After voters passed a levy lid lift to fund 24/7 medically trained staff in August, Toutle Fire and Rescue is getting money from Cowlitz County to help equip volunteers and its new staff, tdn.com reported.

On January 3, the Cowlitz County commissioners approved an agreement for $216,000 with Cowlitz County Fire District 3 to fund the purchase of additional fire and emergency medical equipment, after allocating the money during a November 30 workshop, the report said.

The money will be used to upgrade outdated breathing apparatus, purchase a gurney lift and install sprinklers in the station’s sleeping quarters, said a fire official.

An Easton fire truck responding to an emergency call January 3 swerved into a wooded area to avoid a civilian vehicle, the Easton Fire Department said in a written statement, EnterpriseNews.com reported.

On Tuesday at approximately 1 p.m., in the area of 539 Bay Road, a vehicle “failed to yield while going around a second vehicle that had stopped for the fire engine and subsequently crossed into the path of the engine,” the statement said.

At the time, the engine had its lights and sirens activated, according to the report.

Two firefighters were treated for minor injuries, and the engine “sustained some damage,” according to the fire department. There were no civilian injuries or vehicle damage.

Easton police cited the vehicle for “failing to yield to an emergency vehicle,” following an investigation into the incident, the report said.

Dallas police say a woman has been charged with driving while intoxicated after crashing into a Dallas fire truck, IrvingWeekly.com reported.

At around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Dallas firefighters were working a crash on I35E near Storey Lane when a woman collided into the back of a blocker unit, the report said. Blocker units are retired fire apparatus used to block highway scenes for personnel safety.

Dallas paramedics transported the woman to a local hospital in critical condition, the report said.

No firefighters were injured.

The city of Lexington is the county seat of Fayette County and the second largest city in Kentucky. Perhaps it’s best known as the “Horse Capital of the World” due to its location in the Bluegrass region of the state. The Bluegrass region is known for its highly fertile soil and makes for prime pastures for breeding thoroughbred race horses.

In 1775 the Lexington Fire Department was formed and in 1864 they became a career department. In 1973 the city and Fayette County governments merged combining the city and county fire departments. Today the department provides fire protection and prevention, emergency medical service, technical rescue, hazardous-materials, aircraft and dive rescue services to an area roughly 286 square miles.

The department has five Battalions running out of 24 stations. There are 23 engine companies, seven truck companies, a heavy rescue unit, a hazardous materials unit, two air and light units, two wild fire units and one tender. All firefighters are trained to either Emergency Medical Technicians or Paramedics status. Many of the department’s companies around the city are trained in hazardous materials and technical rescue. The technical rescue teams often go outside the city limits to assist in large animal rescues, often involving horses due to their heavy presence in the area. The department can run everything from a high-rise fire to a grass fire in the rolling hills due to the overall diversity of their response area.

Tower 2 is currently assigned a 2019 Seagrave 95’ Aerialscope tower ladder stationed with Engine Company 5. It’s a beautiful old two bay firehouse built in 1905. Due to their proximity to the University of Kentucky, whose mascot is the Wildcats, the stationed earned the nickname of the “Fire Cats”.  Tower 2 is built on a Capitol chassis with a tilt-cab and stainles