VIDEO: When large wildfires break out in California, including San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, it's all hands on deck to protect life and property. Many of those hands have spent time in shackles but as recently passed criminal justice reform laws take full effect, the number of inmate firefighters is down.
- PUB DATE: 8/6/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KSBY-TV NBC/CW+ 6 San Luis Obispo

Oh no, here we go again? Not quite... In what is seemingly becoming an August ritual in the Pacific Northwest, our typical blue skies are turning a bit hazy, thanks to some wildfire smoke blowing through the area. Luckily, it's nowhere near as intense or thick as the episodes of the past two summers, and air quality near the surface around the region remains relatively good.
- PUB DATE: 8/6/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

The second phase of a two-phase remodeling project at Ruidoso Fire Station No. 2 on White Mountain Drive should be underway next week, said Fire Chief Cody Thetford

The renovation will ensure effective fire protection coverage for the village 24 hours a day, seven days a week, he said.

“We started the project in 2016,” he said. “The building was put up in the mid to late 70s or about 1980, I’m not sure. It’s old and has been updated. But our services, the department and the village have grown over last 30 to 40 years, so we are trying to build for the future and update it to a nicer facility that these guys can work and live out of 24-7 and that’s what we did.” The first phase focused on the residential side of the building, Thetford said.

An engine from Station 24 rolled out of its bay for the first time this week, marking the first new firefighting operation in Lexington in over a decade.