Kodiak's City Council approved a land lease agreement on Mill Bay Road for the city of Kodiak's new fire station. Specifically, .18 acres of land located at 1248 and 1250 Mill Bay Road that is owned by SondaCo LLC. The roughly two-year lease will cost the city $2,000 per month starting in April and extending through June of 2026. It's the latest development in the ongoing project to replace the deteriorating fire station. The current building is 80-years-old, and sections of sheet rock have fallen out, along with persistent water damage. The structural integrity of the building also continues to be at risk after the 7.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Alaska in 2018. The latest estimates for the replacement project total roughly $30 million, and the city is still looking for at least $2 million specifically for building a new fire station.  

PHOTO: Congratulations to Jaclyn A. and Jake R. with the Homer Volunteer Fire Department on being promoted to captain! And to all our heroes: thanks for all that you do.  

A house under renovation caught fire Monday night in Fishers, leaving crews scrambling to control the blaze before it spread to nearby homes. Crews from the Fishers Fire Department were dispatched to the Breakwater subdivision off Brooks School Road around 10:45 p.m. after a resident across Geist spotted heavy flames and called 911. When firefighters arrived, the home was fully ablaze. "Over 35 firefighters battled the blaze, as well as the ensuing woods fire located behind the residence. Additional homes beyond the woods were a concern with fire extension, however, firefighters were able to contain the fire without additional spread to other buildings," the fire department said in a release. Firefighters remained at the scene early into the morning, putting out hot spots.  

VIDEO/PHOTOS: A big labyrinth ball game is being used as a teaching tool for some local firefighters. The maze was created by a captain in the Colerain Fire Department. It's meant to help firefighters practice using hydraulic air lifting bags. The reinforced rubber pillows can help lift cars or other heavy objects. They could be used in car crashes to help rescue trapped victims. The training will help firefighters to be prepared and comfortable when using the tools in an emergency situation.  

The Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) has launched the RecruitNY 2024 statewide firefighter recruitment campaign, accompanied by a revealing survey of New York State residents' sentiments towards volunteer firefighters. The survey, conducted from January 18th to the 22nd, involved 1,000 New Yorkers outside New York City who were not already volunteer firefighters, offering valuable insights into public perceptions of this vital service. Edward Tase, Jr., President of FASNY and a dedicated volunteer firefighter in Niagara County, expressed enthusiasm about the survey results during a press conference at the Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center in Uniondale. Tase stated, "This survey has provided FASNY and the entire volunteer fire service with valuable insights into what New Yorkers think and know about their volunteer fire service."  

VIDEO: 37 pairs of pants, 18 jackets, and five pairs of boots are headed from the Lake Charter Township fire department in Berrien County to a fire department in Africa. Firefighters aren't allowed to keep gear for more than 10 years, according to Lake Township Fire, a rule that isn't enforced in other countries. So rather than throwing it all away, the department had the gear professionally cleaned before shipping it off to Malawi. A Bethel student and former chaplain for Niles Fire Department set up the donation, saying firefighters in Malawi battle fires largely without protection. "It's a blessing. So excited that they had to fill that, just thinking to help people in Africa, it's a blessing," said Mphatso Mwalwemi, a pastor in Malawi.