The Sugarcreek (OH) Fire Department is donating its 1988 E-1001 pumper as well as some used equipment to a department in the Dominican Republic.

Department officials found out about the FD Relief Mission of Western PA, which accepts apparatus and equipment to send to departments in need. Department members agreed that that was a better use than scrapping it.

On the heels of village council’s blessing, in November members of the Mission came to Sugarcreek and drove the truck back to its headquarters in Pittsburgh (PA). It’s the Mission’s first apparatus donated from OH in its five-year history.

The Mission packed a 26-foot shipping container with fire equipment—e.g., turnout gear, Life packs, stretchers, boots, bunkers, hoses, apparatus, rescue tools, and SCBA—to send. Medical supplies were not permitted, though.

Mission officials then drove the apparatus to Elizabeth (NJ) and loaded it onto a ship. They say everything should arrive in San Jose los Llanos on Christmas Day or slightly later.

Once there, finishing touches will be applied and local crews will be trained on it.

Two potential designs for a new fire station on West High Street in Milton (WI) were presented Tuesday night to fire officials by Jim Schmidt and Laura Eysnogle of Five Bugles Design, reports hngnews.com.

The firm presented a $4.4 million, 14,755-square-foot facility; city officials noted that Milton has only $3.5 million budgeted.

The commission plans to meet again in January at a yet-to-be-determined date to further discuss the plan, the report says.

Construction on the $8.2 million fire station 81 in northern Fontana (CA) is expected to begin in January, reports sbsun.com.

The 13,247-square-foot facility, which will be located at 16615 Casa Grande Ave., will accommodate eight firefighters and a battalion chief, the report says.

Orange-based TELACU Construction was awarded the contract last week, and the work is expected to take about eight months. Station 81 will be Fontana’s eighth, while a ninth is on the horizon, according to the report.

Another project plans to bring a training facility and fire station to Cherry and South Highland avenues; city officials are expected to award that contract in a few months, the report says.

The village of Glenview (IL) recently increased its coverage to operate three ambulances 24/7, reports journal-topics.com.

Since 2011, Glenview firefighters have operated two ambulances 24/7 and one at Station 8 for 12 hours a day.

Related: Glenview (IL) Residents and Firefighters Express Concerns Over Station Closure

Along with the increase, Glenview also added firefighters to bring that total to 81, excluding the chief and deputy chief. All Glenview crew members are trained as both firefighters and paramedics.

Village officials say the increase in ambulance coverage comes on the heels of a steady increase in call volume over the years.

“It is with great sadness that I announce that Boone County (MO) Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Bryant Gladney was killed today while on the scene of an early morning vehicle accident on Interstate 70 westbound at mile marker 135.4 east of Columbia, MO near Route Z.

“Assistant Chief Bryant Gladney, other Boone County Fire District units and a University Ambulance were on the scene of the original accident involving a large commercial truck on its side at 4:33 am. While crews were working the accident scene, a westbound truck hit Assistant Chief Gladney’s vehicle at a high rate of speed and then struck the University Hospital Ambulance and the original truck involved. Crews on scene were able to quickly extricate Assistant Chief Gladney from his vehicle and transport him to the University Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. No other first responders on the scene were injured.

“Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Scott Olsen

Fire Chief

Boone County Fire Protection District