By MARC LEVY Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Norfolk Southern has pledged several million dollars to cover the cost of the response and recovery in Pennsylvania after last month’s derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals just across the border in Ohio, Gov. Josh Shapiro said Monday.

Shapiro’s office said he met with Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw on Thursday and secured an initial commitment for financial aid as the cleanup from the Feb. 3 derailment continues.

Norfolk Southern has made similar pledges to Ohio, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the company to cover the costs of cleanup from the derailment that toppled 38 rail cars in East Palestine, Ohio.

No one was hurt, but concerns that the chemicals could explode led state and local officials to approve releasing and burning toxic vinyl chloride from five tanker cars and to evacuate half of East Palestine and the surrounding area near the Pennsylvania border. Shapiro said Norfolk Southern will pay $5 million to reimburse fire departments for equipment that was contaminated or damaged and $1 million to Beaver and Lawrence counties to help business owners and residents whose livelihoods were damaged.

Another nearly $1.4 million will go to state agencies that responded, including for setting up a health clinic for residents, Shapiro said.

Shapiro’s office said he will push Norfolk Southern to cover any additional costs that accumulate.

In Ohio, Norfolk Southern previously announced more than $1 million to replace fire equipment used in the response to the fiery wreck, plus $1 million for East Palestine and more than $1.2 million for evacuation costs for nearly 900 families and businesses.

The company has said it is “committed to coordinating the cleanup project and paying for its associated costs,” and wants to ensure that East Palestine’s residents and natural environment recover.

Federal and state officials have repeatedly said it’s safe for evacuated residents to return to the area and that air testing in the town and inside hundreds of homes hasn’t detected any concerning levels of contaminants. However, some residents say they’re still suffering from illnesses nearly a month later.

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Follow Marc Levy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/timelywriter.

By Alan M. Petrillo

Hyalite (MT) Fire District covers 35 square miles of bedroom community with a mix of single family residences and some tech commercial businesses south of Bozeman (MT) and borders a national forest that offers both summer and winter recreational activities.

Brian Nickolay, Hyalite’s chief, says the district has four Type 1 engines, three water tenders (tankers), three ambulances, one squad EMS (emergency medical services) fly car, and four command vehicles. The district was facing budgetary concerns when attempting to purchase a new ambulance, Nickolay says. “We border on a mountain range so we need four-wheel drive,” he notes. “We looked at four-wheel Type 1 ambulances on drive Ford and Dodge chassis that would cost us $300,000 to $325,000, and compared them to an all-wheel-drive Ford Transit model that was selling for $109,000. We decided to go with the Transit.”

Steve Apgar, owner and sales director for Apgar Ambulance, who sold the Demers 2022 Ford Transit to Hyalite, says the rig has a wheelbase of 148 inches, an overall length of 19 feet 8 inches, an overall height of 8 feet 7 inches, and a maximum width to the edge of the mirrors of 8 feet 2 inches. “The Demers TSE model is unique in that it is the only one offering aerodynamic roof lighting features,” Apgar points out. “The design reduces wind drag, but more importantly makes for

Fort Garry Fire Trucks—Thornhill (British Columbia, Canada) Fire Department two tankers. Spartan Metro Star cabs and chassis; Cummins L9 380-hp engines; CoPoly™ 2,000 Imperial gallon water tanks; Hale MBP 750-gpm PTO pumps; 30-gallon foam cells; FoamPro 2001 Class A foam systems; Zico hydraulic porta-tank racks. Dealer: Fire Power Emergency Apparatus, Lantzville, BC.

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San Jose will take action after video surfaced five months ago showing a bikini-clad woman walking out of a fire truck and into a strip club, nbcbayarea.com reported.

The city is not saying what that action is, but provided the following statement on Monday after NBC Bay Area reached out for an update on the probe:

“The investigation has been concluded. We are in the process of taking appropriate action based on what was discovered during the course of the investigation and will provide more information as it is appropriate to do so.”

NBC Bay Area reached out to new Mayor Matt Mahan for comment, who provided the following statement:

“Like all of our residents, I was shocked when I saw the video, and have to believe the investigation will show conduct well below the high standard the women and men of San Jose Fire hold themselves to everyday. I have the utmost confidence Fire Chief Sapien will conduct a thorough review of what happened and take appropriate action once that work is done.”

• San Jose (CA) Fire Department Investigating Video of Stripper in Fire Truck