The Lebanon (OR) Fire District posted this press release on its website Feb. 15:

A crowd of about 50 gathered on a cold, Valentine’s Day afternoon to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Station 31. (The ceremony was held at 1050 West Oak Street in Lebanon, the project site.)

Fire Chief Joseph Rodondi spoke about the community support that has been instrumental in moving this project forward, and thanked various District members and elected officials for their work on the project. Principal Architect Gunnar Gladics of Rice Fergus Miller and Jordan Fell, VP of Operations for Emerick Construction also spoke about the project.

Before “turning dirt,” Board of Directors Member Dale White talked about the history of Station 31, and what it meant to him to be one of the first firefighters to operate out of the old Station 31 building in the 1970s. He shared that they used to get “slammed with up to three or four calls a shift,” drawing a chuckle from the crowd. The Lebanon Fire District averaged over 18 calls per 24-hour shift in 2022. 

Community members were invited to stay after the ceremony and ask questions about the project, which many did. Chief Rodondi finished the ceremony with an invitation to come back this time next year for the grand opening. 

The new fire station is funded by a $16 million general obligation bond Lebanon voters passed in 2019. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2024.

The Fred Beans Automotive Group, through its charitable foundation, donated $100,000 toward two major construction projects and the purchase of two new fire trucks by the Plumsteadville Volunteer Fire Company, patch.com reported.

The donation will help relieve a portion of debt incurred by the company for major construction projects and fire truck purchases, the report said.

“We are extremely grateful for the Fred Beans Family of Dealerships for their generous donation to help us pay for the new station 20,” the Plumsteadville Volunteer Fire Company said in a Feb. 15 Facebook post. “Their generosity will allow us to better serve the community for many years to come!”

A fire official said the company’s plans include replacing the recently demolished Station 20 at Easton and Ferry roads and renovating Station 24 on Stump Road, which was built in 1935, the report said. Both construction projects will address outdated structures that needed attention for the fire company’s safe operation.

The fire company also purchased two new fire trucks, which will be delivered in June, to replace two existing trucks that are 31 and 24 years old, according to the report. 

Iowa’s Department of Homeland Security will pay out up to $640,000 to replace turnout gear and other equipment ruined in an industrial explosion and fire in December.

The department will tap funds it received in the American Rescue Plan Act to replace the gear and seek reimbursement from the company where the fire occurred – C6-Zero. The company uses a solvent to break down used shingles into oil, sand and fiberglass, the Gazette reports.

A massive fire broke out at the factory on Dec. 8, 2022 after an explosion. Departments that responded to the fire discovered that equipment exposed to the fire, including turnout gear, drop tanks and hoses, was impossible to clean because it was coated with residue.

Funds to replace equipment will be distributed to Marengo, Victor, Millersburg, Williamsburg, Amana, North English, Ladora, Coralville, Tiffin, Cedar Rapids, Washington, Grinnell, Blairstown, Iowa City, North Liberty, Norway, Belle Plaine and Oxford, the Gazette reports.

Apparatus Ideas Bob Vaccaro

The Toronto (Canada) Fire Department is known worldwide for its proactive approach to purchasing fire apparatus. When the department decided four years ago to look into and place the tallest aerial platform in North America into service, this was no easy task.

 

According to Division Chief Robert Anselmi, his department is always looking to improve its operations around the city with new types of apparatus. “With the increase of high-rise buildings throughout our response area, we felt we needed an aerial platform that would go beyond the reach we have now in our firefighting arsenal,” Anselmi says.

In addition to the 230-foot Bronto, Toronto operates aerials that are 75 to 114 feet in length, ladders that are 100 to 105 feet, a tower at 114 feet, and platforms that measure 100 feet.

“After reviewing our options, we decided we wanted a longer reach,” Anselmi says. “Our department had operated Bronto Skylifts in smaller sizes for some time. After attending the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, we looked at a Bronto Skylift 290-foot platform.”

Anselmi says after seeing it in operation, he contacted the Toronto fire chief and suggested the city look into getting one, as he believed it would meet the department’s needs.

Department officials attended a testing and demonstration in New York City and, from that event, firefighters decided to buy a 230-foot Bronto Skylift on a commercial cab and chassis.

“The demo showed that the vehicle, which is articulating, has a better reach than a normal platform,” Anselmi says. “It can go up and over wires and operate over the roof of a building.” Additionally, the city had experience with Brontos previously, having had three 114-foot units and one 116-foot unit.

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