Ray Kresek says the origins of what he calls the world’s largest Smokey Bear collection – which exists in a crowded but neatly arranged room in the basement of his home on the far North Side of Spokane – can be traced back to 1950. Smokey, who debuted in a 1944 ad campaign, was just 6 years old at the time, and Kresek was a 12-year-old in Oroville, Washington, whose teacher found matches in his pocket.
- PUB DATE: 8/9/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Spokane Spokesman-Review

It's fire season, which means another red flag warning has been issued in our area. This time with threats of thunderstorms starting today and lasting till Saturday. The combination of extreme heat, winds, and thunderstorms mean the possibility of a fire starting is extremely high. The Benton County Fire District had some tips in preparation for such a threat.
- PUB DATE: 8/8/2019 8:58:12 PM - SOURCE: KEPR-TV CBS 19

Spokane needs volunteer firefighters. Over the past few years, the number of volunteers has dropped drastically, and with fire season seeming to get worse every year, now is the time to help. Seven out of ten firefighters that you meet are volunteers, but that number is going down. The volunteer fire council says since 2016, volunteer numbers are at their lowest ever.
- PUB DATE: 8/8/2019 4:42:21 PM - SOURCE: KHQ-TV NBC 6

The brand new $1.5 million Dike Fire Station is complete after a year and half, reports The Grundy Register.

The new super steel structure is approximately 13,000 sq. ft. in size, and is located at the northwest edge of town.

The facility features a large garage that holds all seven of the department’s vehicles, along with the gator and boat. There are also bathroom facilities, a large meeting room and kitchen for department meetings, events and fundraisers.

Des Moines has been working to add a new fire station to the northeast part of the city for at least five years, reports Fox 17 Des Moines.

A fire official said the fire station will feature stormwater features with some prairie grasses, solar panels on top of the fire station and an opportunity for the fire fighters to train around new technology.