Fifteen volunteer fire departments in Greene County will benefit from a $420,000 Community Development Block Grant to enable the purchase of new turnout gear and other needed equipment, GreenevilleSun.com reported.

The grant includes a local match requirement of $74,118 approved by the Greene County Commission, the report said. The funds will be released when a contract between the state and Greene County is finalized.

Volunteer fire departments in Greene County welcome the funding windfall. Many departments use turnout gear and other equipment in need of replacement.

The Danville/Boyle County fiscal court voted at its November 22 meeting to allocate an additional $150,000 to help the fire department build its new station near Northpoint Training Center, AMNews.com reported.

The department had originally estimated the new facility would cost $250,000, the report said. The court had previously given them $200,000 of ARPA funds for the project.

However, the project will cost more than estimated due to rising costs of building materials.

A county official said the county will still have about $1 million of ARPA funds left.

Visitors to Clinton’s Christmas in the Village event this Saturday will get to check out the Clinton Fire Department’s new fire engine, LenConnect.com reported.

The engine will be on display 5-6:30 p.m. Saturday, December 3, at an open house at the fire station at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Jackson Street, according to a news release from the fire department.

The new 2023 Spencer Manufacturing engine will be placed in service soon. It will be designated Engine 1.

The fire engine cost $432,235, the report said. The Clinton Fire Board set aside funds for years to be able to make a large cash deposit on a new truck, a village official said.

Visalia (CA) Fire Department added a second Emergency Medical Squad to its fleet this month to remedy the spike in calls, TheSunGazette.com reported.

On November 13, the Visalia Fire Department (VFD) rolled out its second Emergency Medical Squad, known as Squad 53. The medical squad will play a special role in helping the fire department administer medical aid during peak emergency call times, the report said.

The squad vehicles are repurposed SUVs that are stocked with medical supplies and operated by two paramedics, according to the report. 

One of the main differences between the medical squads and an ambulance is that the medical squads will not transport patients to the hospital, the report said.

This morning Visalia Fire launched its second Squad unit into action from Station 53. Squad 53 will respond on a daily basis from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. except for Saturdays. Squad 53 will assist in responses to medical aid calls located in the southern portion of our city. pic.twitter.com/eiL9KIRvN9

— Visalia Fire Dept. (@VisaliaFire) November 14, 2022