The Bellevue City Council Monday authorized the fire department to use a state Department of Ecology grant to purchase the city’s first electric fire engine, the city said in a news release Wednesday. The new Pierce Volterra, one of the first municipal electric fire engines in the country, will be housed at Fire Station 1, at 766 Bellevue Way SE. 

“The Bellevue Fire Department looks forward to being a leader, not only in the state, but in the nation, by demonstrating the efficiency of a more environmentally-friendly fire engine without sacrificing safety or performance,” Fire Chief Jay Hagen said.

The $649,000 grant, made available through the Washington State Clean Diesel and Volkswagon Settlement Grant programs, will cover up to 25% of the new rig’s cost. Acquisition planning for the electric engine will be conducted in 2023, with procurement and delivery anticipated in 2025-2026. 

For years Bellevue has been adding electric vehicles to its fleet and charging stations for them. Bellevue has a strong commitment to remaining a regional leader in environmental sustainability. 

“Adding an electric fire engine to the fleet directly aligns with the implementation of our Sustainable Bellevue plan, which we’re accelerating this year,” said Ana Hagerup, the city’s sustainability program manager. “Trading an older diesel model for a zero-emission fire engine puts us on the path to achieve the city’s fleet electrification targets and goal to reduce local carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.”

Madison (WI), home to Pierce Manufacturing, put the nation’s first municipal electric fire engine into service in 2021. The only notable difference in performance from diesel models is that it’s quieter for both firefighters and the community. 

The cities of Redmond and Seattle are also participating in the grant program, which helps cover the cost of charging apparatus along with the fire engines.

• Redmond (WA) Hopes to Be ‘Industry Leader’ with New Electric Fire Engine
• Pacific Northwest Fire Departments Getting Their First Electric Fire Engine

E-ONE—Weston (MA) Fire Department eMAX custom pumper. Typhoon cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; 750-gallon polypropylene water tank; 30-gallon foam cell; Akron 125-gpm foam eductor single-agent system; TFT Extend-A-Gun; Elkhart Stinger deck gun. Dealer: Mark MacDonald, Greenwood Emergency Vehicles, North Attleboro, MA.

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A tornado ripped through Hughes Springs four months ago, inflicting major damage on the fire station.

As the department works to get the station back in order, Assistant Fire Chief Randy Jones recalls that night and how fortunate he was to survive it.

Jones was in the firehouse when the tornado passed over and tore it to pieces, KSLA reports. He sheltered behind a vehicle, and when the storm passed he was able to drive one of the department’s trucks out through the wreckage of the station.

The department is working with its insurer to rebuild and raising money to replace some of the gear with this gofundme campaign.

Dave Sutor
The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
(TNS)

Mar. 1—JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — A plan is being developed to move the Johnstown police and fire departments from the nearly century-old and rundown Public Safety Building on Washington Street to a new location.

City Manager Ethan Imhoff provided tentative details about the proposal during the Cambria Regional Chamber’s annual State of the City Address held at Ace’s on Tuesday morning. Officials are also considering ways to improve the fire department’s auxiliary stations on Ash Street and Fairfield Avenue.

“We’ll be making an announcement soon on the Public Safety Building on relocation,” Imhoff said during an interview following his formal presentation.

“On the location of the fire facilities, we’re not sure whether we’re going to completely rehab the two existing ones, (or)relocate one and keep another. That’s still a decision to be made yet, but the Public Safety Building will be moved.”

No firm timeline has been established for the project, although Imhoff added that it is “something we’re moving on very soon.”

Imhoff said a “very short list of locations” is being considered for the site of a new main station.

“We’re just waiting for all the proper sign-offs and blessings before announcing that,” Imhoff said.

The city is seeking funds for the project.

“Council allocated the $2.5 million of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding in the (20)23 budget to begin moving along with this,” Imhoff said.

“We’ve already had some conversations with our state and federal legislators about looking for state and federal support on this project, too.

“It’s probably going to be in the $6-, $7-, $8-million range.

“We got $2.5 million from council. We’re going to need some additional funds.”

The Public Safety Building, which was built in 1925, has had structural problems in the recent past, including with water and mold.

“I’m glad that there’s an effort in place to try to upgrade the facilities for the guys that are putting their lives on the line for the city, both police and fire,” said Councilman Michael Capriotti, a former fireman.

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