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Posted: May 8, 2025

Norwalk (CT) FD Adds Blocker Vehicle for Accident Scenes

The Norwalk (CT) Fire Department is located in Fairfield County in the southern portion of the state. The city is 36 square miles with a population of approximately 91,000. The department operates from five fire stations located around the city.

The department has five engines, two trucks, and one heavy rescue, as well as numerous spare and reserve apparatus.

The city has several main arteries running through it: Interstate 95, Route 7, and Route 15, also known as the Merritt Parkway.

Side view of chassis, body, and attenuator in the stowed position.

In the summer of 2024, Assistant Chief of Operations Edward McCabe began the process of looking into a blocking vehicle to use on these various roads. “The department held a meeting with the administrative staff to look into purchasing a vehicle that could be used to provide a safer alternative for its firefighters operating at an accident scene.

There were more than a dozen incidents of errant cars and trucks hitting fire, state police, and Department of Transportation (DOT) trucks, and sometimes personnel in 2024.

Rear view of vehicle showing attenuator down and deployed.

“We also found that even with emergency scene lighting in use that fire vehicles and emergency service vehicles were still being hit by inattentive drivers.”

In the past, the department would send a second engine to the scene to use as a blocking unit. By doing so, the department was taking that unit out of service making it unavailable to respond to other alarms should they occur, McCabe says.

“This practice was being used across the country with some departments having a spare engine used as a blocker unit with an attenuator installed at the rear,” McCabe says. “The attenuator frame is designed to absorb the impact of a vehicle traveling up to 62 miles an hour. Most of us have seen DOT vehicles on the road with this apparatus installed for the protection of its workers.”

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Posted: May 8, 2025

Longmont (CO) FD Adds 100-Foot Midmount Ladder Truck

The Longmont (CO) Fire Department honored a traditional, ceremonial event recently when it celebrated the arrival and official commissioning of a new ladder truck. Following the “push-in” event, this truck went into service in the Longmont community.

The tradition dates to the era of horse-drawn fire engines, when firefighters would manually push the apparatus back into the firehouse after a call. Even with motorized vehicles, the practice continues as a symbolic gesture.

The Longmont Fire Department said the following about the new rig in a Facebook post in March:

“The Longmont Fire Department is excited to announce the arrival of a new, state-of-the-art ladder truck – a Pierce Ascendant 100′ midmount aerial, which is expected to begin serving residents in early Spring.

“Crews are currently training on this 100-foot ladder truck. This is the first midmount aerial for the Longmont Fire Department which features innovative rear-steer technology. This means that the new ladder truck has a tighter turning radius, allowing crews to access locations for response and rescue operations in the city’s tightest streets.

“Some fun facts about this truck:
• There is a Colorado flag in the front grill if you look closely.
• This ladder truck sits over 12″ lower than the height of prior ladder trucks.
• This truck is different from all previous ladder trucks because the ladder pivots in the center of the truck instead of the rear.
• This truck’s communication headsets are Bluetooth-enabled, so they can be worn outside the vehicle. This allows for better crew communication on scene while working around and on the ladder.
• Why are the words tower on the side of the truck? Because it is a tower ladder. This means that it has a platform to carry four firefighters at the top of the ladder.
• What fuels this vehicle? This truck has a diesel engine.
• Longmont Fire has 30 staff who can drive this vehicle. You do not need a special license, but you do need additional training.
• The tires for this truck are 44″ inches tall and the entire vehicle is 44′ feet 3″ long, and weighs nearly 70,000 lbs.

“With other fire vehicles nearing the end of their life cycle, the Longmont Fire Department is grateful to the Longmont community and city council for supporting the purchase of this new vehicle. Its expected lifespan is 20 years.”

Specifications

ChassisEnforcer™
BodyAscendant® 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower
Actual Overall Height11′ 4″
EngineCummins X15
Horsepower605 hp
Front SuspensionRead more
Posted: May 8, 2025

Cobb County (GA) Celebrates Grand Opening of $23M Fire Training Complex

Jack Lindner
Marietta Daily Journal, Ga.
(TNS)

MARIETTA — It was the beginning of a new era Tuesday for the Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services with the opening of their newly renovated $23 million training complex.

Trainees now have access to three new buildings to conduct training in addition to a renovated main academy building.

Firefighters will conduct real-world training exercises in the facility’s two-story burn building, as well as their 6-story smoke tower. The third building hosts fire simulation training facilities and classrooms, according to Fire Chief Michael Cunningham.

Each new facility is located at the department’s training complex, located at 2109 Valor Drive, in Marietta, just off County Services Parkway.

The department celebrated the “momentous occasion,” as Cunningham put it, with an open house Tuesday, complete with a cook-out lunch with hamburgers and hot dogs.

“These improvements are more than just bricks and steel and concrete,” Cunningham said. “They represent our continued commitment to excellence and training and preparedness in public safety. With these enhancements, we are now equipped to provide more realistic, rigorous and modern training environments for our firefighters.”

The project has been years in the making, according to Steve Lester, Cobb Fire’s division chief of training.

Originally, the complex was the training grounds for both the Cobb Police and Fire departments, before the police department moved off the property to open their own training facility in 2020.

