The Lowndes (GA) County Fire Rescue team unveiled Phase Two of its fire expansion plan August 25 with a hose uncoupling for a new fire station on Bemiss Road to better serve the unincorporated area, the Valdosta Daily Times reported.

Bemiss Fire Station 5 will be staffed with full-time firefighters manning the station 24/7, along with a bay for South Georgia Medical Center EMS, according to the report. The opening is expected to provide faster service to the North Bemiss area.

Local officials have collaborated for more than a year on improving fire and EMS services across the county due to only one department overseeing all of a growing Lowndes County. The final project called for three new fire stations, the report said.

The Lowndes (GA) County Fire Rescue team unveiled Phase Two of its fire expansion plan August 25 with a hose uncoupling for a new fire station on Bemiss Road to better serve the unincorporated area, the Valdosta Daily Times reported.

Bemiss Fire Station 5 will be staffed with full-time firefighters manning the station 24/7, along with a bay for South Georgia Medical Center EMS, according to the report. The opening is expected to provide faster service to the North Bemiss area.

Local officials have collaborated for more than a year on improving fire and EMS services across the county due to only one department overseeing all of a growing Lowndes County. The final project called for three new fire stations, the report said.

The Williamstown (MA) Fire District is expecting to get a glimpse of the preliminary costs for a new fire station on Wednesday night, according to a report published by iBerkshires.com.

According to the report, the district’s architect is prepared to give the numbers to the building committee at Wednesday’s meeting as a first step toward the construction of a new station on Main Street.

The building committee has already decided to spend $7,500 to find out whether solar power for the building makes sense as a way to help sell the whole project to the voters, according to the report.

Other progress on the project includes completing a geothermal study of the chosen location which will be done later in September and discussions with the states department of transportation for curb cuts and lights on Route 2 for the new station, according to the report.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will award Huron County Fire Departments $732,454 to replace existing self-containing breathing apparatuses (SCBA) air packs — important rescue equipment according to a news release from U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Gary Peters (MI).

Bad Axe, Harbor Beach, Port Austin, Caseville, Sigel Township, Bingham Township, and Sherman Township Fire Departments will receive this equipment. This funding comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program.

 “Our firefighters put their lives on the line to protect our families, homes, and communities,” said Senator Stabenow. “These new resources will provide critical training for our first responders to help them better serve the public and do their jobs more safely and effectively.”

 “It is critical that firefighters and first responders have the adequate training, medical support, and up-to-date equipment to continue doing their jobs safely and effectively,” said Senator Peters, Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “These grants will ensure that fire departments and emergency responders in Bad Axe have the resources necessary to protect the first responders and those they serve in their communities.”