A stolen Everett (WA) Fire Department pumper wreaked havoc Friday night, July 18, 2025, as it barreled through north Everett colliding with multiple parked cars and damaging property across five locations, komonews.com reported. The suspect remains at-large.

Damage could be seen to trees, road signs, and a dozen vehicles, officials said, The Seattle Times reported.

The Everett Fire Department posted the following on its Facebook page:

[Update July 19, 2025, at 3:45 p.m.]

EVERETT, Washington – Everett Police Detectives are continuing their investigation into the theft of Everett Fire’s engine and the series of collisions that followed. Detectives are asking anyone with information about this incident to call the Everett Police Department TIP LINE at (425) 257-8450.

Police Chief John DeRousse stated, “Losing a fire engine to such a reckless person not only jeopardizes the safety of our first responders but also puts our community at risk. We are committed to ensuring the safety of our residents, and any information that helps us resolve this incident is crucial. It is imperative that we hold the suspect accountable for their actions, and we will work diligently to bring them to justice.”

Fire Chief Dave DeMarco added, “We are actively reviewing this incident and examining our policies and procedures to see what, if anything, can be done to help prevent such occurrences in the future. We are thankful that no one was injured in this event, and we remain focused on safeguarding our community and our emergency response capabilities. We also want to take this opportunity to thank the community for their ongoing support. We are here to serve them, and their trust inspires us to continue our dedication to their safety.”

The media have inquired about the engine’s weight. The 2018 Pierce Enforcer pumper weighs approximately 35,000 pounds, making it a substantial vehicle when in motion. This engine is one of our newer engines in the fleet.

The investigation is still ongoing, and the Everett Police Department appreciates the community’s support and cooperation. Anyone with leads, video footage, or information related to the incident is encouraged to contact the TIP LINE to help bring the responsible party to justice.

The post Stolen Fire Apparatus Hits Parked Cars, Damages Property appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

CHRISTINE COMPTON
Independent Record, Helena, Mont.
(TNS)

Final preparations are underway for Helena’s third fire station, which is expected to begin construction in December.

The city aims to finish the third fire station by June 2027, bond documents state.

Helena’s Third Fire Station Rendering

Construction is expected to begin in December on Helena’s third fire station.

It will be on the corner of Custer Avenue and Kelleher Lane, north of Costco and adjacent to the Helena Wastewater Maintenance office at 2218 E. Custer Ave.

Funding it all is $7 million in bonds, which were narrowly approved by voters in June 2024. Financial details were presented to city commissioners Wednesday alongside a general timeline.

The new station will have an on-campus training area and expanded office space.

Helena had been looking to build a third fire station since 2006, when early evaluations reported the city was outgrowing its two-station model.

The big problem lies in Helena’s fire response time. The national standard for fire response was 6.5 minutes, but Helena Fire hovered around 12 in 2022, according to previous IR reporting.

Both completed fire stations are south of the train tracks, opposite from where the town is steadily expanding. The city has cited slow emergency response times to push for an underpass where the railroad crosses Montana Avenue.

Even with a third fire station, response times won’t get any faster without a bigger crew, Fire Chief Jon Campbell previously told the Independent Record.

A staffing levy ran alongside the stations bond in 2024 and failed with a 55% disapproval.

Helena’s Third Fire Station Rendering

Helena’s Fire Station No. 3 will be completed around June 2027, according to city bond documents.

Sometimes, 10 fire staff are on call, but over 90% of the year, Helena Fire only has eight people available, Campbell estimated.

He wouldn’t be able to split his crew between three buildings, and the two southern stations at the Helena Civic Center and 650 Hannaford St. are better placed for emergency response than the new northern one.

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Although the new station could be used for training or offices, Campbell said Helena won’t see better emergency services until it finds a way to fund staff.

A staffing levy currently isn’t set to be on the upcoming primary or general election ballots for the city of Helena.

As for the bond’s sale, city commissioners will be asked to approve sales this Monday, city documents state. Receipts, which will document the bonds’ pr

Riley Edenbeck
The State
(TNS)

A second Columbia-Richland Fire Department truck collision in recent days occurred Thursday morning near Harden and Lady streets in downtown Columbia.

The Thursday crash resulted in the two occupants of the other vehicle being sent to a nearby hospital by EMS. They were sent “just as a precaution to be checked out,” the Columbia-Richland Fire Department said.

No one in the firetruck was injured, the department said. The firetruck was not responding to a call at the time of the collision.

The fire department said it will investigate the collision along with local law enforcement.

A previous collision Saturday, July 12, killed Columbia resident Carolyn V. Collins when a firetruck collided with her sedan traveling north on Two Notch Road. The firetruck was responding to a call.

©2025 The State. Visit thestate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Searchers are using drones to try to locate Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Phillips, who is believed to have perished in flooding on July 5.

Phillips was responding to a report of two people trapped by floodwaters when his vehicle was swept off the road. His vehicle and some belongings have been found, but not his body.

In addition to traditional search methods, drones, cadaver dogs, and heat detecting technologies have been deployed in the search, but without success.

The Marble Falls Volunteer Fire Department, meanwhile, published an ‘end of watch announcement for Chief Phillips:

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the end of watch for our Chief, Michael Phillips.

Chief Phillips passed away in the line of duty while responding to a call for service in the early morning hours of July 5th, 2025. At this time, he remains missing.

He was more than just a friend, mentor, and leader — he was our family. His absence will leave a void in our hearts and our department that cannot be filled. We will honor his legacy and the extraordinary service he gave to our community by continuing to be the first responders he strived for us to be.

We love you Chief.

Rest in peace because we’ve got it from here.

The post Search Continues for Fire Chief Presumed Killed in TX Flooding appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

The Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department announced Tuesday, July 15, the end of watch for Chief Michael Phillips, who went missing after being swept away by floodwaters on July 5.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the end of watch for our Chief, Michael Phillips,” the department said in a Facebook post.

“Chief Phillips passed away in the line of duty while responding to a call for service in the early morning hours of July 5, 2025. At this time, he remains missing.

“He was more than just a friend, mentor, and leader — he was our family. His absence will leave a void in our hearts and our department that cannot be filled. We will honor his legacy and the extraordinary service he gave to our community by continuing to be the first responders he strived for us to be.

“We love you Chief.

“Rest in peace because we’ve got it from here.”

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The post Marble Falls (TX) VFD Announces End of Watch for Missing Chief appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.