Spokane (WA) firefighters credit the city's urban water systems that withstood the recent Spokane County fires, in contrast to other wildfires where hydrants ran dry.

The post How Spokane’s Robust Water Infrastructure Helped Firefighters beat Wildfires appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

Cape Girardeau (MO) will expedite a planned $1.5 million renovation of Fire Station 1 after HVAC and mold issues forced its temporary closure.

The post Cape Girardeau (MO) Fast-Tracks $1.5M Fire Station Renovations After Mold Closure appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

VIDEO: A wildfire burned near the railroad tracks off West Clearwater Avenue and North Steptoe Street on Monday afternoon, according to Kennewick Fire Department (KFD) Chief Michael Heffner. Two businesses were threatened by the fire. Multiple units were on scene including offroad vehicles. Heffner said BNSF was notified to stop all rail traffic until the fire was extinguished. The cause is still undetermined.

KNDO-TV NBC 23 Yakima

The post Brush fire burned near railroad tracks off West Clearwater Avenue in Kennewick appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

A fire broke out at Howard Industries in Laurel after a paint booth next to a tanker truck caught fire, according to the Laurel mayor.

The fire sent thick smoke into the air and prompted people near the plant to leave. A Facebook Live video posted by Brandon Herford Brewer shows flames burning at the facility as multiple fire trucks arrive. Several loud booms can be heard in the video as Brewer describes the situation escalating.

“Everybody’s gotta leave,” Brewer says. The video also shows people running from the area while firefighters work near the plant. At one point, Brewer describes the heat as unbearable.

“My face is melting,” Brewer says. “It’s Howard industry and I’m about to get out of here. I am sweating down.” Brewer later says the building had been cleared and everyone had gotten out.

The mayor said the fire started in the paint booth near the tanker truck. It was not immediately clear whether anyone was injured or how much damage the fire caused.

WAPT-TV ABC 16 Jackson

The post VIDEOS: Fire at industrial plant in Mississippi prompts evacuation appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

The International Association of Fire Fighters has warned that the growing use of GLP-1 weight loss drugs among firefighters raises important occupational health questions, particularly because no studies have yet examined how the medications or their side effects affect firefighters on the job.

GLP-1 receptor agonists, a class of prescription drugs used for type 2 diabetes and weight loss, can help some patients lose significant body weight by lowering blood sugar and reducing appetite. However, the IAFF said members taking or considering the drugs should speak with a physician before starting or stopping treatment.

The union highlighted several potential concerns for firefighters, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and reduced thirst. These side effects can increase the risk of dehydration, which is already a major concern in firefighting because of heat exposure, heavy personal protective equipment and intense physical exertion.

According to the IAFF, dehydration can impair endurance and physical performance and may contribute to heat-related illness, urinary and kidney problems, seizures and other serious complications. The organization said more research is needed to understand whether GLP-1 use creates additional risks for firefighters working in high-heat, strenuous environments.

The IAFF also cautioned that weight loss and fitness are not the same. Some studies suggest that a portion of weight lost while using GLP-1 drugs can include lean body mass, rather than fat alone. The union said firefighters using the medications should maintain exercise routines to protect strength, endurance and operational readiness.

Fire & Safety Journal Americas

The post IAFF: GLP-1 weight loss drugs raise key safety questions for firefighters appeared first on Daily Dispatch.