Voters in Solon (IA) will be asked if they will continue to support a 1 % local option sales tax that will help fund a new second fire station for the city that has seen rapid growth, according to a report published by WCRG9.

The television station reported voters adopted the sales tax in 2014 to help pay for street and sewer projects as well as activities for children and older residents with a provision that it sunset, or end in 2025. By asking voters to eliminate the deadline, future projects, like a new fire station, would have funding, the station added.

A new fire station is set to open by the end of 2022 and the money from the taxes will only be used for the fire station and other new projects, like a community fitness center, the station reported.

Minot (ND) City Council has expedited the approval of the purchase of a new fire engine after the manufacturer notified city officials that demand is raising prices, reports kxnet.com.

The apparatus costs about $600,000, and the city has already paid 50% of that to the manufacturer, according to city officials.

With the engine price estimated to rise 4%, the city wants to save some money by buying it early, according to the report.

The engine will be housed at Minot’s yet-to-be-constructed fifth fire station. And, despite the early purchase, it may take upwards of 18 months for the department to take delivery of it. Fire officials expect Station 5 to be ready for calls in summer 2023, the report says.

The city council meeting can be streamed here:

No injuries were reported after a fire truck in DeSoto, MO, hit its own fire station on Tuesday morning (Oct. 19), according to a report published by FOX2Now.com.

According to the report the damage occurred when firefighters were moving a truck to be cleaned and inspected. The report added that a crew in a news helicopter over the station noticed one of the station’s garage doors was boarded up and that it was unclear to what extent the truck was damaged.

The Bloomington (IL) Fire Department (BFD) was dispatched Monday night to 603 West Market St. for reports of an apartment fire that left a 62-year-old man dead and put five others in the hospital, reports wcia.com.

BFD arrived at the location around 11:10 p.m. and saw smoke coming from the eaves of the building, and it was upgraded to a box alarm. Engine 1 entered with a hand line on an offensive attack, while several crews from Normal and Bloomington Township departments were called for assistance, the report says. About 40 minutes later crews exited the building and transitioned to a defensive tactic.

A second attempt to get inside and attack the seat of the fire was futile, but around 2:20 a.m. after an exterior attack that included drone usage crews were able to enter, according to the report. They then found the deceased man, whose autopsy is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Five other residents were taken to the hospital for treatment, the report says, and crews left the scene around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The Red Cross was notified of eight adults needing assistance, as the building is considered a total loss, though no damage estimate has been made. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

See the drone footage here:

Footage via WCIA