IT WAS JUST OVER A MONTH AGO that the Fulton County (Kentucky) Rescue Squad had to shut down its operations for lack of a reliable truck. Their current vehicle was judged unsafe to drive by the members.

Firegeezer covered the shutdown HERE and told of the membership resigning en masse when the town of Hickman wouldn’t assist in providing the funds for a replacement.

The rescue squad did not provide any medical or ambulance service.  The all-volunteer company responded to calls for vehicle extrication, river search and rescue, setting up helicopter landing zones and performed the town’s weather spotting.

We are happy to report that an agreement has been made by the town to pony up some funds and the volunteers are back helping their community.

WPSD Ch. 6 Paducah has the good news video report:

LightRock addresses the diesel fuel budget:

In the current economic environment and with diesel fuel prices in the $5.00/gal range (a 67% increase in 12 months), can fire and rescue departments continue to afford to do business as usual?

According to a June 18th article in the Wall Street Journal Online HERE, it appears that the answer is “No”.  Here are a few questions worth pondering:

• In fire departments that have embraced the “paramedic engine” concept, might we see a move away from sending full size fire engines with large block diesel engines to a more fuel efficient response platform like an SUV, pickup truck or light duty rescue vehicle? Coincidentally, such vehicles would likely be faster and more maneuverable, especially in more urban areas. Some trial programs using this concept are already being tried in a few departments.
• Are other response protocols going to be looked at with a view towards taming them down somewhat? I know…we “need” the massive first alarm response that many departments send on reported “structure fires” but, at the same time, I think it is fair to say that in many areas the definition of a reported structure fire has become pretty broad. What would just a little dose of better call screening do to reduce some responses, saving fuel as well as limiting liability and enhancing unit availability for other calls? 
• At the scene, we idle a lot. When an apparatus isn’t pumping, might there be better and more fuel efficient ways to “run the lights” than with the same big diesel engine that propels the truck and the pump? The analogy that comes to mind is that of the airliner. While sitting at a gate or on a tarmac, the air conditioning, lights and other basics needed on the ground are powered by an APU (auxiliary power unit) and not the jet engines. I can tell you from recent personal experience that this is already a question that is being asked. 

This video report from KVBC in Las Vegas last month covers the impact on the Clark County and Las Vegas fire departments:

PUEBLO, COLORADO, FIRE CAPTAIN GARY MICHELI got the idea recently that the fire department would be a good venue to honor the city’s four Medal of Honor recipients.

 ”I started thinking that Pueblo being the Home of Heroes, I just thought it was a kind of interesting way to recognize the fact that we are the home of heroes and that there’s everyday heroes out there,” he said.  The small city of 102,000 is proud of the fact that they have a proportionately high number military honorees.

After working out an appropriate design of a blue banner containing white stars wrapped around a basic red body, the department ordered two new trucks, an aerial ladder and a pumper, with the new paint scheme.  This new look replaces years of lime-green paint jobs.

KRDO

The two new trucks were introduced to the public Monday with a display at the Medal of Honor Memorial at the Pueblo Convention Center.

Now the FD is initiating a fund drive to raise $200,000 so that they can repaint the remaining 15 yellow trucks with the new design.

The Pueblo Chieftain has the full STORY.
KRDO-TV has a VIDEO REPORT.

KRDO

Pueblo Fire Department WEBSITE.
Pueblo Firefighters Local 3 WEBSITE.

THE SCRANTON (PENNSYLVANIA) TIMES TRIBUNE is reporting this “He said….he said” article:

A car crashed into a guardrail Saturday afternoon after being run off the road by a firetruck responding to an emergency call, state police at Dunmore said.

Police said the Spring Brook Township firetruck, driven by Richard Lewis, was eastbound on Route 690 at O’Hara Road when it entered a curve and straddled the center line.

That caused a westbound Ford Focus to travel off the road, go out of control on loose cinders, then travel back across the road and hit a guardrail, police said. Police said the firetruck had its emergency lights and siren activated.

Corey Herne, of Old Forge, said the fire truck was in his lane and he had to move over so his car didn’t get hit. But Mr. Lewis said there was no car in that area when he drove through with the firetruck.

