Officials recently announced that more than $3 million in federal aid is coming to fire departments in Falmouth, Kennebunk, and Jefferson, as well as the Maine State Fire Academy in South Portland, reports centralmaine.com.

Kennebunk will get $2.6 million to hire eight new firefighters via FEMA’s Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program. Falmouth, Jefferson, and the fire academy will receive portions of the remaining $688,000, the report says.

Falmouth will use the funds to purchase SCBA apparatus and an air compressor system; Jefferson will acquire mobile radios, portable radios, and pagers; and the fire academy will use the aid for instructor training and an air compressor system.

Using funds from the American Rescue Plan, Rockingham (NC) Fire Department is purchasing a new custom fire truck, according to a report published by the Richmond County Daily Journal.

The newspaper reported the 2022 custom pumper, being built by E-ONE, will cost $475,000 and replace a 1989 Mack which will be used as a training and reserve engine.

Funds for the new truck were in two previous budgets, but was removed for lack of funds, the paper reported. The city’s fire chief discussed the need for the new truck at a budget session in June and city officials said the ARP money is well suited to fill the need.

The finished truck will likely be delivered to Rockingham in mid October, according to the newspaper.

LaFayette (AL) Fire & EMS has received a $347,619 federal grant to buy a new front-line fire truck, according to a report published by The Times-News.

According to the newspaper, the fire department has been without a front-line engine for about a year and the 2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program money will help correct that issue.

The department has not yet decided on what kind of truck they will purchase, but based on research, the department has learned that commercial cabs and chassis will not be available to middle to late next year, the newspaper reported.  

A fire lieutenant with Brevard County (FL) Fire Rescue escaped serious injuries when a Mercedes traveling over 80 mph slammed into the fire station where he was sleeping on Wednesday, according to a report from WOGX FOX51.

According to the television station, the wall that the 26-year-old woman hit was just feet away from where the firefighter was sleeping. Photos show the bed littered with debris from the crash. The station reported the crash happened at Station 89 in Palm Bay.

The driver reportedly lost control of the car, struck a curb, traveled across the parking lot at Bayside High School, hit a tree and then slammed into the fire station, according to the television station, which also reported the woman was ejected from the vehicle upon impact with the tree.

The lieutenant who was not seriously injured, immediately started treating the driver who was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, according to the television station.