Each of the past three years, Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz has asked state lawmakers to proactively fund wildfire response and projects to make forests less susceptible to wildfires in the first place. While the two previous proposals she pitched looked to pay for the large financial ask with a fee on insurance policies, Franz says this go-around she chose a different tactic.
- PUB DATE: 4/2/2021 1:02:53 AM - SOURCE: The Inlander

A fire near the old drill tower for the Austin Fire Department spread to the tower itself on West Cesar Chavez Street in downtown Austin Thursday night. The Buford Tower was built in the 1930s, according to the Texas State Historical Association, and stands about 67 feet tall. Originally called “The Old Fireman’s Practice Tower,” TSHA says it was used as a training facility for local firefighters.
- PUB DATE: 4/2/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KXAN-TV NBC 36 Austin

First responders using the FirstNet network, which is provided by AT&T, will get access to AT&T’s 5G millimeter wave (mmWave) network starting this month. AT&T calls this service “5G+,” meaning users get higher speeds than the 5G offered on low-band spectrum. First responders in parts of 38 cities and more than 20 venues will get access to the AT&T mmWave (5G+) spectrum this April; they also will continue to get the always-on priority and preemption across LTE – Band 14 spectrum plus all of AT&T’s commercial LTE spectrum bands.
- PUB DATE: 4/2/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fierce Wireless

PHOTO: A 44-year-old man was arrested after allegedly stealing a fire engine in San Bernardino on Thursday, officials said. Around 9:45 a.m., the Highland Fire Department reported that their fire engine was stolen in the area of Cooley and Pedley streets in San Bernardino, according to a news release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
- PUB DATE: 4/2/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTLA-TV 5 CW Los Angeles

Mario Jackson is a Cincinnati firefighter, a paramedic and now also a children’s book author. Jackson says “Nya the Great and Her Visit to the Fire House” is aimed at inspiring young girls. “I realized that there isn’t a lot of representation for women, especially women of color, in jobs that are usually male-dominated,” he told us on Thursday.
- PUB DATE: 4/2/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WXIX-TV FOX 19 Cincinnati