According to a report from Lake & McHenry County Scanner, the Waukegan (IL) Fire Department (WFD) has taken receipt of a new aircraft rescue firefighting (ARFF) truck to respond to the Waukegan Airport. The vehicle replaces the WFD’s current 30-year-old truck.

On Friday afternoon, the WFD held a dedication ceremony was held Friday afternoon at the Waukegan National Airport on 3530 North McAree Road.

The ceremony began with WFD Chief George Bridges, Jr. addressing attendees and members of the media.

Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham, Waukegan Port District Chairman Grant Farrell, and Waukegan National Airport General Manager Skip Goss also spoke at the event. Following their remarks, the WFD presented the new Rosenbauer Panther 6×6 ARFF truck.

The vehicle cost approximately $750,000 and replaced the WFD’s current ARFF truck, which was 30 years old and beyond economic repair. The truck was funded by the Waukegan Airport tenants and Waukegan Port District.

Following the ceremony, firefighters pushed the apparatus into the WFD Station #5, which is located on the airport property.

The post Waukegan (IL) Fire Department Receives New ARFF to Protect Waukegan Airport appeared first on Fire Apparatus.

According to a report from The Independent, Massillon (OH) Fire Department (MFD) Chief Tom Burgasser said he wants to land a new quint ladder truck for the MFD’s fleet prior to his upcoming retirement.

The cost of the truck is expected to be about $860,000, with around $740,000 of that coming from the city’s carryover funds.

Councilman Ed Lewis IV said the city’s stable financial situation should lessen concerns about the price of the vehicle, with the city’s carryover being about $3.4 million.

If acquired, the new engine will include a 30-gallon foam-extinguishing system and 75-foot aerial ladder.

Burgasser said the city would have had to spend $300,000 to $ 400,000 in repairs to save its old truck, which was lost in 2018.

The MFD currently runs four engines in its fleet.

Burgasser said a new truck will take between 10 and 12 months to build and customize. It could be delivered to the city as soon as early 2022.

City Council is scheduled to consider legislation Monday regarding the purchase.

The post Retiring Massillon (OH) Fire Department Chief Looks to Acquire New Quint appeared first on Fire Apparatus.

According to a report from 19News, the Cleveland (OH) Fire Department’s (CFD’s) apparatus fleet is causing concern among department members, jeopardizing the first responders’ ability to help in an emergency.

At Station 30 on Cleveland’s east side, CFD firefighters were forced to use a damaged apparatus because the city didn’t have any reserves available. Firefighters were working a car accident on I-90 early last week when a driver crashed into Ladder 30, heavily damaging a utility ladder on its side, breaking a tail light, and smashing in a few compartments. Cleveland Firefighters Union Francis Lally said that no member was injured in the crash, but the accident did shake their confidence in using Ladder 30 on future responses.

Regardless, Ladder 30 is back in position at Station 30, and there is no timeline as to when it will be fully repaired.

Lally says the CFD can’t take it out of service because there are no spares available to replace it, drawing attention to the long-time problem his crews have been mentioning for years. He also said that city leaders had listened at one point, purchasing a few new trucks in 2020. However, those vehicles are sitting around waiting for radio equipment to be installed.

It’s frustrating, because he says if the trucks were in operation his crews wouldn’t just have to make due in Ladder 30.

The CFD did not reply to a request for comment.

The post Cleveland (OH) Firefighters Speak Out on Damaged Ladder Truck, Aging Fleet appeared first on Fire Apparatus.

According to a report from the Topeka-Capital Journal, the Topeka (KS) Fire Commission officially released its recommendations and will suggest to the town’s governing body to construct a new fire station. However, they did not recommend any ways to fund the station, which would cost around $6-$8 million.

City Manager Brent Trout said that the completion of any new station would be about six years away from construction in District 9. He continued to say that, to fund a new station, the city would have to rework its budget, raise the mill levy, or increase sales tax. However, he also said the civilian and councilmember commission shouldn’t make that decision. 

Tax increases were not accepted by all council members, with Cristina Valdivia-Alcalá saying she would support an increase as a last resort, while Councilman Mike Lesser said he would not. 

Topeka Fire Department Chief Craig Duke said some stations are outdated and need repairs, which are known to most involved. 

The post Unsure of Funding, Topeka (KS) Fire Commission Recommends New Station appeared first on Fire Apparatus.

PHOTOS: Firefighters from multiple East Texas fire departments battled a house fire in the Long Cove subdivision in Malakoff early Sunday morning. According to a post on the Payne Springs Fire Rescue Facebook page, firefighters with PSFR were asked to provide mutual aid for a structure fire in the Long Cove subdivision at about 1:54 a.
- PUB DATE: 3/22/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KLTV ABC 7 Tyler