Council officials recently approved the Metchosin (B.C., Canada) Fire Department spending C$100,000 to buy a new truck to replace the broken-down current Battallion 1 truck, reports vancouverislandfreedaily.com.

An accident caused damage to the apparatus, but repairs wouldn’t make financial sense—and it was scheduled to be replaced in 2022 regardless, the report says.

The department has been using other municipal vehicles, such as the building inspector’s truck, but they’re not up to standards.

Council reassigned capital funding from the 2021 budget to allow the fire department to start looking for a suitable vehicle immediately, the report says. Given the approved price range, the department has been eyeing a Ford F-150.

Council’s decision comes with an amendment saying that $80,000 will be spent on the initial cost with the rest going toward equipment.

Department staff aims to find the best deal for John Q. Taxpayer with regards to insurance claims on the old apparatus.

After closing in 2012, the Chartley (MA) fire station reopened on Friday—possibly only temporarily, though.

Norton Fire – Rescue was able to reopen the facility thanks to a $1,034,197 SAFER grant, which will pay the salaries and benefits for three firefighters for three years. The only cost to the town will be gear and equipment.

“Based on staffing levels the station will remain open for the foreseeable future,” the department writes on Facebook.

The three firefighters, including a lieutenant, will staff an ambulance and engine at the two-bay South Worcester Street station. The department will also respond to calls in other parts of town, along with crews at department headquarters on East Main Street, a report in thesunchronicle.com says.

“The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, ‘front line’ firefighters available in their communities,” FEMA says on its website.

“The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments’ abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the NFPA (NFPA 1710 and/or NFPA 1720). For details, review the National Fire Protection Association’s codes and standards.”

A fire, probably electrical in origin, destroyed two fire engines at the Firth Fire Department Monday afternoon.

A firefighter was also blown out of the building when a tank exploded in the fire. He suffered only minor injuries, but was transported to the hospital.

On Sunday morning, the Hinesburg (VT) Fire Department and Richmond Rescue were called to a single-vehicle accident near 8760 Route 116. The response ended with a Hinesburg apparatus in an accident of its own.

Engine 1 responded in icy conditions to the call around 8:50 a.m. with a four-person crew. While passing Place Road W heading north on 116, the apparatus lost steering and braking abilities before crashing into a guardrail.

The engine came to a stop about 500 feet away, and, since all firefighters were wearing their seatbelts, no one was injured. Richmond Rescue was able to handle the call.

Several other minor accidents did follow, but not a single person was transported to the hospital, the department says on Facebook.