Idaho officials announced Thursday they're preparing to ration hospital care due to the COVID-19 surge, and it was the last thing next-door Washington state's top hospital advocate wanted to hear. "It's terrible. I don't know if people understand the gravity of the situation," Cassie Sauer, chief executive of the Washington State Hospital Association, told CNN Thursday evening.
- PUB DATE: 9/20/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KDRV-TV ABC 12 Medford

An online fundraiser for a North Whidbey firefighter who suffered a stroke while on duty earlier this month has raised almost $20,000 to help him with medical expenses. Daniel Hovelsrud, 28, was at North Whidbey Fire and Rescue Station 25 on Sept. 7 when he collapsed due to a stroke. Fellow first responders took him to Island Hospital in Anacortes before a Life Flight helicopter crew took him to Swedish Medical Center in Seattle.
- PUB DATE: 9/18/2021 1:22:08 AM - SOURCE: South Whidbey Record

Brunswick (ME) officials say they’re confident that, despite the area’s notorious traffic congestion, the location of the $13 million fire station won’t pose a problem, reports pressherald.com.

Approved in February and now under construction at the intersection of Pleasant and Webster streets, the new station looks to upgrade from the 102-year-old facility at 21 Town Hall Place, the report says.

According to town officials, the plan for emergency personnel to navigate congestion is by controlling traffic signals from the station and having vehicles leave the station on Webster Street.

The Jeffersontown (KY) Fire Department Thursday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its remodeled Station 1 at 10540 Watterson Trail, reports wdrb.com.

Station 1 was originally built as a volunteer department in the 1960s. The interior has since seen a few upgrades, according to the report, but this renovation was to first to its exterior.

Jeffersontown currently has three fire houses and looks to add a fourth near Taylorsville Road and the Gene Snyder Freeway in 2022, says the report. The department has more than 90 fire and EMS members and covers 40 square miles.

The Escambia County Commission Thursday approved a $2,415,313.38 purchase for five new vehicles for Escambia (FL) Fire Rescue, in addition to four new ambulance chassis, reports northescambria.com.

The purchase from Rev Group will include a 2022 E-One Typhoon custom chassis HR100 ladder truck for $1,066,660, which will be placed at the Osceola Fire Station on Massachusetts Avenue, the report says.

The county is also purchasing a 2022 E-One Typhoon custom chassis pumper for $657,047.84 and a 2022 E-One Typhoon Custom Chassis e-MAX Pumper Rescue Vehicle. Those apparatus will go to the McDavid and Ferry Pass fire stations. The report notes they also approved the purchase of two 2022 Ford F-250 crew cab 4×4 pickup trucks for $152,272 total.

In 2020, the county placed four new engines into service for a bit over $2 million to replace aging trucks in Molino, Ensley, Myrtle Grove, and Pleasant Grove, according to the report.

The purchase of four new Ward International ambulance chassis for $338,000 will be part of four remounts to be completed after October 1, says the report.