The Lakewood Fire Department recently introduced the newest member of the fleet: a $360,000 Safe Boat 25 rescue boat, cleveland.com reported.

The new 25-foot aluminum boat is a significant upgrade over the LFD’s previous boat, a 21-foot Ribcraft boat, which is more than a decade old, the report said.

“It will help to reduce response times in emergencies,” the department said in a Facebook post. “Offers upgraded radio equipment for better communication to the land; features improved seating and safety measures for rough waters; and it provides an enclosed heated cabin for patients and fire personnel.

“Fire teams were out training on the new boat (recently) to prepare for the upcoming boating season.”

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The Trafalgar (IN) Fire Department announced the delivery of a new pumper-tanker, enhancing its emergency response capabilities and reinforcing its commitment to public safety, the department said in a Facebook post Sunday, June 1.

This new apparatus features a 1,500-gallon-per-minute (gpm) pump, a 3,000-gallon water tank, and the latest in firefighting technology. Designed to meet the growing needs of the community, the new unit will allow for greater efficiency during rural fire responses, where water supply is limited. This apparatus will replace a 2004 Danko International with a 500-gpm pump and 3,000-gallon tank.

Fire Chief Mark Dunn stated, “This new pumper-tanker gives us the ability to respond more effectively, especially in the rural areas of our first due without immediate access to hydrants. It will be a vital addition to our department and to our fleet.”

The new apparatus was built by Alexis Fire Equipment of out Alexis, Illinois.

The new unit will be placed into service immediately following final equipment installation and firefighter training. The department extends its thanks to the community, local officials, and all who supported this important investment in public safety.

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The City of North Bend – Oregon is proud to announce it has been awarded a $2,493,090 grant through Oregon’s Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program (SRGP) to upgrade North Bend Fire Station No. 1 for improved earthquake resilience, the city said in a press release.

The grant, administered by Business Oregon, will fund vital structural and safety upgrades to the city’s primary fire station at 1880 McPherson Avenue, ensuring it remains operational after a major seismic event. The building, originally constructed in 1965, showed multiple seismic deficiencies in a recent engineering assessment—including shear wall connections, roof diaphragm issues, and unbraced hazardous materials—all of which will now be addressed.

Why it matters:

North Bend Fire Station No. 1 plays a critical role as a first responder facility, and during an earthquake, maintaining emergency response capabilities is essential. This investment will bring the fire station up to modern seismic standards, targeting “Immediate Occupancy” and “Life Safety” performance levels, so our firefighters can keep serving the community when we need them most.

The SRGP is a competitive statewide grant program designed to fund seismic improvements for public schools and emergency services buildings. North Bend’s application, one of only 12 emergency facilities funded this round, stood out with a benefit-cost ratio of 1.37, demonstrating strong public value.

Improvements include:

• Installing deep foundation micropiles to stabilize against soil liquefaction
• Strengthening roof-to-wall and floor-to-wall shear connections
• Bracing mechanical systems and hazardous material storage
• Reinforcing wall and roof elements for increased structural integrity

Got questions? We’ve got answers. Contact us at www.northbendoregon.us/contact

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San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie recently signed legislation to unlock private funding to revamp the San Francisco Fire Department’s (SFFD) fleet and support the department’s lifesaving work, the city said in a press release.

Since appointing Dean Crispen as SFFD chief on his second full day in office, Mayor Lurie has supported the city’s emergency preparedness work—launching a new “ReadySF” emergency preparedness campaign and participating in a multiagency preparedness exercise at Fireboat Station 35 in January. He has also encouraged San Franciscans to “get prepared, get involved,” joining a community-based training through SFFD’s Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT).

“Public safety is my number one priority, and that means making sure our first responders have the tools they need to keep San Franciscans safe,” said Mayor Lurie. “By modernizing our fleet, we can respond faster in emergencies and keep everyone safer. Thank you to Supervisor Chan, President Mandelman, Chief Crispen, and San Francisco Fire Fighters Local 798 for working alongside me and supporting this legislation.”

San Francisco’s fire apparatus fleet is aging rapidly. More than 63% of the city’s engines, 87% of fire trucks, and 70% of reserve vehicles are more than 10 years old. Nearly 90% of the city’s ambulances have exceeded their five-year service life. As of April 11, 2025, SFFD has seven frontline fire apparatus and 20 reserve vehicles over 25 years old, as well as four frontline apparatus from the 1970s, still in service.

The behested payment waiver legislation signed recently will enable the mayor and fire chief to solicit private donations specifically for the purchase of fire engines, trucks, and ambulances—equipment that is essential to public safety but increasingly expensive and difficult to replace.

“The SFFD is grateful to the mayor and Board of Supervisors for supporting and approving this critical legislation. A special appreciation is owed to Supervisor Chan for authoring this and President Mandelman for guiding this through the legislative process,” said SFFD Chief Crispen. “The behested payment waiver legislation will allow our department to team with private partners to purchase new fire apparatus. This partnership will allow us to fortify our aging fleet and increase our readiness. San Francisco is prone to large fires due to our topography and building construction. Further, we are highly susceptible to a conflagration after an earthquake. Our department is aware that it will take a significant number of resources to combat these disasters. Purchasing new fire trucks engines and ambulances is essential to fulfilling this mission. This legislation demonstrates our elected leaders’ awareness of this potential. They have taken action, and our city is safer thanks to their leadership.”

“This legislation is a critical investment in the safety of both firefighters and the people of San Francisco. By unlocking private funds to modernize our aging fleet, we can respond to emergencies quickly, safely, and more effectively,” said Sam Gebler, Vice President of San Fran