Firefighters are urging families to get rid of their Christmas trees as soon as possible because the longer they sit in a house, the more of a fire hazard they become — even if it’s kept in water. The National Fire Protection Association released a report in December that showed a third of all Christmas tree fires happen in January.
- PUB DATE: 1/6/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: YakTriNews

Firefighters across Yakima County say they're getting more and more calls every year, putting in a lot more work, but not getting more money or staff. When asking West Valley Fire Chief Nathan Craig if their funding has matched the increase in call volume, his response was, "No, not even close." By law, the amount of money fire departments in the county can get each year can only increase by 1%.
- PUB DATE: 1/6/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KIMA-TV CBS/CW+ 29 Yakima

The Jundt Art Museum at Gonzaga University hosts “Facing Fire: Art, Wildfire, and the End of Nature in the New West” — its first traveling show since prior to the pandemic — in the Jundt Galleries beginning Jan. 23 and closing on May 13. “Facing Fire” is curated by UCR ARTS: California Museum of Photography.
- PUB DATE: 1/6/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Gonzaga University News

After voters passed a levy lid lift to fund 24/7 medically trained staff in August, Toutle Fire and Rescue is getting money from Cowlitz County to help equip volunteers and its new staff. On Tuesday, the Cowlitz County commissioners approved an agreement for $216,000 with Cowlitz County Fire District 3 to fund the purchase of additional fire and emergency medical equipment, after allocating the money during a Nov.
- PUB DATE: 1/5/2023 5:10:00 PM - SOURCE: The Daily News - Metered Site

Bidding has begun on many of the items being auctioned by the Killeen (TX) government in an online event, including two fire trucks, kdhnews.com reported.

United Auctioneers conducts the event each year. Items listed on Wednesday also include a boat, several pickup trucks, eight Harley-Davidson motorcycles, ambulance, SUVs, filing cabinets, computer stations, televisions, chairs, vacuum cleaner and a drill kit, the report said.

The fire trucks — 1996 Freightliners — had received high bids of $50 and $550 on Wednesday. The minimum bid accepted on the surplus office items and 14 fleet vehicles is $5, according to the report.

According to city spokesperson, several items in the auction were seized by police, including the 2009 GMC Sierra, stepladder, three vacuum cleaners, Samsung, Vizio and Sharp televisions, portable DVD player, drill kit, circular saw, drill driver and toolbox.

The auctions help the city offload surplus inventory. Items are sold as-is. The full auction list is at https://bit.ly/3GCnln6.

The online auction is scheduled to end at 3 p.m. January 9.