Berea (OH) city council is considering approving the construction of a weight room at the 2 Prospect St. station, reports Cleveland.com. Personnel currently has a few pieces of equipment it can access in the boiler room, which, officials say, isn’t safe.

The addition, which has been floated for several years, would be an enclosed room about 15 to 20 feet where an outdoor patio currently sits. The patio would be relocated to the other side of the building. Some new fitness equipment is anticipated to be purchased to supplement what they already have.

The estimated total project cost is between $50,000 to $75,000, according to officials.

The volunteer fire department in Hovland (MN) recently added a new engine to its fleet and held a public celebration, reports kbjr6.com. The new apparatus replaces the department’s 37-year-old truck.

Following a year of fundraising, the department hoped to get at least $20,000 for its truck to purchase it from the Bloomington Fire Department—and ended up with more than $40,000 with a $5,000 grant given by the North Shore Health Care Foundation.

“We are grateful to the North Shore Health Care Foundation for their significant grant award, as well as to Boreal Community Media and KBJR News for their support and assistance in spreading the news of our fundraising efforts,” the department wrote in a press release.

“Our deepest thanks go out to all the community members of Hovland, Cook County, and beyond for their immediate and generous response to our call for assistance. Because of their contributions, we exceeded our monetary goal, allowing us to not only purchase the fire engine, but to outfit it with the proper safety equipment.”

Rosenbauer—Lawrence (PA) Volunteer Fire Department rear-mount pumper. Avenger R7011 cab and chassis; Cummins X12 500-hp engine; DS-EZ-Trac hydraulically driven front hubs; Hale RME/RGA 1,500-gpm rear-mount pump; 500-gallon polypropylene water tank; IDEX “SAM” pump interface control system; Smart Power 8-kW generator; Rosenbauer PTO-driven UHPS. Dealer: Rick Smith, Kaza Fire Equipment, Ebensburg, PA. (Photo by Paul Barrett.)

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DeSoto (TX) Fire Rescue will hold a ribbon-cutting for its new Station 2 next Saturday, May 29, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Construction of the 14,200-square-foot combined facility at 206 S. Parks Drive was approved by voters in a 2014 bond referendum. The new digs includes:

• Sleeping alcove bunk rooms with adjacent dayroom, kitchen, dining area, and physical agility room.
• Offices for Fire Administration and Fire Prevention staff.
• DeSoto’s Emergency Operations Center.
• Community safe room funded by a grant from FEMA that can withstand winds up to 250 mph with three-second wind gusts. This room will also serve as a multi-purpose community meeting and training space.

The ribbon-cutting will be followed by refreshments and a tour of the facility.