The Bethel Twp. Fire Department wants to put an emergency five-year, 2-mill levy on the November ballot, the first time it’s asked for new tax money since 2002. Bethel Twp. trustees are expected to vote tonight on putting the issue on the ballot. If approved by voters, it would generate about $398,000 a year.
- PUB DATE: 7/25/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Springfield News-Sun

On March 24, less than 72 hours before a blaze killed four people at a San Pablo Avenue halfway house, a fire inspector ordered immediate service and certification of the building’s fire sprinkler system, among 11 severe fire hazards he documented. But that sprinkler system was not fixed in time. It failed to operate because of damaged components, allowing the early morning inferno to grow unchecked and eventually destroy the entire four-story building, firefighters determined in their post-fire report obtained exclusively by this news organization.
- PUB DATE: 7/25/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Mercury News

Tri-Cities has seen an explosion of growth over the last decade and more people means more work for fire departments. “We're all in the same crunch,” stated Pasco Fire Department Assistant Chief Dave Hare. Here's a look at the numbers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2010 Kennewick’s population numbered 73,917, Pasco had 59,781 and Richland had 48,058.
- PUB DATE: 7/24/2017 10:29:20 PM - SOURCE: KEPR-TV CBS 19

Forney (TX) Fire Department, pumper. Metro Star cab and chassis; Cummins ISL 450-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm pump; Pro Poly 750-gallon polypropylene tank.