Three firefighters were injured Wednesday at a wildland fire in Hood County started by welding sparks.

Two firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion. A third firefighter had to be airlifted to Parkland Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation and burns to his face and arms. All three are recovering from their injuries.

The fire, started Wednesday by a welder, quickly grew to 300 acres in the Tolar area. Firefighters planned to continue working the fire on Thursday.

Cresson Volunteer Fire Department reported that its brush truck stalled at the fire scene and, with the fire approaching, firefighters retreated to a safe area. Another truck picked them up and assisted them to safety.

U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced $1,275,000 in federal funds for the construction of a new fire station in La Joya (TX), covering 75 percent of the cost of the new station, according to a news release from the congressman.

The current fire station is nearly 30 years old and does not meet standard building code requirements. The new building will serve the growing population with state-of-the-art construction that can better serve the community in the case of an emergency.

“The new La Joya Fire Station will provide our firefighters with the tools they require to better serve our community. The station will also meet all building requirements to guarantee the safety of our firefighters. This will result in a more efficient service and faster response times for the city of La Joya,” said Congressman Cuellar. “This new station is a top priority for the community and for our fire fighters who risk their lives daily. I want to thank Chief Frankie Joe Salinas and the La Joya Fire Department for their continuous service to our community. Your work is essential for the wellbeing of our citizens.”

“The funding allocated for the new fire station is much needed for our community and the areas our fire department respond too because we will now have a secured building that will be able to house the proper equipment need to fight fires, provide medical attention and respond to vehicle accidents,” said La Joya Fire Chief Frankie Joe Salinas. “This facility will also have a training room that will be utilized by the fire department’s and the police department’s personnel to conduct classroom and hands on training.  Our current facility is not in reliable or proper conditions for storing our equipment or have proper security measure to keeping our personnel safe.”

As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Cuellar continues to prioritize the funding needs of Texas-28 and secured the funding for this project in the FY22 cycle.

The federal funds will cover 75% of the total cost of the new fire station. The total cost of the project is $1,700,000. It is estimated that it will take 12 months to complete the construction of the new station.

Poulsbo Fire Department commissioners are placing a levy on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot. The resolution asks to restore the levy to the rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value, as previously approved by voters, a PFD news release says. The restoration was recommended by the department’s citizens’ strategic advisory board to provide funding to maintain service levels for the growing community.
- PUB DATE: 8/4/2022 1:30:00 AM - SOURCE: Kitsap Daily News

Intense flames tore through the loading zone of a commercial building in Ontario late Wednesday, forcing employees still in the building to run and leaving firefighters searching for the cause of the fire. The Ontario Fire Department responded to a fire burning near the external area of a building on Proforma Avenue, near the Ontario Airport, at around 11 p.
- PUB DATE: 8/4/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KNBC-TV NBC 4 Los Angeles

VIDEO: First responders have used virtual reality to train for certain emergencies for years, but those simulations are usually limited to a screen and don’t give responders hands-on experience. A new one-of-a-kind training center opened in Boulder, Colorado, to take virtual reality training for first responders to the next level.
- PUB DATE: 8/4/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KMGH-TV ABC 7 Denver