The city of Chilton held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for the new fire station, the fire department said in Facebook post.

Mayor Thomas Reinl lead city officials in the groundbreaking ceremony, along with representatives from the Chilton Fire Department, McMahon and Bayland Buildings, Inc.

The 8,648-square-foot, $2.7 million facility is scheduled to be completed by September.

This facility will house all of the fire department vehicles and apparatus. The new fire station will allow the Chilton Police Department to expand its outgrown facilities, utilizing space previously used for the fire department equipment.

Some features of the new fire station include: larger vehicles bays that are able to accommodate modern fire apparatus, improvements in lighting and aesthetics via windows and glass doors, along with energy efficient HVAC and electrical systems.

Fire crews will continue to operate out of the existing station until construction is complete, ensuring no disruption to service or reduction in response capability.

The New Bern Fire Department is getting new equipment to replace outdated gear thanks to a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), wcti12.com reported.

The grant is worth $304,451 and has been used to update the Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBAs), the report said.

A tanker carrying flammable liquid exploded on U.S. Route 15 in Frederick, Maryland, Saturday, killing the driver and damaging nearby homes and cars. One family with children escaped the flames but lost their home. U.S. Route 15 was closed for hours as firefighters battled the flames and a large brush fire and a hazmat team worked to contain a hazardous spill.
- PUB DATE: 3/6/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WRC-TV NBC 4 Washington, D.C.

New Mexico has more than 2,000 career firefighters across the state, according to an analysis by the Legislative Finance Committee. And legislators are eyeing a bill to help cover their healthcare costs. House Bill 495, a bipartisan bill, would create a new fund for firefighter healthcare. The bill would allow firefighters to access up to $5,000 per year to pay for insurance, deductible, etc.
- PUB DATE: 3/6/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KRQE-TV CBS/FOX 13 Albuquerque

VIDEO: No hazardous materials were on board the 28 cars of a Norfolk Southern train that derailed Saturday evening in Springfield, Ohio, officials said at a news briefing. It was the second derailment of the company’s trains in Ohio in a matter of weeks after a train carrying dangerous chemicals derailed in East Palestine on Feb.
- PUB DATE: 3/6/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NBC News