The San Bernardino County (CA) Board of Supervisors recently approved a $200-plus million mid-year budget, highlighted by a new fire station, reports sbsun.com. Budget years typically run July 1 to June 30, but it’s normal for public agencies to update projections as things change and needs arise.

The fire district’s most notable expense is a new $12 million station in Yucca Valley, paid for via state dollars, the report says. In addition to hiring staff, the department is also buying five new generators, new software, and making equipment and vehicle purchases.

Related: Lake Assault Fire-Rescue Boats in Service in San Bernardino County (CA)

This year, the county received an additional $158.98 million in revenue along with an additional $230.34 million in expenses, forcing it to dip into financial reserves and contingency funds to the tune of $71.36 million. The county still has more than 20% of its revenues in reserves.

Other purchases include a new helicopter and staff for the Sheriff’s department; capital projects, equipment, and staff for Arrowhead Regional Medical Center; and staff hires and COVID-19-related supplies for the public health department.

The Slovan (PA) Volunteer Fire Department Tuesday evening put the finishing touches—red lockers—on its Smith Township State Road station, reports observer-reporter.com.

The facility, into which the department moved last month, had been in the works since 2018, when Energy Transfer donated $50,000 toward it. Energy Transfer also donated $9,379 for the lockers, the report says.

The two organizations also conduct an annual safety training, according to the report.

The new station’s predecessor was an 80-year-old building down the road, the location of which made it difficult—and dangerous—for apparatus to exit due to heavy traffic.

Carl J. Haddon

Some months ago (prior to the tragic rap show incident) I wrote an article about “post-Pandemic” special events, and how they’ve changed due to people having been cooped up for so long due to Covid. Now that people are getting out and about, many once-normal entertainment and recreational activities have seemingly taken on a new facade that is resulting in a rise in our call volumes. The best way that I can describe this façade and change is simply “extreme.”

The public seems to need an outlet, and they are taking their recreation to levels that reach the extreme. Here in the mountains of the northwest, these extremes are being seen in areas that include snowmobiling, skiing, and snowboarding, and, believe it or not, even fishing! And, how about how we see these folks driving on snow- and ice-covered roads thinking they’re bulletproof because they have four-wheel drive?

I know I got your attention with fishing, so let’s start there. Traditionally, fishermen flock to this area to fish late winter/early spring Steelhead in the Salmon River, once the ice dams break and the water flows. Savvy fishermen respect the shelf ice that built along the riverbanks throughout the winter, and will avoid trying to stand on it for fear of falling through it—or it breaking off from the shoreline and dumping them into the frigid river water.

Prior to 2019, I could count on one hand the number of water/ice rescues that resulted from fishing activities. The winters of 2020 and 2021 have been a horse of a different color, as a seemingly new breed of outdoor enthusiasts venture on to the shelf ice and eventually into the rivers. These kinds of rescues are extremely high-risk, and (should) require special training and equipment.

In the absence of said special training and equipment, the risk vs. benefit quotient gets even trickier. This scenario can be applied to ice fishing as well, where otherwise sane individuals would think twice about driving their new $75,000 pickup out onto questionably thin ice.