Bob Brawdy
Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.)
(TNS)

Sep. 18—The Richland Fire Department celebrated the opening of its newest station Tuesday with the uncoupling of a two fire hoses instead of a traditional ribbon cutting.

The $7.4 million, 10,800-square-foot facility is now fully staffed to respond to fires and emergencies.

About 140 people, including firefighters, families, dignitaries and community members attended the event at 4307 Trowbridge Boulevard, just off Dallas Road and Interstate 82 in south Richland.

Built in the Badger Mountain South community and with its proximity to Interstate 82, the station ensures quicker response times to emergencies in the area, according to a city news release.

The facility also features dedicated space for police officers to complete reports and coordinate with firefighters and emergency medical crews.

This is the sixth fire station in Richland and the fourth to include space for police.

___

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By Alan M. Petrillo

Emergency medical services (EMS) responders need different kinds of protection in the personal protective equipment (PPE) that they wear to medical calls compared with traditional structural firefighting PPE. So, turnout gear makers have designed PPE for EMS personnel that protects them not only from external hazards but also from liquids and bloodborne pathogens.

Alysha Gray, product marketing director for fire PPE at Lion, says Lion makes MedPro™ rescue wear that is compliant with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1999, Standard on Protective Clothing and Ensembles for Emergency Medical Operations. She says that MedPro has a Milliken Textiles Westex® DH fire-resistant outer shell with a fiber content of 48% Tencel, 40% Modacrylic, and 12% Aramid for durable protection against flash fires and a Gore® CROSSTECH® EMS moisture barrier that protects against blood, bodily fluids, and water while remaining breathable.

She points out that Lion’s EMS gear is custom fit in 2-inch increments for the chest and waist; the coat has a biswing back and underarm bellows for greater mobility; and the pant has a banded crotch, PCA-reinforced knees with Lite- N-Dri padding, pant leg take-up straps, PCA-reinforced cuffs, and zippered legs to make it easier to don and doff over boots.

MedPro EMS gear is available with Lion Ventilated 3M™ Scotchlite™ II reflective material, lime-yellow triple trim, or 2-inch silver solid high-visibility trim. Lion also offers a removable winter liner for the EMS gear to give added protection against cold temperatures, Gray says, and a detachable lined hood for head protection.

Gray notes that Lion also makes the TR51™ rescue/EMS turnout gear that is dual compliant with NFPA 1999 and NFPA 1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents. TR51 turnouts are made with a Safety Components Sigma™ outer shell with a fiber content of 45% Meta-Aramid, 32% Lenzing FR, 17% Polyamide, and 6% Para-Aramid, she says, and a Gore CROSSTECH® SR removable liner for penetration resistance to water, common chemicals, blood, and other bodily fluids. The TR51 coat has a biswing back and bellows underarm to help prevent hem rise when the wearer reaches up, and the pant has a banded crotch seam so there are no intersecting seams and pre-bent self-fabric knees.

Todd Herring, vice president of product innovation and strategy for Fire- Dex®, says the company makes EMS Gear, which is compliant with NFPA 1999, and USAR Gear, compliant with NFPA 1999 and 1951. He notes that the EMS gear is made with either a TECGEN51 or Nomex Essential outer shell and a sewn- in CROSSTECH EMS fabric that provides breathability and heat stress relief while maintaining liquid penetration resistance from blood, bodily fluids, commonly encountered chemicals, and water.

Herring says that Fire-Dex’s USAR gear can be made with TECGEN51 for the outer shell, which allows greater flexibility and breathability, or Nomex, along with a lining of CROSSTECH EMS fabric for protection against comm

Lucas Daprile, Olivia Mitchell
cleveland.com
(TNS)

CLEVELAND, Ohio – East Cleveland, mired in money woes for years, hit a new financial low when a gofundme account surfaced to raise funds for a new fire truck.

The account seeks $1.5 million for the vehicle. It netted $60 total from four people as of Wednesday, when the account has since stopped collecting money.

The account highlights the latest financial issues of East Cleveland, one of the state’s poorest cities that recently asked Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to provide state troopers to patrol streets to help a depleted police force.

The city needs the truck, but officials said they do not know who set up the account, as it was not allowed by the city’s administration.

City Council had invested the money for the truck, but the purchase has not been made.

The gofundme account indicates that it was organized by the firefighters’ union, the International Association of Firefighters, Local 500. East Cleveland Fire Chief David Worley told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer in a text message the fundraiser was not approved by the mayor, himself or the fire union.

