The City of Saratoga Springs (NY) Fire Department is being awarded $240,140 in federal funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program, Saratogian.com reported.

The funding will enable the department to replace and update self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and face pieces, the report said.

The Fairfield (OH) Fire Department is planning to buy six new pieces of equipment to help its firefighters and medics save lives, the Journal-News.com reported.

The purchase is thanks to an Assistance for Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the report said. Fairfield was notified earlier this month it was awarded $175,343, the federal share of the grant where the city must match with $17,534. The city will use the grant award to purchase three LUCAS devices and three Lifepak-15 cardiac monitor/defibrillators.

Fairfield Fire Department is moving from a combination to a professional department. A fire official said at some point all of the firefighters will be paramedics. While EMTs are able to use the LUCAS device, which provides “perfect CPR” compressions at consistent time intervals, the Lifepak-15 can only be used by paramedics when doing a 12-lead diagnostic, the report said.

The purchase still needs city council approval, which the fire official said the request will be made at the board’s next meeting in September. Once the $192,900 purchase is made, pending the council’s approval, the 90% grant will be reimbursed by FEMA. It could take six months for the devices to arrive, the fire official said in the report.

Benton, AR opened a new fire station to help better serve the community, THV11.com reported.

A fire official said that the area by the Saline County Career Technical Campus has grown, and the new fire station will help reduce response times. 

The $1.8 million facility and its new engine truck were paid for completely in cash, the report said. The city will host a ribbon cutting at 9 a.m. Friday, September 9. 

Rebuilding Rochester Fire Department’s historic clock and bell tower will continue, KTTC.com reported Wednesday.

The Seth Thomas bell tower clock was located at the Central Fire Station dating back to 1898. The clock and its 1,200-pound bell were used to notify firefighters, the report said.

The new tower will be located at Fire Station 1 off South Broadway Avenue, one block away from the original location. It will be 50-feet tall and feature clock faces that are six-feet tall, the report said.

A Rochester fire official said companies have volunteered their time to get construction started. When it comes to monetary needs, the fire official said they are close to 30 percent of their goal, but said an exact dollar amount is difficult to gauge.

The fire official said they are in the process of creating a new website, and that those interested in donating can visit the current website in the meantime.

He said White’s Smoke, Fire and Water Damage Restoration has had an ongoing fundraiser for the clock tower for the last few years. People are encouraged to bring in their scrap metal, and White’s will donate the money it receives selling the metal, to the restoring the tower, the report said.

One of the clock faces is on display at the RFD museum at Station 2 off of Viola Road, the report said.