A landslide took a family home and the lives of two dogs who were inside it. “I thought I was going to die, and just praying to God,” said James Fritts. James Fritts and his wife Didi were in the kitchen Friday afternoon when a landslide knocked their home off its foundation. “We heard a big crack and huge roar and the whole house just exploded around us,” said Fritts.
- PUB DATE: 1/11/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

A man is facing charges, including DUI and possibly vehicular homicide, in connection with a weekend crash that sent the vehicle he was driving into the Snoqualmie River with a mother, her daughter and her 8-year-old son inside. After searching for nearly two days, rescuers found the truck that crashed into the water early Sunday morning but the bodies of the woman and her son have not yet been recovered as of Monday night.
- PUB DATE: 1/11/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

Council officials recently approved the Metchosin (B.C., Canada) Fire Department spending C$100,000 to buy a new truck to replace the broken-down current Battallion 1 truck, reports vancouverislandfreedaily.com.

An accident caused damage to the apparatus, but repairs wouldn’t make financial sense—and it was scheduled to be replaced in 2022 regardless, the report says.

The department has been using other municipal vehicles, such as the building inspector’s truck, but they’re not up to standards.

Council reassigned capital funding from the 2021 budget to allow the fire department to start looking for a suitable vehicle immediately, the report says. Given the approved price range, the department has been eyeing a Ford F-150.

Council’s decision comes with an amendment saying that $80,000 will be spent on the initial cost with the rest going toward equipment.

Department staff aims to find the best deal for John Q. Taxpayer with regards to insurance claims on the old apparatus.

After closing in 2012, the Chartley (MA) fire station reopened on Friday—possibly only temporarily, though.

Norton Fire – Rescue was able to reopen the facility thanks to a $1,034,197 SAFER grant, which will pay the salaries and benefits for three firefighters for three years. The only cost to the town will be gear and equipment.

“Based on staffing levels the station will remain open for the foreseeable future,” the department writes on Facebook.

The three firefighters, including a lieutenant, will staff an ambulance and engine at the two-bay South Worcester Street station. The department will also respond to calls in other parts of town, along with crews at department headquarters on East Main Street, a report in thesunchronicle.com says.

“The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, ‘front line’ firefighters available in their communities,” FEMA says on its website.

“The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments’ abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the NFPA (NFPA 1710 and/or NFPA 1720). For details, review the National Fire Protection Association’s codes and standards.”

A fire, probably electrical in origin, destroyed two fire engines at the Firth Fire Department Monday afternoon.

A firefighter was also blown out of the building when a tank exploded in the fire. He suffered only minor injuries, but was transported to the hospital.