CA Gov. Gavin Newsom Friday is expected to announce plans to allocate $30 million to the Fire Integrated Real-time Intelligence System (FIRIS), reports dailynews.com, which is “a program intended to significantly improve situational awareness for first responders.”

Indeed. Planes capable of predicting the behavior of wildfires and relaying that info to crews on the ground in real time could soon see more action. The system came to be around six years ago following talks between General Atomics and Orange County Fire Authority officials.

With wildfire season nearly upon us, California is expanding our tools used to fight and detect new fires and provide mapping for firefighters. The FIRIS airplane has high-tech equipment onboard that gives fire managers real-time information to dispatch crews and equipment. pic.twitter.com/O65BFDVVSJ

— California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (@Cal_OES) May 10, 2022

The FIRIS system comprises two Beechcraft King 200 planes equipped with state-of-the-art sensors which aim to give crews the ability to detect heat and see in dark and even smokey conditions, the report says. Live updates are then sent to ground crews.

The planes cover the entire state and spend hundreds of hours in-flight each year, and they cost between $14 million and $16 million apiece annually to operate, officials say.

Prior, first responders mapping out fire progress were required to land and manually upload their data—which, of course, was not time-efficient.

City Council, staff and residents of Missouri City came together on Saturday, May 7, to officially open Fire Station No. 6 and Fire Administration Offices, located at 18411 Parks Edge Blvd.

The Grand Opening Ceremony began with a Flag-Raising Ceremony by Boy Scout Troop 140, followed by an invocation from Public Safety Chaplain David Northcutt. Missouri City Fire Chief Mario Partida recognized Fire & Rescue Services command staff and firefighters for their daily sacrifices and commitment to serving the citizens of Missouri City.

Mayor Robin J. Elackatt took a moment to acknowledge former and current dignitaries in attendance and highlighted the importance of the new fire station. “I am excited about the future of our City, and today is another wonderful mark in our history,” Mayor Elackatt said. “The City Council and city staff continue to work diligently to protect our city, and together we remain focused and passionate about the betterment of the City of Missouri City.”

Chief Partida thanked the teams responsible for the project, including MCTX Public Works, Martinez Architect, Christensen Building Group, MCTX Fire Department, the Fire Marshal team, and developer Joel L. Scott with Terramark.

The ceremony continued with a traditional fire station ribbon cutting consisting of two red fire hoses being disconnected to unveil the new station and a traditional Wipe Down and Push Back ceremony for Engine 36. Concluding the ceremony was a radio call to service announcing: “Engine 36 to Dispatch. Engine 36 is in service.”

On March 24, 2021, the City officially broke ground and began construction on the approximately 16,752 square-foot, two-story structure in the Parks Edge subdivision off of Lake Olympia Parkway. According to Partida, funding for the station was approved for approximately $5 million. He added that the building was constructed during the height of the pandemic with national materials shortages and shipping challenges, yet was completed on budget and on schedule.

The new station improves Fire & Rescue Services response times in the Parks Edge, Dry Creek, Vicksburg and Lake Olympia communities and includes administrative offices that provide needed capacity in support of City services.

For more updates, please visit the City website: www.missouricitytx.gov, like us on Facebook—fb/MissouriCityTX, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat—@MissouriCityTX and Nextdoor, watch Missouri City Television (Ch. 16 on Comcast and Ch. 99 on AT&T) or download the MCTX Mobile app (available for free in Google Play and the Apple app store).

A ground-breaking ceremony for Twin Falls Fire Department Station 2 was held Monday.

The new facility aims to provide more efficiency.

“Thank you to everyone who came out for the groundbreaking for the new Twin Falls Fire Station #2,” the department writes on Facebook. “And thanks to the community for supporting the Twin Falls Fire Department. More information about Station #2 and our Fire Department facilities is available online at TFID.ORG.”

To honor the arrival of its new pumper/rescue, Squad 69, the Pottstown Fire Department Monday displayed its entire fleet at borough hall for public viewing.

The new apparatus cost $585,000, reports timesherald.com, and it is now one of three owned by the borough.

The truck will be housed at the Goodwill fire and ambulance station on High Street; its predecessor will be kept in reserve, officials say.

The apparatus has a 750-gallon tank and a retro design.