A Central Polk County Fire Protection District firefighter is recovering from injuries in a crash involving the fire truck he was driving December 23, KY3.com reported.

Eddie Lamke was responding to a building fire when, due to icy roads, the fire truck slid off the road into a ditch near Bolivar (MO). Lamke quickly became entrapped in the fire truck, according to the report.

Lamke suffered a burst fracture in a vertebrae in his spine, the report said. Doctors say they must wait to see if it heals before electing to do surgery.

A Crestwood woman faces several charges after cutting off an emergency-responding fire truck two times while under the influence of alcohol, according to the Oldham County Sheriff’s Department, WAVE3.com reported.

The Oldham County Sheriff’s Office charged Dara Cvinar, 48, of Crestwood, with failure to give right-of-way to an emergency vehicle, reckless driving, first-degree wanton endangerment and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, the report said.

According to a report from Officer Fitzner, Cvinar pulled out of East Crystal Drive, directly into the path of a fire truck on southbound Highway 53.

“[The truck] was responding to an emergency call with its lights, siren and air horn blasting,” Fitzner said in a report. “The fire truck had to slam hard on its brakes and steer from almost a very bad collision. The fire truck may have made contact with her vehicle as she has some damage on her car that possibly matches the truck.”

Police said when the emergency responders tried to use the left lane to keep moving, Cvinar pulled in front of them again instead of using the right shoulder, according to the report.

Fitzner activated his lights in an attempt to pull Cvinar over, but she continued to change lanes, the report said.

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.

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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.