After the police’s departure, county officials began an immediate renovation project proposal to update and expand the aging training complex, Lester said.

Phase 1 of the project, completed in 2022, saw updates and renovations to the main academy building. The $5 million project was funded through the 2016 SPLOST budget, according to Lester.

The 2022 SPLOST provided an additional $18 million in funding to complete Phase 2 of the project, which included constructing the burn building, smoke tower and additional classroom building.

“The buildings you see before you on these training grounds are the result of two years of planning and hard work,” Lester said.

According to Lester, Phase 3 of the project will construct a multi-purpose building to replace the Cobb County Police firing range. Construction is set to begin after the police department’s new range is completed in November. The cost of Phase 3 is included in the $18 million budget that funded Phase 2, according to the county.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners joined the hundreds of Cobb Fire officials, trainees and family members at the facility’s grand opening.

Chairwoman Lisa Cupid told the crowd she was impressed with the final product, saying the renovations are a “long time coming.”

“The amount of work is truly amazing,” Cupid said. “We could not do this without the support of our citizens … Without (the SPLOST) program, this upgrade to this facility and future upgrades would not be possible, so we thank you for participating in this group project of keeping Cobb County safe.”

During his own speech, Cunningham took a moment to thank Cobb residents for their investment in public safety.

Posted: May 7, 2025

Frontline Communications Mobile Command Center and Crisis Negotiation Vehicles Advance Harford County (MD) Operations

The advanced mobile command solutions, delivered through Atlantic Emergency Solutions, enhance emergency response, intelligence gathering, and crisis negotiation capabilities.

APPLETON, Wis. (May 7, 2025) – Frontline Communications, a division of Pierce Manufacturing, Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) business, announced the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the Harford County Department of Emergency Services in Bel Air, Maryland, have taken delivery of a new Frontline™ Communications C-45X-4 Mobile Command Center and a Crisis Negotiation Vehicle. These advanced vehicles, delivered through Frontline Communications dealer Atlantic Emergency Solutions, mark a significant upgrade to both agencies’ operational capabilities, providing state-of-the-art platforms for emergency response, law enforcement coordination, and community engagement.

The mobile command center serves as a shared resource for emergency services across Harford County. Designed for barricaded incidents, critical missing persons cases, and large-scale community events, the command center provides a centralized hub for real-time intelligence and decision-making.

Built on a Freightliner M2-112 chassis and powered by a 25kW generator, the 44’ 7” mobile command vehicle features four slide-out sections, seven dedicated workstations, and a full conference room in the front. The communications area is equipped to support all deployed resources, providing clear communication and coordination during live operations. Integrated technology includes live drone feeds and body camera footage streaming directly into the command center, enabling commanders to assess situations as they unfold.

“We’ve taken a 100 percent leap forward in technology with this new mobile command center,” said Lieutenant Craig Blessing of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. “Upgrading from our previous system to LEO Satellite and Dejero Gateway LTE connectivity has transformed our ability to operate in areas where we previously had no internet access. This vehicle allows us to gather intelligence efficiently, share real-time updates, and enhance situational awareness across multiple specialized teams.”

Crisis Negotiation Vehicle Expands Tactical Capabilities

In addition to the mobile command vehicle, Harford County has taken delivery of a Frontline Communications Sprinter C-20 Crisis Negotiation Vehicle. This specialized unit supports crisis negotiation teams by providing a dedicated environment for negotiators, mental health professionals, and intelligence officers to collaborate effectively.

The vehicle features two dedicated workstations, an interview room, and an officer workstation. Its technology package includes a Dejero 3 Modem Gateway with integrated Starlink, ensuring seamless communication in critical situations. By separating intelligence gathering from direct negotiations, the unit enhances real-time information sharing between the negotiator and their support team, improving response efficiency in high-risk situations.

Advanced Technology and Customization

Both vehicles are equipped with industry-leading communications and intelligence tools, including:

  • Kymeta flat panel satellite antenna and Cradlepoint 5G FirstNet-ready cellular router for uninterrupted connectivity.
  • Extron 32×32 video switcher, public address system, and multiple high-resolution displays for real-time coordination.
  • WTI Viper HD IP mast camera with 30x zoom, body camera and drone feed integration, and an Axis perimeter camera system for enhanced situational awareness.<
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Posted: May 7, 2025

Parsippany (NJ) to Hold Quadruple Fire Apparatus Wet Down Ceremony

Join three New Jersey fire departments for a quadruple wet down ceremony featuring four brand new fire apparatus from E-ONE Fire Trucks (Official Site) and Absolute Fire Protection Co. Inc., the Mount Tabor Volunteer Fire Department said in a Facebook post.

The celebration will be 4-9 p.m. Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 6 Century Drive in Parsippany, New Jersey.

The departments receiving new equipment are:

Lake Parsippany Volunteer Fire Company District 3 (New engine)

Parsippany Troy-Hills Fire District 6 (New tower ladder)

Mount Tabor Volunteer Fire Department (New engine and tower ladder)

The post Parsippany (NJ) to Hold Quadruple Fire Apparatus Wet Down Ceremony appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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