The Yakima County Fire District 5 responded to 10 structure fires in the last 12 days, most required more than one station's firefighters on scene. "Our call volume is really on pace with last year, it's just an odd end of March, first part of April for us as far as structure fire or significant fires," said Deputy Chief, Joel Byam.
- PUB DATE: 4/13/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KNDO-TV NBC 23 Yakima

VIDEO: Orting Valley Fire and Rescue crews are struggling with low staffing numbers ahead of wildfire season. Fire Chief Zane Gibson said during a normal day they have just four on-duty firefighters. Meanwhile, their calls have more than doubled over time. "This weekend we had a CPR call. While they [were] at the CPR call, we had a house fire and with only two crews on duty we can't even cover those calls," Gibson said.
- PUB DATE: 4/13/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

At least two residents of a 32-unit Spokane apartment complex were displaced Sunday by a fire caused by a candle placed “too close to combustibles,” according to the Spokane Fire Department. The fire was reported at around 6:15 p.m. at the West 315 Apartments on Mission Avenue and Washington Street.
- PUB DATE: 4/12/2021 9:26:04 PM - SOURCE: Spokane Spokesman-Review - Metered Site

The Springfield Fire Department received a $33,000 grant for three new pieces of HURST eDRAULIC waterproof battery-operated rescue tools, reports WJHG.

The funds came from Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. Each piece is designed to assist the department with severe car accidents and injuries.

The equipment will be put out into the field following a demonstration at the department on Friday.

A brand new fire station will go up to replace a more than 70-year-old station, reports WOWT.

The fire department posted to Facebook, “Today is a historic day for the Omaha Fire Department. A groundbreaking ceremony was held this morning at the future site of the new Fire Station 31 (3404 Q Street). Construction will begin this month and crews are anticipated to move into the new station in the Spring of 2022.

Fire Station 31 sits at 4702 South 25th street and is currently OFD’s oldest station. The land for the new station was purchased in 2019 and since then, numerous hours of planning have taken place to bring the station’s design to life.

The new station will feature many modern amenities and has been designed with efficiency and firefighter safety in mind. The station will include four large bays, a sizeable driveway, specialized washing machines to remove carcinogens from personal protective equipment, and will also include individual sleeping quarters for crews.”