The poor condition of the building was made known to the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors, who allocated approximately three quarters of a million dollars to build a new fire station in Snowville. The Covey family donated the land for the new firehouse and subsequently walls were erected and a roof was added to cover the new 80 X 120-foot fire house. Then all progress abruptly stopped.

It was learned, after construction was well underway, that the contractors needed a Storm Water Permit from Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality to continue building. In Virginia, any construction project on a piece of property over one acre in size requires a storm water permit to ensure proper drainage on-site. This normally involves some amount of grading and sometimes the addition of a retention pond.

Apparently, the consulting engineer on the project did not realize that the property was over an acre when giving the go-ahead to start construction.

David slept on the bright-red bed for three years, then his younger brother Joe used it for another three.

"My wife and I got to talking about it, said well maybe there's some other families that would like it," Williams said.

Originally, they took the bed to a local fire station, with the idea that someone with kids would want it and then return it to them when the Williamses welcomed grandkids. Only the second thought stuck.

Instead, a familiar sight and sound helped determine where the bed would go next.

"We were at a baseball game. This little kid, son of one of the coaches, just went crazy when one of the fire engines went by," Williams said. "I turned to the mother and said, 'I've got a deal for you.'"

The six-firefighter company was detailed to Engine 503 on 51st Street in Manhattan, the FDNY said in a Facebook post.

The company includes Lt. Tracy Lewis, Firefighter Martha Brekke, Firefighter Eniola Brown, Firefighter Vanessa Schoening, Firefighter Sarinya Srisakul and Firefighter Regina Wilson, the FDNY said.

“The unit was part of the FDNY’s resources assigned to provide fire suppression protection during the UN General Assembly, the department noted in the post.

The Pennsboro Volunteer Fire Department has had the same gear for the last 12 years, and has just received notice from Congressman McKinley's office that it has been awarded a $90,000 grant for 30 sets of new gear. 

The fire department is meeting with companies before making a decision on the group to go with. 

Firefighters said that the new gear will provide better protection, but also takes a heavy weight off their shoulders. 

The portable device attached to a disposable blade with an embedded camera should increase the first pass rate by 30 percent, allowing paramedics to quickly administer intubation procedures on patients in medical emergencies.

A first pass rate means successfully inserting the laryngoscope to intubate the patient on the first try, according to Sarah Merrick EMS training officer. 

With proper training, paramedics in the field can have an 80 to 90 percent first pass rate versus the average 50 percent rate for paramedics nationwide, Merrick said.