dinner and capped off with a classis rock concert from 7 to 11.

The Rutland (VT) Town Fire Department is expecting to put its new fire truck in service within the next couple of weeks after all the equipment has been mounted and loaded and sufficient training has been completed, according to report published by the Rutland Herald.

Rutland selectboard members voice some questions about whether the apparatus had been completed to the department’s satisfaction as the town was about to make a final payment on the vehicle, according to the report, which added the board didn’t want to lose any leverage it might have if the truck was not 100 percent satisfactory.

The board said they had no specific reasons to ask the questions other than shortly after the Center Rutland Fire Station had been built and final payments were made, issues were discovered that had to be resolved in court, according to the report.

The fire chief told the board the $675,000 apparatus, built by Rosenbauer has been put through its paces and he and the firefighters were satisfied with the rig, according to the report, which added it is designed to fill many needs of the department over the next 30 years.

Additionally, the department bought extra warranties and guarantees to protect the investment, according to the report.