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Posted: Nov 13, 2025

REV Group Announces Expansion Investment in Horton Emergency Vehicles to Increase Capacity

Horton Emergency Vehicles, a brand of REV Group Inc., and a leader in ambulance safety, is expanding its manufacturing footprint in Grove City, OH, with the $2.6M purchase of an adjacent building.

This new 20,000-square foot building will focus on final assembly and the delivery processes and is expected to reduce delivery times and enhance customer experience. In addition, the property will help open extra space in the current assembly operations and offers additional parking for employees and in-process ambulances. Located at 3873 Gantz Road, the Horton team expects to be operating in the facility in early 2026.

“We were delighted when a property adjacent to Horton’s assembly plant became available and REV Group was able to move quickly and allocate the capital expenditure,” said Mike Albers, vice president and general manager, Horton Emergency Vehicles. “This expansion allows us to provide additional space for our employees to manufacture and deliver our high-quality Horton ambulances to our dealers and customers quicker, which helps to protect their people and communities.”

Horton settled in Grove City, OH in 1994, and its current facility and offices are located at 3800 McDowell Road. With over 100,000 square feet, the facility has been designed specifically for manufacturing high quality, custom-designed emergency medical vehicles and is equipped with advanced engineering and computer-technology support for manufacturing as well as customer service.

Since 1968, Horton has manufactured emergency vehicles and currently designs and builds Type 1, Type 3 and Critical Care Transport units for fire departments and hospitals, serving a nationwide market. Horton is known for employing rigorous testing and an emphasis on safety, quality, and customization.

Find out more information, visit www.hortonambulance.com.

About Horton Emergency Vehicles

Founded in 1968, Horton Emergency Vehicles, a division of Halcore Group, Inc., is a REV Group company.  Horton® ambulances are among the industry’s most technically innovative and customized ambulances and are synonymous with high quality. The exclusive Horton Occupant Protection System (HOPS) keeps the ambulance crew safe while working in the patient compartment. With a manufacturing facility in Grove City, Ohio, Horton ambulances have Strength & Safety in Every Detail.

About REV Group, Inc.

REV Group companies are leading designers and manufacturers of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts and services, which serve a diversified customer base, primarily in the United States, through two segments: Specialty Vehicles and Recreational Vehicles. The Specialty Vehicles Segment provides customized vehicle solutions for applications, including essential needs for public services (ambulances and fire apparatus) and commercial infrastructure (terminal trucks and industrial sweepers). REV Group’s Recreational Vehicles Segment manufactures a variety of RVs from Class B vans to Class A motorhomes. REV Group’s portfolio is made up of well-established principal vehicle brands, including many of the most recognizable names within their industry. Several of REV Group’s brands pioneered their specialty vehicle product categories and date back more than 50 years. REV Group trades on the NYSE under the symbol REVG. Investors-REVG

The post REV Group Announces Expansion Investment in Horton Emergency Vehicles to Increase Capacity appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and

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Posted: Nov 13, 2025

Dallas Fort Worth Gets Six New Striker Volterra Electric ARFF Vehicles

APPLETON, Wisconsin (Nov. 13, 2025) – Oshkosh Airport Products, an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) business, announced six new Striker® Volterra™ 6×6 Electric Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles are officially in service at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). This milestone highlights DFW’s position as one of the first airports in the nation to adopt electric drive ARFF technology, while advancing its mission to support high-performance, sustainable operations.

The new Striker Volterra Electric ARFF vehicles were sold through Siddons-Martin Emergency Group and represent a significant step in DFW’s broader plan to replace its legacy fleet with a modern, electrified response system. By late 2025, DFW will be the largest Striker Volterra Electric ARFF fleet operator in the U.S.

“Enhancing performance by reducing response times is the key driver of transitioning to these new vehicles,” said Daniel White, Chief of DFW Fire-Rescue. “The Striker Volterra vehicles are faster and more agile than our current fleet. Because they are also safe for our firefighters and conscious for the environment, this investment represents a rare win-win-win, delivering operational benefits while ensuring the safety of our responders and the community we serve.”

The Striker Volterra Electric 6×6 ARFF features a proprietary Oshkosh electric powertrain paired with an electro-mechanical infinitely variable transmission. This allows the vehicle to operate in electric mode with zero emissions during station entry, standby, and low-speed operations, significantly reducing firefighter exposure to diesel exhaust. When full power is needed, the integrated system draws on both the battery and internal combustion engine to deliver best-in-

class acceleration and uninterrupted pump performance, without any additional operator intervention.

