North Tahoe Fire Protection District accepted a pair of grants during its September meeting that will be used for a rescue apparatus, extrication equipment and advanced cancer screening for firefighters, the district announced on Monday, SierraSun.com reported.

The North Tahoe Fire Board of Directors approved acceptance of the 2021 Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance to Firefighters Grant, along with an El Dorado County Transient Occupancy Tax grant which totals $528,673, the report said.

El Dorado County awarded funds for a squad/quick response rescue apparatus ($350,000) and equipment to upfit it to the advanced life support level ($53,625) for a project total of $403,625. FEMA’s AFG funding, which helps firefighters obtain critically needed equipment to protect the public and emergency personnel, was awarded for extrication equipment ($11,158) and advanced cancer screenings ($113,880) which requires a match of non federal funds for a project total of $125,038, according to the report.

This follows a grant awarded by the Truckee Tahoe Airport District for heart monitors and AEDs ($90,905), bringing 100% of NTFPD’s engines to the ALS level, giving firefighters the equipment necessary to provide ALS paramedic level cardiac care in the event the engine arrives on scene before an ambulance, the report said. 

The Galleri multi-cancer early detection test finds more than 50 types of cancer through a simple blood draw, and identifies the organ system that is the source of the cancer with approximately 90% accuracy, the report said.

An official with the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation said since fire stations are in operation 24/7, 365 days a year that the wear and tear is considerable and that upkeep isn’t always covered by the city, KESQ.com reported.

The official said many of these “replacement” costs, like a new mattress, gym equipment, and washers and dryers are often not covered by the city’s budget. That’s why they’re looking for sponsors to “adopt” stations across the city, the report said.

Recently Tyler Perry Studios “adopted” station 5 in southwest Atlanta. According to the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation website, Delta, Chick-Fil-A, AT&T, and Georgia Power have also agreed to sponsor stations in the area.

There are 12 fire stations still in need of sponsors, the report said. For more information about the program and how you can support it, please contact Shirley Anne Smith at s.smith@atlfrf.org.

Jackson Hole Fire/EMS is requesting $15 million in specific purpose excise tax funds to plan, design and build a new Fire Station 3 in Hoback (WY), JHNewsandGuide.com reported.

The funds would also design a new Fire Station 2 for Wilson (WY), and, depending on what’s left over after Hoback is built, those funds would then be allocated to building a new Wilson fire station, the report said.

Both new stations would be built in the locations of the stations they will replace, according to the report.

Hoback is the priority, according to a fire official. Built in 1981, the station encompasses 2,300 square feet and protects Hoback Junction and surrounding rural areas, the report said.

If $15 million doesn’t cover building both stations, the fire official said it will look at other funding sources, according to the report.

Apparatus ideas BOB VACCARO

On April 18, 1918, a meeting was held at the home of Joseph Urban of Earleigh Heights, MD, for the purpose of establishing a volunteer fire department.

A slate of officers was selected, and the Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company was formed with 14 members, no station, and no equipment, with a grand total of $2.50 in its treasury.

Fast forward 104 years, and the fire company has a much different appearance with a new, modern station on Ritchie Highway and a roster of 154 members, of which 75 are active with the company’s day-to-day operations.

The Earleigh Heights company has been a leader in change in the design of its modern-day apparatus and, like most fire departments, it has experienced a great deal of change over the years.

• Departments Going Smaller with Rescues, but Heavy Rescues Still Popular
• Honolulu’s New Twin Heavy-Rescues
• Apparatus Purchasing: Specs and Heavy Rescues
• Fire Departments, Builders Weigh in on Big vs. Small Rescue Trucks
• Traditional Rescue Trucks Remain Popular with Fire Departments

For most of the past three years, the members of the fire company have been working on a new squad vehicle, and they decided it was time for something different.

“The previous squad was 20 years old and was due to be replaced,” says David Crawford, Earleigh Heights fire chief and chairman of the truck committee. “Our