Ashland (OR) Fire & Rescue has made a decision to purchase a $700,000 fire engine the department’s fire chief has deemed an essential purchase, according to a report published by Mail Tribune.

According to the report, the department’s backup engine is a heavy brush truck and the town’s primary engine, a 1,500-gpm pumper, has been off line in need of various repairs and the chief fears it  will soon fail completely.

The chief has already been in touch with Hughes Fire Equipment, a Pierce dealer in Oregon, and learned the dealership had three engines available that met the departments needs but two were sold, according to the report, which required the city to act immediately to get the one remaining engine.

Although city councilors expressed some reservations about spending the city’s contingency funds, they voted for the expense and the city can expect the new truck to be delivered by December, according to the report.

REV Group, Inc. (NYSE: REVG), which includes specialty vehicle manufacturer Horton Emergency Vehicles, announces Mike Albers has joined Horton as Vice President and General Manager. Reporting to Anoop Prakash, President, REV Ambulance Division, Albers oversees Horton’s manufacturing facility, aftermarket parts, service and state-of-the-art REV Remount Center based in Grove City, Ohio.

With over 25 years of operations, supply chain and product management expertise in manufacturing and industrial environments, Albers most recently served as the General Manager at Monroe Towmaster LLC, a division of Monroe Truck Equipment Company, where he had full P&L responsibility for multiple manufacturing sites in Litchfield, MN. Prior to Monroe Towmaster, Mike held progressive leadership roles with Load King, SFI, Olympic Steel and served eight years in the U.S. Air Force.

“We are delighted to welcome Mike to the team to build on the tremendous Horton legacy and lead the organization in its next phase of growth,” stated Anoop Prakash, President, REV Ambulance Division. “Mike brings with him deep operational experience, a collaborative leadership style, and a passion for quality, and I am confident Horton will exceed our dealer and customers’ expectations under his leadership.”

Albers holds a bachelor’s degree in Management/Logistics from Park University in Parkville, MO and is a Six Sigma Black Belt professional.

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 three segments: Fire & Emergency, Commercial, and Recreation. They provide customized vehicle solutions for applications, including essential needs for public services (ambulances, fire apparatus, school buses, and transit buses), commercial infrastructure (terminal trucks and industrial sweepers), and consumer leisure (recreational vehicles). REV Group’s diverse 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

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™.

SVI Trucks—Olive Township Fire Rescue, Ottawa County, MI, walk-in medium rescue. Freightliner M2 cab and chassis; Cummins L9 350-hp engine; 18-foot walk-in rescue body; Command Light Knight KL415A-W2 with 122,625 lumens light tower; Onan Protect 20-kW generator; walk-in crew area with custom storage cabinets; OnScene Solutions heavy-duty cargo slides. Dealer: The Fire Company, Allendale, MI.

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This Webcast covers the process for establishing need, performing evaluations, and selecting firefighting PPE ensemble elements–coat, pant, helmet, hood, gloves, and boots. It will also explore the certification aspects and tests of NFPA 1971 and 1851, product acquisition, committee/evaluator selection and involvement, staged and live fire evolutions, evaluation criteria, composite layering, fabrics, fibers, PFAS, and emerging issues relating to bunker gear. Actual evaluations and criteria used to acquire products will be presented.

Jim Reidy was a Lieutenant on Ladder 46 for the San Antonio Texas Fire Department (SAFD) where he was a Firefighter for 33 years. He was also an Assistant Safety Officer and was the SAFD Quartermaster in 2018. He was involved in PPE for 30 of his 33 years and served as Co- Chairman of the SAFD/Local 624 PPE Committee. Jim is a member of the NFPA 1971-1851 Committee representing the Texas State Association of Firefighters. He currently is the 1971 Helmet Task Group Chair. He serves on the Texas Commission on Fire Protection Firefighter Advisory Committee as a member and past Chairman.

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We bring this mission to life through a relentless focus on listening to customer needs, countless hours spent on R&D and product testing, and a never-ending commitment to product quality. Visit us for more information at www.MSAfire.com.

Three firefighters were injured Wednesday at a wildland fire in Hood County started by welding sparks.

Two firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion. A third firefighter had to be airlifted to Parkland Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation and burns to his face and arms. All three are recovering from their injuries.

The fire, started Wednesday by a welder, quickly grew to 300 acres in the Tolar area. Firefighters planned to continue working the fire on Thursday.

Cresson Volunteer Fire Department reported that its brush truck stalled at the fire scene and, with the fire approaching, firefighters retreated to a safe area. Another truck picked them up and assisted them to safety.