Alexandria's newest fire station, which opened this spring with a paramedic team but no firefighters, finally got a fire engine and crew Saturday to cover the booming southwest area of the city, reports The Washington Post.

Fire Chief Robert Dube confirmed Friday that three firefighters and an officer are joining an EMS supervisor at the 45,000-square-foot facility on Eisenhower Avenue, near the Van Dorn Metro station.

"We'll have a mix of veteran and new staff," Dube said. "We were able to hire people who are EMTs or medics and they’ve gone through firefighter training."

The medical transport unit that had been based at the fire station is being moved to the Cameron Mills Road station in Beverly Hills, “after an analysis of call data and response times,” City Manager Mark Jinks said in an email to the City Council.

When Fire Station 210 opened in April, residents questioned how the city could invest $15 million in its construction but not have a full fire crew in place. More than 360 people signed an online petition calling for the necessary funds to staff and equip the station.

Read more of the story here http://wapo.st/1XRs6sh

A fire in the back of a duplex near Bellingham damaged two homes and displaced four people Saturday evening, Dec. 5, 2015. A resident in one of the units, a woman, called 911 around 4:50 p.m. to report a smell of smoke in her home at 3508 Bennett Drive, a rambler that had been converted into two homes, said Bellingham Assistant Fire Chief Bill Hewett.
- PUB DATE: 12/6/2015 3:29:37 AM - SOURCE: Bellingham Herald

A fire in the back of a duplex near Bellingham damaged two homes and displaced four people Saturday evening, Dec. 5, 2015. A resident in one of the units, a woman, called 911 around 4:50 p.m. to report a smell of smoke in her home at 3508 Bennett Drive, a rambler that had been converted into two homes, said Bellingham Assistant Fire Chief Bill Hewett.
- PUB DATE: 12/6/2015 3:29:37 AM - SOURCE: Bellingham Herald

Every day when he came to work, Mount Vernon firefighter Eric Tyree would thank his assistant chief, Jerry Banta. “I love my job,” Tyree said. “He’s the one who called and offered me the job.” Banta, who worked for the Mount Vernon Fire Department between 1973 and 1999 and was known for his passion for training firefighters, died Wednesday.
- PUB DATE: 12/5/2015 4:17:11 AM - SOURCE: Skagit Valley Herald (GoSkagit.com)

Every day when he came to work, Mount Vernon firefighter Eric Tyree would thank his assistant chief, Jerry Banta. “I love my job,” Tyree said. “He’s the one who called and offered me the job.” Banta, who worked for the Mount Vernon Fire Department between 1973 and 1999 and was known for his passion for training firefighters, died Wednesday.
- PUB DATE: 12/5/2015 4:17:11 AM - SOURCE: Skagit Valley Herald (GoSkagit.com)