JASON DUNOVANT
The Roanoke Times, Va.
(TNS)

ROCKY MOUNT — The Rocky Mount Fire Department will soon have a new fire truck responding to calls around the town and beyond. A Pierce Enforcer mid-mount tower truck was recently delivered to the town after two years of waiting.

Firefighters with the Rocky Mount Fire Department are expected to spend the next few weeks training and getting used to the new vehicle before they will be using it to respond to calls. Fire equipment also needs to be added to the vehicle for firefighters.

“It will bring a different level of what we can do,” Chief Justin Woodrow said of the new fire truck that will be replacing their previous fire truck purchased in 2001.

Woodrow said the new fire truck’s ladder extends to 100 feet, which is 15 feet more than the previous ladder truck and will allow them to reach higher buildings to perform rescues or to reach fires. The ladder also has dual nozzles that can provide fire suppression from above, unlike the previous truck that only had one.

Rocky Mount Fire Department fire truck

The Rocky Mount Fire Department’s new vehicle is a Pierce Enforcer mid-mount tower truck with a ladder that extends 100 feet.

The fire truck can also lower its ladder below grade where they previously could not reach. Woodrow said they could now use the ladder in instances such as on a bridge and could lower the ladder down from above to perform rescues.

In addition to new features to help in responding to emergencies and saving lives, Woodrow also made sure that the fire truck would protect his firefighters. He said every safety feature possible was added including airbags, anti-roll devices and lighting packages to assure the truck can be seen.

“If it is something for safety, this truck has it,” Woodrow said.

Rocky Mount Fire Department logo

The Rocky Mount Fire Department’s new logo featured on its new truck.

In addition to the features, the new truck includes a new color and logo for the department. The color is a dark burgundy with a graphite color for the accents compared to the previous truck’s red and chrome. The new logo features an eagle wearing a fire helmet and carrying a banjo with a moonshine jug featured underneath. Woodrow said the logo showcases the rich history of Rocky Mount with its moonshine heritage and its position on the Crooked Road, Virginia’s heritage music trail.

The final cost of the new fire truck comes in at $2.4 million. Woodrow thanked the town for its willingness to spend the money on the extra features he felt were necessary for his volunteers and for the town and county residents.

“The town really stuck behind us,” Woodrow said.

Franklin County assisted on some of the costs of the new fire truck as part of a land swap deal between the town and county last year. Franklin County agreed to provide $800,000 toward the purchase of the new truck and, starting in 2031, will begin funding 60% of the town’s fire apparatus purchases.

Rocky Mount Mayor Holland Perdue, right, and town council member Mark Newbill take a closer look at the Rocky Mount Fire Department’s new ladder truck after Monday’s town council meeting.

The deal came after month of negotiations between the town and county on the fire truck. Rocky Mount had requested the co

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – Illinois Governor JB Pritzker joined the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) recently to announce the inaugural Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program awards totaling $5 million to 16 grantees across the state, according to a press release. This funding will allow fire departments or fire protection districts to repair, upgrade, or construct new fire stations.

“I am proud to be celebrating inaugural Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program awards, a crucial lifeline for fire departments across the state – particularly those in rural areas – to upgrade their facilities and equipment,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our firefighters put their lives on the line every single day, and these investments can make all the difference in keeping our communities safe and protected.”

“This was the inaugural year of the grant program, established as part of the OSFM’s ongoing commitment to assist the Illinois Fire Service in identifying and securing funding for critical resources that might otherwise be out of reach,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal Michele L. Pankow. “I want to thank my predecessors for their hard work and dedication in securing this funding, which now allows departments like those receiving these grants the opportunity to construct or rebuild stations—ultimately helping to keep their communities and firefighters safer.”

2025 Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Grant Recipients:

Alexander:

Tamms Fire Department                                                     $71,011                          

Gallatin:

Equality Fire Department                                                    $300,000

Shawneetown Fire Department                                          $350,000

Hamilton:

McLeansboro Fire Department                                         $350,000

Jackson:

Village of Gorham Volunteer Fire Department                   $350,000

Johnson:

Buncombe Fire Department                                               $350,000

Vienna Fire Department     

MADISON, Wisconsin – The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) has sent payments totaling $36,156,119 to fire departments across the state as part of the Wisconsin 2% Fire Dues Program, according to a press release. The figure represents a nearly 12% increase over the total distribution in 2024.

“This funding is extremely important to fire departments across our state, many of which are staffed either partially or wholly by volunteers,” said DSPS Secretary Dan Hereth. “Fire departments are vital to ensuring the safety of our Wisconsin communities, and as Wisconsin’s safety agency we are proud to play a role in this 2% Fire Dues program that supports our partners in the state fire service.”

The 2% Fire Dues Program requires insurers to pay 2% of premiums collected for insurance against loss from fires. The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance collects the dues, and DSPS distributes the dues to qualifying cities, towns, and villages across the state according to a prescribed formula. You can see a detailed accounting of the 2025 distribution on the DSPS website.

The program is a significant source of funding for the state’s professional, volunteer, and hybrid fire departments, which use the money to operate fire prevention programming, train crews, help pay for fire engines and fire suppression equipment, and more.

“Gov. Evers and this administration understand that departments provide an invaluable service protecting Wisconsinites, their homes, and our cities, towns, and villages,” Hereth said. “Funding really benefits every citizen and community in our state, whether it’s through improving fire safety education, improving fire department equipment, or funding for recruitment and training of the next generation of firefighters.”

In addition to the Fire Dues program, DSPS regulates firefighter health and safety, and also manages Wisconsin’s fire prevention program.

DSPS launched a youth firefighter training grant program in 2022 to help address recruitment and retention challenges in the fire service. The latest round of grants was awarded earlier this year to four training programs at technical colleges across Wisconsin.

DSPS also announced this week that its Wisconsin Fire Safety Dashboard, a free tool for fire departments across the state, has been updated with 2024 data. The tool can now even better support community risk reduction efforts at fire departments across Wisconsin.

About DSPS

DSPS issues more than 240 unique licenses, administers dozens of boards and councils that regulate professions, enforces state building codes, runs the state fire prevention program, and maintains the award-winning Wisconsin Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which is a key tool in the multi-faceted public health campaign to stem excessive opioid prescribing. A fee-based agency, DSPS is self-sustaining and receives no general fund tax dollars for its day-to-day operations. With five offices and 250 employees throughout Wisconsin, DSPS collaborates with constituents and stakeholders across a wide range of industries to promote safety and advance the economy.

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