A Tri-Cities firefighter and paramedic is preparing for a “fire storm” of treatment after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. David Perkins of West Richland developed severe back pain on April 18, according to a GoFundMe fundraiser started for him. Tests at Kadlec Regional Medical Center showed he had a colorectal tumor pushing on his spine and spreading to his liver, pancreas and lungs.
- PUB DATE: 4/27/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Tri-City Herald

Voters in Kenmore and Lake Forest Park will decide in a special election Tuesday if the Northshore Fire Department will merge with Woodinville Fire & Rescue. The firefighters' union doesn’t support the idea. ”It's a better deployment model for us, no one loses a job,” said Northshore Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Doug McDonald.
- PUB DATE: 4/27/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

The city of Vancouver awarded a $7.13 million contract at Monday’s council meeting, marking the next major step toward construction of the city’s Fire Station 11 facility. The future Fire Station 11 will be just outside city limits, in a location serviced by the Vancouver Fire Department in partnership with Clark County’s Fire District 5.
- PUB DATE: 4/26/2021 9:33:48 PM - SOURCE: Vancouver Columbian - Metered Site

Firefighters in the Hillsboro Fire Protection District are getting good use from their brand new fire truck, reports myMOinfo.com.

The new fire truck is expected to serve as a front-line pumper for the next 20 years. Hillsboro fire Chief Brian Gaudet said the pumper truck has already been used on its first call.

MERRIMAC — Chief Larry Fisher is pleased to announce that the Merrimac Fire Department is one of nearly 300 fire departments across the state to have been awarded a grant as part of the Department of Fire Services Fiscal Year 2021 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program.

The $12,500 grant awarded to the Merrimac Fire Department will be used to purchase five sets of new structural firefighting gear and a clothes dryer. 

“We are regularly working to identify resources to provide safety equipment for our firefighters, limit the financial exposure to the Town of Merrimac and make a balanced approach to fulfilling public safety needs,” Chief Fisher said. “The support of State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey and Gov. Charlie Baker has been invaluable in ensuring those needs are met, and we are grateful for their continued support.”

This program enables fire departments to purchase a variety of equipment that will make firefighters’ jobs safer. The $4 million awarded to departments statewide is part of a $25 million bond bill filed by the Baker-Polito Administration to support firefighter health and safety over the next five years.

Fire departments in Massachusetts were able to apply to this program for 114 different types of eligible equipment, including personal protective clothing, gear washers and dryers, thermal imaging cameras, assorted hand tools and extrication equipment, communications resources, hazardous gas meters, fitness equipment and more.

“Investing in the short-term and long-term health and safety of firefighters has been a hallmark of the Baker-Polito Administration,” said Ostroskey. “I am grateful that we are able to continue supporting this initiative and make sure that firefighters not only go home safe at the end of every shift, but also that they maintain their health during and after their careers. This funding couldn’t come at a better time either. With the financial challenges that COVID-19 has brought to so many Massachusetts municipalities, this grant funding will mitigate critical budget gaps in many departments.”

A complete list of the awards by department can be found here.