The Tonawanda (NY) Fire Department received state funds for equipment and building upgrades, New York State Assemblyman Bill Conrad announced recently.

A portion of the $250,000 grant covered the purchase of 30 new Motorola APX 6000 portable radios for fire personnel, as well as renovations for the bunk room and shower spaces of the William Street headquarters, enhancements to two of the city’s volunteer fire companies’ kitchens and more, spectrumlocalnews.com reported.

“I secured $250,000 for the city of Tonawanda Fire Department‘s capital needs: all new radios to help firefighters work more safely and effectively, remodeled accommodations to enhance privacy for women firefighters, and updates to kitchen equipment,” Conrad said in a Facebook post.

“Chief Joe Briggs and his firefighters are a precious asset here in the city of Tonawanda, where residents can rely on their rapid, skilled responses in all manner of emergencies,” the post said. “It is with this acknowledgement and gratitude that I feel privileged every day to help support our first responders.”

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A driver plowed into an Indianapolis Fire Department vehicle responding on a run Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, the department said in a press release.

The incident at 38th and Georgetown Road occurred as two IFD vehicles (EDON and BC07) were approaching from the east on 38th Street, headed to a working fire at 3201 Voight Drive.

The red EDO vehicle was preparing to turn left (south) onto Georgetown Road and cleared the intersection. All westbound lanes were at a stop. The officer/driver of the IFD vehicle was running emergent with red lights and sirens activated.

The woman, 26, driving a Toyota Camry, was headed east on 38th and went through the lanes of stopped traffic at a high rate of speed.  She continued into the intersection and connected with the EDO vehicle at the passenger side rear panel.  

The impact vaulted the EDO vehicle into the air and spun it 180-degrees. It landed on the windshield of a Ford Fusion, sitting at the light on Georgetown Road, impacting directly above the steering wheel.  The 18-year-old male driver in the Fusion was unhurt but understandably frightened. 

The incident was witnessed by an Indianapolis Metro police officer, who was stopped a the light, and by IFD BC7, who was behind the EDO, also running red lights and sirens.

The woman was transported to Eskenazi Hospital with slight injuries.

The IFD officer driving the EDO (EMS duty officer) vehicle was given a preliminary breath test on scene (per protocol) and it registered a 00.00. He was checked at the scene and released. He was wearing a seatbelt. 

IMPD is investigating.  

IFD units arrived to the residence fire on Voight at 1:20 PM and found smoke showing from a single-story residence. Heavy involvement to the garage area with hoarder conditions inside. The fire was ma

The Kern County Fire Department is the recipient of a $90,500 grant to purchase new extrication equipment, the department said in a press release.

Kern County was awarded the grant from the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for new emergency response equipment.

Known as the HURST “Jaws of Life,” firefighters use these specialized tools to safely rescue crash victims trapped inside a vehicle. Delays in providing care to crash victims negatively impacts the “golden hour” of survival, a core principle in the emergency medical services industry.

Reducing the time it takes to get to the patient, treat what can be treated, and transport the patient to the hospital helps increase the chance for recovery.

“The acquisition of new tools and training directly enhances our ability to protect the community,” said Chief Aaron Duncan. “The investments we are able to make, through the use of OTS grant funds, strengthens the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of our firefighters in the field.”

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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This Episode of the Apparatus Workshop focuses on the topic of reserve apparatus and the evolving challenges fire departments face in maintaining their fleets. Nick Wilbur, Win Slauch, and Tom Shand discussed how agencies can respond effectively amid increasing out-of-service times, parts shortages, and extended apparatus life cycles. The Podcast is brought to by our friends at Rescue Intelllitech and TheFireStore.

ISO

The conversation opened by revisiting ISO’s recommendation: one reserve engine per eight frontline engines, with a similar standard for ladders and service companies. However, Shand noted this is a minimal benchmark, rooted historically in standards set by the National Board of Fire Underwriters from mid-20th century practices. Modern realities demand a tailored approach. For example, agencies running high call volumes—10 to 15 or more runs per day—cannot expect to maintain service reliability with reserves at just 12.5%.

