A fire truck in Fort Lauderdale (FL) collided with a van at the intersection of West Cypress Creek and Powerline roads Wednesday afternoon and sent one person to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, reports wsvn.com.

Officials say the apparatus was headed to a call for a crash when the van tried to go around it.

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On the heels of a $24,900 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), the Lake Coleman (TX) Volunteer Fire Department will soon be expanding its station to house additional apparatus and equipment, reports colemantoday.com.

The department will kick in an additional $32,500 for the project, which will see the facility add two bays and extra space for hoses and other equipment, the report says.

Also, the facility will feature energy-efficient components—insulation, LED lights, a solar-powered charger for truck batteries and radios—as well as gutters that drain into a storage tank to capture and store rainwater for firefighting use, the report says.

The department serves a population of about 6,500 in the local community and surrounding areas.

The grant is one of 32 awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders, and nonprofits fund capital improvement projects, according to the report.

Vancouver (WA) city council will be seeking voter approval February 8 on a special election ballot for a property tax increase to fund fire and emergency services, equipment, and facilities, reports clarkcountytoday.com.

The measure seeks to increase the city’s regular property tax levy by $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. If passed, an owner of a $440,000 house would pay $18.33 per month to support the initiative, which would begin in 2023, according to the report.

If approved, the funding, which is projected to generate around $15 million per year, would be used to:

• Acquire one new squad apparatus and one ladder truck.
• Replace Stations 3 and 6.
• Seismically improve, expand, and/or renovate existing Stations 4, 5, and 8.
• Fund other administrative costs in other departments to support investments outlined above.
• Fund additional operating, maintenance, vehicle, and capital expenses to provide enhanced fire and emergency services as determined by city council.
• Hire fire personnel.

If passed, city council will determine the timing and order of project funding, the report says.

A Toronto (Canada) Fire Services station has been hit hard by COVID-19, reports torontosun.com.

One fire station has reported six cases of COVID, the report says. Officials say that it’s Station 325 at Dundas St. E. in Regent Park, while another positive case has been reported at Gerrard St E.’s Station 324.

Officials say all firefighters are receiving medical care, though privacy concerns prevent any further details. However, the report does note that those infected are vaccinated.

The first case was a result of community exposure, the report says, and the following five were from close contact inside the station.

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