Tyrone Township Board of Supervisors announced at its November 14 meeting that funds were raised to buy a new vehicle for the Sinking Valley Volunteer Fire Company, one that is slightly smaller than the other fire trucks and therefore easier to operate on winding roads, HuntingdonDailyNews.com reported.

The need for a new and smaller truck was first brought to the board’s attention at the supervisor’s meeting in April 2022, the report said. During the public comment section, a fire official said while the trucks that the fire company had at the time were in full working order, they were too large for the area. Maneuvering the cumbersome vehicles on the many narrow and twisting roadways in Sinking Valley is difficult and therefore time-consuming—and time is something that emergency responders cannot afford to waste, the report said.

After months of debate and discussion, some northern Michigan communities are starting to spend their American Rescue Plan Funds, UpNorthLive.com reported.

Traverse City is one of those communities, but a proposed expense raised questions among the firefighters, the report said.

Two fire stations dating back to the 1970s have some serious deficiencies when it comes to gender neutrality and ABA compliance, a fire official said. A memo went out regarding spending $150,000 ARPA dollars for gender-neutral bathrooms at the fire station. Some firefighters expressed that while they appreciate the funds and want to be inclusive, they’re still left with needs they feel are more pressing for their own safety, like fire detection and suppression in the dorms they sleep in every night, the report said.

The ARPA funds are going to create a separate living space and bathroom for a potential female employee should one be hired in the future, a city official said, according to the report.

No final decisions were made at Monday night’s city commission meeting; it’s expected to be discussed again as an action item at the November 21 meeting, the report said.

A 24-year-old Peoria man was indicted Tuesday for being in possession of a fire truck owned by the Peoria Fire Department, CentralIllinoisProud.com reported.

Brandon D. Knight is alleged to have been in possession of Engine No. 2 of the Peoria Fire Department on September 24, the report said. He is set to appear in court for arraignment on December 15 at 9:30 a.m.

• Peoria (IL) Fire Truck Stolen at Crash Scene

Internal records from the San Jose Fire Department are shedding new light on a stunning video that surfaced last month showing a bikini-clad woman climb out of a fire engine and walk into the Pink Poodle, a well-known strip club in town, NBCBayArea.com reported.

The social media video immediately sparked controversy and prompted an internal investigation, the report said. The department’s union said at the time it “does not condone what was seen on video” and Mayor Sam Liccardo promised accountability if the investigation revealed misconduct, according to the report.