Salli at PSTrax

09/07/2026

It’s another edition of Paramedics & Pets!

They say, “find a guy who looks at you like…”

Because there’s nothing like a lap full of puppies, as our paramedic Teddy found out. There are three members of the 12-puppy litter left at Eagle County Animal Shelter, just waiting for their forever home.

Ludo, Pepe the Prawn and Doozer–aptly named, as they’re all muppets–are all two (almost three) month old Terrier/Border Collie mixes that came all the way from Utah with their mama, Sweetums. These puppies are playful, social and super sweet, always up for a cuddle or a bit of exploring. These pups will need people who are ready to help them learn to be good dogs through consistent positive reinforcement, socialization, enrichment and plenty of patience (because, puppies). If these early days are any indication, these gorgeous puppies will grow up to be amazing companions!

To learn more about adopting Ludo, Doozer or Pepe the Prawn, contact the Eagle County Animal Shelter & Services at 970-328-3647.

09/07/2026

09/07/2026

09/07/2026

Labor Day honors the workers whose everyday effort built this country's strength. Today we pause to recognize the work, and the workers, that make this country run.

09/04/2026

Fire safety starts at home.

Every Sunday in September, firefighters will be visiting selected homes around the city as part of their fall Wake Up! program.

They will offer to check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they are in working order and share information about home escape planning and fire safety.

For more information, go to: https://bit.ly/3UDI7Ms

Tune into OttaTalk to follow along on a visit: https://bit.ly/4yn9jxG

09/04/2026

Join us in congratulating Lieutenant Dustin Daughtrey, Firefighter Josue Torres, and Firefighter Paramedic Justin Woods! 🎉

🔥 These three outstanding members of Southern Manatee Fire Rescue have been recognized with the Phoenix Award for their life-saving efforts.

Their quick actions, professionalism, and dedication helped make a difference when it mattered most. We are incredibly proud of their commitment to protecting and serving our community! 🚒❤️

09/04/2026

🚒 How much do you think a fire engine costs? Take your guess…

Engine 58 was placed into service in 2026. When it was purchased several years earlier, the cost was $942,543.

The engine it replaced was purchased for $405,111 and placed into service in 2011.

That’s an increase of more than 130% in about 15 years.

And here’s the part that really puts today’s costs into perspective: if we purchased that same engine today, the quoted price would be nearly $1.37 million.

Our engines typically serve for about 15 years as frontline apparatus followed by another 5 years in reserve status. We work hard to get the most out of this equipment. Our firefighters perform rigorous daily upkeep, our mechanics provide regular maintenance, and our forward-thinking apparatus replacement plan helps us prepare for these major investments. But eventually, every fire engine reaches the end of its service life and must be replaced in accordance with NFPA standards.

Costs continue to rise for fire departments, impacting fire apparatus, ambulances, protective gear and more. You can learn more at talkarvadafireco.com.

09/01/2026

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

Thank you West Metro Fire Rescue for sharing this. It is so important for all communities to understand what it takes to keep them safe!

Sticker shock is real. We don’t have to tell you that- prices are up everywhere.
You see it at the grocery store, when you pay for repairs or when it’s time to replace a vehicle.
West Metro is seeing it, too.
In 2018, West Metro paid $633,267 for a fire engine like this one. Today, a comparable new engine costs $1,384,099.
That’s nearly a 119% increase in nine years.
When we buy an engine, we get a lot of use out of it. At West Metro, an engine typically spends 20 years in front-line service, assigned to a station and responding to calls every day, followed by another five years as a reserve.
That’s 25 years responding to fires, medical emergencies, crashes, rescues and other calls for help.
But eventually, every engine reaches the end of its service life. And when you consider rising prices across an entire fleet- not just fire engines, but ambulances and other emergency vehicles- the costs add up quickly.
That’s why we want our community to understand what it costs to provide emergency services, how long we use the equipment we purchase and how much those costs have changed.