It's a day meant to be remembered forever in scrapbooks: the first day of kindergarten, when parents walk their child to class for the first time. But for one Phoenix family, it was a bittersweet first day of kindergarten, as one parent was missing. Phoenix firefighter Brian Beck, Jr., tragically lost his battle with occupational cancer in May of this year.
- PUB DATE: 8/9/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: AZFamily.com

The Bureau of Land Management Idaho Falls District has transferred surplus wildland fire engines and equipment to 34 fire programs— including two Rangeland Fire Protection Associations —across eastern Idaho. The transfers are part of BLM’s effort to respond to rural wildland fires by giving excess equipment and supplies to local fire departments and RFPAs.
- PUB DATE: 8/9/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Idaho State Journal

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