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Posted: May 13, 2025

The Apparatus Workshop: Heavy Rescues

This podcast highlights the essential considerations involved in configuring rescue squads to meet the needs of specific emergency response contexts effectively. By thoroughly evaluating mission deliverables, personnel availability, equipment weight allowances, and collaborative mutual aid options, departments can make the best decisions regarding their apparatus configuration. The conversations surrounding these topics not only promote efficient decisions but ultimately aim to enhance the overall effectiveness and safety of emergency responders while serving their communities.

Understanding the mission is crucial for configuring your vehicle effectively. Will the squad primarily respond to vehicle extrications, water rescues, tech rescues, or a combination thereof? Departments specializing mainly in extrications may be best served by a walk-around vehicle that allows quick access to essential tools. In contrast, teams often engaged in specialized rescue efforts may better benefit from a tandem axle walk-in unit designed for storing heavier and more specialized gear.

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Posted: May 13, 2025

IAFF Enters Fire Apparatus Conversation with Letter to FTC

The American Economic Liberties Project (AELP) and International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) have written a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Andrew Ferguson; Pam Bondi, Attorney General; and Gail Slater, Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, requesting that the FTC “investigate and take action against consolidation in fire and emergency vehicle manufacturers.”

The letter also asks the FTC to look into other fire service products it claims have been impacted by consolidation trends, citing costs for self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and dispatching software.

The letter suggests that the FTC investigate topics including:

  • National and regional consolidation trends.
  • National and regional market shares of the top firms in each industry.
  • If transactions have been followed by an increased rate of price increases.
  • If transactions have been followed by reduction in production capacity or longer delivery delays.

“We urge the DOJ and FTC to launch investigations immediately and bring appropriate enforcement actions accordingly,” the letter concludes.

The post IAFF Enters Fire Apparatus Conversation with Letter to FTC appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Posted: May 13, 2025

Editor’s Opinion: I Made the Big One

Editor’s Opinion | Chris Mc Loone

No lie—the hardest part of my job is deciding what to write each month in this column. Do I reminisce? Do I try to make it a lesson? Do I call out something in the issue? To be honest, what I’ve been thinking about most recently is “the big one.”

Back in February, my fire company, and more than 60 others over the course of a week, responded to a fire at an industrial facility in our first due. I’ve been in my fire company for almost 32 years now. During that time, I’ve responded there on any number of occasions for automatic fire alarms, machines on fire, chemical exposures, etc. I don’t think it would be inaccurate to say that over the years, a major fire in this facility was always in the back of our minds.

The company was founded more than 100 years ago and, over time, the original structure has been added onto numerous times, creating a very expansive facility. As we arrived on location, we knew, not only from reports prior to our arrival but also from what we saw in front of us, that this was a working fire.

I’m not going to get into the operations at the fire, the lines laid, or the complexity of the job here. As you might expect, as I write this, the final report has not been issued. But, like many firefighters who respond to such incidents, I’ve spent a decent amount of time thinking about the event overall, my actions during it, and postincident responses.

Like many facilities built more than 100 years ago, the location of this complex is in an area that was mostly fields with a creek and railroad tracks behind it. Today, there are residences, ball fields, and commercial businesses surrounding the complex. Obviously, over the years, the response area changed quite a bit and so has our response planning to it.

A number of things stand out to me about the incident. First, it is an excellent case study for drone usage at such a scene. The police department drones were requested and deployed early in the incident, allowing the incident commander (IC) to track the fire’s progression and determine where master streams were being most effective. During overhaul, the drones helped not only direct master streams but also used installed thermal imaging cameras that picked up the hot spots.

Resources beyond the norm are also what stand out to me. The IC ended up requesting available resources from refineries. He looked into airport resources and what might be available from the Philadelphia (PA) Fire Department. One refinery sent a monitor capable of flowing up to 4,000 gallons per minute. And, this incident is the first one I can remember in Glenside, Pennsylvania, where the county’s fieldcomm unit responded.

What also stand out to me are postincident responses. As I said, when the factory was founded, fields, for the most part, surrounded it. Today, there is an entire residential neighborhood around it as well as businesses. We drove past this facility for years and years, but an incident of this magnitude hadn’t occurred. Neighbors understandably have been on edge, and there have been numerous responses to the site since the IC placed the fire under control, mostly for odors. It’s more important now than ever for us all to remember that these folks are not only neighboring the facility, but they are also our neighbors, and we have to be patient with them as they try to get their lives back to normal after evacuation or shelter-in-place orders.

