Zillah fire officials have ruled out arson as the cause of a blaze that destroyed the Stonehenge Tavern and seriously damaged a hardware store Sunday. An investigator hired by the city determined that the fire was accidental and that no foul play was involved, fire Chief Paul Stonemetz said Tuesday.
- PUB DATE: 3/22/2022 2:04:00 PM - SOURCE: Yakima Herald-Republic

The Grand Junction Fire Department’s Station 3 is nearing completion, reports kjct8.com. The new Station 3 is being built right next door to its predecessor, the oldest station in the department—built in 1975.

City officials say the money budgeted for the rebuild was provided before the public safety tax, which has doled out funding for other stations, according to the report.

FA reported last summer that the department broke ground for the facility at 582 25 1/2 Rd. on August 24.

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The new facility will include modern safety upgrades, including cancer-prevention features found in other stations. The department partook in a land exchange with School District 51 to be able to build Station 3 in the new location—and Pomona Elementary School’s parking lot will be rebuilt in the station’s old location, FA’s report said.

Department officials say the budget for the station sets money aside for artwork, as is standard practice. For Station 3, crews wanted to reach out to the community, so local artists can send a digital copy of any piece of work for a contest, which will also have a youth version, the report says.

There will be a $200 prize for the five winners, but all art will be displayed at the facility, according to the report. Applications can be found here, and artwork can be submitted here: gjfirepio@gjcity.org.

The contest runs through April 30, while the station is expected to be completed in May.

It’s no secret that firefighters face an abundance of risks every single day. Well, a Belchertown company is taking steps to ameliorate one potential risk: cancer.

9 Alarm Apparel developed underwear, the Defender Brief, that aims to block the cancer-causing chemicals—PFAS—to which first responders are exposed on the job.

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Unsuccessful Attempt to Eliminate PFAS in PPE

The company’s research showed that the groin is susceptible to carcinogens and not very well-protected.

“In the case of PFAS and particulate exposure, the defenses are limited and were non-existent for #ProtectingTheBoys until the #defenderbrief,” the company writes on Facebook. “Many will be hesitant for this change, but we are not just selling undies we are providing another link to the chain of cancer awareness and prevention.”

Defender Briefs are on sale now for $79.99 per pair.

The Nashville Fire Department is in the midst of a drone-training course. The aim is to gain knowledge of the legal nuances of the equipment as well as operational training.

With the assistance of NC Emergency Management and NCOSFM, the department hopes to have four licensed FAA UAS pilots in the coming weeks.

Washington State is no stranger to massive and devastating wildfires. In the wake of record fire seasons for the largest fires in 2014 and 2015, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which also serves as the largest wildfire-fighting agency in the state, began a Forest Health Plan to make forests more resilient to fire.
- PUB DATE: 3/22/2022 8:16:55 AM - SOURCE: KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle