On the same day two more structures were set ablaze in Auburn, police have arrested the man they believe set fires to twenty structures over the last few months. Police linked the suspect, a man in his 20s, to a fingerprint on a car that was found burned a couple months ago. They've been monitoring him since and said he was spotted near two suspicious fires that happened early Thursday morning.
- PUB DATE: 1/14/2016 8:13:18 PM - SOURCE: KING-TV NBC 5

The Board of Fire Commissioners for Stevens County Fire Protection District 1 voted unanimously to re-run the station replacement bond. The bond failed during the November 3, 2015, general election by 28 votes. However, there were many ballots that did not have the bond initiative printed on them. The Fire District estimates that between 134 and 287 ballots were blank.
- PUB DATE: 1/14/2016 3:39:05 PM - SOURCE: KXLY-TV ABC 4

The Board of Fire Commissioners for Stevens County Fire Protection District 1 voted unanimously to re-run the station replacement bond. The bond failed during the November 3, 2015, general election by 28 votes. However, there were many ballots that did not have the bond initiative printed on them. The Fire District estimates that between 134 and 287 ballots were blank.
- PUB DATE: 1/14/2016 3:39:05 PM - SOURCE: KXLY-TV ABC 4

The Croghan Fire Department is looking to sell its ambulance service to Lewis County Search & Rescue in hopes of improving service.

"It will up the level of care here," said Stephen G. Monnat, assistant ambulance captain and executive board member of the Croghan department.

Plans are to sell the department's ambulance and equipment to the county's largest squad -- and only one with paid members -- then offer a bay in the fire hall here for free, Mr. Monnat said.

"It will be staffed by members of Lewis County Search & Rescue 12 hours a day, seven days a week, in house," he said.

Evenings and nights would still be covered primarily by area volunteers.

Search & Rescue has already added five Croghan squad members and may bring in a couple more, according to Justin R. Astafan, chief of operations at Search & Rescue.

However, the move likely won't happen for awhile, as the Lowville non-profit squad is awaiting receipt of a certificate of need, allowing it to serve the entire county. The proposal is slated to go before the North Country Regional Emergency Medical Services Council in late January and, if approved there, move on to the state for final approval, Mr. Astafan said.

The impetus came from a change in state policy where mutual aid is now defined as "time to time," not on a regular basis, he said.

When the squad began looking into getting a certificate of need to cover the town of Pinckney, state officials suggested that a certificate covering the entire county could be sought, given its volume of calls outside the primary coverage area, Mr. Astafan said.

For more information, view www.watertowndailytimes.com

 

Sandusky officials are replacing an aging ambulance in the fire department's fleet.

The new ambulance costs about $215,300 in public funds and an ambulance billing account will fund the entire purchase.

Delivery of the new ambulance is expected sometime in February.

"When we buy an ambulance, we place it at fire station No. 1 (on West Market Street) and this becomes 911," Degnan said. "The rest of the ambulances are shifted to another station due to the lower call volume in those districts. This allows us to prolong the life of the ambulances instead of the same ambulances always getting beat up year after year."

For more information, view www.sanduskyregister.com