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Posted: May 3, 2016

After 12 Years, Fort Lauderdale Fails to Deliver Three Promised Fire Stations

Twelve years after voters agreed to build ten fire stations, three are still on the drawing board with little chance of being built any time soon. A new downtown firehouse was supposed to help the city keep up with increased calls spurred on by new skyscrapers.

And two on the beach -- near Sunrise Boulevard and Oakland Park Boulevard -- were planned to replace aging, decaying stations and their cramped quarters.

The demand for fire-rescue services has never been greater. Service calls increased 12 percent last year and topped 50,000 for the first time ever. Fire Chief Robert Hoecherl expects the number to pass 60,000 this year and to continue rising based on the city's growing population.

The volume of calls is starting to impact response times, Deputy Chief Tim Heiser said, and the department is requesting 17 new positions and more vehicles in the upcoming budget.

The proposed downtown station, near Andrews Avenue and Southwest 17th Street, would improve response times south of the New River, officials said, and relieve pressure on the downtown's Fire Station 2, which was ranked the nation's busiest in 2013.

Thornie Jarrett, chairman of the advisory committee charged with overseeing the 2004 program, said the unbuilt stations are needed "to give the fire personnel the equipment they need to do their job."

A firehouse in Birch State Park was built for two fire-rescue vehicles and houses four. The station near Oakland Park Boulevard has already been demolished and crews have been working from a temporary station for more than a year.

Mayor Jack Seiler said the delays have been beyond the city's control, because of agreements it has needed with other parties: a land-swap with the state at Birch State Park, a land-swap with Bokamper's Sports Bar & Grill for the Oakland Park Boulevard area station and an agreement with All Aboard Florida for the downtown site.

Even if all those obstacles were overcome, the city may not be able to do all three stations because of skyrocketing costs. The city has about $12 million left from the $40 million bond referendum in 2004, but officials now put the cost of the remaining three stations closer to $20 million.

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Posted: May 3, 2016

Dakota City Seeks to Build New Fire Station

DAKOTA CITY | The city of Dakota City and its fire department will soon send out bids for a new fire station. City Clerk Alyssa Silhacek said all the building plans are ready. The start of construction hinges on the schedule of the potential contractor.

Bids are expected to go out in May.The new fire station for the all-volunteer department would eventually replace the old one, at 1516 Myrtle St.

The new station will be near South 21st Street, across the street from Lundberg Field.

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Posted: May 3, 2016

Firefighting Museum Plans Opening Day

The Haverhill Firefighting Museum will celebrate its opening day for the 2016 season on May 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The museum features a history of firefighting timeline exhibit that was funded, in part, through a grant from Massachusetts Cultural Council. Visitors can learn about the Adopt-a-Hydrant program, see a working fire truck from the Haverhill Fire Department and meet firefighters on duty. They can also meet Sparky the fire safety dog. Mascot Dottie the Dalmatian will pose for photos.

Kids can play in the improved children’s corner featuring a 12-foot wooden fire truck and a hose to pull and connect to the truck, along with dress-up fire gear and toys.

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Posted: May 3, 2016

Township Unveils Argo as Part of Firefighting Equipment

Bracebridge Examiner MILFORD BAY - The Township of Muskoka Lakes has a new lady within its fire department. Miss Beaumaris was introduced to the public at a ceremony at the township's Milford Bay fire station the afternoon of April 28. While people sipped coffee and snacked on treats they walked around 'her' in admiration.

She was an Argo Frontier EFI 650, an eight-wheeled amphibious utility terrain vehicle that was bought by the municipality through donations raised by Milford Bay and Beaumaris residents, according to deputy fire chief Harry Baranik.

“They have in the past been very generous with this donation. They came in and donated money for this vehicle,” he said, adding residents asked that the 2016 Argo be named Miss Beaumaris in honour of the donation. “The original plan was for them to assist with the purchase of pumper truck, and those are half-million dollar vehicles. This (Argo) is a very practical and timely thing to have and we believe it is going to able to go all seasons.”

He said the unit, along with litter board, a portable water pump and one full set of belted tracks, cost between $35,000 to $40,000, all paid for by the Milford Bay and Beaumaris residents.

Robert McLeish, who was on hand during Thursday’s ceremony to represent the residents, said the community is pleased with the work of the Milford Bay department, especially after a forester fire back in 2012.

“If it wasn't for the Milford Bay Fire Department, we probably wouldn't have just lost Milford Bay, we probably would have lost a lot of Beaumaris, he said. “As part of the community up here, we felt it was quite appropriate to raise some money to make sure the Milford Bay fire department is extremely well equipped.”

Baranik said the vehicle was purchased in December and since then, members of the fire department have been involved in training to operate the vehicle. The training concluded on the day of the Argo’s official presentation.

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Posted: May 3, 2016

1921 Fire Engine Returns Home to Aetna

It was a happy homecoming five decades in the making when Aetna Hose Hook and Ladder Co.'s 1921 Stutz pumper arrived at Station 9 on Academy Street last week. Rusted out, dirty and missing parts, the Stutz is far from the proud, shiny fire engine it was in the 1920s.

However, Aetna members hope that with a little tender love and care – and a lot of fundraising – they can restore it to its former glory.

The goal is to have it restored by 2021, the fire engine’s 100th birthday, longtime Aetna member Diane Silverman said.

“The idea was just to bring it back home,” Silverman said. “Someday, if we get enough money raised, we’ll put it back like it was.”

Aetna originally bought the Stutz pumper for $13,500, according to the fire company’s official history. The fire company’s second motorized truck, the Stutz arrived June 18, 1921, and was housed in the old firehouse on Academy Street. The current firehouse at the corner of Academy Street and Delaware Avenue wasn’t built until the next year.

In 1937, Aetna sent the pumper back to the Stutz company in Indiana to be rebuilt with a new engine and other modifications. The rebuild cost Aetna $5,650, and the Stutz served the fire company until 1966, when the department leadership sold it to Elkton Christian School in Maryland.

Little is known about what happened to the Stutz after that, but a chance encounter by an Aetna life member in Indiana brought it back into Aetna’s sights.

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