Surprise, AZ (September 20, 2021) Construction is complete on Fire Station 308, located on the south side of Cactus Road, east of Litchfield Road, and the station is operational as of today. 

This public safety project was completed as part of the voter-approved 2017 General Obligation Bond to meet the needs of our city’s growing service call demand. The southeast portion of Surprise, where this station is located, continues to see growth in new homes, schools, commercial businesses and large manufacturers. 

Fire Station 308 is approximately 16,000 square feet with four bays for fire apparatus. It houses an Engine Company and Hazardous Materials Response Team – an important component due to the station’s proximity to the city’s industrial district. The station is designed to provide training specific to responses to hazardous materials emergencies and also has room for a future ambulance.

As part of City Council’s commitment that one and one-third percent of the budget for capital projects be set aside for art, there is an art piece in the works for this station that is expected to be completed this fall. It consists of large staggered metal panels that have the word “courage” cut out.

The city will host a public ribbon-cutting event at the fire station this fall. Details will be released at a later date. 

Fire Station 308 is one of two stations that were constructed with General Obligation Bond dollars. Fire Station 304, located in the city’s northern area on 163rd Ave. near Happy Valley Rd. was completed in January of this year. It replaced a temporary, modular fire station to better serve another high growth area of the Surprise. 

To learn more about the city’s 10 General Obligation Bond Projects, please visit surpriseaz.gov/decidesurprise.

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According to a report from WJLA, approximately 20 percent of DC Fire & EMS workers (DCFEMS) are requesting a exemption to avoid a mandate requiring city employees to get vaccinated against COVID. The figure comes from the office of Mayor Muriel Bowser. The requests represent the vast majority of religious exemption requests across Washington, D.C.

Out of the 475 requests for vaccine exemption across the city, 419 work for DCFEMS, which employs 2,124 members.

Despite many DCFEMS employees already being vaccinated, hundreds still have not reportedly still received a shot. Bowser said that should change.

The city is requiring firefighters and other health care workers to receive at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot by September 30. If they don’t, they face potential disciplinary action.

Those DCFEMS workers who receive the exemptions can submit weekly negative COVID tests in lieu of receiving the vaccine. Other D.C. government workers were required to be fully vaccinated by September 19.

Some firefighters have pushed back against the city’s mandate, saying they would accept a compromise they consider less strict.

A fire truck responding to an Orange County (FL) house fire was involved in a crash early today, reports clickorlando.com. The crash happened on Goldenrod Road near State Road 408.

The fire broke out around 1 a.m. in the 4000 block of Sansevieria Lane, southeast of Orlando, the report says. Fire officials say flames and smoke were visible from the roof, but firefighters extinguished it. There was visible damage to the home, but no injuries were reported.

No other details have been released.

South Carolina man John Russell Hendrix Jr. has been charged with DUI after he crashed a fire truck, reports the AP.

Police officials say the 36-year-old Hendrix was operating a Starr Fire Department apparatus when it went off the road and flipped over on 1st Street Monday evening. The report gave no reason as to why Hendrix was operating the vehicle.

Neither Hendrix, his passenger, nor any civilians were hurt, according to the report.

A vandal last week attempted to steal the emergency strobe lights from a Coral Springs-Parkland (FL) Fire Department apparatus but ended up damaging it, reports .

The unidentified suspect broke the front grill tabs on the white, unmarked 2014 Ford Escape last Monday, the report says, and damaged its emergency LED lights and wiring.

The estimated cost of the damage was $750.

An investigation is underway.