One person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries after a fire damaged a home in the Illahee Shores Mobile Home Park Saturday morning. Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue firefighters were called to a home in the park at about 4:15 a.m. and found smoke and fire coming from the residence. "The sole occupant reports they woke up and saw fire near the space heater in their bedroom," agency public information officer Ileana LiMarzi wrote in a social media post.
- PUB DATE: 1/8/2022 3:09:28 PM - SOURCE: Kitsap Sun

Authorities say they have found a missing elderly man from Cosmopolis who tried to move his car away from rising floodwaters early Friday morning. The Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office found the man deceased in his vehicle Saturday morning, approximately 100 yards west of his driveway. The car was underwater.
- PUB DATE: 1/8/2022 1:50:17 PM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

Seven children are facing charges after an SUV was stolen from a driveway on New Year’s Day and eventually crashed into a Macon-Bibb County (GA) fire station, reports 13wmaz.com.

Law enforcement officials say the GMC Terrain was reported stolen from the 2100 block of Dalton Street around 10:30 p.m. Saturday. The report says the victim told police he left the vehicle running in his driveway while he was at his door when a male teen jumped into the car with the other kids and drove off.

Officials say the Terrain was seen around 3 a.m. Sunday at a McDonald’s on Rocky Creek Road, at which point deputies turned on their lights while the suspect sped off. This led to a dangerous chase as the driver went down Rocky Creek Road, lost control, and crashed into the side of the station on Bloomfield and Rocky Creek, according to the report.

All seven people—all males, ranging in age from 11 to 15 years old—inside the SUV were taken via ambulance to The Medical Center, Atrium Health Navicent. One was discharged from The Medical Center while the other six were taken to an Atlanta hospital; four of the six have been released so far, the report says.

Law enforcement officials say the 13-year-old driver is being charged with theft by taking auto, fleeing and eluding, serious injury by vehicle, criminal damage to property, and six counts of reckless conduct. The other six are being charged with theft by taking auto–party to a crime.

The Shreveport (LA) Fire Department says the microchip and supply chain shortage is affecting their ability to take delivery of staff vehicles and repair apparatus, reports ksla.com.

Related: Supply Problems Causing Issues in Ambulance Replacements

Officials say the department ordered vehicles at the beginning of 2021, but they didn’t arrive until December, which, of course, made things hectic.

Delayed parts has been another challenge, as officials say some trucks have a 90- to 120-day lead time on parts. However, the shortage is not expected to impact department response time, according to the report.

On the heels of a few accidents over the last year, the Denton (TX) Fire Department has implemented $170,000 Blocker 3, a highway blocker truck which is housed at Station 3.

That 46-foot truck, which will be used at any call on a roadway with at least a 60mph limit, aims to protect crews as well as the other vehicle, as it aims to reduce impact, officials say.

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The Peterbilt-designed Blocker 3 “is tested to withstand a 61,000-pound impact, has multiple on-board cameras, and has a programmable message board with radar display. Please, slow down and move over!” the department writes on Facebook.

Officials add that it will be used for police responses, too.