Sarah Cutler
The Idaho Statesman
(TNS)

On the evening of July 6, Meridian resident Shawn White was floating down the Boise River with his son. Around 5 p.m., they passed under Boise’s 9th Street bridge — and suddenly, White was struck by a Boise Fire Department boat, according to a tort claim White filed with the city.

The boat forced White under the water, according to the claim, filed Sept. 11 by Dylan Orton, White’s attorney. The claim was obtained by the Idaho Statesman in a public records request. Tort claims are typically filed as precursors to a lawsuit.

“Mr. White was, essentially, run over by this Boise Fire Department boat,” Orton wrote, alleging “negligence” on the part of the department. Fire department personnel apologized to White after the collision, according to the claim.

Orton did not respond to emails requesting comment. Lynsey Amundson, a spokesperson for the department, declined to comment on pending litigation.

The claim did not specify how much White intended to seek in damages, but said Orton would seek “fair compensation for medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish and emotional trauma.” The claim estimated that White’s medical costs to treat injuries to his shoulder, knee, back and ankle would exceed $10,000.

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The Akron Fire Department made the following Facebook post recently:

The fire department will hold a ribbon cutting on its newest station, Akron Fire Station No. 12, soon. The department plans to move Ladder Truck 9 to the newly built station in order to cover more of Northwest and West Akron and reduce the double coverage seen in its present location on Dodge Avenue.

This decision was made by Akron Fire leadership after careful consideration of five key areas: community risk assessment, geographic coverage, operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and safety enhancements.

“We believe this move will result in better coverage for more of our residents as well as other benefits like improved operational efficiency, improved response times, better Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating, and more. As always, safety remains the top priority for the city of Akron and the Akron Fire Department and this move is a direct reflection of that commitment.”

Akron Fire Fighters Association Local 330 responded to the move with the following Facebook post:

“Your ladders are specialized pieces of equipment. At a house fire, ladder companies are primarily responsible for search and rescue, ventilation, securing utilities, and other tasks.

“Without question, many areas of the city would benefit from a ladder being within a few minutes of every home. However, the reality is, Akron only has four ladders. Currently they are positioned to allow almost even responses in any direction from their stations.

“Shifting the ladder to station 12 may allow us to cover more of a total area but the reality is that it shifts further away from the densely populated areas, areas of vacant housing, high-rise buildings… the areas where it is needed most.

“Local 330 disagrees that this will have a positive effect on response times. Certain areas of the second map, highlighted in red, will not have a ladder within six minutes.

“Again, we are not saying that any one life is more valuable than the other. Ideally, stations 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, and 14 would all have a ladder in those stations. With only four ladders in the city, they should be in the best location possible.

“This move would be bad for public safety. There is still time to correct this. Don’t wait until someone is seriously injured or worse.”

Citizens were invited to visit Saginaw City Hall Monday, Sept. 23 to view the City of Saginaw Fire Department‘s new 100-foot aerial fire apparatus and fire safety education trailer, the city said in a Facebook post recently.

Fire department personnel was on-hand to demonstrate the upgraded features of the new truck, including the 100-foot aerial ladder, and highlight the new fire safety education trailer.

The new fire apparatus, Truck 1, will replace the current aerial device that has been in service for more than 25 years. The Rosenbauer Cobra, a 100-foot aerial truck, features Rosenbauer’s SMART Aerial Controls and other technology to automate safety systems and streamline operations. The new upgraded truck is outfitted with LED lights and anchor points, which allow for rope rescues. The new safety upgrades also include in-vehicle camera systems to provide easier navigation when operating the truck.

Saginaw City Council approved $1.3 million in ARPA funds in May 2022 for the purchase of the new fire apparatus. Members of the fire department have completed the training on the new vehicle, which is now in full service at Central Fire Station.

Brandon Hausbeck, Saginaw Fire Chief, commented on the new apparatus: “This new fire apparatus is a game changer for the department when it comes to safety and reliability. A lot of time, research, and effort went into the acquisition of this new truck. Rosenbauer aerial trucks are known throughout the industry for their advanced technology and reliability. The technology featured in our new truck will allow us to better serve Saginaw residents. We want to thank the members of the City Council for their commitment to fire safety and approving the ARPA allocation for this new truck.”

The new safety trailer, which was also partially funded with ARPA funds, will enable the fire department to continue its vision for fire safety education in the community. The department’s new fire safety trailer will allow the department to expand its education program to include all ages, from school-age children to adults, and is now ADA accessible.

The new fire safety education trailer will educate both children and adults on safely evacuating a home during a house fire, and provide training on other household hazards, such as kitchen fires, electrical outlet fires, and proper use of a fire extinguisher. The new trailer features display screens that interact with fire extinguishers, smoke machines, and fire alarms to create a realistic and safe environment to educate citizens of all ages how to safely react during a fire emergency event.