Greencastle’s Rescue Hose Company has a little extra financial breathing room after receiving a federal grant for nearly a quarter-million dollars to replace self-contained breathing apparatus, Echo-Pilot.com reported.

The department recently was awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant in the amount of $241,880 for operations and safety from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the report said. The money will be used to replace the breathing apparatus that is reaching the end of its service life, according to a fire official.

The money will be used to replace SCBA equipment bought with an AFG grant in 2011, the report said. That grant of $182,875 paid for 36 units, while the new grant will cover 32.

Officials with the Randall County Fire Department will host an event Thursday evening, celebrating a new engine that the county recently received, MyHighPlains.com reported.

According to a news release from the Randall County Fire Department, the department will have a “push-in” ceremony at 6 p.m. Thursday at Station No. 2 of the Randall County Fire Department, located at 9451 2186 in Amarillo. According to the release, this ceremony is being conducted after the county recently received its new Engine Two.

Officials said the new engine is a 2022 Spartan, the county’s first new custom cab fire apparatus. The release said this will give members of the department more available storage space for equipment, along with added safety features for fire personnel.

The Board of Fire Commissioners of Lakewood Fire District No. 1 along with Fire Chief Jonathan Yahr announced the delivery of two new Fire Engines: Engine 1 and Engine 5. These new fire engines are the most recent example of the Board of Fire Commissioners’ commitment to investing in the infrastructure and equipment needs of the Lakewood Fire District as they seek to modernize the fleet.

These engines will be replacing current engines in the fleet which have reached the end of their life. Engine 1 and Engine 5 were designed with a short wheelbase to accommodate tight narrow streets. The low overall height increases safety by reducing the center of gravity and allowing the engine to pass under obstacles that previous specifications could not. These engines are another step in making all LFD engines identical. This will benefit the department in deploying resources as needed as well as reducing the cost of ownership. Numerous improvements were made to previous specifications to increase reliability and decrease maintenance costs.

Bamberg County (SC) held a groundbreaking ceremony October 11 for the Holmans Bridge Fire Substation, BambergCountySC.gov reported.

In 2021, Bamberg County resident Jody Reeves donated property to Bamberg County to aid the development, the report said. The new state-of-the-art substation, located at 1500 Charleston Augusta Highway, is located in the northeastern section of Bamberg County which includes the communities of Sweden, Finland, and Jamiesonville.

Fire substations are vital to ensure the public safety for Bamberg County residents located more than five miles from a fire station.

After the benediction from the Rev. Comer, elected officials and citizens led by Chairman Spencer Donaldson, broke ground on the new Holmans Bridge Fire Substation. The groundbreaking ceremony comes on the heels of a series of improvements in the county’s fire service. On Friday, October 21 at 10:30 a.m. the county will host a dedication service for the newest pumper truck at the Bamberg County Courthouse Annex, 1234 North Street, Bamberg.