The Wilkes-Barre City Council approved funding for a $1.55 million renovation project at the East Ross Street headquarters of the Wilkes-Barre Fire Department Tuesday, VictoriaAdvocate.com reported.

The fire station, built after the devastating Agnes flood of June 1972, is showing its age, city leaders told the council, according to the report.

The project will consist of three parts: general, electrical and HVAC. A recent inspection revealed some potential components that cause cancer, a fire official said.

Also, electrical upgrades are needed, since computers at the fire station cannot be used if the power goes out, the report said.

The project will provide upgraded shower and decontamination facilities for male and female firefighters, the fire official said. At present, there are no shower facilities for women at the station.

Project funding will come from American Rescue Plan funds and the city’s general fund, the report said.

Wheeling (IL)’s 2023 municipal budget includes millions for a new fire station, water main replacements and other public projects, DailyHerald.com reported.

The village board approved the $117.4 million spending plan Monday, the report said. The 2023 fiscal year begins January 1.

That includes nearly $5.8 million for a new, 10,700-square-foot fire station at 135 McHenry Road, the report said. It will replace a station that occupies two rooms in the police station on Community Boulevard.

In all, the project will cost about $7 million, according to the report. Money will come from American Rescue Act funds and village reserves, a city official said.

The Zachary Fire Department has acquired four new high-tech LUCAS CPR devices for $20,750 each, WAFB.com reported.

The devices provide mechanical chest compressions to patients suffering from cardiac arrest.

A fire official said once the device is put on the patient the compressions are going to be continually given at the proper rate, according to the report.

The equipment is already in place, and firefighters are already trained on how to use the devices out in the community, the report said.

On Monday, the Sandy Township Supervisors officially approved making their property, located at 3059 Oklahoma Salem Road, available for a future fire station for the new city of DuBois, if needed in consolidation, TheCourierExpress.com reported.

A city official said the property on Oklahoma Salem Road looks favorable to build a new fire station on but that it’s just preliminary at this time, the report said.

Here’s the Fire Study that was completed in July 2021 (PDF) regarding Sandy-Township and DuBois consolidation.