Out-of-date equipment at the Englewood Fire Department is slated for replacement after the city council approved three deals last week.

Through a state cooperative agreement, the council on Dec. 8 approved a contract for self-contained breathing apparatus face masks not to exceed $55,849 following the trade-in of the old masks; a $33,025 contract for 2016 Ford Expedition SSV; and a $3,995 contract for an Xtended Range Single Channel Transmitter/Receiver System.

The city council plans to purchase eight to 10 new face masks for firefighters each year during the next four years due to new state standards, said City Manager Tim Dacey.

Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) standards for firefighters are enforced by the state Departments of Labor & Workforce Development and state Department of Health.

The new 2016 Ford Expedition would replace a 10-year-old utility vehicle used by the department that unexpectedly stopped working this year, Dacey said.

City officials will have the transmitter/receiver system — that allows firefighters to communicate with each other — installed after the completion of the Jack Drakeford Firehouse, Dacey said. Construction on the firehouse is scheduled to finish in February.

For more information, view www.northjersey.com

Princeton Police are investigating factors that led to a crash Monday between a city fire truck and a passenger van at the intersection of Hwy. 380 and Fourth Street.

The accident occurred as firefighters in a rescue truck were responding to an emergency, running with lights and siren.

Police Chief James Waters reports that the firetruck was southbound on Fourth Street and its driver observed the van which was eastbound on Hwy. 380. When it appeared that the two vehicles could collide, Waters said, the firetruck driver sped up to avoid striking the van in the area where passengers were sitting. As a result, the van hit the back side of the firetruck.

The driver of the van was cited for not having a driver’s license.

Waters pointed out that while it is the responsibility of first responders to make sure they operate safely, it is everyone’s responsibility to pay attention to their surroundings. The chief offers some guidelines on what to do when you observe an emergency vehicle approaching.

Most states have official move-over laws in place. In Texas, a driver needs to change lanes or slow to 20 mph below the speed limit when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle. If the speed limit is 25 or below, drivers need to slow down to 5 mph. The state may fine offending drivers up to $200 (or more if property damage or injury results from the violation

When following any emergency vehicle with flashing lights you’re generally expected to stay about 300–500 feet behind it. Some states have a law stating minimum following distance. It’s always dangerous to tailgate an emergency vehicle.

An emergency responder’s job is not an easy one. We can help by understanding the official and unspoken rules of the road — slow down, pull over when it’s safe, and stay alert.

Understanding how to share the road with ambulances, police cars, and fire trucks adds one more safe-driving feather to your cap.

For more information, view princetonherald.com

Calhoun County has been awarded a Community Development Block Grant of $267,500 for the purchase of a new pumper truck. The local match is $26,750.

The money is to be used for the Jumper Station Fire Department near Swansea.

On Monday, Calhoun County Council approved a Planning Management Agreement so the Lower Savannah Council of Governments can administer the grant process.

The county is developing a $1 million borrowing package for an additional three trucks for the Rural Fire District. The trucks will be up for bid in the spring.

That will bring the county to a total of seven trucks.

"Eventually, we’re going to have nine trucks," council Chairman David Summers said.

For more information, view thetandd.com

Tulsa Police say a woman crashed her car after hitting a tire which had come off an EMSA ambulance early Tuesday.

Officers said the southbound ambulance lost a pair of rear tires on Highway 75 just north of the Peoria exit and a car driving behind hit one of them. The impact caused the car to cross into the northbound lanes and hit a light pole, police said.

The driver of the ambulance was able to stop the vehicle without hitting anything.  

Neither the driver of the car nor the EMSA paramedics were injured.  Police say the ambulance wasn't transporting a patient at the time of the incident.

For more information, view newson6.com