VIDEO: The Washington Department of Health (DOH) is adjusting the way it allocates COVID-19 vaccines. The state said the change would ensure vaccines reach more people statewide and where they are needed most. COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed pro-rata, meaning doses were allocated to counties based on the size of their population.
- PUB DATE: 4/30/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

Firefighters rescued nine dogs from a fire that destroyed a house in Stevens County Thursday morning. Stevens County Fire District 1 says a person passing by along Redman Road noticed smoke and flames in the house and called firefighters. Fire District 1, Spokane Fire District 4 and Deer Park Ambulance arrived to put the fire out.
- PUB DATE: 4/29/2021 6:42:16 PM - SOURCE: KXLY-TV ABC 4 Spokane

The Wilbraham Fire Department will receive $8,976 and the East Longmeadow Fire Department will receive $15,000 as part of a $4 million Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program, reports The Reminder.

The funding will benefit 294 fire departments around the state. A variety of equipment is eligible for purchase with the Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program, including protective firefighting gear, thermal imaging cameras, radios, rescue equipment and gear washers and dryers.

In East Longmeadow, the grant will cover the cost of firefighter gear and an upgrade to the exhaust system for the station. Wilbraham will use the funds to procure a “ram,” part of the “Jaws of Life” set of equipment.

During a City Council meeting, officials considered the costs to replace or demolish a Satellite Beach fire station, reports Hometown News.

The city is moving the current fire station due to flooding concerns. Annual maintenance for the current fire department structure is $60,000.

The building is approximately 30 years old and is showing signs of age and the current driveway does not meet Florida Department of Transportation traffic intersection requirements. Public works estimates that repair for the driveway will cost $30,000.

After a series of hurricanes in 2005, the city replaced the roof of the fire station, but it will need to be replaced in the next two years due to loss of protective material.

An architectural firm will help Waconia identify and evaluate fire station replacement options, reports Sun Patriot Newspapers.

The firm will assess the challenges and opportunities around the existing fire station and determine the best location for a possible new station. The study is expected to take 4-5 months, with a preliminary update anticipated in June and final report to city staff and council scheduled for early October.

Discussions about a new facility began about three years ago based on the growth of the community. That downtown facility was built in 1980 and updated since then, but has several limitations.

A new fire station remains in the city’s long term strategic plan, according to city officials. Funds have been appropriated over the past several years to cover the project, with initial cost estimates ranging from $6-8 million.