Several city and village fire departments in Huron County are being rewarded with grant money to help with the purchase of new equipment, MichigansThumb.com reported.

Six different Huron County fire departments decided to team up together to be awarded a regional grant, the report said. The county received more than $732,454 in total from the program, as each village’s fire department will receive funding to purchase new equipment. The new equipment consists of self-contained breathing apparatus-style air packs.

The fire departments to receive the new equipment are: Bad Axe Fire Department, Bingham Township Fire Department, Caseville Fire Department, Harbor Beach Fire Department, Port Austin Fire Department, Sherman Township Fire Department, and Sigel Township Fire Department.

The new self-contained breathing apparatus allows for firefighters to go deeper into dangerous environments. The fire departments will also receive new air packs that have built in path alarms, with the ability to notify other first responders when a firefighter isn’t responding within 30 seconds. Another piece of equipment is a pack tracker, which will send a signal to a handheld device to notify when firefighters are in danger or go down. 

The El Paso Fire Department is renovating and expanding two of its stations on the Eastside, ElPasoInc.com reported.

El Pasoans passing by fire stations 19 and 20 on McRae and Edgemere have noticed the boarded up windows and construction fencing, the report said.

The renovation of station 19 will cost $2.6 million. The funding is part of the $43 million public safety bond that El Pasoans approved in 2019, according to the report.

The firefighters at station 19 are now working from other nearby stations, the report said.

The $548,936 expansion of station 20, which will remain fully operational, includes a bay that will fit a new fire truck, according to the report.

The renovations to station 19 are expected to be completed around July of next year. The bay for station 20 is projected to finish in February 2023, the report said.

A ground breaking is planned Monday at 9 a.m. for a new fire station in St. Charles (MO), Fox2Now.com reported.

Fire Station 3 on Elm Street is about to be replaced with a new station due to structural issues including flooding problems and electrical hazards that would require major repairs, the report said.

The station is also unable to accommodate the size of the department’s modern fire equipment, which limits resources. It also presents safety concerns. The small size of the station also prohibits housing additional staff, which would essentially increase service in the area. This is all being paid for thanks to voters passing Proposition R in 2021, the report said.

Crews will be working out of Fire Station 1 during construction. City officials said response times to this service area will not be affected, according to the report.

After a three-day cross-country journey, the Helena Fire Department’s newest emergency vehicle has arrived, KTVH.com reported.

The department’s new ladder truck was delivered to Fire Station 1 Friday. A driver brought it over from Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, WI, the report said.

The truck features a 100-foot ladder and elevated platform, as well as a 400-gallon water tank. A fire official said it gives them important high angles when performing rescues or trying to put out structure fires, the report said.

HFD ordered the new truck back in April 2021, but leaders said it was delayed by issues like parts shortages. It will operate out of Fire Station Two, on Helena’s east side, replacing a truck that’s 20 years old. The fire official said the other apparatus is still working well, but it’s becoming harder to find parts for it, the report said.

The fire official said they were able to customize this vehicle to meet the needs of the community, like using a gearing system designed to handle Helena’s hills, according to the report.