The Cold Spring City Council has selected where to put its new fire station. Last week, the council approved to enter into an agreement with ColdSpring, formally known as Cold Spring Granite, for a piece of land located off of Main Street, wjon.com reported.

A city official said the council agreed to pay $250,000 for the parcel, plus the city will abate the remaining $32,953.76 of assessments still owed on the property, the report said.

The city has been working for some time to solve its space issues within city hall, which houses the fire and police departments, administrative offices, council chambers and library, according to the report.

The council hasn’t made a final decision on the renovations of the current city hall building or which departments would stay in it, the report said.

The Burlington Fire Department is one of over 300 fire departments across the state to have been awarded a grant as part of the Department of Fire Services Fiscal Year 2023 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program.

The $14,923 grant awarded to the Burlington Fire Department will be used to purchase structural firefighting gear such as coats and pants for new firefighters, as well as provide a second set of gear for existing firefighters, HomeNewsHere.com reported.

The Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program provides local fire departments with a variety of equipment that makes the dangerous job of firefighting safer. This is the third year that funding has been awarded for this purpose as part of a five-year, $25 million bond bill filed by the Baker-Polito Administration to support firefighter safety and health in the coming years.

Fire departments in Massachusetts were able to apply to this program for 121 different types of eligible equipment, including ballistic protective clothing, thermal protective clothing, gear washers and dryers, thermal imaging cameras, assorted hand tools and extrication equipment, communications resources, hazardous gas meters, fitness equipment and more.

It is with great sadness that the Fire Engineering/FDIC International and Clarion Events family announces the unexpected passing of Chief (Ret.) Bobby Halton, editor in chief of Fire Engineering and Educational Director for FDIC. Chief Halton passed away at his home in Oklahoma Monday night, December 19^th, 2022. Halton served as our editor for the past 18 years. Halton led the editorial team and helped build the FDIC into the largest fire service educational conference in the world.

“We are devastated by the news of Bobby’s sudden passing. Bobby was a larger-than-life personality who dedicated his life to God, family, and the fire service. Bobby spent his life in service of others and his impact serving as VP of Education and Training for Clarion Fire & Rescue, was a source of great pride and personal responsibility. This is a major loss for the Clarion family and the fire service. In this difficult time, we offer our deepest condolences to Marcia, Dean, Ryan, Evan, and the entire Halton family,” stated Eric Schlett, Executive Vice President, Clarion Events – Fire & Rescue.

Chief Bobby Halton was a native New Yorker. He began his career in structural firefighting with the Albuquerque (NM) Fire Department and rose through the ranks to include chief of training. Halton was chief of operations until his retirement from Albuquerque in 2004. He then became chief of the Coppell (TX) Fire Department. Halton left Coppell to assume the duties as editor in chief of Fire Engineering.

Chief Halton was a graduate of the University of New Mexico, left a member in good standing with the International Association of Fire Fighters, was a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and has served on several of the National Fire Protection Association technical committees. He was active with the National Fallen Firefighters Life Safety Initiatives as well as the Firefighter Cancer Support Network. He was a passionate fire service advocate, speaker, author, and friend to so many.

“There will never be another Bobby Halton. He defied the odds with cancer and lived his life to the fullest. His passion for history, his love for America, and his understanding of the fire service made him an incredible voice for our profession. He was a trusted friend and mentor who has been a major part of my life for the past 20 years. Working directly with him full-time for the past 5 months has been a blessing that I will treasure forever. His life was service. I will miss you my friend.” Chief (Ret) David Rhodes, Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, Content Strategist Clarion Events.

“Bobby was an iconic individual who left the fire service better than he found it. He believed in family, trust and loyalty and there were not many like him.” Captain (Ret.) Michael Dugan, FDNY

“The fire service just lost an incredible fire service mentor and leader. I just lost my big brother. He was an incredible man, father and husband. He was one of my best friends and I am so blessed that I just got to spend the weekend with him in Hawaii where my son also spent time with him. Very few people will ever have the impact on people lives and the fire service as Bobby did. He changed the fire service. His passion and love for the fire service was second to none. I will miss my big brother so much.” Chief (Ret.) Rick Lasky, Lewisville Fire Department, TX.

“Bobby Halton represented the core essence of the fire service. Working with him for years on Fire Engineering magazine, FDIC, and other projects, I witnessed his unwavering devotion and love for firefighters. He always kept firefighters as his focus and mission, making sure that they received the best training possible. He wove his editorials into philosophical motivators for many readers, encouraging them to think and act. Bobby was a unique firefighter who touched many live

Here were the most popular stories, by page views, in 2022 on the Fire Apparatus website. We will reveal two stories each day starting Tuesday, December 20. The last four stories will be revealed one each day with the top story being revealed on the last day of the year, December 31.

19. Refurbished Mack/Saulsbury Coming Soon as a Reserve Rescue Squad for DC Fire & EMS – (10/13/2022) – 2,038 page views.

20. Birmingham (AL) Airport Cuts Ribbon on New $12.4M ARFF Station (12/3/2022) – 1,976 page views.