And, of course, it is weird for me to think that I made the big one. In 1991 and 1992, there were two large fires in my district-one in a supermarket and the other in a church. They were “the big ones” before this fire, and while I knew it was possible, I never thought there would be another one like them. I’m grateful for the experience but will be fine if I don’t make the n

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Posted: May 13, 2025

Honolulu (HI) EMS Ambulance Out of Commission After Head-On Crash

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

A city ambulance responding to a 911 call this morning was hit head-on by another vehicle on Waialua Beach Road on Oahu’s North Shore, according to Honolulu Emergency Medical Services.

EMS officials said just before 9 a.m., the ambulance was headed to the call, with lights and sirens on, when it was struck head-on by a sedan.

The car driver, an 83-year-old man, allegedly attempted to pass another vehicle and crossed a double-solid line before crashing into the ambulance, EMS officials said.

Paramedics treated the man who declined transport to the hospital. A 50-year-old paramedic in the ambulance sustained minor injuries and also declined transport, EMS said.

A second EMS unit was dispatched to handle the original emergency call.

The damaged EMS vehicle is now out of service and will be replaced by.

“Honolulu EMS urges drivers to yield to emergency vehicles using lights and sirens, ” EMS officials said in a statement.

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The post Honolulu (HI) EMS Ambulance Out of Commission After Head-On Crash appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Posted: May 13, 2025

Montgomery (AL) Unveils $19M Fire Station, the Largest in the City

Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed, the Montgomery City Council, and Montgomery Fire/Rescue officially opened Fire Station 10 Friday, May 9, 2025—marking a major milestone in the city’s ongoing Montgomery Forward initiative and reaffirming its commitment to revitalizing West Montgomery.

Located near the corner of Court Street and Fairview Avenue, Fire Station 10 is now the largest fire station in Montgomery and will directly serve residents and businesses in Districts 4 and 7. The $19 million facility is a cornerstone project of Montgomery Forward—a citywide investment plan to modernize essential infrastructure and strengthen public services in historically underserved areas.

“This fire station is more than a building—it’s a symbol of progress, safety, and equity,” said Mayor Steven L. Reed. “It will enhance emergency response times, support the growth of West Montgomery, and demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that every neighborhood receives the resources and respect it deserves.”

The state-of-the-art facility houses advanced firefighting and emergency medical response equipment, along with upgraded living quarters, training areas, and vehicle bays that support larger apparatus and quicker deployment. Fire Station 10 will serve as a regional hub for Montgomery Fire/Rescue operations and provide support across a wide coverage area.

Fire Chief Miford Jordan, who began his career with Montgomery Fire/Rescue in 1985 and became the department’s first Black Fire Chief in 2006, emphasized the station’s strategic importance and long-term impact.

“This firestation represents more than just brick and mortar. It’s a symbol of our growth, our progress, and our commitment to serve Montgomery with the very best fire and EMS service possible.” said Chief Jordan. 

Fire Station 10 is also the first fire station in the city of Montgomery to have a Safe Haven Baby Box installed. The box allows parents to anonimously and safely surrender infants. The boxes are accessible from the outside of the building with an alarm that alerts first responders that a baby has been placed inside.

“The goal is to end unsafe or illegal abandonment of infants,” said Chief Jordan. “The state of Alabama allows parents to surrender unharmed infants up to 45 days after birth.”

The opening of Fire Station 10 follows a series of community-focused investments as part of the Montgomery Forward bond initiative, including recent multi-million dollar renovations at the Crump, Chisholm, and Sheridan Heights Community Centers. The initiative prioritizes neighborhood development, public safety, and equitable infrastructure across Montgomery.

“This is what Montgomery Forward looks like. It’s not just a slogan—it’s a strategy,” Mayor Reed remarked. “It’s not just about building buildings—it’s about building trust, equity, and momentum.”

Montgomery Gets Two New EMS Rescue Units

Montgomery Fire/Rescue is pleased to announce Rescue 86 and Rescue 87 as new units in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) division.

These two units are strategically located at 405 South Holt Street (Rescue 86) and 2801 Selma Hwy (Rescue 87) respectively.

With over 40,000 emergency medical calls responded to annually, the addition of these units will help mitigate some of the response volume for units across the city.

The dedication and commit

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