A former church caught on fire in Wapato on Tuesday night. Around 9:30 p.m., Wapato firefighters were sent to 102 East 5th Street, the former Assembly of God Church. That’s where firefighters found flames damaging classrooms, a sanctuary and a stage. Wapato Fire Chief Bob Clark also told KAPP-KVEW heavy smoke and fire caused significant damage to the second floor.
- PUB DATE: 1/29/2020 3:56:42 AM - SOURCE: YakTriNews

South Whidbey Fire/EMS recently approved a five-year strategic plan that calls for a levy lid lift. The fire department is considering asking voters to increase the levy from 65 cents to 95 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value to hire additional staff, keep up with increasing call volumes and replace aging apparatus, according to a press release.
- PUB DATE: 1/29/2020 2:57:37 AM - SOURCE: South Whidbey Record - Metered Site

When Ed Parkinson was named the acting CEO of the First Responder Network Authority in October of 2018, his assignment related to public safety broadband that has represented a full cycle from a committee policy staffer to overseeing the program he helped legislatively create. During the fifteen months after the new post, he manages a program with a federal budget of $81 million as monitor of a contract with AT&T.
- PUB DATE: 1/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: All Things FirstNet

The Sunbury Steam Fire Engine Co. Number 1 is facing a 60-day shutdown because the firefighters need more training, city Fire Chief Brad Wertz said. Wertz told City Council that he decided to pull the company, located at Center and Penn St., out of service because he discovered that six of the eight volunteer firefighters were not properly trained.
- PUB DATE: 1/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Daily Item

As legislation continues to move swiftly through the Florida Legislature to allow increased governmental use of drones, Florida’s fire chiefs are seeking to get on board. On Tuesday the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee took up, and swiftly approved, HB 659, which would allow use of drones by Florida wildlife and forestry officials for two purposes: to monitor invasive species encroachment on public lands, and to help manage and fight wildfires.
- PUB DATE: 1/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FloridaPolitics.com