As Carroll County moves closer to opening its Department of Fire and Emergency Services, some members of the Board of County Commissioners expressed concern, reports Carroll County Times. 

The new fire service will bring together Carroll’s 14 community fire companies in the same department and has set a goal of opening by July and hiring 200 personnel over the course of three to five years

Request for county intervention originally came from the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Service Association (CCVESA) to assist with service demands and the financial burden of the various community fire companies. 

Changes to the way the department operates will eliminate the requirement for volunteers to have to raise funds for the purchase of ambulances or large capital items that need to be replaced.

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According to the Carroll County Times, some members of the Carroll County, Maryland, board of county commissioners are worried they might not be able to meet the July deadline for creating the county’s first combination fire and emergency medical services department.

Fire companies in 14 communities are moving toward one fire department with the idea of hiring some 200 personnel over the course of three to five years, according to the paper.

The concept of creating one department was born out of a desire to assist with the demands and financial burden of the various community fire companies, the paper reported.

Some Carroll County commissioners believe there are too many issues, such as staffing, the role of volunteers and funding issues to be resolved before the July opening goal. The commissioners are hoping that decisions will be made as objectives are achieved rather than having a clock drive the process, the paper said.  

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Lincolnwood has placed a fire station at an assisted living facility, reports Chicago Tribune.

Many emergency calls originate from the assisted living facility. The station houses an ambulance and living quarters for two fire department paramedics.

The station’s personnel will serve the Carrington and nearby Lincolnwood Place, another assisted living facility.

Creating the ambulance bay and space for paramedics was a goal for the Carrington’s ownership group of South Bay Partners, LLC and LAMB Properties when the facility was originally proposed to the village.

The post Lincolnwood (IL) Opens Fire Station in Assisted Living Home appeared first on Fire Apparatus.

According to a report from SwiftCurrentOnline, the Shaunavon Volunteer Fire Department in Saskatchewan, Canada, received a special delivery last week: a 2020 Ford F-550. Cost of the new vehicle was just under $350,000.

The latest addition to the SVFD’s fleet arrived at the local fire hall, fully equipped and ready to deploy.

SVFD Chief Merrick Goldstein said the truck will replace their old rescue truck, which was sold to the community of Frontier.

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According to a report from WTOL, the Harris-Elmore Fire Department (HEFD) in Elmore, Ohio, recently received a new 2020 Custom Rescue Engine with help from an Ohio First Responder grant. Because of the grant, Harris Township only had to chip in around $108,000 for the new fire engine.

Despite the recent cold weather in the state, the HEFD held an open house on Sunday afternoon, February 14, at its station to unveil the latest addition to its fleet.

Officials expect the new rescue engine will be around to serve the community for at least 25 years.

The HEFD was established in 1885 and makes nearly 115 runs a year with 45 active members.

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