Forsyth (GA) firefighters and county officials gathered in a patch of open grass recently to break ground on a project that has been years in the making, ForsythNews.com reported.

On October 28, officials broke ground off McBride Lane in the Lake Lanier area of Forsyth, signaling the beginning of construction for a new Fire Station 9 facility, the report said.

The fire station will be designed with the newest standards, identical to Fire Station 11 on Pittman Road, incorporating four bays, a gym and independent living spaces in the 12,500-square-foot building, according to the report.

Construction of the station will cost about $6.7 million and will be funded by the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax VI and VIII as well as impact fees, the report said.

An uptick in capsized or stranded boaters at Lake Junaluska has prompted the Waynesville (NC) Fire Department to add a motorized swiftwater rescue boat to its arsenal, TheMountaineer.com reported.

Until now, Waynesville firefighters responding to water rescues at the lake have had to commandeer boats on the fly, even borrowing boats from fishermen, the report said.

The inflatable swiftwater rescue boat outfitted with a motor is the only one of its kind in the county, which will allow Waynesville firefighters to aid neighboring communities along the Pigeon River, according to the report.

A handful of other fire departments — including those in Canton, Bethel and Clyde where the Pigeon flows through their jurisdiction — have inflatable whitewater rafts designed for moving water. Waynesville’s differs by having a rigid bottom and motor, the report said.

Lyndeborough (NH) bought a used fire pumper to replace its 1994 pumper ahead of schedule, after a major mechanical issue took it out of service, LedgerTranscript.com reported.

On October 26, Select Board members approved the use of excess funds from this year’s operating budget to replace the pumper, the report said.

A town official said the issue with the pumper truck was brought to the board’s attention a few weeks ago, and consisted of a major pump failure. Estimates to fix the issue ranged from $18,000 to $25,000, according to the report. The truck, built in 1994, was scheduled to be replaced in 2024. Such an expensive repair would have been a significant investment, the report said.

The Charleston City Council unanimously approved a $780,630 purchase for a new fire engine for the 2024-25 fiscal year on Tuesday, DailyEasternNews.com reported.

The engine will replace one from 2001, which is due to be replaced in the fiscal year 2024-25, but the council has been advised to make the purchase now to prevent further cost inflation, the report said.

The council unanimously approved a $228,894 purchase for a new ambulance for the fire department as well. The new ambulance, expected to be delivered during the 2023-24 fiscal year, is to replace a current ambulance from 2013 with over 180,000 miles, according to the report.