Ishani Desai
The Sacramento Bee
(TNS)

Reality Check is a Bee series holding officials and organizations accountable and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email realitycheck@sacbee.com.

The Folsom Fire Department proposed reassigning firefighters away from serving a critical fire station as questions swirl over potential cuts to city departments amid a multimillion dollar budget deficit, according to internal memos.

Folsom Fire Chief Ken Cusano presented a “strategic reassignment” to remove a fire engine from Station 38, according to a memo dated Monday obtained by The Sacramento Bee. An ambulance would remain at the station with firefighters.

Monday’s memo followed questions and claims last week that Station 38, located at 1300 Blue Ravine Road, would close by Oct. 1. “Engine 38 is placed in the middle of the city and a critical apparatus for both fire suppression and emergency medical service response,” according to the social media post, made by an account called the Folsom Firefighters Association.

The Folsom City Council has not voted on cutting city departments or reallocating resources to close a $3 million budget deficit in the upcoming months. The City Council voted to approve a $266 million budget in June, conditioned on closing the budget gap, and will have discussions in the coming weeks about potential strategies.

Cuts to Station 38 could increase fire risk and delay response times, said Dan Carson, a firefighter and paramedic who is a representative from the Sacramento Area Local 522 union for the Folsom Fire Department.

“That’s not how the system was designed,” Carson said, referring to the allocation of resources across Folsom’s six total fire stations.

The Facebook posting comes from a Sept. 2 operations bulletin, which appears to propose closing Station 38. Titled “station 38 closure,” the memo says an engine will be relocated from the station and does not list any plans for an ambulance to staff the station. It was signed by Assistant Chief of Operations Matthew McGee.

Then, over the weekend, the Folsom Firefighters Association posted about Station 38’s closure on the approximately 46,000-member Facebook group Folsom Chat.

City spokesperson Christine Brainerd said the Sept. 2 memo was “incorrect information” disseminated by fire personnel.

“Service modifications are being considered, the intent is to have fire station personnel staffed at all Folsom fire stations,” Brainerd’s statement on Monday said.

On Monday, Cusano issued a different department bulletin titled “apparatus reassignment plan” which outlined how one fire engine will be relocated away from Station 38, and a medical ambulance will be staffed by new recruits.

Monday’s memo sought to “provide clarity and eliminate any misunderstanding regarding” the operations bulletin titled “station 38 closure.” The “realignment” effective Oct. 1 attempts to reduce overtime costs as staff work to

Hamilton Township (NJ) secured another $1 million in State Budget funding dedicated to the purchase of a vital new fire apparatus, the township said recently in a press release.

It is the second time the Hamilton Township Fire Division has received such funding in two years.

This significant investment will enhance fire service capabilities and ensure the safety of the township’s 90,000 residents. This funding comes as part of ongoing efforts by the LD14 legislative team, who have been instrumental in securing resources to improve local emergency services. 

This new engine is more than just a vehicle; it is a promise of readiness and dedication to the community’s safety. The new pumper will be equipped with the latest technology, designed to improve firefighter safety and efficiency. The rig also includes significant upgrades over the older model it replaces, providing a direct benefit to community safety and service. These enhancements include improved maneuverability, firefighting capability, greater reliability, and increased safety, all while supporting the department’s effort to standardize our response fleet.

This acquisition is part of the department’s broader initiative to modernize its fleet and ensure it has the necessary tools to meet the community’s evolving needs.

Mayor Jeff Martin expressed gratitude for the support from the state representatives, highlighting the importance of the new unit in responding to emergencies effectively and efficiently. “This new engine will play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of our community,” Martin stated. “We are thankful for the continued support from our state leaders, who recognize the importance of equipping our fire division with the necessary tools to protect residents and property by assisting us with another million just two years later.”

The Hamilton Township Fire Division has been actively engaging in community outreach and emergency preparedness initiatives. The new engine will not only increase their capability for firefighting and rescue operations, but it will also provide greater peace of mind for residents knowing that their safety is a top priority. 

