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Posted: Nov 17, 2016

Dying Atlanta Firefighter's Final Wish: See New Rig

Dozens of first responders in Georgia will help fulfill an Atlanta firefighter's dying wish as they escort him from the hospital to his home in Forsyth County, where he will receive hospice care. Frank Martinez, 45, has battled Stage 4 cancer for several years and doesnt have much longer to live, his co-worker Cortez R. R. Stafford, said.

Martinez is a six-year member of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department’s Squad 4, and his last wish was to see the new Squad 4 apparatus, which was put into service just a few weeks ago.

Led by the new equipment, members of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, the Atlanta Police Department, Georgia State Patrol and other local fire rescue departments went to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America Regional Medical Center in Newnan Wednesday afternoon.

They formed a procession that traveled along I-85 North, through the city and up Georgia 400 North to his home. "Atlanta Fire will also have apparatuses along the route on bridges as they pass through downtown," Stafford said.

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Posted: Nov 17, 2016

Person Injured after Crashing into Salisbury Fire Station

The incident happened just before 10 p.m. at the Central Fire Station on the 500 block of Innes Street in Salisbury.

The incident happened just before 10 p.m. at the Central Fire Station on the 500 block of Innes Street in Salisbury. Officials said a passing motorist drove through the bay door.

The driver, whose name has not been released, was taken to an area possible with minor injuries, according to Medic.

Officials said no firefighters were injured, and no damage was done to any firefighting equipment.

Investigators have not said how the crash may have happened or if any charges are being filed.

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Posted: Nov 17, 2016

Proposed Spicewood EMS Station Would Cut Response Time

CONNIE SWINNEY * STAFF WRITER SPICEWOOD - A proposed EMS facility in Spicewood that would be built in cooperation with three government entities could cut response time and provide enhanced emergency medical care for residents in the southeastern portion of Burnet County, officials say. Officials with the newly created Emergency Services District (ESD) No.

Officials with the newly created Emergency Services District (ESD) No. 9 have proposed a 3,500-square-foot building, which could cost from $250,000 to $300,000, that would offer 24-hour service with vehicles and equipment and cost about $500,000 annually to operate.

Since voters approved a 2-percent sales tax through ESD No. 9, the entity has shouldered broader funding responsibilities for EMS services and would provide the seed money for the project.

Marble Falls Independent School District trustees have proposed offering land for the facility north of the Spicewood Elementary School, 1005 Spur 191.

“We were able to locate this portion of the Spicewood Elementary site that has the ability to get us out to a good public highway there on Spur 191, has public water available through the Corix system, and, through this partnership with the school district, will come at no cost to the ESD,” Burnet County Precint 4 Commissioner Joe Don Dockery said.

“We’re trying to move this forward as quickly as we possibly can,” he said.

On Nov. 14, MFISD passed a resolution of support for the project, which entailed donating the land for the facility.

Burnet County commissioners have resolved to support an amended contract with Marble Falls Area EMS to operate out of the facility when it becomes operational.

“If we don’t build these collaborations and cooperation between these entities, we don’t get these kinds of projects done,” Dockery said. “It’s very financially challenging.”

The unincorporated Spicewood Community currently receives emergency medical care through volunteer EMS first responders who are stationed at the Spicewood Volunteer Fire Department, 9805 Texas 71.

Burnet County contracts with Marble Falls Area EMS, headquartered 15 miles away at 609 Industrial Blvd. in Marble Falls, to provide additional EMS coverage of the area.

Officials predict enhanced services once the project is complete.

“The real difference is the decrease in response time,” said Byron Zinn, president and a commissioner for ESD No. 9. “What it means for the Spicewood area with the growth coming along the (Texas) 71 corrido

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Posted: Nov 17, 2016

New Sussex Co. EMS Station Looking to Cut Back on Response Time

SUSSEX CO., Del. - When it comes to emergency response, minutes and even seconds can mean the difference between life and death, which is why Sussex County EMS in Delaware is working hard to cut back on response time with a new project.

The hum of drills and the buzzing of chainsaws, those are the familiar sounds in Lewes, at the future home of the new Sussex count EMS station.

"It's going to be our first station with multiple drive thru bays," says Glenn Marshall, the Spokesperson for Sussex County EMS.

The new EMS station on Plantation Road in Lewes will replace the current one off of Route 1. Although these stations are only about a quarter mile away from each other, EMS officials tell 47 ABC this new location will make a difference when it comes to response time.

"Route 1 can really become a parking lot during the summertime especially during the holidays," says Marshall.

Marshall tells 47 ABC they aren't always hitting the national standard for EMS response time, which is 8 minutes.

"There is a lot of traffic on there either the two little strip malls in there, restaurant, so that can be a challenge to get out and get on the road," says Marshal..

Marshall says this new location will allow easier access to back roads throughout the county. He also says that another plus of this new station, is the size. Their new location will be 5,000 square feet compared to their current 3,000 foot location, which means they will have more space for training.
 
"With this station we got some room where we can bring more training equipment over and utilize that time frame in this building," says Marshall.

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Posted: Nov 17, 2016

Lee's Fire Truck Centerpiece of Impressive Collection

To call Bill Lee a collector of firefighting memorabilia would be an understatement. To say he's proud of the prize of his collection - a 1973 American LaFrance - would be an even bigger one. Lee's retired Streator Fire Department pumper truck served Streator from Dec. 5, 1973, until May 1, 2008.

Lee's retired Streator Fire Department pumper truck served Streator from Dec. 5, 1973, until May 1, 2008. Upon its retirement, Lee — whose father was a captain on the SFD , leading to his son's fascination with the discipline and tools of fighting fires — purchased the truck and began restoring it into the beautiful piece of equipment he was showing off at Northpoint Plaza during Streator's Fourth of July celebration.

"My dad is 87 years old, still alive, a retired captain of the Streator Fire Department. I'm very proud of that, and his white helmet is in the truck, the one he wore when he worked out of this truck," said Lee back in July.

"I always liked this truck. This was Streator's first diesel-powered fire engine with an automatic transmission. It had a 1,250-gallon-per-minute water tank, and it was state-of-the-art. This was the Cadillac of fire trucks in the 1970s."

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