The city of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, recently installed flashing traffic signs on Ceape Avenue near Fire Station No. 15 as a reminder that drivers need to stop and yield to fire trucks that are backing into the firehouse, a joint media release by the police and fire departments said.

The signs were installed at this station due to the close proximity of the entrance of the fire truck bays and the roadway.

Firefighters usually exit the fire truck to ensure that the truck is safely backed into the station. It is crucial for drivers to remain clear of the area until the trucks have completely exited the roadway. Vehicles should not attempt to pass near the front or back of the truck prematurely.

The driver and firefighters are focused on the blind spots of the truck, not on vehicles that may mistakenly believe that there is a safe gap between the moving vehicle and the curb. Following the signs and stopping for the fire truck is essential in maintaining the safety of our firefighters—ensuring they remain ready to respond to the next emergency situation in the city.

Drivers who choose not to stop for fire trucks while they are driving backwards into the fire station may receive a citation. There are several cameras stationed around the fire department to monitor the security of the area. Officers from the Oshkosh Police Department will have an extra presence in this area as well.

WISCONSIN STATUTE 346.455 Vehicles to stop at fire station:

(1) The operator of a motor vehicle approaching an authorized emergency vehicle shall stop not less than 30 feet from that vehicle and shall remain stopped, if all of the following apply:

(a) The authorized emergency vehicle is about to be or is being driven backwards into a driveway entrance to a fire station.

(b) The authorized emergency vehicle is giving visual signal by means of at least one flashing, oscillating or rotating red light or by a member of the fire department or fire patrol standing on the roadway in a position that is visible to approaching traffic and directing traffic to stop.

2) The operator of a motor vehicle required to stop under sub. (1) shall remain stopped until a member of the fire department or fire patrol directs the operator to proceed or until the visual signal under sub. (1) (b) is terminated and all members of the fire department or fire patrol have left the roadway.

Failure to obey this statute may result in a $326.50 citation. Thank you for protecting our firefighters so that they can continue to keep our city safe.

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The Pemberton (CA) Fire Rescue recently welcomed a new pumper to its fleet. Shared in a Facebook post, the community celebrated with a push-in ceremony signifying that Engine 11 is now officially in service. The custom-built pumper was manufactured by Fort Garry Fire Trucks.

The MXV Wildland includes these features:

• Freightliner Crew Cab – 4 Door
• Waterous CXPA PTO Pump
• CoPoly Tank (1,000 Imperial Gallons)
• Zico hydraulic drop-down ladder rack
• Tundra 2,500W inverter
• Hannay F-series hose reel

For more information, visit https://fgft.com/recent-delivery/mxv-wildland-village-of-pemberton/

The post Pemberton (CA) Fire Rescue Welcomes New Pumper to Fleet appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

Louis Krauss
Star Tribune
(TNS)

The Minneapolis Fire Department has added saunas into its stations as a tool to protect its firefighters’ health and well-being, and maybe reduce the chance that they develop cancer.

Fire Chief Bryan Tyner, who was recently diagnosed with cancer and has served in the department for 31 years, hopes the saunas can help his department’s firefighters avoid the elevated cancer risk that comes with the profession.

“That is what it’s about — trying to reduce that cause of cancer so that our firefighters can have healthy careers, but also healthy retirements,“ Tyner said.

Steve Shapira, a former St. Paul firefighter and cancer survivor who founded the Minneapolis Fire Foundation nonprofit, helped raise the money to purchase the saunas. So far they have been placed in five of the department’s 14 fire stations. Each sauna cost $6,500, a discounted rate from the seller, and the department intends to have saunas in all of the city’s stations. The foundation is still raising money to get saunas for the others.

Saunas have been linked to cardiovascular benefits, and Shapira said they can also help with firefighters’ mental health after they return from a call.

But the unanswered question is whether saunas can help protect firefighters from developing cancer by preventing toxins being absorbed into their skin after responding to a smoke-filled building. Firefighters are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than the general U.S. population, according to a 2015 study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Dr. Zeke McKinney, a physician at HealthPartners Institute, studied St. Paul firefighters to look into that question. He collected sweat and urine samples from firefighters who used saunas and those who didn’t, to see whether there were more cancer-causing chemicals in the control samples.

The data recently came back from the Minnesota Department of Health, but McKinney said the results are not yet clear. He plans to publish the results in the next few months, but he noted there would need to be more studies beyond his to know if saunas can reduce the cancer risks of firefighting.

“I don’t know if at the end of this I’ll be able to say it effectively treats it, but I will be able to answer the question of, ‘Is this stuff coming out in sweat?’ and ‘Does sauna have an impact on your ability to excrete this any faster than normal?’” McKinney said.

Even if the study doesn’t draw a link between saunas and detoxification, McKinney said the study has demonstrated the mental benefits of using saunas.

“One thing I’ve learned out of this is people love saunas, and to be honest, with firefighters having mental health risks, and how it makes them happy to get in a sauna, that might be a good enough reason to get them,” McKinney said.

Tyner said the saunas are being added at a time when there’s a nationwide emphasis on reducing cancer risks in the profession. The St. Paul Fire Department added saunas at its stations several years ago.

In recent years the department has ensured there are two sets of firefighting suits, also known as “turnout” gear, for each firefighter so they can have a clean set to change into after getting back from a scene, Tyner said.

“When I was younger, in those days, we didn’t even think about cancer or trying to prevent cancer,” said Tyner, 57, who was recently diagnosed with stage one prostate cancer. “I think we’ve come a long way in protecting our younger generation of firefighters.”

The department has also emphasized the importance of showering within an hour after returning from a scene. Tyner said the saunas are still beneficial after a sh

A fire reported at the Pilot Rock (OR) fire station Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, has caused some damage, but the extent is unknown at this time, elkhornmediagroup.com reported. Neighbors tried to help by using a garden hose, the department said.

“Fighting a fire at the firehouse with a garden hose will be something we talk about for a long time,” the Pilot Rock Fire District said in a Facebook post.

A fire official said there appears to be some damage to the building and vehicles inside, but the full extent won’t be known until the state investigates, the report said.

“We are managing an incident at the fire station,” the Pilot Rock Fire District said in a Facebook post early Tuesday. “We will give updates as soon as we can. As you can probably imagine, this is very stressful for our department personnel. Please be kind and stay clear of the area until further notice.”

Later Tuesday, the Pilot Rock Fire District posted the following:

“Last night’s incident is still under investigation, so we don’t have many details to share, but wanted to thank everyone for your support.

“A special shoutout to the neighbors near the station who tried to help. Fighting a fire at the firehouse with a garden hose will be something we talk about for a long time.

“Our station is closed until further notice. Local firefighters and EMS personnel will have limited capacity to respond to calls, but will do our best to continue serving our community.

“We hope to see everyone at the pancake feed on Saturday. It will be held at the elementary school now that the station is out of commission.”

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