A Benton Fire District 1 support vehicle was heavily damaged Sunday when it was hit by an SUV while on its way to a collision scene, authorities said. Battalion Chief Donald J. Taylor was driving the truck, a 1999 Ford F250, which was marked and had its siren on and lights flashing, authorities said.
- PUB DATE: 8/28/2016 5:31:29 PM - SOURCE: Mid-Columbia Tri-City Herald

Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue Chief John Sinclair was installed Aug. 18 as president and chairman of the board of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), pledging to “shine a light” on several important challenges facing the fire and emergency service, according to a news release from the association.
- PUB DATE: 8/28/2016 1:47:42 AM - SOURCE: Ellensburg Daily Record

Firefighters this week spotted an unwelcome object in the sky above the Deep North fire: a remote-controlled drone. The camera-equipped hobby aircraft was apparently zipping through the smoke to capture images of the wildfire, which has burned nearly 600 acres of wooded terrain in northern Stevens County.
- PUB DATE: 8/26/2016 11:57:12 PM - SOURCE: Spokane Spokesman-Review

VFIS, a division of Glatfelter Insurance Group, is proud to announce that their course, In the Station: Best Practices in Station Safety, has earned a Silver Horizon Interactive Award for eLearning. JPL Creative partnered with VFIS experts to create a series of courses with realistic sound effects, eye-catching visuals and captivating case studies related to unique hazards fire departments often face.

In the Station offers an interactive experience to help learners identify ways to improve overall station safety, recall best practices, outline a preparedness plan, and implement routine property self-evaluations. By answering a series of questions, participants learn about specific exposures that their department may face and ways to help minimize property damage, limit liability claims, and ensure the safety of members, employees, and visitors.

“This course provides education to fire departments on potential hazards in the station and ways to reduce their risks,” said Michael Baker, Director of Risk Control. “VFIS encourages clients routinely inspect their vehicles to assure they are ready to perform under the most adverse conditions; it is only fitting that periodic inspections should be done for their stations as well.”

To learn more about In the Station, contact VFIS at 1-800-233-1957.