The Middleport Village Council had a full agenda to discuss during its September 26 meeting, with fire truck replacement and possible Christmas bonuses for employees among the key items, WVNews.com reported.

A fire official appeared before council to discuss the fire truck wreck and proposed plans for future fire department replacement trucks. The official felt it would be best to buy a used vehicle for now and try to work out a financial plan to purchase two new vehicles. He said it was not clear yet what amount the village would receive from the insurance company, but the purchase price of the wrecked vehicle was $323,000 with a new truck to replace it costing about $670,000, the report said.

The council unanimously authorized the fire official to spend up to $45,000 for a used vehicle after the insurance settlement was received. Council also authorized the fire official to initiate a lease/purchase agreement on the first new truck that had been ordered previously in order to get the present interest rates, according to the report.

Plans for financing of a second new truck were tabled until more information can be obtained on the insurance settlement and the amount of funds being received from our present levies, the report said.

Construction will start on a second fire station in October for south Twin Falls, NewsRadio1310.com reported.

The city of Twin Falls announced it is planning a groundbreaking for Twin Falls City Fire Station No. 3 in mid-October near the Swensons Market on Orchard Drive and Washington Street South, the report said.

Station No. 3 will be the second station to be built in Twin Falls as construction is underway on Station No. 2 on North College Drive.

Work on the station began earlier this year and is expected to be operational by spring of 2023. The facility will replace the current Station No. 2 that sits on the southeast side of the College of Southern Idaho on Falls Avenue.

The groundbreaking for Station No. 3 is set for 3:30 p.m. October 17. The public is invited to attend.

The Pierre Fire Department is moving ahead with the purchase of a new fire engine, KCCRRadio.com reported.

A fire official said the 2023 budgeted truck is Fire Engine Number Two. The fire engine would arrive in 2024. The fire official said the new truck will be a commercial chassis and not a custom chassis.

The truck is destined for Fire Station Number Two which is an older station with narrower doors, but the fire official said the new rig will fit inside.

Bids for the truck are due by November 17.

Flint (MI) high school students who are interested in becoming firefighters will soon have access to a state-of-the-art fire training facility operated by the Genesee Intermediate School District (GISD), The Davison Index reported.

On September 26, the GISD held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Fire Training Center, which will be located on the campus of Genesee Career Institute (GCI) on Torrey Road in Flint, the report said. The academy will house firefighter students who are working toward completion of the program with Firefighter 1 and 2 certifications, along with advanced classes for EMT certification, according to the report.

GCI, in the partnership with the Genesee County Association of Fire Chiefs, instituted its first Fire Training Academy class for high school juniors and seniors in 2021, the report said. To take the program a step further, GCI decided to launch the training facility, which will include areas for roof rescue, several flights of stairs and long hoses and an apparatus bay setup with a fire truck and all equipment necessary for students to simulate loading up and responding to fire calls, the report said.

The new building will also allow up to 72 high school students to have advanced study opportunities that can translate into both a fire certification and an EMT certification, according to the report. School administrators are hoping to have the facility up and running by next May.

Although the Fire Training Center is not part a municipal fire department, the academy has received equipment donations and generous support from many local fire departments, the report said. The Genesee County Association of Fire Chiefs also donated a fire truck from the City of Burton for the program, according to the report.