Pretty serious structure fire here in Richmond, VA. Looks to be near the Powhatan Community Center on Williamsburg rd. pic.twitter.com/LPkJCvtRHt

— Maddie (@maddies0520) December 14, 2022

Richmond firefighters battled a fire at the Number 8 fire station on Wednesday.

The fire was reported at about 1 p.m. at the station at 1018 Williamsburg Road. The first responding company found fire showing through the roof of the two-bay firehouse.

Firefighters immediately began a defensive attack on the fire.

There was construction reportedly under way when the fire was reported. The fire was under control at 1:34 p.m.

Visit WTVR for more.

BREAKING: Video submitted to CBS 6 News showed fire shooting from the roof of Richmond Fire Station 8 on Williamsburg Road in eastern Richmond.https://t.co/yah17H5XqV

— WTVR CBS 6 Richmond (@CBS6) December 14, 2022

The Chelmsford Fire Department will receive $18,428.64 from the state as part of the FY23 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program, the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced Friday.

A Chelmsford fire official told Patch.com that the funds would be used for a water rescue deployment craft — a rescue boat — and other equipment.

Chelmsford was one of 308 fire departments in Massachusetts that received a total of $5 million in grant money for new equipment.

This is the third year of the Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program, which is part of a 5-year, $25 million bond bill filed by the Baker/Polito administration to support firefighter safety and health.

Quinn Ritzdorf
St. Joseph News-Press, Mo.
(TNS)

Dec. 13—The St. Joseph City Council approved the sale of the old fire station at 3308 Mitchell Ave. to one of its own — City Councilman Andy Trout.

After the new fire station at 4500 Mitchell Avenue was built, the city moved out of the old one right down the street and put it up for sale. It’s a move the city has had success with in the past, with old stations becoming homes or businesses.

A request for proposal was issued on Oct. 7, and in a month, the city received nine bids. All bids were submitted in sealed envelopes that remained sealed until after the bid deadline, according to city documents.

• St. Joseph (MO) Fire Department Breaks Ground on New Station

Stealhead Holdings, LLC, which is owned by Trout, was the highest bid at $80,000. Trout has refrained from participating in discussions regarding the selection of the bid, including not attending a closed-door meeting about the issue. He also abstained from the vote Monday, which passed 6-1-1, with City Councilman Madison Davis as the lone dissenting vote.

“I just did not agree with the purchaser — it was a fellow council member,” Davis said. “I didn’t think that council members should be purchasing city property.”

Trout said he plans to renovate the second floor of the fire station into a temporary guest space, like an Airbnb, and turn the first floor, where the fire truck was parked, into an event space. The location of the fire station is unique in that it is situated in a largely residential area.

“I’d just like to see something that the neighborhood is accepting of,” Davis said. “If it’s a business, that would be great. Whatever sits with the neighborhood and the neighbors in the area.”

According to the bill, city staff members review proposals based on use and price. Trout’s proposed use complies with the zoning code and “would allow the public access to this historic structure in the future to remember its place in St. Joseph history.”

The funds from this real estate sale will go toward the general fund and the fire department to purchase and maintain vehicles.

Other news and notes:

Fire department raises

The council unanimously appropriated $334,884 to implement the previously negotiated pay increases with the fire department.

The pay plan includes an annual increase of 4% (up from 3%) and modifies the longevity plan to provide the full amount of longevity increases in 20 years rather than 35. Currently, employees get a 5% increase after year 5 and a 2.5% increase after years 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35. Under the revised plan, they will get 5% increases after years 5, 10, 15 and 20. It goes into effect at the start of the year.

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