Key performance features include:

  • Acceleration from 0–50 mph (0–80 kph) in under 21 seconds – a 28 percent improvement over standard diesel models when fully loaded
  • TAK-4® all-wheel independent suspension for exceptional control and ride quality
  • 3,000-gallon (11,356-liter) water tank
  • 420-gallon (1,590-liter) foam tank
  • 2,000 gpm (7,570 lpm) water pump
  • 500 lb. (250 kg) dry chemical powder system
  • Electronic foam proportioning system with Oshkosh ECO-EFP™ foam testing system

The addition of the Striker Volterra Electric ARFF vehicles also supports DFW’s transition to fluorine-free firefighting foam in line with FAA guidance and the industry’s move away from PFAS-based agents. This ensures a consistent and environmentally responsible response capability across the airport’s ARFF fleet.

“Our commitment goes far beyond delivering a vehicle,” said Travis Ownby, sales specialist with Siddons-Martin Emergency Group. “It’s about helping departments like DFW Fire-Rescue lead the way in operational excellence and sustainability. We’re proud to support their mission with the Striker Volterra Electric ARFF vehicles.”

To support long-term electric vehicle integration, DFW has modernized its ARFF stations with 480-volt charging infrastructure to meet evolving power demands. All Striker Volterra Electric ARFF vehicles are equipped with onboard chargers, and the airport’s infrastructure improvements ensure adaptability well into the future.

DFW Fire-Rescue is responsible for protecting nearly 90 million passengers annually and is globally recognized for its leadership in aircraft fire response, firefighter trai

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Posted: Nov 13, 2025

The Evolution of Firefighting Tools: A Perspective on Technology and Tradition

In the realm of public safety, where rapid technological advancements constantly redefine the parameters of service and rescue, the echoes of the past may provide a grounding perspective. Fire service members with decades of experience reflect on times when equipment and techniques were starkly different.

Veteran firefighters recall tales from the “old-timers” days when crew members clung to the tailboard and sat exposed without radios or headphones. The crew members traversed freezing temperatures and sunburn. It was a time when diamond plate engine covers, with small doors to check the engine fluids, could serve to thaw a firefighter’s hands or provide a checkered burn to an unsuspecting forearm during the searing heat of summer. It was a period when only the captain had a radio, and deployment of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) was delayed as harnesses, cylinders, and face pieces were stored in cumbersome boxes in high side apparatus compartments.

These stories, while reminiscent of a simpler time, underscore the profound transformation the fire service has undergone—from the days of bucket brigades and horse-drawn hose carts to the “modern era” of internal combustion engines and aerial ladders. Today, the industry stands on the cusp of another monumental shift with the advent of electric fire and rescue apparatus and the near-term potential for entirely autonomous apparatus response.

One Northern California fire agency, with more than a century of history, has been an early adopter for decades. The Cosumnes (CA) Fire Department (CFD) pioneered in many ways, from embracing the county’s inaugural emergency medical technicians and integrating advanced medical procedures to transporting paramedics and fielding automated external defibrillators. This was accomplished over decades. Initially, it was an all-volunteer agency, but the dedicated teams paid it forward, enhancing their operational capabilities while setting benchmarks for innovation in fire and first response services. The narrative of the CFD’s journey serves as a contemporary model—a blend of tradition, innovation, and practical adaptation, including research and development opportunities like supporting AUDREY, the artificial intelligence (AI) enabled system funded by the Department of Homeland Security- Science and Technology (DHS-S/T) and built for first responders by NASA JPL.

JAWS OF LIFE: REVOLUTIONIZING RESCUE OPERATIONS

Firefighters who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s first saw rescue tools used while watching a weekend stock car race. The fire department members in Elk Grove, California, had a HURST Jaws of Life® tool by 1974. It was bulky, heavy, hard to start in the cold, and VERY rugged and practical. With interstate and state highways running through the district, there was plenty of need for them. As technology progressed, so did the capabilities of this crucial rescue tool. For more than five decades, this tool has been a staple in the rolling rescue toolboxes of fire departments worldwide, including the CFD, which has continuously modernized its equipment to include the latest advancements.

1 The CFD was established with the 2006 merger of the Elk Grove (CA) Fire Department, established in 1893 with a single hose cart, and the Galt (CA) Fire Protection District, established in 1921 with an annual budget of ~$1,000 for the first year. The Marty Fischlin Fleet Maintenance Facility gallery displays many apparatus that have served the community over the past 130 years. (Photos courtesy of author.)

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Posted: Nov 13, 2025

New EXFIL® Rescuer Helmets Born from Field, Built for Search-and-Rescue

CLEVELAND, Ohio (Nov. 12, 2025) Team Wendy®, a leading provider of innovative head protection systems, introduces EXFIL® Rescuer bump helmets for search-and-rescue (SAR) missions spanning terrain to tide. Developed directly from field feedback, the new product platform reflects Team Wendy’s “listen first, adapt fast” approach to design and features two purpose-built models: the EXFIL® Rescuer for on-the-ground operations, and the EXFIL® Maritime Rescuer for maritime, hurricane and swift-water response.

