Hudsonville, MI (October 1, 2021) – After final inspections, the Blendon Township Fire Department (BTFD) has received delivery of their fully customized Toyne Pumper Tanker/Tender. Now stationed at its new home, this represents the department’s second Toyne apparatus and a bolstering of emergency response capabilities for their community.

“The firefighters in the Blendon Township Fire Department have an unwavering commitment and dedication to the members of their community. That makes us at Toyne even more proud to have created a customized apparatus for them,” said Mike Schwabe, President of Toyne, Inc. “We are beyond confident that this pumper tanker/tender will enhance the effectiveness of the Blendon Township Fire Department.”

Located on the outskirts of Grand Rapids, Michigan, the fire department protects a population of 5,800 residents spread out over a 36-square-mile territory. To cover this sprawling area, BTFD employs 35 on-call firefighters and operates out of two stations. The firefighters are trained to respond to a wide variety of fire and rescue emergencies. In 2018 alone, the department responded to 259 calls. To better serve the community, BTFD tasked Toyne with manufacturing a new pumper tanker/tender.

Built to provid

Money for a new fire station will highlight the spending measures at a special town meeting in Dennis (MA), set for October 26, reports capecodtimes.com.

The construction of Fire Station 2 is long overdue, according to officials, but without a firm price tag it didn’t receive support. The price tag is estimated at $14.9 million, the report says, but that could possibly change as bids come in. Officials say the final number will be known on October 20.

A final recommendation will come at an October 25 meeting, officials say, prior to the special town meeting.

An investigation uncovered an alleged frat house environment at a Columbia (SC) Fire Department station at which five firefighters were recently fired, reports thestate.com.

The crew members were fired earlier this year—for, among other things, nudity, rough-housing, and “inappropriate touching,” FirefighterNation reported in June—following an investigation into Station 8, at 933 Atlas Rd.

The investigation found that the conduct may have been occurring for as long as six to eight months prior to coming to light, the report says, though it alleges that station leadership permitted the actions.

In addition to a firefighter who walked off the job, numerous other Station 8 employees requested a transfer due to the allegations, the report says.

Fire officials conducted 29 interviews during the investigation, the report says. The report says the five dismissed employees were Battalion Chief Christopher Gates, Capt. Brandon Cook, Capt. Jason McIntyre, Fire Engineer Dustin Ailes, and Senior Firefighter Patrick Humphries.

Officials say there haven’t been any further reports of inappropriate activity at Station 8.

A Saturday early-morning crash on I-75 involved a number of vehicles, including Estero (FL) Fire Rescue’s Engine 43.

A motorcycle and sedan crashed on I-75 northbound around 1 a.m., the department said on Facebook. The operator of the motorcycle was up and alert when crews arrived on scene and was taken to the hospital, while the other driver was not injured.

An ensuing crash occurred when a separate vehicle struck the motorcycle, which was still in the roadway; the driver of that vehicle was not injured either.

While on the scene, Engine 43 was sideswiped by a semi. The apparatus suffered damage to its mirror and bumper, but there were no injuries.