VIDEO: Everson’s first responders say they are increasingly concerned that the next major flood on the Nooksack River could cut them off from the community they serve. Station 81 in Whatcom County sits in a floodplain, and firefighters say the situation has become unsustainable after two historic floods in the past five years. “I had driftwood on the floors in the front of the station,” Assistant Chief Brian Atkins said, recalling last December’s flooding, when the Nooksack River surged to the station’s front door.

The firehouse was built nearly 50 years ago, when floods were far less frequent and severe. Now, as crews prepare for the upcoming wildfire season, they say they are still dealing with the impacts of recent flooding. “You’re also kind of looking over your shoulder, I guess,” Atkins said. Officials said the station came close to shutting down during December’s flooding.

“We were at the limit. Much beyond where we were, and we would have had to evacuate our entire operation,” Atkins said. “I had driftwood on the floors in the front of the station.” County officials have proposed building a new fire station outside the floodplain at a cost of about $15 million, but voters rejected the measure two years ago.

KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

The post Everson’s firefighters are one flood away from becoming the ones who need rescuing appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

PHOTOS: A fire in the 100 block of Stark Road sent Gleed Fire and crews from several neighboring agencies to a home at about 10 a.m., according to the Gleed Fire Department. The department reported the first crews on scene found heavy fire in an outbuilding and saw it had spread to the main house. Firefighters knocked down flames that had reached the attic and one bedroom.

The fire was under control at 11:15 a.m. Crews then spent another hour and a half overhauling the home. People were home when the fire started. No injuries were reported. The cause remained under investigation. The Naches Fire & Rescue, Selah Fire Department, Yakima Fire Department, Yakima Training Center, East Valley Fire & Rescue, AMR ambulance and the Yakima Sheriff’s Department were among the many crews that helped out at the scene.

KNDO-TV NBC 23 Yakima

The post Stark Road house fire in Gleed leaves no reported injuries appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

PHOTOS: Snohomish County Regional Fire and Rescue says residents in Monroe woke up to flames inside their multi-family home on Friday morning. Crews responded to Killarney Circle and Limerick Place and found the residents were able to get out safely after putting the fire out themselves.

Firefighters say there were no working smoke detectors inside the home and crews have since installed a working detector inside. “We urge everyone to ensure there is a working smoke alarm in every living space of your home,” the agency posted on Facebook. The Red Cross is also assisting the residents in addition to the Fire 7 Foundation, the post said.

KIRO-TV CBS 7 Seattle

The post Monroe residents woken up by fire inside their home appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

The Charlottesville Fire Department is considering smaller fire trucks to address community concerns about oversized vehicles on bike- and pedestrian-friendly streets.

The post Charlottesville (VA) Fire Department Eyes Smaller Trucks to Accommodate Bike Lanes appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

A San Francisco fire engine and a Muni train collided near Bay Street on Tuesday.

The post Historic San Francisco Streetcar and Fire Engine Collide Along Embarcadero appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.