Fleet data plays a crucial role here. Departments must benchmark uptime percentages and carefully analyze why units go out of service. Is it rigorous PM schedules due to heavy use, or age-related breakdowns? When average uptime falls short of the aspirational 90%, it signals a need to increase reserves or explore alternative solutions. The ISO ratio provides a helpful starting point, but fire departments have to answer practical questions relevant to their unique operational tempo and mission profiles.

Reserve Apparatus Role

Understand what “reserve” truly means for a department. In many cases, particularly among volunteer or combination departments, an engine counted as reserve one day might be a frontline unit the next—backfilled by mutual aid or automatic aid agreements. This complicates fleet planning and ISO ratings.

Moreover, reserves serve more than just emergency response. Training requirements, special events, and secondary missions such as EMS surge capacity must factor into fleet numbers. Planning should consider such competing demands to avoid underestimating reserve needs. “Shell games” of shuffling rigs to cover various missions may maintain short-term viability but can stress resources and personnel.

Flexibility and Innovation

The hosts underscored that fire departments cannot rely solely on traditional apparatus acquisition strategies. The ongoing challenges with production lead times, parts availability, and increasing technology demands mean agencies must improvise and adapt.

A few examples stood out in the podcast discussion:

• Agencies purchasing stock or demonstrator apparatus to quickly bolster their reserves rather than waiting extended periods for custom builds.
• Innovative vehicle concepts like Atlanta’s “alternative response vehicles,” removing expensive aerials but adding ladder tunnels and ground ladders to meet critical operational needs affordably and with faster turnaround.
• Shared reserve units among neighboring departments to spread costs, maintenance burdens, and enhance regional re

For years, the fire service has been using thermal imaging equipment to search for victims in structure fires. On some occasions, it is called on to aid in the search for victims lost outdoors.

This month’s article will focus on using handheld and airborne thermal imagers (TIs) for urban search and rescue (USAR) .

HANDHELD

Using a handheld fire service TI for USAR can be highly effective because of its ability to detect heat signatures in complex environments. Here are some key considerations and best practices:

1. Understanding the equipment:
   • Thermal imaging: Detects heat differences, allowing rescuers to locate victims hidden by debris or rubble or in low visibility.
   • Resolution and sensitivity: Higher resolution and thermal sensitivity improve detection capabilities, especially in cluttered urban settings.
2. Preparation and planning:
   • Familiarize with the device: Prior training on the specific model ensures effective use.
   • Scene assessment: Analyze the environment to identify potential heat sources, entry points, and hazards.
   • Coordinate with team: Establish search patterns and communication protocols.
3. Search techniques:
   • Systematic scanning: Use grid or sector searches to ensure thorough coverage.
   • Elevation and angle: Adjust the angle and height of the TI to maximize visibility into debris and hidden areas.
   • Movement and observation: Move slowly and steadily; observe for heat signatures that stand out from background temperatures.
   • Multiple passes: Revisit areas, as heat signatures can change over time or be obscured by fallen trees and debris.
4. Operational tips:
   • Background temperature consideration: Be aware of ambient temperature changes that may affect detection, as the cooler the background, the greater the heat signature, the greater for thermal distance.
   • Identify heat signatures: Look for human-sized heat sources that are consistent and mobile. You don’t have to detect the entire victim; perhaps you detect the heat signature from an arm or leg of the person lying in deep grass or behind a tree.
   • Distinguish false positives: Recognize other heat sources such as rocks, trees, and other hot surfaces caused by solar loading from the sun and reflections caused by water.
5. Safety and limitations:
   • Maintain safety protocols: Always prioritize personal safety, especially in unstable terrain.
   • Limitations: TIs cannot see through thick foliage or debris—i.e. rocks; they detect surface heat, so victims may be concealed or cooled. Victims cannot be seen underwater, as I/R cannot penetrate below the water’s surface.
   • Environmental factors: Weather pertaining to rain, snow, fog, or bright sunny days can affect thermal readings.
6. Post-detection actions:
   • Verification: Confirm potential victims with secondary methods if possible.
   • Mark and document: Mark locations of heat signatures for rescue teams.
   • Continuous monitoring: Keep observing the area for changes or new heat signatures.

1 The location of a person using a fire service TI with Hot Area Detector. (Photo courtesy of Bullard.)

2 An airborne application where three searchers are directed tow