The Lynchburg Fire Department has finally reopened its Station 3 after the facility underwent renovations and expansion, reports wsls.com.

The Fort Avenue station was supposed to be finished in late December, but supply chain issues as well as COVID-19 complications delayed the process.

Earlier: Lynchburg (VA) Fire Department Station 3 to Close for Renovations November 29 – December 27

The renovations included a new kitchen, an expanded locker room, common area, and bedroom. The facility can hold up to 10 staff members at a time, the report says.

The project totaled more than $300,000 and was covered by CARES funding.

Back in November, FA reported that Milton Fire-Rescue’s Station 41 on Arnold Mill Road had a black mold problem and was closed after several members became sick. Crews operated out of a nearby station, but now the department is set for a return to the facility.

“To help prepare for the return of our firefighters, Milton Volunteer Fire Corps members Jon Ng, Jim Loughridge, Bart Vantieghem, Dale Harney, and Steve Cory spent the day Saturday painting several rooms inside Milton Fire Station 41.

“Remediation is complete at the station, which has been closed since November due to mold, and reconstruction is nearly complete. A few finishing touches and inspections are all that stand in the way of the department returning to the station on Arnold Mill Road.”

Monterey wants to purchase a new ladder truck and equipment with this year’s CDBG application, which could net the town upwards of $420,000 with a $50,000 match from local funds, reports newstalk941.com.

Officials say Monterey has come up short on several other grants to purchase a used apparatus, but the CDBG one has a chance, the report says.

A potential new apparatus would replace one from 1985, and officials say it would cost around $375,000, with the remainder going toward equipment.

Grant applications are due April 15, the report notes. Before that can happen, a grant-spending budget needs to be prepared for consideration, then a vote will take place on whether or not to move forward with the application.

Cold Lake, AB – A new state-of-the-art fire truck will soon be on the road, keeping Lakeland-area residents and firefighters safe. Cold Lake Fire-Rescue took possession of the triple-combination pumper this week after it was delivered from the manufacturing facility in Winnipeg.

“Not only does this vehicle come equipped with all the firefighting tools and features we need to fight structure fires and respond to other emergencies, it also actively purifies the air inside the cab to keep our firefighters safe from harmful toxins and chemicals,” said Fire Chief and Manager of Protective Services Jeff Fallow. “The Clean Cab system uses two built-in HEPA filters to scrub potentially volatile or dangerous compounds that may be in the air, or enter the cab on our firefighting gear. The system actively purifies the air and kills pathogens including viruses, so it’s a great tool to have, especially as we move out of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Other safety features include a full lights and siren package, rollover protection, occupant airbags, and a back up camera.

The new pumper #4 replaces a 2005 model year pumper truck which has come to the end of its service life. City Council approved the purchase of the truck in the 2020 Capital Budget, which comes with a price tag of roughly $750,000. The contract was awarded to Fort Gary Fire Trucks.

With a staff of four full-time personnel and about 65 paid-on-call firefighters, Cold Lake Fire-Rescue serves the city of Cold Lake, Cold Lake First Nations, and a large portion of the Municipal District of Bonnyville, with occasional responses into Saskatchewan. The department responds to more than 350 calls for service annually.

Testing of the new pumper is currently underway and it is expected to be in operation by March 1. It will be housed at the Cold Lake Fire-Rescue downtown headquarters.