Miss Colfax Lorien Smith was so excited for her friend being named Miss Congeniality, she was stunned when Miss Washington for America Strong was named. "It was hitting me when they said last my name. It was a 'wait a minute. Did they just say what I think they said?'" Smith said. "I was in tears ..
- PUB DATE: 8/27/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Whitman County Gazette

Crews set controlled fires on Bethel Ridge on Wednesday evening to prevent the Schneider Springs Fire from moving south. The burn was scheduled for earlier in the day Wednesday but was postponed because conditions were not ideal. Firefighters hoped to continue the firing operation Thursday, but conditions were not favorable, fire information officer Kate White said.
- PUB DATE: 8/26/2021 6:49:49 PM - SOURCE: Yakima Herald-Republic

Progress is being made on fire station construction, reports HOIABC.com.

Officials say the fire station will be a one story building with space for two fire trucks and living quarters for six firefighters. The new building will include features for modern firefighting, and safety improvements like gear washing and solar panels.

The new fire station is intended to compensate for the loss of two fire stations due to budget cuts.

The new station was set to open in November of this year, but due to delays getting the materials to start the construction process, that date has been pushed back to February 2022.

Cambridge city council voted to purchase a replacement tower ladder fire truck with federal COVID recovery funds, reports Dorchester Star.

The city council voted 5-0 to replace Rescue Fire Company’s Tower 1 ladder truck.

The city’s aging tower truck has been out of service for large portions of recent months. A fire official said the rescue squad vehicle and engine are also both nearing the end of serviceability.

EASTON — Chief Justin Alexander is pleased to announce that the Easton Fire Department has been awarded approximately $63,000 from an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“The Easton Fire Department well deserves this $63,000 grant from FEMA,” said Congressman Jake Auchincloss. “The funding will help keep firefighters safe and healthy as they protect the public. I am committed to investing in public safety and supporting first responders, and I will keep working for further federal aid.”

The $63,636.36 grant, announced last week, will be used to pay for the cost of a new air compressor and fill station for the department’s breathing air packs.

“I would like to thank Chief Kevin Partridge, who submitted the grant application prior to his retirement and Congressman Auchincloss for his continued support of our department and town,” Chief Alexander said. “This grant will be a great benefit to our department as our current system is very old and servicing it is has become costly and difficult. Providing our firefighters with the best equipment and technology we can is critical to keeping our department members safe and healthy and this grant helps in continuing that effort.”

Assistance to Firefighters Grants

Assistance to Firefighters Grants are allocated to fire departments nationally to fund and aid the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations.

These federal grants help firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.