After several weeks of repairs, Englewood (IN) Fire Station has resumed service, the city of Bedford announced on a Facebook post.

“We appreciate the community’s understanding of this process and are happy to operate safely out of Englewood Fire Station, once again.”

The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) recently awarded $1.3 million in funds to 89 fire departments in Kansas through the Kansas Firefighter Recruitment and Safety Grant Program.

The grant was made possible through its budget passed by the State Legislature and signed by Governor Kelly.

An additional $1.2 million was made available to the State Fire Marshal’s Office for this grant by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), with an $100,000 provided through the office’s budget.

This year, over $2.4 million was requested by 97 volunteer/part-time fire departments in Kansas for safety gear, washer/extractor machines and junior firefighter programs. Departments received close to $1.2 million to be used for safety gear, $106,000 for 20 washer/extractor machines, and $1,200 for the junior firefighter programs. Due to the high number of requests, OSFM will be requesting the 2023 Legislature to continue funding the grant.

A list of the departments receiving a 2023 grant award and more information on the Kansas Firefighter Recruitment and Safety Grant Program can be found here.

After a Monroe County fire station burned down a little over a year ago, a donation from Oglethorpe Power Company is providing a fresh start, 13wmaz.com reported.

Last year, a fire truck caught fire inside Monroe County’s Fire Station 10 on Evans Road, leading to a total loss of the building, the report said.

On Monday, county commissioners, State Rep. Dale Washburn, and others came together to put the shovel in the new site off Rumble Road to make it official. Fire Chief Matt Jackson says most of the department’s calls are on the interstate, the report said. The prime location helps to better serve the county and its surrounding areas, according to the report.

The fire station is estimated to be completed sometime in 2023.

Anderson County Commissioners recently approved the purchase of a swiftwater boat and the formation of a county Swiftwater Rescue Team, PalestineHerald.com reported.

During Monday’s Commissioners Court meeting, a Slocum Volunteer Fire Department official reported that swiftwater rescues had become more prevalent in the community and were one of the more dangerous types of rescues emergency crew personnel participated in, the report said.

The fire official explained the difference between jon boats and swiftwater rescue boats and the need for the specialty boat, noting that jon boats easily take on water and swiftwater rescue boats were made to not capsize, according to the report.

It was established that the swiftwater boat would belong to the county and be available to any county volunteer fire department that needed use of it, as long as they were trained in swiftwater rescues and the use of the boat, the report said.