The EXFIL Rescuer delivers advanced protection and everyday adaptability for land-based missions, while the EXFIL Maritime Rescuer extends that performance into the water with a liner engineered for neutral buoyancy and quick drying. Both models feature liner systems with Zorbium® foam technology—combining blunt-impact mitigation with comfort—and both helmets are available in high-visibility red or yellow.

“We wanted to give agencies and public-safety teams a unified system that works across multiple rescue environments,” said Garson Greathouse, Regional Sales Manager (Southeast) at Team Wendy. “Starting with the same shell used in our popular EXFIL LTP (Lightweight, Tactical, Polymer) bump helmets, we expanded that foundation by closing the loop with SAR crews, until the platform reflected the realities of the way they actually work onshore and offshore.”

Built light, built right

The EXFIL Rescuer weighs just 1.59 lbs. (varies slightly by size and pad configuration) to give first responders the freedom to move fast, stay sharp and keep their focus where it counts. Designed for the rigors of wilderness rescue, structural collapse and urban interface, among other dangerous scenarios, it offers a full roster of mission-ready features including:

  • An aluminum shroud designed to handle helmet lights for hands-free illumination, night vision and thermal imaging products.
  • A lightweight, impact-modified polycarbonate shell with signature EXFIL geometry.
  • A Velcro® pattern designed for top led lights or IR strobes, attachments and patches.
  • The handmade CAM FIT™ retention system featuring Team Wendy’s signature BOA® fit integration (a micro-adjustable dial helps distribute light, even pressure around the head).
  • Rails compatible with EXFIL accessories including face shields, visors and Peltor™ adapters.
  • A sport-style chin strap for a low-profile, secure fit.

For water rescue

Retaining the same core hardware and base weight, the EXFIL Maritime Rescuer builds on the landward model with a marine-grade liner, while the under-the-chin retention system stays clear of snorkels, comms and hoods upon water entry.

“SAR swimmers told us that an over-the-chin or cup-style strap can scoop water and yank the helmet, so you’re constantly retightening it instead of focusing on the rescue,” Greathouse said. “Or, if the liner floats, you get ‘bucketing,’ where the helmet lifts or pulls your head back, and that can break your seal.

“The EXFIL Maritime Rescuer is our answer to those concerns. It uses an under-the-chin strap that stays clear of the airway and a moisture-shedding, neutrally buoyant liner that won’t fight you in the water. It’s about achieving a mission-ready fit rather than pushing a tactical helmet into rescue work it wasn’t intended for.”

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Posted: Nov 13, 2025

New St. George (UT) Fire Station 1 Consolidates Two Stations

When the community stepped inside St. George’s new Fire Station 1 during the open house on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2025, they saw far more than modern equipment bays and gleaming engines, the city said in a press release

They walked into a space that symbolizes the city’s promise to honor its past while protecting its future. Amid the station’s advanced training rooms, community gathering areas and expanded living quarters, the memory of the Flood Street Chapel remains very much alive.

For decades, that chapel served as a spiritual and social cornerstone for St. George families. Today, the land carries forward that same sense of purpose — now dedicated to public safety and service.

“This station is truly about honoring our past with an eye to the future,” said St. George Chief Robert Stoker, who recently celebrated 40 years with the department. “We’ve built a facility that recognizes where we came from and prepares us for where St. George is going.”

The property’s history stretches back to the early 1950s, when Bishop Wilford Schmutz of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, acquired the parcel from Dan Seegmiller for $1,800 to build the Flood Street Chapel.

According to the Washington County Historical Society, the chapel was dedicated around 1955. The chapel served the city’s 5th and 6th wards and quickly became a center of community life. Its recreation hall echoed with ward plays, youth basketball games, wedding receptions, and family reunions.

The St. George East Stake President Lance Greer remembered some of the community’s diversity through events like luaus and Hispanic celebrations. Another memory he shared was a spectacular Christmas display and mural by renowned artist Greg Abbott, a member of the church.

“There were certainly many events that we participated in that bring back a lot of memories,” Lance said.

By 2021, structural issues forced the building’s closure. The city of St. George purchased the property for $1.1 million. When demolition began in December 2022, residents arrived to collect leftover bricks, small, tangible pieces of history. Today, that spirit of gathering continues, as a new generation will enter a site dedicated to rescue, readiness and response.

The new Fire Station 1, encompassing more than 23,000 square feet, replaces the former 8,500-square-foot structure on 1000 East and consolidates operations from both Station 1 and Station 2 on North Main.

The new building also provides a community room for meetings, developer consultations, instruction and dedicated training for the fire crew. According to Chief Stoker, the facility represents a significant leap forward for both efficiency and well-being.

“It’s built for the future, where if we have multiple crews running out of this station, they’re able to have the room as we grow and expand,” Stoker said.

The new building will be able to accommodate a lot of administrative staff downstairs, as well as on-duty crews. The second floor will feature improved living quarters for firefighters, including private bedrooms, a spacious kitchen and day room and separate restrooms and showers.

“You want to be able to give them an area where they can just decompre

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