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Posted: Dec 27, 2016

Firefighters save one of their own in Massachusetts mayday

The mayday came minutes after firefighters arrived at a 3-alarm blaze that’s believed to have started about 9 p.m. Thursday with an overloaded extension cord in the bedroom of a second-floor apartment at 11 Ashton Place in Methuen. One of them was trapped — and running out of air. A rapid intervention team trained specifically to rescue firefighters was en route from Salem, N.
- PUB DATE: 12/27/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Boston Herald
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Posted: Dec 26, 2016

Woman killed in fire at Anacortes hotel

A woman was killed in a fire early Christmas morning at an Anacortes hotel, officials said. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene, the Sunrise Inn Villas and Suites in the 900 block of 20th Street, in response to a fire alarm on Sunday morning. When crews arrived, one room in the 26-unit hotel was found to be ablaze.
- PUB DATE: 12/26/2016 5:03:50 PM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000
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Posted: Dec 26, 2016

New Albany (OR) Fire Station Taking Shape

Albany likely will need more branch fire stations soon, probably one each in the northeast and southeast corners of town, Chief John Bradner said. But when it comes to main stations, he said, the one under construction on Lyon Street should be the last one the city will ever need.

At two stories and 24,300 square feet, the new station is about 10,000 square feet bigger than its predecessor.

The $7.5 million building will have a ground-floor apparatus bay with room for up to 10 vehicles. And for the first time, that bay will be open on both sides, which means trucks won't have to turn around and back in but can pull directly through whether they're coming from either direction.

A lobby with an antique fire truck on display will greet first-floor visitors, Bradner said. The rest of the first floor will be office space and a training room that can be accessed by the community.

Upstairs, crews will find individual bunk rooms as opposed to the large, dorm-style room partitioned off by a handful of dividers that the old Station 11 had. 

There will be locker rooms and showers for both men and women, a large kitchen and dining area and more office space, and an outdoor patio to bring in light and fresh air.

The new station also will boast two brass fire poles for firefighters to slide down: a new one and the pole salvaged from the old building, which was salvaged from an even earlier structure and might date back to the early 1900s, Bradner said.

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Posted: Dec 26, 2016

Portland (ME) to Assess Fire Stations for Possible Consolidation

The city will consider proposals from firms to do a study of service needs and conditions. Portland is looking to hire a consultant to study the condition and location of the city's fire stations, with an eye toward consolidation.

The cost of the six-month study will depend on the response the city receives from a request for proposals, which will be opened on Jan. 11. Eighteen firms from throughout Maine and the U.S. are weighing whether to submit proposals, according to the city.

"The consultant will identify future fire station locations and current fire station updates and upgrades to meet the future service needs of the community," the city's request for proposals says.

The move comes as city officials are looking to get a handle on capital investment needed to improve the city's infrastructure. The highest profile buildings in need are the city's four elementary schools, and Mayor Ethan Strimling and parents are pushing for a $60 million to $70 million bond to pay for upgrades.

Fire Chief David Jackson said that, like many city buildings, deferred maintenance in lean budget years has taken its toll of the city's nine fire stations, which include the Marine Division in the Casco Bay Lines parking garage on Commercial Street and the Air Rescue Division at the Portland International Jetport.

Few investments have been made in those stations with the exception of the Marine Division, which received a $300,000 investment in 2012.

Before making investments in the city's stations, Jackson said it makes sense to look at the city's call volumes and neighborhoods with the largest demand for services to determine where the city's stations are ideally situated.

The study will look at future growth projections for certain areas of the city and whether its makes more sense to invest in existing stations or replace them, according to the city's request for proposals.

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Posted: Dec 26, 2016

Austin (TX) Fire Apparatus Among Vehicles Which Hit Woman

A woman attempting to cross Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360) on foot was hit by several vehicles and killed last Friday. The Austin Fire Department confirmed that the third or fourth vehicle to hit her was one of their fire engines.

Austin police received a call around 11:10 p.m. Friday, reporting the woman was hit on Loop 360 near Westbank Drive. Austin Fire Department Division Chief Palmer Buck said the fire engine was driving to a non-emergency call when a cluster of cars in front of the truck swerved to avoid the unidentified woman and several vehicles collided with her. Buck described conditions at the time as "dark and rainy."

"It's very unfortunate," Buck said. "The crew did what they could - they stopped the truck and immediately started care, but it was readily apparent that the victim suffered injuries not compatible with life."

Buck said the fire department took part in an investigation with the police department, but no arrests have been made and the fire department has not been found to be at fault.

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