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Posted: Aug 30, 2016

Richmond Fire Station Set for $1.3 Million Renovation

A Richmond fire station that's more than 75 years old is undergoing a $1.3 million upgrade. Drive down Forest Hill Avenue and you'll notice Fire Station 20 is under construction. The firehouse was built in the 1940s and needs some serious upgrades.
"One of the things that has changed since 1943, has been women in the fire service," Chief Taylor pointed out. "And so, in recognition of that we are upgrading the bathroom facilities to include more privacy."

Before the renovations were underway there were firefighters sleeping and resting on one side of the dormitories and working out on the other side of the same room. With the new renovations, the area will all be sleeping quarters and a fitness area will be added on.

The firehouse will also see a new fire alarm and a separate area for storing used fire gear, that can continue to give off gasses. The total renovation is expected to be completed in April.

This is the third firehouse upgrade. Fire station 13 was upgraded in 2013, Fire Station 10 was renovated in 2015, and officials are already talking about upgrading Fire House 21.

At the same time, approximately 30 firefighters have been moved out of Station 1 in Church Hill to three other stations for mold concerns.

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Posted: Aug 30, 2016

Police: FDNY Ambulance Strikes, Kills 81-Year-Old Man

An 81-year-old man is dead after authorities say he was hit by a fire department ambulance in Manhattan. The New York Police Department says Gen Zhan was crossing a street about 2:20 p.m. Monday when the ambulance hit him. He was found on the pavement with severe body trauma and was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he later died.
Authorities say the ambulance struck Zhan while he was in a crosswalk. The operator of the ambulance remained at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation.

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Posted: Aug 30, 2016

1970 International Harvester 1300D Fire Apparatus a Time Capsule

How often do you get to drive an unrestored classic truck that appears brand new? This is a unique occurrence. Now, this particular truck is rare by itself. It's a 1970 International Harvester 1300D "All Wheel Drive" 4×4 Dually fire truck.

The truck is powered by a 345 cu-in V8 motor that was rated at precisely 196.7 hp and 309 lb-ft of torque, which is a lot of power for 1970. The “All Wheel Drive” label does not refer to a computerized AWD system of today’s trucks. It simply means that you can lock the hubs and make it so all wheels on this truck are driving it when 4×4 is selected.

The truck has no regular radio or air conditioning, but every feature works, including the strobe lights and the sirens. This truck is a true time capsule from the 1970s.

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Posted: Aug 30, 2016

Alcohol Involved in Vanleer (TN) Fire Apparatus Accident

A tanker truck with three Vanleer volunteer firefighters overturned and wrecked on Highway 49 West while traveling to a lightning strike-caused house fire early Saturday morning -- and alcohol was involved, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol report.
The volunteer firefighters in the tanker truck were David Boutcher, 36, of Vanleer; Michael Bunn, 28, of Cumberland Furnace; and Jessica Leege, 24, of Vanleer.

The THP report states that Boutcher, the driver, and Leege had been drinking alcohol.

The 2008 Kenworth T-370 tanker was traveling west on Highway 49 when it "failed to negotiate a curve to the right and ran off the road on the left side," according to the THP report.

The truck overturned and came to a final rest in the ditch.

Boutcher told the THP trooper that the air brakes "had not built up enough air and did not work at the time of the crash," the report states.

Charges are pending, according to the THP.

While the tanker was traveling to the fire scene, a Vanleer Volunteer Fire Department crew was already fighting the fire, said Vanleer Fire Chief Scotty Ingham.

“The house unfortunately was a total loss,” said Ingham about the home located on Highway 49 West near Jarman’s Market.

Also providing mutual aid were other local volunteer organizations Cumberland Furnace and Sylvia-Yellow Creek fire departments and Dickson County Fire and Rescue, Ingham said.

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Posted: Aug 30, 2016

Fire Apparatus Driver in Fatal Crash Claims Lacked Sleep, Used Drugs

As charges were brought against the driver of a Michigan firetruck that crashed Saturday on Interstate 35W in Blaine, killing two firefighters, people in the men's hometown grieved the loss. The driver, Micheal Allen Johnson, 28, of Baraga, Mich., said he was sleep-deprived and that he nodded off before the rig went out of control.
He also admitted using marijuana and cocaine in the days and hours before the wreck, according to charges filed Monday. He was charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in Anoka County District Court and remains jailed ahead of a court appearance Tuesday.

Johnson was among nine firefighters from the Upper Peninsula community en route to help fight the Box Canyon wildfire in Utah when the truck "struck the median cable barriers, and rolled" at 3:08 p.m. Saturday, according to a State Patrol statement.

Alan Swartz, 25, and James Shelifoe Jr., 23, also of Baraga, were killed. The others on the truck survived their injuries. Two other vehicles that were part of the contingent were not involved in the wreck.

A witness traveling in the same direction told authorities he estimated their speed at 80 to 90 miles per hour in the 70 mph zone and had noticed Johnson's truck swerve multiple times.

The passengers were members of the Beartown Firefighters, a crew that specializes in fighting wildfires and is run by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

According to the charges, Johnson told officers that he woke up late Friday morning and for the next 28 or so hours had only a 45-minute nap.

Johnson believes "he fell asleep and woke up to his passenger yelling at him as he veered off the road" near 95th Avenue, the complaint read. Toxicology test results are pending.

As soon as the community learned of the crash, the families of the injured were sent to the Twin Cities to be with their loved ones, said Tribal President Chris Swartz, who is a relative of Alan Swartz.

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