Life Flight Network opens new communications center in Meridian

A new hub for the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West's most prominent air ambulance company just landed in the Treasure Valley. On Wednesday, the expanding medical emergency air ambulance flight provider, Life Flight Network (LFN), celebrated the opening of its newest communications center, located in Meridian. The company previously worked out of Saint Alphonsus Medical Center. LFN provides air ambulatory services or 'life flights' for patients needing medical care, be it in the case of a medical emergency or a planned interfacility transport. The membership-funded company is based in only four states: Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Montana, where air transport is especially crucial, given the region's vast terrain of remote and sometimes inaccessible land.
KTVB-TV NBC 7 Boise

Nic White named Central Fire’s new Fire Chief

Nic White, six year Assistant Fire Chief at Central Fire District, has been named the District's newest Fire Chief effective May 1. White will be replacing Carl Anderson upon his retirement. According to White, his father was a volunteer firefighter with Menan, back when the Menan Fire Station was its own district. He stated watching his father was what originally inspired him to want to fight fires as well. "It's always been any little boy's dream," White stated, "you know, when they're asked, 'what do you want to be?' It's fun to see that dream come to fruition." Born in Rexburg and raised in Menan, White has been a Jefferson County local his whole life. He served a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in London, England and married his wife Glenda upon his return.
The Jefferson Star - Metered Site

Idaho State Fire Marshal’s offering $5,000 reward for information on Coeur d’Alene arson

Fire officials in Coeur d'Alene are seeking information about an apparent arson that occurred on Tuesday night. According to the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department (CDAFD), investigators determined a house fire on Centennial Place was intentionally set by an unknown person or persons. In an attempt to figure out who the potential suspect or suspects may be, the Idaho State Fire Marshal is offering a $5,000 reward for any information about the fire. At approximately 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday, CDAFD, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and Northern Lakes Fire responded to a two-alarm house fire. It took crews approximately four hours to extinguish the fire, and by the time clean up was done, crews decided to come back to the house on Wednesday morning to assess the scene.
KREM-TV CBS 2 Spokane

Smokejumpers hit the silk near Grangeville in preparation for fire season

“Today’s where they knock the rust off everything,” said Jim Wimer, fire prevention specialist for the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests. “This is the practice jumps for our returning smokejumpers. It’s a refresher for them to basically get ready for the season.” A common sight in the skies around the region this same time every late spring is a Twin Otter aircraft followed in two- to four-person intervals of jumpers floating and circling down in the square ram-air parachutes. Last Wednesday, April 24, an eight-person load conducted a training jump southeast of Grangeville at a field near the Mt. Idaho transfer station. According to smokejumper base manager Nick Stanzak, last week’s group was made up of returnees with between two to 20 years of experience, conducting an annual refresher on techniques and skill-sets.
Idaho County Free Press