By Bill Adkins

When covering rural areas, the typical vehicle may not be sufficient for the incident at hand. At times we may need to use our imagination to complete the task. Letting our imaginations run wild prior to that incident will help when that incident arises. It is not common for a fire department to approach its councilmen or trustees for the need of a side-by-side ATV. However, there can be a need if the demographics align.

Peebles Fire Department covers Meigs Township, Oliver Township, the Village of Peebles, and the foothills of the Appalachian region in Ohio. A few years back it determined it would need a low-profile, short-wheelbase type of vehicle. Luckily, the department qualified for the ODNR firefighter property grant. This allowed it to obtain a military grade Razor for next to nothing. The only stipulation it had was to be in service within six months.

Rosenbauer—Ashkum (IL) Fire Protection District pumper. Warrior cab and chassis; Cummins L9 380-hp engine; Hale Qmax 1,500-gpm pump; UPF Poly 750-gallon water tank; two 20-gallon foam cells; FoamPro MFA220 Class A and B foam system; Akron Hi Riser monitor; Rosenbauer FX aluminum body. Dealer: Bill Schreiber, Sentinel Emergency Solutions, St. Louis, MO.

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San Juan (TX) city council recently voted to proceed with the schematic design of a new $2.2 million fire station, reports virtualbx.com.

The new station, which will reside at the intersection of 7th Street and Nebraska, is designed by ERO Architects, and it will feature three areas connected by hallways, the report says. The first will comprise a lobby, reception area, restroom, conference room, and administrative offices.

The second hallway will boast a kitchen, dining, day room, work center, sleeping quarters, captain’s quarters, men and women’s showers and restrooms, and a laundry room. A third, smaller area will include an IT room, electrical and mechanical room, and janitorial area, according to the report.

The four-bay building will be approximately 11,766 square feet.

ERO noted that it’s very difficult to estimate construction costs in the current economic climate. The cost estimate they gave 4Q21 was $2,261,617, but they now say that contingencies should be in place, the report says.

The project is scheduled to bid for contractors around the beginning 4Q22 and should commence around November 1, according to the report. The city hopes to move in by the end of the year in 2023.

To combat anticipated heavy growth, the Wasatch County (UT) Fire District wants to build three new stations, reports kpcw.org.

To do so it hopes to levy an impact fee to raise the funds. If approved, future developers would fund stations in Heber City and the Jordanelle area via new fees, the report says. The new fee would replace a 2020 impact fee, which was used to buy land for the future Heber station.

The potential new Heber station would house administrative offices, currently located at the Jordanelle location.

The board plans to hold a public hearing about it on Tuesday, March 8 at 6 p.m. at the Wasatch County Administration Building, according to the report. A vote on the fee will be held immediately following the hearing. If approved, it will take effect after 90 days.