The wheels and tires of an SUV were stolen from a East River Valley Fire Department vehicle in Nova Scotia, Canada recently, according to a report published by radio station 101.5 The Hawk.

The 2010 Ford Expedition, which was fully decaled for the department and used as a medical support truck, was left on blocks after all four wheels and tires were removed, according to the report.

Support for the small volunteer department from across the province has been overwhelming and the firefighters were given a set of tires and rims as well as funds for locking nuts and a security camera system, according to the report.  

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating the theft and looking for information about the incident, according to the radio station.

The East Hampton (NY) Fire Department needs a new ladder truck, an engine, a hose truck, a brush truck, a boat and chiefs’ vehicles with a price tag of $4.5 million, according to a report published by The East Hampton Star.

The fire chief recently told the village board the need for the new apparatus is more dire than original thought, the newspaper reported, adding that because of the pandemic the trucks have been running excessively and experiencing more wear and tear.

The cost for the new aerial is estimated at $1.8 million, while the hose truck has a price of about $800,000 and the brush truck at $395,000. Also, the engine has a cost of about $823,000.

The department had asked that the equipment be included in the village’s five-year capital improvement plan, but needs the community’s officials to consider replacing the fleet sooner, the paper said.

Luna Pier (MI) Fire Department has received a grant to buy new equipment and improve operations, according to a report published by the Monroe News.

According to the report, $66,426 was award to the department through the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and the Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program.

The city is anticipating increased traffic with construction of a new international bridge on I-75 and the need for some additional equipment, the newspaper reported.

The Burlington (WI) Fire Department was awarded a $50,000 grant from We Energies for the purchase of safety equipment, reports journaltimes.com.

The department will use the grant to purchase vehicle stabilization jacks.

In 2021 alone, the We Energies Foundation has awarded $50,000 to 27 emergency response agencies across Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan via the Rewarding Responders Grant, the report notes. Other recipients of this year’s grants include:

• Johnson Creek Fire & EMS — Oximeter
• Mukwonago Fire Department — Gas detector
• New Berlin Fire Department — Gas detector
• Oak Creek Fire Department — LED flashlights
• Paris Fire and Rescue — Ballistic protective gear and iPad mounts for ambulances
• Somers Fire Department — Gas detector
• Watertown Fire Department — Ambulance cot

Five fire stations are being rebuilt and a new one is coming to Charlotte County (FL), according to a report on nbc-2.com. All six are multi-million-dollar projects with the intent to cut down on response times.

Of the six facilities, three are being built with funds raised from a 1% local option sales tax, while the other three are funded via impact fees, the report says.

The 1% local option sales tax is voted on every six years—for every dollar spent in the county, one cent goes to a fund for infrastructure. Projects are then submitted to a board, the board picks a list, and then voters can approve or reject the list.

Stations 3, 6, and the new 17 are all projects on this list; tentative plans call for 17 in the Tucker’s Grade area. Stations 2, 5, and 10 are also being rebuilt. Officials say those three are being funded by impact fees, money a developer pays to the county when they build, the report says.

Detailed information on all six stations can be found here.