Oceanside City Council approved $48,000 to analyze what it would take to retrofit Fire Station No. 1., the city's oldest station.

All masonry buildings within the city must be retrofit by 2026.

The city building, built in 1929, is a designated historic landmark, and provides essential city services. Both of these factors add to the complexity and cost to retrofit the masonry building.

Because it is a historic building its character cannot be changed. Abraham Chen, city associate engineer and project manager, said retrofit work usually involves metal framing that could be put inside the structure without impacting its look.

As an essential services facility building power, water and sewer must withstand the impact of an earthquake and allow public service to continue following a quake. In addition to its age, preliminary engineering found numerous add-ons to the building, which reduce its soundness.

"In a major disaster we have to perform," Fire Chief Darryl Hebert said. "If the door malfunctions, we have to have other safety mechanisms built in, a back up generator. There's a whole bunch of problems that come with the age of the building."

A ballpark estimate for retrofit work is between $15,000 and $30,000. A structural analysis report, and the cost of work will be presented to City Council by March to determine next steps.

The City Council will also weigh the longevity of continuing fire services at the site.

The size of the building does not fit ladder trucks, which are necessary to service downtown buildings over two stories.

Five years ago a design and drawing was completed for a new downtown fire station on city property a block away from the current station. Estimates at that time were between $8 million and $12 million.

Benefits of a new station would be longevity of service, and ability to house necessary equipment.

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Arizona City Fire District won first place in the category of Best Public Safety Award in Casa Grande's 21st Annual Electric Light Christmas Parade. This was the first year the Fire District had entered the parade. The parade was held Dec 5, the day after the big Santa Fly-In production held at the Fire District's station.

"The award is decided by four or five volunteer judges with first, second and third place awards among first responders of public safety," Shayla Gunn, Casa Grande Parks and Recreation Coordinator, said. "It is often very difficult for the judges to decide which entry is best."

Parade participants were riding inside the fire engine and walking beside it while children were sitting on top of the fire engine eating Christmas candy. Everyone was waving and yelling Merry Christmas to the crowd as they proudly represented Arizona City for the first time.

Baylee Northern, Miguel Macias and Jose Conde were a few of the enthusiastic Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology (CAVIT) young cadets walking beside the fire engine. CAVIT cadets, are often enrolled in the CAVIT Fire Science program while in their late teens. They are responsible young people who aspire to work in the fire industry.

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A fire truck was involved in a major accident while heading to the scene of a mobile home fire in Crosby.

Firefighters were responding to a call for a fire at a home in the 20000 block of Jersey Drive when the accident happened on Crosby Eastgate Road and Highway 90.

Harris County Sheriff's deputies and EMS crews are on the scene.

We are working to gather more details and will provide updates as they become available.

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Six firefighters were treated for non-life-threatening injuries after the fire truck they were riding in crashed in Hubbard Township.

The Warren post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol says the Eagle Joint Fire District firefighters were responding to a call just after 1 a.m. when the truck went off westbound Chestnut Ridge Road just west of Wick Campbell Road, hitting a culvert, ditch, mailbox and a tree. The truck was not running its lights or siren.

The vehicle was being driven by Thomas Gregory, 60, of Hubbard. He was charged with failure to maintain reasonable control.

Life Fleet ambulances and the Brookfield Township Fire Department assisted at the scene. The firefighters were taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center for treatment.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Brian Holt said the firefighters were lucky.

The fire truck, however, was not so lucky.

Because of damage to the truck, mutual aid from another fire department responded to the call. Holt said he believes that the truck will be out of service for quite some time.

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