Worley said he thinks it was an employee who was looking to raise money for the department but didn’t get approval.

The listing highlights the city’s struggle to keep its fire engines in working order. The listing describes the fire engine as “beyond repair,” as it leaks oil and water “faster than we could even fill it up.”

The truck mentioned in the fundraiser was a reserve truck that was taken out of service last week, Worley said.

In 2022, East Cleveland set aside nearly $1 million to purchase a new firetruck and a new ambulance. However, that money is gone.

“Since our city officials have failed to make the payment, they not only put our lives at risk but the citizens of the community,” the gofundme post says.

In June, East Cleveland Law Director Willa Hemmons took responsibility for the lost money, saying it was instead spent on a $1.6 million settlement with the city’s firefighters over overtime pay following a lawsuit, according to WOIO Channel 19.

Patricia Blochowiak, an at-large councilwoman in East Cleveland, blamed Mayor Brandon King. The councilwoman said the money meant for the firetruck was supposed to be housed in a special account, but it was instead deposited in the general fund, where it was spent.

“The mayor is known for spending money that hasn’t been appropriated,” Blochowiak said.

Blochowiak doubts East Cleveland has the money to purchase the firetruck, but it is hard to say because she said City Hall refuses to provide Council members with up-to-date financial information.

“We don’t know for sure if the city has the money,” Blochowiak said.

King confirmed to cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer that the fundraiser was not approved by the city.

He said he intends “to provide every department with adequate resources, equipment, personnel, so that they can safely and effectively do their jobs,” King said.

However, “There are a number of steps needed to be taken, both from the administration and…from the legislative perspective, to get that truck,” King said.

Mariah Crenshaw, a critic of East Cleveland’s administration, said it is “unacceptable” that the city is still unable to pay for a new firetruck when Council already set aside money for its purchase.

“The question is where is the money? And

Lucas Daprile, Olivia Mitchell
cleveland.com
(TNS)

CLEVELAND, Ohio – East Cleveland, mired in money woes for years, hit a new financial low when a gofundme account surfaced to raise funds for a new fire truck.

The account seeks $1.5 million for the vehicle. It netted $60 total from four people as of Wednesday, when the account has since stopped collecting money.

The account highlights the latest financial issues of East Cleveland, one of the state’s poorest cities that recently asked Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to provide state troopers to patrol streets to help a depleted police force.

The city needs the truck, but officials said they do not know who set up the account, as it was not allowed by the city’s administration.

City Council had invested the money for the truck, but the purchase has not been made.

The gofundme account indicates that it was organized by the firefighters’ union, the International Association of Firefighters, Local 500. East Cleveland Fire Chief David Worley told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer in a text message the fundraiser was not approved by the mayor, himself or the fire union.

Worley said he thinks it was an employee who was looking to raise money for the department but didn’t get approval.

The listing highlights the city’s struggle to keep its fire engines in working order. The listing describes the fire engine as “beyond repair,” as it leaks oil and water “faster than we could even fill it up.”

The truck mentioned in the fundraiser was a reserve truck that was taken out of service last week, Worley said.

In 2022, East Cleveland set aside nearly $1 million to purchase a new firetruck and a new ambulance. However, that money is gone.

“Since our city officials have failed to make the payment, they not only put our lives at risk but the citizens of the community,” the gofundme post says.

In June, East Cleveland Law Director Willa Hemmons took responsibility for the lost money, saying it was instead spent on a $1.6 million settlement with the city’s firefighters over overtime pay following a lawsuit, according to WOIO Channel 19.

Patricia Blochowiak, an at-large councilwoman in East Cleveland, blamed Mayor Brandon King. The councilwoman said the money meant for the firetruck was supposed to be housed in a special account, but it was instead deposited in the general fund, where it was spent.

“The mayor is known for spending money that hasn’t been appropriated,” Blochowiak said.

Blochowiak doubts East Cleveland has the money to purchase the firetruck, but it is hard to say because she said City Hall refuses to provide Council members with up-to-date financial information.

“We don’t know for sure if the city has the money,” Blochowiak said.

King confirmed to cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer that the fundraiser was not approved by the city.

He said he intends “to provide every department with adequate resources, equipment, personnel, so that they can safely and effectively do their jobs,” King said.

However, “There are a number of steps needed to be taken, both from the administration and…from the legislative perspective, to get that truck,” King said.

Mariah Crenshaw, a critic of East Cleveland’s administration, said it is “unacceptable” that the city is still unable to pay for a new firetruck when Council already set aside money for its purchase.

“The question is where is the money? And