Rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s damage to Ashe County continues, including replacing critical fire and rescue vehicles lost to the flood, Blue Ridge Energy said in a press release.

The Lansing Volunteer Fire and Rescue lost two fire trucks to Helene, putting the area in danger if fire and rescue response is needed. “These were the only four-wheel drive pumper fire trucks we had,” said Chief Jeff Venable, adding that the trucks were under water and flooded.

While one truck is able to be refurbished, the other truck was a total loss from water damage. Furthermore, insurance did not cover the full cost of a new fire truck. In February, Lansing Volunteer Fire and Rescue replaced the damaged truck with a new pumper, which was purchased with the assistance of a $200,000 loan from Blue Ridge Energy. This is the department’s first new truck, and it will provide decades of service to the community.

“We were able to put down $300,000 of the cost for a new truck,” said Venable, “and we’re very blessed the remaining $200,000 is being covered through a seven year, zero-percent interest rate loan from Blue Ridge Energy’s Revolving Loan Fund,” he said.

“This is a great program provided through Blue Ridge Energy and saves taxpayers thousands of dollars through not having to pay interest on the loan,” Venable added.

Blue Ridge Energy’s revolving loan fund has been accumulated over the years from grants awarded by the government’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program (REDLG). REDLG, which is part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), enables electric cooperatives to support community development projects in their service areas by providing zero-interest loans to qualified entities. Loan funds are repaid over time and then “recycled” to support additional qualifying community development projects.

“Helping ensure emergency response is available in the communities we serve is an important way Blue Ridge Energy seeks to improve quality of life for our members,” said Katie Woodle, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Ridge Energy. “We’re very pleased we can continue helping our service area rebuild and restore after Helene.”

Blue Ridge Energy is an electric cooperative serving some 80,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, and Alleghany counties and parts of Wilkes, Avery, and Alexander counties. It also includes a propane heating fuels subsidiary and a business-to-business telecommunications subsidiary. Learn more at www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com.

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Mike Hendricks
The Kansas City Star
(TNS)

Kansas City won’t pay nearly $1 million to the fire truck driver who killed three people in a 2021 traffic crash in Westport.

The city council’s finance committee rejected the proposed $915,000 settlement to firefighter Dominic Biscari Tuesday after an emotional plea from the owner of the restaurant where two of the victims worked.

Calling the proposed payment “incredible,” Laura Norris said the settlement of Biscari’s legal challenge to the disciplinary actions against him “flies in the face of justice for the innocent victims.”

Committee members retired to closed session after Norris urged them to reject the settlement, and when they came back into open session Mayor Quinton Lucas said the committee had decided to do just that.

“At this point, this committee finds it not appropriate to resolve the litigation,” Lucas said. “Instead, we will hold the item off docket, which, in council parlance, largely means the ordinance is rejected, and we will then continue to hope for the best for all parties involved, but rejecting this item today.”

This is an evolving story and will be updated.

©2025 The Kansas City Star. Visit kansascity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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The post Kansas City (MO) Rejects Nearly $1M Settlement to Pumper Driver Involved in Westport Crash That Killed Three appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

This podcast highlights the essential considerations involved in configuring rescue squads to meet the needs of specific emergency response contexts effectively. By thoroughly evaluating mission deliverables, personnel availability, equipment weight allowances, and collaborative mutual aid options, departments can make the best decisions regarding their apparatus configuration. The conversations surrounding these topics not only promote efficient decisions but ultimately aim to enhance the overall effectiveness and safety of emergency responders while serving their communities.

Understanding the mission is crucial for configuring your vehicle effectively. Will the squad primarily respond to vehicle extrications, water rescues, tech rescues, or a combination thereof? Departments specializing mainly in extrications may be best served by a walk-around vehicle that allows quick access to essential tools. In contrast, teams often engaged in specialized rescue efforts may better benefit from a tandem axle walk-in unit designed for storing heavier and more specialized gear.

The post The Apparatus Workshop: Heavy Rescues appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

The American Economic Liberties Project (AELP) and International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) have written a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Andrew Ferguson; Pam Bondi, Attorney General; and Gail Slater, Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, requesting that the FTC “investigate and take action against consolidation in fire and emergency vehicle manufacturers.”

The letter also asks the FTC to look into other fire service products it claims have been impacted by consolidation trends, citing costs for self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and dispatching software.

The letter suggests that the FTC investigate topics including:

• National and regional consolidation trends.
• National and regional market shares of the top firms in each industry.
• If transactions have been followed by an increased rate of price increases.
• If transactions have been followed by reduction in production capacity or longer delivery delays.

“We urge the DOJ and FTC to launch investigations immediately and bring appropriate enforcement actions accordingly,” the letter concludes.

• Related: U.S. Senators Investigating Fire Apparatus Delays and Costs

The post IAFF Enters Fire Apparatus Conversation with Letter to FTC appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.