The Hamilton Township Fire Division looks forward to utilizing the new engine upon its arrival, further solidifying its commitment to serving and protecting the residents of Hamilton Township.

The post NJ Township Receives Another $1M Grant for New Fire Apparatus appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

Amy Renee Leiker
The Wichita Eagle
(TNS)

A Wichita fire truck was involved in a crash Friday morning in downtown.

An Eagle reporter who witnessed the collision said the fire truck had its emergency lights and sirens activated and was headed south in the northbound lanes of Main Street, near Second Street, when a white car turned in front of it. The car was driving south, attempting to turn into the parking lot of a law office at the time.

The fire truck struck the car around 10 a.m.

The car’s driver was examined by EMS and did not want to go to the hospital, a fire investigator said.

Police were blocking traffic in the area immediately after the collision.

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Contributing: Kylie Cameron of The Eagle

© 2025 The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kan.). Visit www.kansas.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The post KS Apparatus Involved in Collision Friday Morning appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

This video shows Monroeville (PA) Fire Company’s Tanker 5 with compartment doors open.

The post Compartment Corner: Monroeville (PA) Fire Company 5 appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

By Eddie L. Robinson

Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services (CCFES) has taken a groundbreaking step forward in enhancing emergency medical response by officially launching EMS Station 30, a paramedic-only station that marks a new era in integrated, fire-based EMS service delivery.

Located strategically in one of the county’s high-demand zones, Station 30 is the first of its kind in Cherokee County—a unit staffed entirely by certified paramedics who are not cross-trained as firefighters. This model, common in larger metro areas, brings new flexibility to a growing and increasingly complex public safety system.

“This is more than just another station,” said Operations Chief Kevin Lainer. “It’s a symbol of evolution—of how we adapt to better serve our citizens while strengthening the professional lives of our personnel.”

A New Operational Model

Station 30 will be staffed 24/7 by a team of two paramedics and one Medical Control Officer (MCO) working a 24/48 shift rotation. This consistent staffing model ensures advanced life support (ALS) care is available around the clock while allowing for continuity and operational stability within the team.

The ambulance assigned to this station will be designated Med-30, and it will not only respond to traditional EMS calls but also be dispatched to fire emergencies. This dual-role deployment is a vital enhancement to scene safety and emergency care during critical incidents.

“Med-30 gives us the ability to have dedicated, advanced medical support immediately available at structure fires and other high-risk scenes,” said medical Operations Officer Chad Huff. “That can make all the difference for both the public and our firefighters.”

When citizens are rescued from burning buildings, time is everything. Having advanced life support on-scene means those individuals will receive rapid, advanced medical intervention for smoke inhalation, burns, and traumatic injuries—care that can directly improve survival and recovery outcomes.

Likewise, firefighter health and safety stand to benefit significantly. In the event a firefighter suffers from heat exhaustion, smoke exposure, or injury while working in hazardous conditions, our med units provide immediate, dedicated medical support on the fireground without diverting resources from other areas of the county.

In addition to daily EMS operations, Station 30 personnel will cross-staff the department’s Mass Casualty Unit (MCU)—a specialized resource ready to deploy during major incidents involving large numbers of patients, such as multi-vehicle accidents, public events, or disasters.

Furthermore, Station 30 will house the department’s Medical Operations Officer, placing direct clinical leadership on-site to guide care standards, mentor field personnel, and support EMS operations countywide.

“By housing our Medical Operations Officer at Station 30, we’re embedding real-time clinical leadership into daily field operations,” said EMS Chief Chad Davis. “It enhances our ability to train, support, and oversee care from the ground level.”

Welcoming New Professionals Into the Fire Service

By adding a paramedic-only station, CCFES expands its workforce model, inviting professionals from private EMS backgrounds to join the department in a meaningful capacity. These paramedics will wear the CCFES patch, train alongside fire crews, and operate under the same mission and values—creating a stronger, more diverse, and more sustainable team.

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