PHOTOS: Four people were injured, including two critically, in a crash during a test drive in Everett Tuesday afternoon. A 42-year-old woman was "driving recklessly" while on a test drive of a Hyundai Elantra with a 38-year-old dealership employee, according to Aaron Snell with Everett Police. The woman sped north and rear-ended a pickup truck.
- PUB DATE: 3/12/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KATU-TV ABC 2 Portland

Firefighters battled a two-alarm fire at a commercial building Thursday night in Auburn. Crews were called to the 3800 block of West Valley Highway North. Firefighters said they had to stretch multiple hoses to the roof in order to fight the fire. No injuries were reported as all employees inside the building were able to escape.
- PUB DATE: 3/12/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KIRO-TV CBS 7 Seattle

The Yakima Health District reported 83 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday and no new deaths. The county has now reported 28,201 cases of COVID since it began counting last March. It has reported 385 COVID deaths. One more person was hospitalized Thursday, with nine people hospitalized and one intubated.
- PUB DATE: 3/11/2021 6:16:16 PM - SOURCE: Yakima Herald-Republic

Haltom City-based Trotter Controls eceived a patent and FAA approval for the world’s first all-electric fire gate system, reports Dallas Innovates.

The company’s FRDS GEN III was selected as a fire gate for Air Tractor and its latest version of the AT802F firefighting plane.

The new system replaces the hard-to-maintain hydraulics and pumps with a simpler electric motor that’s 40 percent lighter. That means the plane can carry more liquid fire retardant and the design automatically compensates when the tank is not level to deliver consistent coverage on the ground.

The post Fort Worth (TX) Company Develops Equipment for Aerial Firefighting appeared first on Fire Apparatus.

Firefighters in South Chicago said they’re concerned the relocation of a 100-foot tower ladder will slow response times to the high-rises in South Shore and nearby communities, reports Block Club Chicago.

The ladder with a platform to hold firefighters and retrieve citizens moved to the department’s $30 million fire station.

A fire department spokesperson said that tower trucks are still in service in Hyde Park, Back of the Yards and Archer Heights.

Some residents fear South Side neighborhoods with many high-rises still in existence — and with higher densities than the area around West Pullman — will now see slower response times if fires require a tower truck. Even with the tower truck already moved, residents said that officials could move it back.

The post Chicago (IL) Firefighters, Residents Want Fire Apparatus Returned to Southeast Side appeared first on Fire Apparatus.