DeKalb County officials are considering pursuing a USDA Rural Development Facility Grant to purchase a fire truck, reports WJLE.com.

The application is for $250,000 with a 45% local match of $112,500. Officials passed approval by a vote of 8 to 5. 

An official who voted in favor also expressed concern for committing more money toward the purchase of another fire truck when the commission only two months ago voted to spend $250,000 from the capital projects fund to buy two used trucks.

Fire Chief Donny Green believes it’s an opportunity to take advantage due to the aging fire trucks in the fleet. He said the average age of our whole fleet of fire trucks right now is about 21.5 years. 

The fire department has two homemade fire engines that didn’t pass fleet inspection. Green said he has looked all over the country for used fire trucks. He said that they have learned any truck newer than ten years old will cost the amount they would pay for a new fire truck in this grant for a used fire truck. 

 

The post DeKalb County (TN) Seeks Grant for Fire Apparatus Purchase appeared first on Fire Apparatus.

According to a report from FOX19, a member of the Mason (OH) Fire Department (MFD) on unpaid leave is in custody and has been charged with assault after he assaulted both his chief and the police officer responding to the incident.

Police were dispatched MFD Station 51 Tuesday morning for a fight. Court documents say Joseph Bales, 27, punched MFD Chief Bryan Brumagen twice in the face.

When officers arrived on scene, Bales then allegedly punched Police Sargent Jeremy Saylor in the face as well.

The police report says Brumagen and Saylor suffered minor injuries. Bales was taken to Atrium Medical Center for evaluation.

Bales faces two felony counts of assault, a felony for disrupting public service, and a misdemeanor for resisting arrest.

The post Mason (OH) Fire Department Member Charged with Assaulting Chief, Police Officer appeared first on Fire Apparatus.

According to a report from KSST Radio, the Dike (TX) Volunteer Fire Department (DVFD) recently replaced its 1976 brush truck with a new custom-build brush truck with help from a cost-share grant through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program (RVFDAP).

The DVFD received $100,000 from Texas A&M Forest Service during the RVFDAP’s 2020 funding cycle.

Brush trucks are designed specifically to fight grass fires by transporting firefighters, water, and other fire suppression equipment. The DVFD’s new custom-build brush truck features a 300-gallon water tank and ample storage areas for wildland tools. The truck is now in service and has already responded to several fires.

Texas A&M Forest Service helps protect lives and property through its RVFDAP, a cost-share program funded by the Texas State Legislature and administered by the Texas A&M Forest Service. The program provides funding to rural volunteer fire departments to help with the purchasing of firefighting vehicles, fire and rescue equipment, personal protective clothing, dry hydrants, computer systems, and firefighter training.

For more information on the programs offered by Texas A&M Forest Service, please visit http://texasfd.com.

The post Grant Program Helps Dike (TX) Fire Department Fund New Brush Truck appeared first on Fire Apparatus.

Second person dies due to injuries sustained in
crash with rescue

Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment

DENVER, Colorado – 9News reports that a second person has died after a crash last weekend involving a Denver Fire Department rescue.

The collision happened at North Broadway and Speer Boulevard.

The fire department said its rescue vehicle was using lights and sirens as it was responding to a report of smoke in a building.

Officials say that the rescue had slowed to clear the intersection and that the lights were changing as the vehicle approached the intersection and slowed down.

After the crash occurred, firefighters went to work to quickly extricate the victims in the other vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle, Monica Charles, 38, was killed in the crash.

A second woman had died from injuries sustained in the wreck. Her identity will be released later by the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner.

Another person inside vehicle was severely injured.

One firefighter was treated for a knee injury.

“The entire Denver Fire Department extends our thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of the victims of this tragic accident,” said Fire Chief Desmond Fulton. “We are committed to cooperating fully with this investigation and are hopeful to prevent this type of tragedy from occurring in the future.”

The Denver Police Department is investigating.

The post Second Person Dies in Crash with Denver Fire Engine appeared first on Fire Apparatus.