A Carmel (IN) Fire Department pumper was struck by a vehicle while fire crews were working an accident Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, the department said in a Facebook post.

Here is what the department posted:

“Engine 346 was struck by a suspected drunk driver while Carmel Fire crews were working a crash on 146th Street near Spring Mill Ponds.

“As firefighters were caring for the patient from the original accident, another driver struck a police car that was blocking the road, and hit the fire engine just seconds after a firefighter had placed tools in the back compartment.

“Thankfully, no firefighters or bystanders were injured.

“This is exactly why you often see multiple fire trucks and police cars at crash scenes. They create a protective buffer to help prevent other vehicles from entering the area and striking first responders.”

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An Essex (CT) Fire Engine Company No. 1 apparatus caught fire and was damaged during a Christmas celebration over the weekend, fire officials said.

A fire started in Engine 7, a 2016 pumper, while participating in the Ivoryton Illuminations celebration Saturday evening, Dec. 6, 2025, the company said in a Facebook post.

Here’s the report, released by Essex:

While participating in the Ivoryton Illuminations celebration, the Essex Fire Engine Company No. 1 suffered an incident involving one of its apparatus. For a reason still to be determined, a fire started in Engine 7, a 2016 pumper. Thanks to the quick actions of our dedicated volunteers, the fire was contained and extinguished without causing any damage to adjacent apparatus or property. Most importantly, there were no injuries. The Fire Marshal’s office responded and is investigating the cause. Unfortunately, Engine 7 did sustain significant damage and will require extensive repairs before being able to return to service.

The Essex Fire Engine Company No. 1 wishes to extend its heartfelt thanks to the overwhelming support that came immediately to our aid when we needed it. That thank you goes out to the Deep River Fire Department, the Old Saybrook Fire Department, Town of Essex Police Department, Connecticut State Police, Town of Essex Department of Public Works, Town of Essex Fire Marshal’s Office, Valley Shore Emergency Communications, Mal’s Auto and Truck Repair, E.J. Boughton Co LLC, Firematic Company, and of course, our dedicated members. We are fortunate to have the support of these outstanding organizations!

We would like to take this time to ensure the residents of the Town of Essex that while this incident will certainly have an impact to our operations, the Essex Fire Engine Company No. 1 will still continue to provide the town with the absolute best service possible in our commitment to protect lives and property. We have made adjustments in our response matrix and with the support of our mutual aid system, we will continue moving forward.

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Sabrina Eaton
cleveland.com
(TNS)

WASHINGTON – Concord Township will receive $3.75 million in federal funding to construct a new fire station, U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce announced Thursday.

The funding, secured in spending legislation that ended a 43-day government shutdown, will replace the township’s aging Station 2, which has served the community for more than 65 years.

“This new station will provide critical services and peace of mind to Concord Township, and I am glad to have played a part in moving this project forward,” said a statement from Joyce.

Concord, near Mentor and Painesville in Lake County, had more than 19,200 residents, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.

The old fire station has become inadequate for modern firefighting operations. The facility was designed to accommodate just four firefighters, a number that falls short of the station’s needs given the significant increase in emergency calls in recent years.

The Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association assessed the station in 2017 and determined it needed to be replaced, citing safety concerns for both firefighters and community members.

The new facility has already been designed and will include modern safety features to protect firefighters from exposure to toxic chemicals and carcinogens, addressing health risks associated with firefighting operations.

Amy Lucci, chair of the Concord Township Board of Trustees, released a statement that said the new fire station “will greatly enhance the health, safety, and welfare of our firefighting personnel.”

“This will be a needed addition to our community and will ensure the continued high quality of service that is vital to our residents,” she continued.

©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit cleveland.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Angelica Vera-Franco
The Daily Democrat, Woodland, Calif.
(TNS)

Willow Oak Fire Protection District announced earlier in the week that it has received an $80,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to purchase new extrication equipment.

Known as the “jaws of life,” first responders use these specialized tools to safely rescue crash victims trapped inside a vehicle.

“We are incredibly grateful for this grant, which will allow us to purchase state-of-the-art rescue tools and provide training to first responders that is critical for the care of people injured in crashes,” Willow Oak Fire Protection District Fire Chief Marcus Klinkhammer stated. “These tools will significantly impact our ability to protect and serve our community, allowing us to respond even more effectively in times of crisis.”

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Post-crash care is vital in preventing serious injuries from turning deadly. Delays in providing expedient care impact survival chances. Reducing the time it takes to get to the patient, treating what can be treated, and transporting the patient to the hospital can be the difference between life and death.

According to federal data, 42% of people who were killed in car crashes were alive when first responders arrived. New “jaws of life” hydraulic rescue tools will help first responders deliver life-saving measures for patients trapped in vehicles, significantly increasing chances of survival.

According to an OTS press release, funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

© 2025 The Daily Democrat, Woodland, Calif.. Visit www.dailydemocrat.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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James Mayse
Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.
(TNS)

Work on the new Owensboro Fire Department Station 3 on Cravens Avenue is progressing, with much of the exterior complete and crews now putting up drywall inside.

If work remains uninterrupted by weather or construction delays, fire crews are expected to move into the new station in the spring.

By that time, the city will be moving ahead with plans to build a new OFD Station 1 at Locust and West Ninth streets.

Assistant City Manager Lelan Hancock said the hope is that Station 3 will be ready for occupancy by late April.

Workers “are doing the interior. They are hanging drywall,” Hancock said Friday.

Meanwhile, design work on Station 1 has been underway for some time, and the plan is to bid the project out to contractors before Station 3 is occupied by the fire department, Hancock said.

The city will bid Station 1 “probably by the end of March,” Hancock said.

By the time a contractor is chosen and ready to begin work, Station 3 will be in service, which is part of the fire department’s plan for covering Station 1’s territory while the old station is demolished and a new one is built.

“I need to make sure they are moved into Station 3 … before I can start disrupting them in Station 1,” Hancock said.

Battalion Chief Jason Pickrell, a member of the Station 1 design team, said when firefighters move out of Station 1, Engine 1 and its crew will be based at the new fire training center, which has the facilities and bay space to serve as a small fire station. Ladder 1, which serves both the Station 1 and Station 3 territories, will relocate to Station 3.

Rescue 1, which responds to calls across the city, “can be really anywhere” at any fire station, Pickrell said.

The units will be stationed at places to “still provide the same level of service” as if Station 1 were operational, Hancock said.

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Pickrell said designing the new Station 1 takes time, but firefighters are excited about the plans.

“I’ve been in the department for 24 years, and these (current) stations are all I know,” Pickrell said. “To see something fresh and new, I won’t know how to act.”

The improvements to the stations aren’t cosmetic. All the stations being redone will be larger, with private sleeping quarters, space for gear storage and cleaning, office space and pull-through vehicle bays, which both make it easier for large trucks to enter the stations after a run and provide better ventilation.

Station 3 “was built in the ’70s,” Pickrell said. “As time has (passed) and our services have evolved, we need more space.”

The city has already renovated S