Three separate fires involving a vacant business, a car and heavy brush near the Yakima River – all within the span of four hours – meant a busy night for Yakima firefighters. At one point, all 25 on-duty Yakima firefighters were out on the fires. Two of the fires are considered suspicious, while the third was blamed on an abandoned campfire.
- PUB DATE: 9/1/2016 11:44:44 AM - SOURCE: Yakima Herald-Republic

Kennewick police are investigating a possible arson that damaged several tables and chairs stored behind a building in Kennewick Thursday morning. Kennewick police said they believe a fire was intentionally set in the back alley of the 100 block of W. Kennewick Avenue. The fire damaged several tables and chairs that were being stored in the area.
- PUB DATE: 9/1/2016 10:43:36 AM - SOURCE: KEPR-TV CBS 19

A stove fire broke out at a retirement and assisted living home in Richland on Wednesday but no residents were hurt. Richland fire crews were alerted around noon to a fire at Riverton by Bonaventure on Bellerive Drive. A sprinkler system extinguished the small kitchen fire before crews arrived, said Battalion Chief Ron Duncan.
- PUB DATE: 9/1/2016 8:20:43 AM - SOURCE: Mid-Columbia Tri-City Herald

Pierce Manufacturing, an Oshkosh Corporation Company (NYSE:OSK) announced that MacQueen Emergency Group, a subsidiary of MacQueen Equipment Group of St. Paul, Minn., is the new Pierce dealer for the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. Established in 1961, MacQueen – a well-known name across the Upper Midwest – represents several leading heavy-equipment brands including Pierce’s sister company, Oshkosh Airport Products.

“Pierce’s roster of fire and emergency dealers is the finest in the nation, and we’re very excited to announce the addition of MacQueen Emergency Group to this select group,” said Matt McLeish, Pierce Manufacturing vice president of sales and marketing. “MacQueen is a first-rate organization with a proven track record that spans more than half a century as well as deep roots within Oshkosh Corporation. MacQueen epitomizes the values of stability, professionalism and commitment to customer service. Pierce customers are well served by this move.”

The extensive footprint of MacQueen Emergency Group features a brand new 43,000-square-foot company headquarters on St. Paul’s east side that offers a training center and 14 service bays. The company will also serve Pierce customers from the 12,000-square-foot Apple Valley, Minnesota facilities previously used by the local Pierce service team (Red Power Diesel). Additionally, the company operates a full-service facility in Lincoln, Nebraska, as well as a fleet of mobile service teams to blanket the territory.

“All of us at MacQueen are really excited and, for me personally, becoming a Pierce dealer is a career highlight. We look forward to meeting with and getting to know Pierce customers across our territory, and bringing to them a new level of service and support,” said Dan Gage, MacQueen Emergency Group co-owner and vice president of sales, who will lead the new fire and emergency team.  “We will hit the ground running from day one with 15 new employees, including the Minnesota-based service group at Red Power Diesel, led by Dave Schneider.”

Visit www.piercemfg.com to learn more about Pierce.

A big rig slammed into a firetruck bringing traffic on Interstate 95 to a screeching halt for hours early Thursday and leaving five Philadelphia firefighters hurt. The tractor-trailer crossed lanes and slammed into the stopped firetruck in the southbound left-hand shoulder around 3 a.m. under the Chestnut Street overpass/Penn's Landing Tunnel in Old City.
- PUB DATE: 9/1/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCAU-TV NBC 10 Philadelphia