Toyne—Mt. Morris (IL) Fire Protection District pumper. Spartan Metro Star MFD cab and chassis; Cummins L9 380-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,750-gpm pump; UPF Poly 1,000-gallon water tank; 25-gallon foam cell; FoamPro 2001 Class A foam system; Syntex 1,500-gallon portable tank. Dealer: Orin Snodgrass, Dinges Fire Company, Amboy, IL.

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Burnsville Fire Department is hosting an open house to say goodbye to a fire station, reports Patch.com.

The fire department is moving to a new 44,000-square foot fire station in November. The new building is estimated to cost $18.6 million. Features include living units with bathrooms, noise-insulating walls, a selective alarm system to wake only those who are needed, and more. It will also feature 10 apparatus bays, training areas and administrative spaces.

The existing fire station is expected to remain operational.

An East Keansburg Fire Co. fire engine was damaged after crashing into a guardrail, reports Monmouth Daily Voice.

No one was hurt in the accident but the fire truck reportedly sustained damage.

More than a dozen Polk Fire Rescue personnel and three county commissioners squeezed together and heaved the hulking fire engine backward into the Kathleen Fire Station during its grand opening Thursday.

The engine push-in is a tradition more than a century old and is a mainstay of ceremonial station openings. The ceremony is a fire service tradition that dates to the late 19^th century when fire departments used hand-drawn pumpers or horse-drawn equipment.

“Upon returning to the station after a call, the horses could not easily back in the equipment into the station,” Polk Fire Chief Robert Weech said to an audience of about 100 guests and staff. “So, they were disconnected from the fire equipment and the firefighters themselves would push the equipment back into the bay. This is how we’ll open up this station.

“You guys ready?” Weech asked.

The group gathered around the front bumper, reached out to brace themselves against the machine and began to push.

“Come on, we’ve got this!” a firefighter yelled. And with a push from the group, the engine began to roll backward into place.

The new station at 6750 Kathleen Road is the newest of Polk’s stations. It’s design incorporates the latest in safety design and also incorporates future growth in the area.

“This facility has the ability to decrease carcinogen exposure that is believed to cause firefighter cancer,” Weech said. “This station was specifically designed with what is known as a red, yellow and green area that works to provide living areas that are free from suspected carcinogens and cancer-causing agents. Contaminated gear is kept away from the cleaning area, which is also kept away from the living area.

“We have incorporated the best practice models available to keep our firefighters safe,” he said.

All new fire stations in Polk County will be designed in similar ways. Three more are planned to open this year, and another four stations are planned for construction in 2022.