VIDEO: A St. Lucie County firefighter is breaking barriers and making history in the male-dominated sport of spearfishing. “I have been spearfishing since I was a kid,” said Julie Higgs, a firefighter and paramedic with St. Lucie County. “I was 7 years old. I shot my first fish when I was 13.” ulie Higgs comes from a family of first responders.
- PUB DATE: 3/7/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WPBF-TV ABC 25 Tequesta

The city of Sedro-Woolley plans to ask voters to approve additional funding for the city’s fire department. City staff told the City Council in a work session last week that what is called a levy lid lift is the best option to address staffing shortages and equipment upgrades. How much money the city asks from voters through such a property tax increase is still to be decided.
- PUB DATE: 3/6/2023 8:00:00 PM - SOURCE: Skagit Valley Herald

Fire officials are working together to thin at least 1,000 acres of urban forest in and around the city of Spokane. Spokane is one of many communities across Washington at extremely high risk of catastrophic fire because of development into natural, or forested, areas and climate change. Spokane Public Radio’s Rebecca White visited an urban forest area that needs to be treated to protect the surrounding homes and apartments from wildfire.
- PUB DATE: 3/6/2023 2:00:00 PM - SOURCE: Spokane Public Radio

Kneelhill County councilors unanimously approved the lowest price for a new fire engine for the Three Hills Fire Department recently, pentictonherald.ca reported.

A county official stated the lowest offer was $993,352.80 and all other offers were over $1 million in price, some approaching $1.2 million, the report said.

The county official stated that two existing fire engines in Three Hills are being replaced with this one engine, which offers cost savings and increased efficiency. He stated the two Three Hills engines have both been in service past their recommended life spans, according to the report.

The city of Highfill will spend more than $57,000 on air packs and related equipment for the fire department as part of a plan to replace aging air packs, nwaonline.com reported. The department also received a $25,000 grant from Firehouse Subs (see video above) recently.

During its Feb. 13 meeting, the council approved an expenditure of $57,697 for the purchase of six Scott X3 air packs, 12 Scott SCBA bottles and six Scott face masks for the department, the report said.

According to information presented to the council by a fire official, the department has 25 air packs that needed to be replaced, so more purchases will need to be made in the upcoming years, according to the report.