Five first responders from fire districts across Spokane County and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office were awarded “Hero of Honor” medals in New York City on Wednesday at the First Responders Children’s Foundation’s National First Responders Day ceremony hosted by Jon Stewart.

The five local awardees were Chief Matthew Vinci of Spokane County Fire District (SCFD) 9, Chief Mike Nokes of SCFD 4, Chief Tom Williams of the Spokane Fire Department, Chief Don Malone of SCFD 10, and Sheriff John Nowels of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

Just 19 first responders across the country were selected for recognition. The Spokane-area first responders were also awarded the SERVPRO Natural Disaster Award for their “incredible response to the Spokane Complex Fires, successfully evacuating 65,000 residents with zero lives lost,” the First Responders Children’s Foundation said.

KHQ-TV NBC 6 Spokane

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According to Puget Sound Fire Authority, paramedics evaluated nine people for exposure to hazardous materials at Kentridge High School in Kent Tuesday afternoon, including one student.

Two of the patients, both staff members, were transported to a medical facility for treatment, fire officials said.

Puget Sound Fire Authority, Renton Regional Fire Authority, the Port of Seattle fire department and King County Medic One responded to the high school around 2:40 p.m. Monday. The school had already been dismissed for the day, so no evacuation orders were issued.

Around 3:25 p.m., Hazardous Material response teams entered the school and conducted air monitoring. No hazards were detected.

It’s not yet clear what contaminant was the subject of the response.

KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

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Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue and South Whidbey Fire/EMS are exploring how increased collaboration between their two districts can continue to make operations more efficient, an ongoing effort that could lay the groundwork for a merger in the future.

Mergers are becoming increasingly common among fire districts, especially in Washington, and the possibility has been entertained on Whidbey. It’s “just what the industry has gone to,” Nick Walsh, fire chief at South Whidbey Fire/EMS, said.

Fire protection districts within “reasonable proximity” can merge or form regional fire authorities under Washington State law, specifically RCWs 52.06 and 52.26, although those may not be the only options for districts looking to combine. While mergers and regional fire authorities differ, their benefits and purposes are similar.

Merging is logical for districts seeking to improve service as call volume increases and funding decreases, explained Walsh. Merged districts may be able to put more firefighters on the scene of incidents faster than multiple separate districts.

South Whidbey Record – Metered site

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Brookfield Fire Department in central Vermont is without its tanker after a car struck it while crews responded to another crash.

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La Mott Fire Company in Elkins Park, PA, plans a four-unit apartment building behind its firehouse to offer free or reduced-rent housing for volunteer firefighters.

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