Spokane firefighters were put in danger Monday night after a Molotov cocktail was used to start a fire in a vacant house. The fire broke out at a structure on the 2900 block of E. Everett in Hillyard. Arriving crews entered the house and searched for anyone left inside. The house was boarded up and appeared vacant.
- PUB DATE: 8/9/2022 11:24:00 AM - SOURCE: KNDO-TV NBC 23 Yakima

The apparatus stolen from the Tanner (AL) Volunteer Fire Department has been deemed totaled, a loss of at least $200,000 to the department, which is now faced with trying to replace it, according to a report published by WAAY ABC 31.

The Ford F-550 based apparatus was one of four vehicles stolen and totaled by a suspect on Sunday morning crime spree, leaving the fire department without an often-used vehicle in the fleet, the report said.

It might take up a year to replace the wrecked apparatus, due to manufacturing delays, but the fire department is hoping to find a new rig in production already that can be purchased to help speed up the process, perhaps to as little as three to four months, according to the report.

Much of the equipment on the truck, worth about $70,000, was salvageable and the community will still be protected despite the loss, according to the report, which noted the department has four other vehicles that can help fill the gap.

A Moses Lake firefighter was injured when a support beam from an attached porch failed during a house fire Monday evening. The 46-year-old firefighter was taken to Samaritan Hospital and has since been released. Firefighters responded about 6:25 p.m. to 500 block of Canterbury Lane and arrived to find a single-family home on fire.
- PUB DATE: 8/9/2022 9:02:00 AM - SOURCE: iFiber One News Radio

According to a report from Rapid City Journal, the Sturgis (SD) Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) has taken receipt of a brand-new 1,000-gallon capacity pumper donated to them by Rosenbauer, a corporate sponsor of this week’s upcoming, world-famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The pumper is valued at between $650,000-$700,000.

The SVFD plans to use the pumper to replace two aging trucks currently in its fleet: a rescue truck and Engine 4.

SVFD Chief Scott Lensegrav said he has been working toward a sponsorship with Rosenbauer for the past couple of years. The apparatus company operates a facility that outfits fire apparatus near Sioux Falls. He stated in 2021’s annual report that the trucks have exceeded or are near their operational life expectancy of 25 years.

In addition to the cost in savings, the SVFD now one apparatus to do the jobs of two also saves on staffing requirements.

Lensegrav said the new pumper will now allow the department to do everything from aid people stranded on hillsides to vehicle extrication to fighting structure fires.

Brian Gaalswyk of Heiman Fire Equipment, a Rosenbauer dealer, said the company prefers making a direct donations to departments. He continued, saying that Rosenbauer is using their presence at the rally to support all the departments in the Black Hills as well as to meet firefighters from across the country who attend the event.

Lensegrav said the new pumper will be on display for the duration of rally week, and will then be rolled out for service early next week.

A fire truck on Bell Island in the town of Wabana in Labrador Canada caught fire while it was fighting a wildland fire over the weekend, according to a report published by radio station VOCM.

The pumper truck and Wabana firefighters were busy fighting some eight different fires over the course of Saturday and Sunday and one of those fires got so hot, it caught the truck on fire, according to the report.

The town is working with its insurance company to come up with a replacement truck to fill the large void the loss made in the community’s ability to fight fire, according to the report. The truck was used to fight wildland fires and other larger blazes, according to the report, which said there was no time frame for getting a new one in service.