The Abilene Fire Department completed a traditional Push-In Ceremony Wednesday for its new Ladder 1, the department announced on Facebook. The new engine had a price tag of $1.28 million. 

The ladder truck isn’t the only new project for the fire department. Fire Station No. 9 was approved this past election and the process towards construction could be starting soon. The new station would help speed up response time to South Abilene and Wylie areas. The estimated completion date is January 2025.

• $8M Bond for New Abilene (TX) Fire Station Passes Easily

The Hancock City Council approved $394,965 to rebuild the city’s aerial fire truck, KeweenawReport.com reported.

The 18-year-old truck is in good shape, but certain systems, including hydraulics, need to be repaired and updated, a fire official said.

Money will come from the city’s fire protection millage, the report said.

It would cost $1.75 million to replace it, with delivery time estimated at more than three years, according to the report.

The rebuild is anticipated to take three-four months once parts are assembled, and could be undertaken next summer. The fire official said he would arrange for coverage from neighboring departments while the truck is out of service.

Renovating the former fire station in downtown Hallowell so it can house the police department is one of the city’s top priorities this year, according to the mayor and city manager, CentralMaine.com reported. The voter-approved plan is estimated to cost up to $5 million.

The fire station renovation, which received strong voter approval in November, would include renovation of the nearly 200-year-old building, allowing it to house the police department and to continue housing the food pantry, all while leaving some additional room for community space, the report said.

Lamb said the city would need to budget at least $100,000 to $200,000 for architectural services, after which the project could go out to bid, the report said. Officials provided an overall project estimate of $4 million to $5 million on the ballot.

A firefighter was injured Thursday as a massive fire ripped through homes in unincorporated Maine Township Thursday evening, according to officials. The blaze broke out in the 9400-block of Margail Avenue, between suburban Des Plaines and Park Ridge. Doorbell camera obtained exclusively by ABC7 captured a sudden apparent explosion before flames began sweeping through the townhome.
- PUB DATE: 1/6/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WLS-TV ABC 7 Chicago

In 2021, Lexington Fire Department Lieutenant Joseph Sexton's son, John, got very sick. What Sexton and his wife, Katie, thought was a stomach bug turned out to be much worse. John, who was 5 years old at the time, had contracted E-Coli 0157. The E-Coli then developed into a rare disease called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.
- PUB DATE: 1/6/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WLEX-TV NBC 18 Lexington