Residents served by the West Thurston Regional Fire Authority rejected tax levies that support maintenance and operations that were on the Nov. 8 ballot, leaving the district no choice but to limit services and lay off workers. According to a Nov. 23 letter from interim fire chief Rob Smith, the department ran two tax levies to support Fire Districts 1 and 11.
- PUB DATE: 11/29/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Olympian

When the West Seattle Bridge closed for major repairs in 2020, the West Seattle peninsula was made more isolated than usual, raising concerns about emergency services quickly reaching its sprawling neighborhoods. So the Seattle Fire Department added an extra ladder company at Station 37 in Roxhill and a medic vehicle at Station 26 in South Park, using overtime wages to help support the units during the bridge’s 2 1/2-year closure.
- PUB DATE: 11/29/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Seattle Times - Metered Site

Washington State troopers (WSP) are investigating a deadly collision that occurred at the intersection of Trent and Pines in Spokane Valley around 2:25 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26. According to new information from the Spokane Valley Fire Department, fire crews arrived at the scene to find two crashed vehicles blocking all eastbound lanes of Highway 290 at Pines.
- PUB DATE: 11/29/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KREM-TV CBS 2 Spokane

Firefighters on Vashon battled heavy flames that engulfed a north-end residence on the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 25. There were no injuries to firefighters or people in the home, but the home sustained very heavy damage, said Fire Chief Matt Vinci. According to the home’s owner, Kim Cronin, the fire destroyed all the contents of her house, with nothing remaining salvageable.
- PUB DATE: 11/28/2022 1:18:00 PM - SOURCE: Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber

Last week, nearly $1.4 million of federal funds were announced for Southwest Virginia communities, HeraldCourier.com reported. All but $52,500 will go to Smyth County agencies with the largest proportion going to the town of Marion, the report said.

Marion will use the money to buy two significant pieces of equipment for key operations: a $1,018,000 loan to buy a new fire truck and a combination $254,000 loan-grant to buy a sanitation truck, according to the report.

In September, Marion’s town council voted to replace Marion Fire-EMS’s Engine 1, a 1996 truck that was bought used. The truck was becoming unreliable, the report said.

Marion expects to get the new pumper truck, which will have a 750-gallon water tank, in April 2025, the report said.