One by one, the firefighters pour the diesel-gasoline mix out of their big red drip torches and set the forest aflame. They start a tidy line of small fires first, then fan out, lighting up slash piles and dead brush here and there. The woods get warm. Sap crackles and pops. Within minutes the bright green hillside is covered in wind-blown waves of light gray smoke.
- PUB DATE: 5/4/2022 12:33:00 PM - SOURCE: Yakima Herald-Republic

A California man stole ambulance that responded to assist him and led police on a 20-mile chase Friday night before being arrested, reports FOX12.

Oregon State Police arrested the man on I-5 at about 8 p.m. The police originally responded to a report of a car crash where the victim had run away. When they reached the scene, however, they learned the victim had returned and allegedly stol a Woodburn ambulance that had responded to the accident

Police tried to pin the ambulance at one point, but say the driver rammed a patrol cruiser, hit a building and continued fleeing.

Police again caught up to the ambulance on I-5 when the driver stopped and attempted to enter another vehicle.

Police were then able to arrest Noor Baheej, 30, of Winnetka. They said he showed signs of impairment and is facing several charges.

Snow, rain, heat, gloom of night, fire trucks. That should be the new, unofficial motto of the U.S. Postal Service.

This video shows the standoff between a fire engine trying to back into the firehouse and a letter carrier making deliveries to her patrons in Brooklyn.

It raises the age-old question: What’s more important, fire protection or your latest, must-have Amazon purchase?

Chief Robert Valentine is pleased to announce that the Groveland Fire Department accepted delivery of the Town’s new Engine 3 and a mechanical chest compression system, thanks to grant funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

The new Engine 3, built by Ferrara, was delivered late last week. It will be outfitted with gear. Firefighters will be trained to use it this week, and is expected to enter service in Town next week. It will replace an engine that has been in service since 1991. The engine will be housed in the South Station at 107 Washington St.

The mechanical chest compression device, known as Lucas, helps EMTs and paramedics provide life-saving CPR.

Both the engine and Lucas device were purchased with grant funds from the American Rescue Plan Act that were distributed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and earmarked for Groveland with assistance from state Sen. Bruce Tarr and state Rep. Lenny Mirra. 

“I want to thank Town Administrator Rebecca Oldham and the Board of Selectmen for their essential support as we sought to obtain this equipment without spending Groveland taxpayer dollars,” said Chief Valentine. “I also want to express the gratitude of the Groveland Fire Department to Rep. Mirra and Sen. Tarr, both of whom have always advocated strongly on behalf of our department.”

The new engine cost approximately $586,000, and the Lucas device cost approximately $17,000.

The Lucas device helps first responders by providing high-quality, consistent chest compressions to cardiac arrest patients. 

The new Engine 3 is equipped to serve as both a fire engine, providing water supply at fires and other emergency calls, and as a non-transport Basic Life Support ambulance.  The engine has all the same equipment as a Basic Life Support ambulance, but cannot transport patients. 

The new Engine 3 holds 1,000 gallons of water, and can pump up to 1,500 gallons of water per minute when hooked up to a fire hydrant or other water supply. It also carries 25 gallons of Class A foam, which penetrates flammable materials better than water.

“Approximately 60 percent of the calls fielded in recently years by the Groveland Fire Department are medical calls, and having an engine that is fully-equipped to serve as a BLS ambulance will enable us to get vital care to community members more quickly,” said Chief Valentine. “Combined with our new Lucas device, this grant funding has enabled the Groveland Fire Department to take a big step forward in ensuring the safety of community members.”

To learn more about the Lucas chest compression system, click here.

Two new ambulances and a fire truck were shown off Wednesday prior to the Sturgis City Commission meeting, reports sturgisjournal.com.

The 2022 ambulances—Wheeled Coach models on Ford E-350 chassis—were $588,732 and are fully licensed as of Wednesday, the report says. They boast state-of-the-art equipment.

The fire apparatus, a refurbished 2005 Deep South tanker, cost $142,500.

City officials demonstrated the apparatus features prior to the meeting.