Grand Haven Township voters in May will decide on a bond proposal to build a new, $12.6 million fire and rescue station, mlive.com reported.

Township officials say the new station, which would be built adjacent to the current one at 13250 168th Avenue, would have modernized infrastructure protecting the health and safety of firefighters and larger facilities to accommodate training and township growth, the report said.

The $12.6 million bond on the May 2 ballot would be paid off within 20 years and would require an average annual millage of 0.77 mills to pay off the debt. For a home with a value of $200,000 and a taxable value of $100,000, that’s about $77 more in taxes a year, according to the report.

The township plans to have more information on the proposal posted on its website in March. A rendering of the proposed fire and rescue station will also be made available later.

Brian Porter
The Fort Morgan Times, Colo.
(TNS)

Feb. 27—Fire Chief Trae Boehm indicates City Council support of a fire training facility could potentially improve the city’s ISO rating by a point, which might in turn help to lower some home insurance rates.

The low bid from Symtech Fire for construction of the training facility will cost $301,503 with total approved funding by City Council of $600,000 to cover an upgrade to a natural gas system, dirt work, a concrete pad and an 80-foot by 80-foot asphalt pad. The proposal was supported last week by a 6-0 vote of City Council, with City Councilman Clint Anderson unable to attend the meeting because of a work conflict.

“I’m not sure if it would move us any, but it would get us closer to that 3 [ISO] range,” Boehm said. “That would be phenomenal for a town of our size.”

The training facility would offer a controlled environment in which to train firefighters, he said.

“When the real thing does come, they are prepared with the training to fight the fire,” Boehm said.

The natural gas feature was preferred by the fire department as a cleaner manner in which to conduct fire trainings. It allows the fire to be “knocked down” and also to prevent the burning of wood or hay, which adds more carcinogens, according to the presentation to City Council.

The facility, upon construction, could allow for more regional trainings, Boehm said in response to City Councilman Doug Schossow.

He explained that not only was Symtech Fire the low bid, but it also fit a better timetable for the fire department.

“The timeframe was a huge factor,” he said, explaining another bidder would have needed 10 to 14 months to complete construction. “This Symtech Fire [building] is 6-8 months, so we could have this up and running by October.”

The asphalt pad would allow firefighters to train and still keep gear and apparatus clean and “out of the mud,” Boehm said, which is not always the case in an actual firefighting event, he added.

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EPHRATA, PA – Feb. 28, 2023 – REV Fire Group, which includes REV Group Inc. manufacturers of E-ONE^®, KME^®, Ferrara^™, Spartan Emergency Response^®, Spartan Fire Chassis^™, Smeal^™, and Ladder Tower^™ fire apparatus brands, announces the expansion and $1.5 million renovation of its Ephrata, PA facility to allow for the increased manufacturing of aerial apparatus including tractor drawn aerials (TDAs). The expansion is expected to more than triple the production of TDAs, and nearly double the workforce.

With the leasing of two additional buildings on campus, REV Fire Group has doubled its space to a total of 123,000 square feet among four buildings. One of the new buildings will be used exclusively to manufacture aerial apparatus for Ladder Tower, KME and Ferrara brands. The other will be used to manufacture TDAs and will include a 20,000 square foot customer experience final inspection center with three bays.  For the existing two buildings, one will be used for service and refurbishment of all REV Fire Group apparatus, and the other as a full paint shop.

“We are very excited to create an aerial and TDA manufacturing center of excellence for our brands,” said Dan DesRochers, President of REV Fire Group. “For more than 49 years we’ve perfected our process to build the finest ladder truck components. By specializing and taking advantage of the talent and knowledge base, we anticipate continuing to put out the best product in the industry while improving both lead time and customer satisfaction.”

The investment will support upgrades and renovations to increase operational efficiencies including updated paint and signage in the buildings, upgraded paint booths, and new tooling and fixtures to streamline the ladder welding process.

With the expansion of operations comes the need for more employees. The Ephrata facility will hold job fairs in coming months to recruit additional employees with the goal to ultimately double its current labor force.

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About REV Group, Inc.

REV Group companies are leading designers and manufacturers of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts and services, which serve a diversified customer base, primarily in the United States, through three segments: Fire & Emergency, Commercial, and Recreation. They provide customized vehicle solutions for applications, including essential needs for public services (ambulances, fire apparatus, school buses, and transit buses), commercial infrastructure (terminal trucks and industrial sweepers), and consumer leisure (recreational vehicles). REV Group’s diverse portfolio is made up of well-established principal vehicle brands, including many of the most recognizable names within their industry. Several of REV Group’s brands pioneered their specialty vehicle product categories and date back more than 50 years. REV Group trades on the NYSE under the symbol REVG. Investors-REVG

The Sarasota County Fire Department has gotten a new piece of equipment especially for emergencies in the city’s high-rises, mysuncoast.com reported.

With greater maneuverability and stabilization, and a 100-foot-tall ladder, the new truck will allow for more versatile navigation of tight turns and narrow streets, the report said.

According to a Sarasota County fire official, the tiller will be useful in calls downtown, including those with high-rise buildings.

The tiller, which has a rear axle that is steered independently of the front axle, requires two drivers along with a dose of training, communication and teamwork, the report said.

The specialized vehicle also holds storage for additional ladders as well as important equipment for technical rescue and hazardous materials calls, according to the report. The tiller is housed at Fire Station 1 in downtown Sarasota.