The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and the International Fire Service Training Association at Fire Protection Publications, Oklahoma State University (IFSTA/FPP/OSU) announced that Gerry N. Bassett has been selected as the 2016 Dr. Anne W. Phillips Leadership in Fire Safety Education Award recipient. Mr. Bassett is the recently retired Public Education and Training Program Management Chair at the National Fire Academy (NFA).

There was a core group of individuals post-America Burning who would influence fire and life safety education in this country for the next 40 years. Gerry Bassett was one of those individuals. Gerry was at the National Fire Academy when its doors first opened. He worked every day to fulfill the spirit of Dr. Phillips’ minority report to America Burning by promoting fire prevention. The courses he envisioned and shepherded through development and delivery at the NFA have advanced the work of countless fire and life safety educators.

His passion for risk reduction and life safety changed thousands of lives, both professionally and personally. Tens of thousands of people live in communities where NFA fire prevention and community risk reduction experiences established by Mr. Bassett influence fire department management priorities.

Gerry’s success can be attributed to his leadership ability and his skill in bringing together the right people to develop courses. In the fire service, embracing change is both difficult and essential in order to meet the needs of our communities. Gerry was extremely effective as a change agent in a national leadership role.

Gerry created classes and programs for officials from other disciplines within the fire service to embrace and promote "community" risk reduction. The term alone references that it does indeed "take a village" of public safety professionals to ensure the highest safety and welfare of the public. Gerry's vision to integrate fire inspectors, educators, fire chiefs, and firefighters into his classes reinforces the idea that all of us in the fire service have a role to play in true community risk reduction. During his tenure at NFA, the curriculum progressed from offering basic fire safety education to advancing courses in community risk reduction. Gerry consistently offered classes that kept pace with an evolving public education and community risk reduction arena.

Bill Jenaway, CFSI President, Craig Hannan, Director of Fire Protection Publications at OSU, and Mike Wieder, IFSTA Executive Director issued a joint statement honoring the 2016 recipient. “It was quickly evident, in reviewing the nominations for the Anne Phillips Award, that Gerry’s work at NFA influenced each of the other nominees own contributions to public safety education. His selection recognizes his significant contribution to educating fire safety educators and to insuring that fire prevention is included in the NFA programs that have influenced fire service leaders across America.”

Recognizing IFSTA's support of the program, Jenaway extended his thanks to IFSTA/FPP and Oklahoma State University. "On behalf of my fellow board members, including Louis J. Amabili who served with Dr. Phillips on the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, I extend my personal thanks to IFSTA/FPP/OSU for its continued suppo

Pierce Manufacturing announced an order for 15 Pierce fire and emergency apparatus from Clackamas Fire District #1 in Oregon. The purchase includes six Pierce® Dash® CF custom pumpers, two Pierce Arrow XT™ aerial tillers, three Pierce tankers, two Pierce Type 3 wildland apparatus, one Pierce Arrow XT heavy-duty rescue, and one Pierce air-light heavy-duty rescue.

APPLETON, W—Pierce Manufacturing Inc. has announced an order for 15 Pierce fire and emergency apparatus from the Clackamas County (OR) Fire District #1. The purchase includes six Pierce® Dash® CF custom pumpers, two Pierce Arrow XT™ aerial tillers, three Pierce 3,000-gallon tankers, two Pierce Type 3 wildland apparatus, one Pierce Arrow XT heavy-duty rescue, and one Pierce air-light heavy-duty rescue. Once the new vehicles are delivered, Clackamas will have a 100 percent front-line Pierce fleet, and the six new Dash CF pumpers will join two others already in service with the department.

“Pierce builds fire and emergency apparatus of all types and capabilities to help our customers achieve the highest level of performance, and then we back them up with unmatched service and support,” says Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president of the Fire & Emergency segment and Pierce Manufacturing. “It’s especially gratifying to see this very busy and highly regarded department become a 100 percent front line Pierce fleet, centered around the game-changing Dash CF apparatus.”

“Having these new apparatus join our department is very good for both our community and our firefighters,” says Ryan Hari, deputy chief at Clackamas County. “They will enhance our response capabilities and are real morale boosters—demonstrating to our employees that the community is investing not only in them but in the equipment they use to do their jobs.”

The six Pierce Dash CF pumpers each feature a Detroit DD13 470-hp engine, TAK-4® independent front suspension, and the PUC pump configuration. “We’ll soon have eight frontline Dash CF PUC pumpers,” says Hari. “The outward visibility is unlike any other apparatus, and, being lower to the ground, the Dash CF offers excellent ergonomics and easy access. Pierce has done quite a bit to make these vehicles user-friendly and safer for firefighters.” 

The two Pierce Arrow XT 100-foot aerial tillers are designed to navigate the many narrow roads in the district’s older communities as well as the roundabouts and cul-de-sacs found in many of the newer communities. These apparatus each feature TAK-4 independent suspension, Command Zone advanced electronics, a 300-gallon water tank, a full complement of ground ladders, and blue LED lighting along the entire length of the aerial device.

Other vehicles on order include a Pierce Arrow XT heavy-duty rescue with a Detroit DD13 525-hp engine, TAK-4 independent front suspension and TAK-4 T3 independent suspension on the tandem rear axles for enhanced maneuverability and greater ride comfort. A second heavy-duty rescue vehicle is a Pier