The article doesn’t say, but the lack of other witnesses being quoted makes it sound like this fire vehicle was occupied by the driver only.  Perhaps one of our Scranton-area readers can give us an update on this report.

Spring Brook Fire Company WEBSITE.

THE CROCKER, MISSOURI, CITY COUNCIL HAS DECIDED to take a 46-yr.-old “parade piece” pumper and donate it to a local volunteer fire department that doesn’t have a servicable fire engine of its own anymore.

Daily Guide/Maurina photo

The 1962 fire engine was the first one that the city had bought “brand new” and has lately been used for ceremonial events.  But on the recommendation of the Fire Chief, the aldermen were told of the greater need of the nearby Raymondville VFD and suggested the donation.

The Waynesville Daily Guide has the full STORY.

Firegeezer notes:  I would expect a savvy collecter to step in and trade a more modern pumper to them in exchange for this jewel.  It’s a beautiful-looking pumper.

17 HOURS REMAINING and still no bids have been placed on Donna’s pumper.

Don’t let this chance slip by.

Update #2, 7:35 pm Eastern:
With just over 5½ hours remaining, still no bids have been placed.

But the heavy money never shows up until the last minute of the auction.  That’s when the real action takes place.

photo courtesy STATter911

A METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON AIRPORTS AUTHORITY fire engine was running its annual pump test last week when a pressurized transmission fluid line burst, spraying the oil on the hot engine.

Dave Statter at STATter911 has the exclusive story with a full set of photos HERE.

Updated:  Scroll down.  

A FIRE ENGINE IN BOTETOURT COUNTY, VIRGINIA, was responding to a vehicle accident Sunday evening when it collided with a pickup truck.  The collision killed the two passengers in the pickup.

WSLS-TV

The Eagle Rock Volunteer Fire Dept. pumper was occupied by the driver only when it was traveling on a winding, 2-lane roadway.  The near-head-on collision left both trucks in a farmer’s field and the firefighter/driver slightly injured.  He was transported to a hospital but is expected to be ok.

WSLS-TV

The accident took place around 6 pm Sunday and the State Police have not yet released any information about the cause or what happened. 

Update:
Virginia State Police have released the names of the people involved in the wreck.  The Roanoke Times REPORTS:

Russell Meadows, 44, the driver of the pickup truck, and Judi Clark, 46, a passenger, died due to injuries from the crash.

State Police spokesman Bob Carpentieri said Meadows, from Covington, and Clark, from Clifton Forge, were wearing seatbelts.

Carpentieri identified the driver of the fire truck as Lucas McCulloch, a volunteer with the Eagle Rock Volunteer Fire Department.

Police said McCulloch was driving north on 220 north of Eagle Rock at 6:10 p.m. when the fire truck crossed the center line just south of Kelly’s Market and struck the pickup Meadows was driving. An investigation is under way.  (emphasis by Firegeezer)

A DEKALB COUNTY, GEORGIA, FIRE ENGINE WAS INVOLVED in a collision with two other vehicles Friday afternoon in the town of Lithonia.

WSB

All three vehicles ended up against concrete bridge supports for a railway overpass.  The engine was responding on an emergency call and had its lights and siren on.

WSB

The police accident reconstruction unit was still investigating the crash last night and there has been no determination yet of what all happened.  The three firefighters and four other people were moderately injured.

WSB-TV Atlanta has the story and a raw-video HERE.

A PROMINENT “PERSONAL INJURY” ATTORNEY IN DALLAS, TEXAS, is in critical condition this morning after his car was broadsided by a Dallas fire engine Thursday evening.

Brian Loncar is known throughout central Texas for his TV advertisements where he calls himself “Strong Arm” as he pleads for more business.

He was driving his 2008 Bentley through an intersection when Engine 11, which was responding to a call with lights and siren activated, struck the car at the driver’s-side door.  The force of the collision knocked Loncar’s Bentley into a third vehicle.

Police say that while it appears that the fire engine was going through a red light, Loncar will probably be charged with failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.

The news reports do not say if he was listening to his EMS scanner when it happened.

The Dallas Morning News has the full STORY.