HME Ahrens-Fox—Chatham (MA) Fire-Rescue Department MiniEvo mini pumper. Ford F-550 cab and chassis; Power Stroke 6.7L 330-hp engine; Hale DSD 1,500-gpm pump; UPF Poly 400-gallon water tank; 15-gallon foam cell; FRC Turbo Foam 2.6 gpm Class A foam system. Dealer: Glenn Davis, Lakes Region Fire Apparatus Inc., Tamworth, NH.

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The ceiling of the sleeping quarters in Topeka (KS) Fire Department’s Fire Station 7 partially collapsed Tuesday, according to a report in cjonline.com, though no injuries were reported and the station remains able to respond to calls.

The report said that the hole was originally about five feet by eight feet when first noticed on Monday, but has grown since a crew began repairs. A contractor will be hired to fix the ceiling, the report said.

Officials noted that a water leak may be the culprit and it’s possible other issues are at hand at Station 7, which was built in 1937.

Bluefield (WV) Fire Department’s Station 3 has received a $100,000 renovation that officials say will make it safer and reduce response time, according to a report in WVNSTV.com.

Built in the 1970s, Station 3 had fallen into such bad shape that it was on the verge of being shut down by the city, according to the report. Following two years of planning, it is now “a safe and clean place for Bluefield firefighters”—no more black mold or leaking.

Officials said the revamping would cut down response time “from six or seven minutes to two or three minutes.”

AIKEN, S.C., April 8, 2021 – The emergency response capabilities of one Aiken County volunteer fire department are stronger thanks to a donation from the Savannah River Site (SRS). On April 7, SRS leadership gathered with members of the Hollow Creek Volunteer Fire Department to deliver and hand over the keys and title to a new-to-them firetruck.

A multi-year effort to modernize the SRS emergency fleet paved the way for the donation of the fire-truck to Hollow Creek, transitioning the truck from federal service to community service.

“SRS holds mutual aid agreements with all of the local fire departments in Aiken County,” said Ron Bartholomew, DOE Director, Office of Safeguards, Security and Emergency Services. “We are a proud member of the county’s emergency response community and continue to look for ways we can work together to make Aiken County a stronger, safer place for its citizens.”

The former SRS firetruck can carry up to six firefighters and, when not connected to a main water source, is capable of propelling 1,000 gallons of self-contained water from its tanks thanks to its 1,500 gallon-per-minute pump onboard. The truck is also equipped with three ladders and enough space to hold needed tools to assist firefighters when faced with challenging and rapidly changing conditions.

“In its previous career at SRS, this truck was an integral part of the Site’s emergency re-sponse capabilities, responding during Site emergency drills, train-ing and, when needed, emergencies on-site or in one of the five neighboring counties surrounding SRS,” said Rob Still SRNS Chief, SRS Fire Department.

Hollow Creek Volunteer Fire Department is located along the Aiken County and Lexington County bor-der, near Wagner, S.C. As a strictly volunteer fire department, donations and grants are the heartbeat that ensures ongoing volunteer fire response in rural communities.

“For many volunteer fire departments in our state, one of our greatest challenges is maintaining the ongoing availability and readiness of our equipment. The donation of a firetruck from SRS will serve our community well and will further provide our firefighters with lifesaving resources when we are called on to help our community,” said Glenn Poole, Fire Chief, Hollow Creek Volunteer Fire Department.

The modernization of the SRS emergency fleet began in 2012. Since then, five new fire engines and four remounted ambulances have been added to the fleet with plans for further enhancements in the future.