Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences is transforming an old building near Southwest Boulevard and 17th Street into a crime scene investigation laboratory for students in its forensic sciences graduate program.

The school purchased the building, 1712 S. Phoenix Ave., at a city of Tulsa auction for $135,000 in 2014.

Total cost of the project -- scheduled to be completed in May -- is $325,000.

Once complete, the facility will be used to train graduate students in crime-scene investigation techniques and to provide training for area law enforcement officers.

Garage doors, which were walled over from the original building, are being returned to allow students to practice vehicle investigations.

The building can also be used to train canine units.

"It's going to have a multi-functional use, and in our opinion all those uses are going to benefit the city of Tulsa and state of Oklahoma making the places we live safer and more secure," Allen said.

The renovation work in the building, which housed Fire Station 6 from 1958 to 1990, includes wiring the facility for audio and video, which will allow students to review their work for what they did right and ways they might have contaminated the crime scene.

For more information, view www.tulsaworld.com

Howe Springs Fire Rescue received 84 new self-contained breathing apparatuses for their firefighters last week after the Florence County Council approved the purchase of the new equipment in December.

According to Howe Springs Fire Chief Billy Dillon, the request for new SCBAs was approved by county council members on Dec. 10, 2015. Dillon said the men and women in his department put their lives in the line every time a call comes in and having old, outdated equipment could put his firefighters in harm’s way.

The new SCBAs will replace the department's older ones that ranged from seven to 15 years old. Each new SCBA was purchased from Safe Industries of South Carolina and cost over $6000 each. Dillon said he expects the gear will last for at least 15 years.

For more information, view www.scnow.com

The Maury County Fire Department is in dire need of some vital new equipment -- air tanks.

"It is an extremely important device and it is an essential service to the county," said Maury County Commissioner Eric Previti.

After 10 years, though, an air tank's warranty runs out. That's what has happened to many of the devices at the Maury County Fire Department.

In 2015, the department asked the county for $88,000 as part of a five year structured plan.

They were given half of that amount and told to come back in a year to ask for the rest. If the county agrees this year, the funding will be used to replace outdated air tanks.

Commissioner Previti supports the budget increase.

"These are volunteers. These are guys that give their days and say, 'Hey, I will come to your house and if you have a loved one trapped in there, I'll go in and get them, But, I need this air tank to do it so I can survive myself,'" said Commissioner Previti. "We owe it to them, the equipment they need to do the job that they are volunteering to do."

For more information, view wkrn.com

The department has 30 air tanks that have passed their service life and a total of 50 will hit the limit within the next five years.

The Maury County Commission will vote on the issue during its meeting Tuesday night.

TheFireStore, the nation’s leading multi-channel distributor of public safety equipment, supplies, training, announced the promotion of James Witmer to the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective February 10, 2016. Witmer, former Vice President of Sales, has been a crucial member of the TheFireStore team since joining the company in 2003 as the Special Projects Manager. From there, James worked his way through the company ranks, serving as the Marketing Manager, Director of Business Development, and most recently, Vice President of Sales.

Witmer will be assuming the CEO position in place of his father, Jim Witmer, who will continue to serve as Co-Founder and Chairman of TheFireStore. With this promotion, he will take on the added responsibility of establishing strategic growth priorities, articulating the company’s vision, setting the company culture, ensuring key positions are defined and filled, providing resources, and removing obstacles.

In October of 2014, TheFireStore shared with their customer family and friends that Jim Witmer had been diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease at only 57 years of age. Since then, James has been leading the charge in ensuring that the company continues to grow as it always has—with the support of its excellent customers, positive relationships with the manufacturers it represents, and the hard work and dedication of its fantastic employees. James has been vital in the recent acquisition of Heroes Apparel in Richmond, Virginia; expanding the company’s SCBA sales and service footprint to include the state of New Jersey; explosive growth in both the outside and Web-based sales for all TheFireStore brands, and targeting corporate philanthropical efforts at Alzheimer’s research.

 “I am so excited to have the opportunity to lead TheFireStore into the future,” said James Witmer.  “It is humbling to follow in the footsteps of my father, a true visionary, and I am so thankful for this beautiful business that he has architected.  I am grateful that my parents are not abdicating their role as owners and that they will be a sounding board for me as I grow in this role.”

The entire team at TheFireStore is excited to celebrate James as their new CEO, and looks forward to the continued success they’re certainly going to experience.

“You can’t help but to beam with pride when you see your children thrive and succeed. James is a born leader, and it’s really great getting to witness success after success in not only his role at TheFireStore, but his role as a husband and father, too,” said Jim Witmer.

 “This is a very exciting time for us as a company and we are proud of the growth we have seen in James in recent years. He will do a great job leading