Wildland firefighters wear different personal protective equipment (PPE) than their structural firefighting counterparts, reflective of the different nature of wildland hazards and firefighting tasks. They also carry a variety of different types of equipment into the fire lines.

Alysha Gray, product marketing director of fire PPE for Lion, says Lion makes VersaPro® and VersaPro Plus PPE that are compliant with both NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting and Urban Interface Fire Fighting, and NFPA 1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents. Gray says that VersaPro® is a single-layer garment composed of Safety Components Sigma fabric for a combination of flash and thermal protection, durability, and comfort and features a bi-swing back, banded crotch, zippered legs, and PCA-reinforced knees and pant cuffs.

1 Lion makes VersaPro PPE that’s compliant with both NFPA wildland and tech rescue standards and also the Station 1 leather boot. (Photo 1 courtesy of Lion.)

2 Fire-Dex makes Wildland PPE from a variety of materials, including TECGEN51, Sigma, Nomex, and WestTech DH. (Photo 2 courtesy of Fire-Dex.)

She adds that VersaPro Plus includes all those features, plus polycoated aramid reinforcement on the elbows, knees, and pant cuffs as well as Lite-N-Dri padding in the knees. Lion also makes the Station 1™ boot that is compliant with NFPA 1977. Station 1 is a 9-inch leather boot with GORE^® CROSSTECH^® waterproof lining, a steel triple-rib logger shank, and a Vibram® ATS outsole.

Todd Herring, vice president of product innovation and strategy for Fire-Dex®, says the company makes TECGEN51 multifunctional wildland/ technical rescue gear that is dual compliant with NFPA 1977 and NFPA 1951. “The gear is made with TECGEN51+ fabric built with a PFAS-free water-repellent finish that provides optimal strength, breathability, and thermal protection,” he says. The gear has thermoplastic zippers, STEDSHIELD® FR reinforced elbows, cuff warmer pockets, and knees with padded inserts, reinforced boot cuffs, and pass-through pockets.

3 Lakeland Fire + Safety makes its wildland PPE jackets, shirts, and pants in either Nomex IIIA or TecaSafe Plus, along with an all-leather wildland glove with Nomex wristlet. (Photo 3 courtesy of Lakeland Fire + Safety.)

4 VIKING Life-Saving Equipment’s VIKING Shield PPE has a Sigma outer shell and a Gore SR moisture barrier liner. (Photo 4 courtesy of VIKING Life-Saving Equipment.)

Fire-Dex also makes Wildland PPE that’s compliant with NFPA 1977 and is available in either a two-piece or coverall version. Herring says the 32-inch Wildland jacket is available in a variety of materials including TECGEN 51, Sigma, Nomex, and WestTech DH. “The jacket has an inner zipper and outer hook-and-loop closure, a throat tab, two utility loops on the pockets, and a utility hook-and-loop on the chest and cuffs,” he says. “The pants have a zipper fly with snap closure, elastic on the sides of the waistband, belt loops, leather knee reinforcement, 1

Muri Assunção
New York Daily News
(TNS)

An Upstate New York fire chief was fatally electrocuted while responding to a DWI crash in Delaware County this week, officials confirmed Friday.

“It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that the East Branch Fire Department announces the Line of Duty Death of 3rd Assistant Chief Jason McGlone who died of injuries sustained while operating at the scene of an emergency on Thursday,” the department said in a statement.

The 51-year-old was responding to a report of a pickup that hit a utility pole on State Highway 30 in the town of Hancock, on the border of northeast Pennsylvania, around 9:30 p.m., according to a New York State Police spokesperson.

McGlone, a 25-year volunteer with the department, was driving a rescue pumper to the crash when a low-hanging electrical wire struck the top of the firetruck, per a preliminary investigation.

When McGlone exited the truck and touched the metal door while standing on the ground, he was electrocuted, officials said.

Despite immediate life-saving efforts, McGlone was pronounced dead at the scene.

“His death leaves a void,” Fire Chief Rod Keesler told the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin, remembering his friend as “a well-respected and all-around great guy.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul also paid tribute to the volunteer firefighter, who “tragically lost his life” in the line of duty.

“Chief McGlone’s 25 years of service within East Branch, including 15 years as an assistant chief, embodied the courage, commitment and selflessness that define New York’s volunteer firefighters,” Hochuld said Friday. “He represented the very best of what New Yorkers give to their communities in the name of public safety.”

©2025 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Baraboo has been awarded long-awaited federal funding for its future fire and paramedic stations.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Tuesday that the city of Baraboo is receiving a $24 million Rural Development Program loan, which will fund the upcoming Baraboo Area Fire and EMS District stations. A main station will be on the city’s west side, with a satellite facility on the northeast side.

Sleeping quarters, a training area for new responders and five firetruck and ambulance bays will be part of the main facility, which will be about 39,000 square feet and located on a vacant lot owned by the city.

Upcoming Baraboo Fire-EMS main facility

The main Baraboo Area Fire and EMS District station is slated to be about 39,000 square feet and feature five garages. It would be located along Highway 136 at Sauk Avenue.

Upcoming Baraboo Fire-EMS satellite facility

The satellite Baraboo Area Fire and EMS District station is slated to be roughly 12,000 square feet and have three garages. It will be at the intersection of Taft Avenue and 12th Street on the city’s east side.

A smaller, 12,500-square foot satellite facility will feature three bays. The locations were chosen based on call volume for fire and paramedic services, according to Laura Eysnogle, an architect with Five Bugles Design of Eau Claire.

Funding approval was announced after a roughly three-year wait, as the city’s Community Development Authority applied for it in 2023. The funding carries a 40-year repayment plan.

Earlier this year, the city’s Common Council discussed the possibility of needing to apply for general obligation bonds to cover the costs due to uncertainty surrounding federal dollars.

“This marks a major milestone in our efforts to enhance emergency services for the city, village and surrounding towns,” Baraboo Area Fire and EMS District EMS Chief Caleb Johnson said. “We firmly believe these new facilities will have a positive impact for the communities.”

Currently, the district operates from a downtown Baraboo building at 135 4th Street, which was built in 1868 and added to in 1957. Baraboo Area Fire and EMS District serves the city, village of West Baraboo and surrounding rural townships.

“Securing the loan approval from the USDA is certainly a big milestone, but there are still several steps that need to be completed in order to bring the new stations to fruition,” Baraboo Mayor Rob Nelson said.

WEB_ONLY_#22851_042625_BAR_Baraboo fire stations

Estimates in 2023 put the cost of the project at between $22.4 million to $24.8 million. Once bids are received, the city will have a “much firmer grasp” on costs and any additional needed financing, according to Nelson.

The city’s Common Council will put the project out for bid on Tuesday, with a groundbreaking this fall, “if all goes smoothly,” according to Nelson. The city and surrounding communities have until next May to break ground on the stations or they would need to resubmit designs to the USDA and Wisconsin Department of Safety and Public Services.

“We look forward to continuing this p