A fire impacted an entire city and a well-known building in Prosser is left in shambles. "It's the end of an era, it's the end of something that was important to us. And not just to us, but to generations of local people," said Alys Means, Curator at the Prosser Historical Museum. The M & E Seed and Grain mill stood at the intersection of Stacey and 7th for decades.
- PUB DATE: 5/27/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KEPR-TV CBS/CW+ 19 Pasco

The Spokane Fire Department responded to a reported fire at the old northside Lowes building on North Division around 2:20 a.m. on Thursday. Crews arrived and found security workers onsite who said there was a fire in the building with no other details. Firefighters found smoke in the building and began a rapid attack on the flames.
- PUB DATE: 5/27/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KXLY-TV ABC 4 Spokane

The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) is looking to replace an engine for approximately C$545,000 for the Bouchie Lake (B.C., Canada) Volunteer Fire Department and has launched an alternative approval process (AAP) to do so.

According to an FAQ page on its website, “one of the Bouchie Lake Volunteer Fire Department’s fire trucks is due for replacement in 2022 in order to meet certification requirements. The CRD thinks the best purchasing option is through a 10-year debt-financing model and needs permission to enter into debt financing arrangements that exceed five years in term.”

The apparatus will cost approximately C$545,000. If adopted, the bylaw authorizes the borrowing of up to C$550,000 to be repaid over 10 years, the website notes.

“Traditionally, the CRD has replaced fire trucks through five-year capital leases,” the district says. “By financing these purchases instead, with 10-year equipment loans issued by the Municipal Finance Authority (MFA), the required payments can be spread over a greater period. This will decrease short-term cash requirements and lessen the need for tax increases or borrowing to fund a future truck purchase.

“Financing the truck purchase with 5-year equipment loan requires total debt servicing payments of approximately C$328,613 over the five years in the current 2022-2026 Five Year Financial plan. Financing the purchase with 10-year debt financing would require debt servicing payments of C$168,617 over the same five years in the current 2022-2026 Five Year Financial Plan.”

If at least 10% (184) submit an Elector Response Form, the district would purchase the truck through the five-year financing model.

More information about the fire truck replacement project–and to vote by the July 5 deadline–click here.

There’s good news and bad news for fans of local Danville sports teams that are on the cusp of a championship. The good: Your team is about to win the title, hooray! The bad: The ensuing championship parade will be without the customary fire trucks until the price of diesel fuel drops.

According to a report in dailyitem.com, borough fire officials said that it’s become too expensive to include the apparatus in parades with fuel prices climbing upward of $6 per gallon. The trucks only get about five miles per gallon.

The trucks had been leading the parade for every championship team in every sport Danville has, if requested. It’s especially bad news for the local girls lacrosse team, which just won the District 4/6 Class 2A title, the report says.

Officials say each of the four fire companies in the borough fire department receives an allocation of $4,500 a year from the borough, which isn’t strictly for fuel.

The fire companies still plan to participate in the Memorial Day Parade though, the report says.

Mountain View Fire has temporarily closed its Fire Station 8 at 400 Bonanza Drive in Erie due to damage caused by expansive soil beneath the building and surrounding areas, a Facebook post reads.

The heaving soil has caused significant damage to the concrete, plumbing, and drain systems of the station. Fire and EMS apparatus from Lafayette, North Metro, and Mountain View’s Station 6 are providing service to south Erie while Station 8 is closed.

Ground water and storm runoff has saturated the framing and flooring of parts of the station, potentially causing a mold issue. An industrial hygienist has taken samples and is evaluating them for hazards. If the situation can be mitigated, the crews will be moved back into the station until the main station repair can begin later this summer.

The station repairs will involve major repairs to the foundation, and surrounding driveway, porches, and utilities that serve the building. The station will be closed from four to six months for the repairs.

The district is looking to find alternate accommodations for the crew and their engine in the south Erie area, including purchasing a mobile home to use as temporary housing.