South King Fire and Rescue Chief Vic Pennington has separated from the department after two years as the top fire official. At a special fire commissioners meeting on Jan. 4, the board unanimously approved to accept the separation agreement between the fire district and Chief Pennington. Assistant Chief Dave Mataftin was appointed as interim fire chief on Tuesday night by a unanimous board vote, effective Wednesday, Jan.
- PUB DATE: 1/6/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Federal Way Mirror - Metered Site

Polar plunges are quite popular this time of year, but what happens when someone accidently falls through ice and in to a freezing cold body of water? Action News spent the morning with an ice rescue team from the Pasco Fire Department and Walla Walla Fire District 5 and saw them work on their craft.
- PUB DATE: 1/6/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KIMA-TV CBS/CW+ 29 Yakima

A house fire ended with four people needing medical help late Wednesday night in Lakewood. West Pierce Fire said the call came in the 4800 block of Diamond Blvd. at 11:09 p.m. Lakewood police made the scene first and tried rescuing one of the people still in the burning home. Firefighters ended up saving the man stuck inside, who was rushed to Harborview as he suffered burns and smoke inhalation.
- PUB DATE: 1/6/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

The Mason County Board of Commissioners declared a state of emergency Wednesday following "extensive damage" from last week's snowstorm and just ahead of forecasted heavy rain that could bring further destruction to the county. The emergency declaration allows the county to mobilize resources to help the community, activate emergency resources, contract with outside agencies, incur debts and also allows departments to forgo certain procedures and formalities in their extreme weather response.
- PUB DATE: 1/6/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

City council recently approved the purchase of a $1,250,783 Rosenbauer aerial from Heiman Fire Equipment for the Spearfish (SD) Fire Department, reports bhpioneer.com.

The apparatus will replace the department’s 1998 ladder, which, officials say, is at the end of its useful life and has even exceeded the National Fire Protection Association professional standards for use.

The elder truck was supposed to be replaced in 2017, but complications with the merger of the Spearfish Volunteer Fire Department and the Spearfish Firefighters Association delayed things, according to the report.

Officials say if the purchase were to be delayed any longer it could increase the price by $200,000.