VIDEO/PHOTOS: At least nine tornadoes were reported in Kansas and Oklahoma on Sunday night as a massive winter storm moves east across the U.S. One tornado destroyed a home, toppled trees and knocked over power lines in Liberal, Kansas, near the state line with Oklahoma, according to local authorities.
- PUB DATE: 2/27/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: ABC News

A woman was found dead after an abandoned building caught fire in Seattle’s University District Sunday evening. The Seattle Fire Department first reported the fire on the 800 block of Northeast 42nd Street around 8:45 p.m. Sunday. Crews were able to get the fire under control shortly after arriving at the scene.
- PUB DATE: 2/27/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

Snohomish County is growing: the U.S. Census Bureau reports that it has added more than 100,000 people since a decade ago. Now, however, some firefighters say it's affecting how fast they can respond. One Snohomish fire station's chief says staffing cannot keep up with higher call volumes and overlapping calls.
- PUB DATE: 2/27/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

Have you seen our #BlackHistoryMonth-wrapped truck around #Brampton?

The truck celebrates Black inventors and their contributions to the international fire service!

If you spot it out and about, and it’s safe to do so, snap a pic and share it with us! ^rc pic.twitter.com/SiMwaPv2Oe

— Brampton Fire & Emergency Services (@BramptonFireES) February 16, 2023

Brampton Fire and Emergency Services used one of their fire trucks to mark Black History Month by honoring Black leaders and inventors who created firefighting tools used around the world, Mississauga.com reported.

George Reid is among those featured on the truck. Reid is credited as the inventor of the fire pole after being the first person to use a pole to get to the first floor of his Chicago fire station during an alarm in 1878, the report said.

The truck also honors Joseph W. Winters, who invented and received a patent for his design—the first fire escape ladder mounted on fire wagons—in 1878, according to the report.

The Blairsville (PA) Volunteer Fire Department made the following announcement Wednesday in a Facebook post:

“!!NEW APPARATUS ANNOUNCEMENT!!

“The Blairsville Volunteer Fire Department’s Swift Water Rescue and Dive Teams welcomed a much-needed tandem boat trailer to the fleet last night! A committee was formed and worked with Loadmaster Trailer to design and build this custom tandem boat trailer. It was specifically built to fit our Inmar and Zodiac Rescue Boats, while meeting height and length restrictions to fit in the Station!

“The trailer pulled into the station yesterday afternoon and by last evening the membership had both boats and all the equipment mounted up and in service on the new trailer!

“This new addition the the fleet will allow both boats and all the needed support equipment for the boats to be deployed much faster and safer. The trailer can be backed into the water like a conventional boat trailer, has 360-degree scene lighting, and the top boat is on a hinged platform that can be lowered with a winch with the push of a button! Both boats also have deployable transom mounted wheels, so either boat can be removed from the trailer on land, (top or bottom boat first), and wheeled to the water in cases when the trailer is not able to be backed into the water.

“Stop by any Friday from 4-7PM during lent to check out the new equipment and order a Big Fish Sandwich while you are here!”