Residents say fires in Olowalu and its surrounding areas are inevitable and happen often, which is a problem as the nearest fire station is more than five miles from Olowalu, Launiupoko, and Ukumehame.

To combat this, a campaign has been started to raise approximately $2 million to build a fire substation. As of this posting, $16,313 has been raised. The goal is to have it up and running in 12 months.

“There is a spiritual axiom that people won’t care much about what we know until they see how much we care,” a press release from the West Maui Improvement Foundation says. “​I am so grateful to our volunteer WMIF & WMTA Board of Directors and our supporters & members who are joining with us as we continue to reveal how much we care about our West Maui Community. No other organization in Hawaii has done more for its community in the last 43 years than WMTA.  Our track record is stellar, and our future is ambitious.

“South Lahaina, Launiupoko, Olowalu, Ukumehame are all areas outside of the Maui Fire Departments (MFD) five-mile radius of the Lahaina Fire Station and therefore are at greater risk of fire and life Safety due to the MFD response time. Delayed response times may cost us our homes, businesses and even our lives! In addition, when brush fires start along the Pali all of West Maui is landlocked! Quicker response times benefit everyone!

“A proposed station in Olowalu solves this problem for all. The County’s long-term plans acknowledge a station is needed but may not be in the plans for many years. Through the hard work and cooperation from the Maui Fire Department, Maui Taxpayers Association (WMTA), Mahanalua Nui HOA Fire committee, Olowalu Homes, Inc., The County of Maui, and numerous other Individuals and Associations we are proud to announce that progress is being made to make this a reality sooner than anyone ever thought.

“Through a generous land donation of 2 acres in Olowalu, a new cost saving modular constructed Fire Station, we are streaking toward our goal which is to have a Fire station in Olowalu in less than 12 months!!”

OCEAN GATE N.J. – Today, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) announced Ocean Gate Fire Department will be receiving $978,000 to acquire a new fire truck to adequately serve Ocean Gate through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Community Facilities Loans and Grants Program.

“I’m proud to have been able to help Ocean Gate get a new fire truck,” said Congressman Kim. “My favorite part of this job doesn’t happen down in Washington, it happens here at home – making these touches, hearing directly from constituents at each of my monthly town halls, and working hard to deliver tangible results in our community. This new fire truck is one small but hugely impactful part of ensuring our towns have the resources they need to keep people safe and ensure that we’re prepared for emergencies. I’m glad to have been able to help deliver this win for Ocean Gate.”

The USDA approved a loan of $930,100 and a grant of $47,900 to the borough of Ocean Gate for the purchase of a new aerial ladder fire truck. Currently Ocean Gate’s two older fire trucks cannot efficiently reach the raised elevation height of structures since most have been lifted after Superstorm Sandy to meet flood elevation requirements.

“The borough of Ocean Gate is happy and grateful to receive this loan and grant for a new fire truck. We are a small community with big needs and would like to thank Congressman Andy Kim for his hard work in support of our obtaining this funding,” said Ocean Gate Mayor David Kendrick. “Both of our operating fire trucks are over 25 years old and neither can reach the upper floors of our homes raised because of Superstorm Sandy. With this funding, we will be able to purchase a new fire truck which will serve our community for many years to come.”

Congressman Kim was proud to work with the borough of Ocean Gate to help support their pursuit of this federal grant. If your organization or nonprofit is applying for a federal grant, our office has a dedicated Grants Director who is available to submit a letter of support on your behalf, connect you with a federal grant liaison to answer application questions, obtain feedback about a previously denied grant to strengthen your next application, or work with congressional liaisons to research potential federal grant opportunities.

If you are interested in receiving our monthly Guide to Grants newsletter with available nonprofit and governmental funding opportunities and grant-specific webinars from Congressman Kim’s office, please contact us at 202-225-4765 and ask to be added, or sign up here.

More information about Congressman Kim can be found on his website by clicking here.

Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue recently had an unannounced visitor. However, it wasn’t to alert the department of grave danger. In fact, the guest couldn’t even talk.

Indeed. A concerned citizen Friday alerted the department of a fawn who wound up in the station’s front vestibule.

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Department officials assisted with safely transferring the fawn into a safe environment in the wooded area near the station.

The Chatham Township Volunteer Fire Department (CTVFD) recently dedicated a few pieces of apparatus, reports Patch.com.

Rescue 14 was dedicated to Edward P. Sagendorf Jr., whose family has been serving with the department for 60 years. He began with CTVFD in 1962 and remained until his death in 2007, the report says. Sagendorf was a driver on the original Rescue 14—purchased in 2001.

Station 2’s Engine 10, purchased in 2010, was never dedicated, and last week that was corrected and it was dedicated in memory of John R. Atchison, who joined in 1974 and remained until his death in 2017. He drove the first engine out of Station 2 for 40 years, the report notes.

Earlier this year, the department received a new brush truck, Brush Truck 13. That was named after township resident Joan Horak, who donated the truck upon her death in February 2020 at age 93, according to the report.

The department’s headquarters are located on River Road with a second station on Southern Boulevard, and it responds to about 350 calls per year, officials say.

A Lexington Fire Department truck Friday was involved in an accident near the University of Kentucky, reports kentucky.com.

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Department officials say the apparatus was responding to a report of a private alarm with its lights and sirens activated when it was hit after it had cleared the S. Limestone intersection and was making a turn onto Washington Avenue.

No injuries were reported and damage to both vehicles was minimal.