The Yakima County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) has almost 50 million dollars of federal aid to give to organizations in need. The Selah Fire Department requested funding for four new sets of extrication or jaws of life tools. "I would love to tell our taxpayers and visitors to our area that we could get them out and into a hospital a lot faster," said fire chief, Jim Lange.
- PUB DATE: 5/20/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KNDO-TV NBC 23 Yakima/KNDU-TV NBC 25 Richland

VIDEO: Spokane firefighters are currently on the scene at the Home Depot in North Spokane after putting out a second alarm fire. The Home Depot is located on North Newport Highway. Spokane Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer says there were no injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
- PUB DATE: 5/19/2022 10:57:06 PM - SOURCE: KXLY-TV ABC 4 Spokane

May 19, 2022 – The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Sprinkler Initiative and the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) have awarded Michael Wos with the 2022 Bringing Safety Home Award. Wos is the executive director of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation.

This award recognizes outstanding efforts by a safety advocate who diligently promotes the importance of home fire sprinklers. It honors members of the fire service and other fire sprinkler advocates in North America who use HFSC educational material, NFPA data, and Fire Sprinkler Initiative resources to educate decision-makers about the importance of home fire sprinklers.

Wos, who is also a firefighter/paramedic with the City of Oshkosh, chairs the Wisconsin Fire Sprinkler Coalition and has been a champion for the lifesaving benefits of fire sprinklers for many years. He was nominated by City of Madison Fire Department Fire Marshal Ed Ruckriegel, also an active member of the Coalition. Specifically, Wos is recognized for his efforts educating state agencies responsible for the development of building codes and increasing agency personnel interest in learning more about fire sprinklers.

“Mike’s varied public educational efforts and his work with coalition partners demonstrates his commitment to making new homes safer from fire,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy and HFSC president. “There are so many stakeholders who aren’t aware of the role home fire sprinklers play in saving lives.”

Wos has steered the Wisconsin Fire Sprinkler Coalition through educational and legislative activities in many communities. Among his advocacy work, he has included home fire sprinkler information in the Newspapers in Education program every year, reaching more than 500,000 readers, including students in 2,000 schools.  He worked with coalition partners to build a 700-square foot educational structure with installed home fire sprinklers at the Metropolitan Builders Association Home Show. Wos has conducted live fire sprinkler demonstrations at the State Capitol and at Madison’s Brat Fest, which is attended by more than 150,000 people.

“Wos works hard to keep the Coalition active,” Carli added. “Home fire sprinkler advocacy work is challenging but Mike remains undaunted by this. His determination ensures that Wisconsin will ultimately have safer communities.”

As the Bringing Safety Home Award recipient, Wos was awarded a $1000 grant to further fire sprinkler advocacy and educational efforts throughout Wisconsin.

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About the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC)
For 26 years, HFSC has developed and provided comprehensive, non-commercial, educational resources that highlight the life safety benefits of protecting homes with fire sprinklers. HFSC’s mission is solely educational and its materials are available to everyone at no cost through HFSC’s website: www.homefiresprinkler.org.  

About the Fire Sprinkler Initiative^®
The Fire Sprinkler Initiative^®, a project of the National Fire Protection Association, is a nationwide effort to require the use of home fire sprinklers and the use of fire sprinkler requirements for new construction. Visit the Fire Sprinkler Initiative website at www.firesprinklerinitiative.org.

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global sel

Athens city council Monday was presented with an ordinance authorizing the issuance of $9 million in bonds to help finance a new fire station, reports athensmessenger.com. The proposed site is a Stimson Avenue Ohio University property.

The ordinance says the bonds will help finance the costs of construction, site improvements, and acquiring furniture and equipment, the report says. One concern about the project is that the site is on a flood plain.

Earlier: Athens (OH) Seeks $9M for New Fire Station

Voters recently passed a tax increase of one half a percent that will assist with construction; the tax increase would help pay for the bonds.

In addition, council held the first reading of an ordinance approving the final design, engineering, and construction services for the new facility, which would allow the spending of up to $670,000 for the services, according to the report.

Below, see Athens Chief Robert Rymer discuss the Headquarters Replacement Plan:

After a few months in a temporary facility, New Braunfels firefighters have cut the ribbon and moved into their new $6.7 million home at Station 3.

The new 12,000-square-foot station, on Hanz Drive to serve the northeast side of the city, was approved in 2019 as part of the bond program, reports herald-zeitung.com.

It houses six firefighters and three apparatus: an engine, brush truck, and medical transport unit. It also features a kitchen, living quarters, day room, and gym facilities.

The project included demolishing the previous 3,700-square-foot, 1981-built structure, the report says. Officials say the former station had “simply served its useful life and needed to be replaced.”

New Braunfels-based Seidel Construction served as contractor for the project. Brown Reynolds Watford Architects designed the two-story structure.

During construction, crews and gear were kept on the grounds of New Braunfels Utilities’ Headwaters at the Comal facility on East Klingemann Street, according to the report.