Local authorities are actively looking for a suspect accused of burning a residential building just outside of Benton City in March. The suspect’s name is James Gaines. He is a 37-year-old man from Burbank, Washington and he is suspected of committing Arson to the first degree. A nationwide extraditable warrant was issued for his arrest.
- PUB DATE: 6/3/2021 7:39:33 PM - SOURCE: YakTriNews - Metered Site

Merrill Fire Department tested out new fire equipment through using blocks of woods, reports WAOW.

The fire department posted to Facebook, “Ever play extrication Jenga? Well that’s what A Crew did last week. It was a fun way for staff to familiarize themselves with our new Genesis extrication tools and practice the fine motor skills necessary to operate the tools with finesse.”

The equipment was donated by the Bierman Family Foundation.

Southbridge voters will decide on a request for $25.7 million to pay for the construction of a new fire station, reports Telegram & Gazette.

If approved, the debt exclusion will replace an existing 122-year-old fire station and would increase property taxes by an estimated 6% to 8% to pay the debt service for the design, site acquisition and construction.

The sign for the Dennis A. Thatcher Public Safety Complex was unveiled, reports Daily Hampshire Gazette.

More than 100 people attended the dedication ceremony, which featured the unveiling of both a sign and a plaque to honor the town’s late fire chief who died of cancer in 2019. He was instrumental in getting the funding for the construction of the complex, which first opened in 2008.

The Camden County (GA) Board of Commissioners approved for Camden County Fire Rescue (CCFR) the purchase of two Custom AEV Type 1 Units, which are the third and fourth installments of the five total new ambulances that are included in Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) VIII.

These new vehicles are part of the nearly $3.1 million in new buildings, equipment, and apparatus put into service over the last four years. Since 2017, CCFR has added one new tanker truck, three new engines, one new firehouse, two ambulances, and nearly $500,000 in equipment and tools. These two new ambulances are expected to be put into service in January 2022 and total more than $526,808.

Two ambulances recently joined the fleet in spring 2021 as replacements for existing Life Squad 11 and Life Squad 17. Camden County voters approved SPLOST VIII in March 2019; this one-cent sales tax is paid by all residents and visitors that purchase goods in Camden County. SPLOST VIII began collection in July 2019 and concludes in June 2025.

“These new ambulances are paid through SPLOST pennies by the citizens and visitors of Camden County and will help us better serve them,” said Camden County Fire Rescue Chief Terry Smith. “We thank the Board of Commissioners for their continued support of Camden County Fire Rescue.”