Officials in Wilson County (TX) Emergency Services District 2 are considering the purchase of a new fire engine and a new command vehicle to curb expensive maintenance bills on existing equipment.

According to a newspaper story published by the Wilson County News, the new apparatus are needed to comply with the Texas Commission of Fire Protection requirements.

Some of the apparatus in service with District 2 were previously in service with other districts and have seen better days, the newspaper reported.

Funds for the new pumper and command vehicle, which are expected to be ordered this year, will come from property and sales taxes with no increase in either sources, the newspaper reported.

Wilson County commissioners are expected to make a decision on the purchases by the end of the month when the final budget will be presented, according to the newspaper.

At a City Council meeting on Tuesday night, Atlanta approved investigation of a lease and purchase of 11 new apparatus over the next two fiscal years.

According to a resolution approved by the City Council, three new tractor-drawn aerials (TDA) and three new 1,500-gpm pumpers could be purchase in 2022 and an addition two TDAs three new pumpers could be added to the fleet in 2023.

Atlanta has ordered one new pumper, an 85-foot ladder, a 100-foot TDA and a mini pumper in this 2021 fiscal year, according to the resolution.

Councilors authorized the city to enter into a multi-year lease purchase agreement for the acquisition of the apparatus, according to the resolution.

The authorization of the apparatus acquisition follows extensive work and analysis done by Atlanta’s Office of Fleet Services and a determination that the city needs the apparatus to “continue to consistently meet the fire safety, rescue, and emergency services needs of the City of Atlanta citizens for both fire and EMS services.

The resolution also indicates that after the city and the Mayor’s Office have worked out the details of the lease purchase agreement, the City Council must further authorize the execution of the agreement by a future vote.

The CAL (CA) FIRE Hawk, one of a dozen firefighting helicopters purchased by the state for $288 million, made its debut this week at the Boggs Mountain helitack base in Lake County, reports pressdemocrat.com.

Copter 104, which can travel up to 160 mph and carry 1,000 gallons of water, can fly to Santa Rosa in 10-12 minutes and drop a 300-yard trail of water from 100 feet above ground or tree level upon arrival, the report says. It can ferry seven firefighters and can conduct rescues with a hoist and a 250-foot cable. The apparatus also has twin 2,000-horsepower turbine engines.

In addition, the $24 million chopper is capable of firefighting in the dark; CAL FIRE is moving into a program with the apparatus flown by pilots with night vision goggles. Five bases have been approved for the program—the report notes that it marks CAL FIRE’s first entry into nighttime firefighting since the agency’s aviation branch started with converted crop dusters serving as air tankers in the 1950s.

CAL FIRE now has 58 aircrafts, 23 air tankers, and other fixed-wing aircraft.

Boggs Mountain is not currently in line for the night-flying program, and the designated base closest to Sonoma County is the Alma Helitack Fire Station at Los Gatos in Santa Clara County. The other four bases in the program are in Humboldt, Tehama, San Bernardino, and San Benito counties. Ten helitack bases will eventually acquire one, with two Hawks held in reserve.

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A Kingsbury (TX) volunteer firefighter was hurt yesterday morning when the engine she was driving to an emergency call was run off the road, causing the apparatus to roll over and trapping her inside, reports seguingazette.com.

As the 40-year-old firefighter drove the engine, another vehicle ran her off the road. The firefighter overcorrected, lost control on Farm-to-Market 1104, and rolled the apparatus onto its roof, officials say.

The site of the accident is less than a mile from the Kingsbury Volunteer Fire Department—near the corner of U.S. Highway 90 and FM 1104.

She had minor injuries, officials add, and was stable and alert once extricated. The firefighter was then taken to Ascension Seton Hays Hospital in Kyle. No other injuries were reported.

Police officials are investigating the crash.