Salina, KS—Mike Weis is proud to announce the recapitalization of Weis Fire & Safety and Draft Commander led by B12 Capital Partners.

Mike Weis, along with his father Gary, and Gary’s wife Char, have devoted themselves to providing quality products and services to fire departments across the nation. Recapitalizing the business allows Gary and Char to start the next chapter of their life–retirement.

With the recapitalization, Mike remains in the ownership group and continues as President of the new Weis Fire and Safety Equipment, LLC. He will be joined by David Hansen, the new CEO, who brings over 35 years of manufacturing leadership experience.

“Our goal with this partnership is to provide a stronger sales and marketing presence for Weis Fire and Draft Commander,” says Weiss. “Our existing customers can rest assured that our quality, customer service and business philosophy are not changing. We strive for no disruptions to operations during the transition.”

Michael Wedel, of B12 Capital Partners notes, “We are very excited to be partnering with Mike and thank Gary and Char for all they have done for the fire industry. We are committed to working with Mike and the rest of the Weis team to deliver the quality products and superior customer service the market has come to expect.”

Hansen notes, “It’s business as usual for Weis Fire. We have Mike Weis continuing as president. All employees are being retained, and operations will continue right here in Salina. Mike and Gary have done a remarkable job growing this business and it’s an honor to carry on their legacy.”

For more information, visit www.weissfiresafety.com.

Jose Robles said he was abruptly awakened at 2:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 16, by his wife telling him the Bellingham Fire Department was at their door. Their taco truck, Tacos El Tule, was on fire. Robles said it was sheer confusion and commotion when he went outside, and for about 30 seconds, he thought he was just having a nightmare.
- PUB DATE: 8/22/2019 8:04:38 AM - SOURCE: Bellingham Herald

Lieutenant Steven Lawrence, PIO for St. Petersburg Fire Rescue has announced that the department has received three new specialty fire apparatus.

“We have put our ‘new’ high-water/brush truck into service,” he says. “It will be housed at Station 7 and be called Brush 7. The vehicle was bought from the state and fully refurbished to meet our needs, and it has the capability to move 15-20 people and access flooded areas within our city. It’s a 1995 Stewart & Stevenson Standard Cargo truck LMTV, 4×4 with a fully automatic transmission.

“Hazmat Utility 5 was delivered to Station 5. This new utility truck was built on a Ford F-550 chassis with the body and center console custom built by E-ONE in Ocala. Hazmat Utility will respond to the majority of hazmat incidents within St Petersburg. This truck will be able to rapidly respond to incidents throughout St Petersburg and neighboring areas.”

Lawrence continues, “Station 4 welcomed their new heavy rescue. The heavy rescue will support the Technical Rescue Team(TRT) and is able to respond to any technical rescue call within Pinellas County, Florida.”

City firefighters will be paid nearly $1 million in back pay connected to the five-year contract dispute with the city. City Comptroller James E. Mills said Wednesday that the payout for the retro pay and health benefit deductions will be “just a couple of thousand dollars short of $1 million.” The payouts — scheduled to go out on Aug.
- PUB DATE: 8/22/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Watertown Daily Times

“We have a duty to those who put their lives on the line daily,” states southeastchaplaincy.com, a newly formed service and website being stewarded by local Firefighter Chaplain Cole Massey to support first responders in Southeast Washington. “It is our desire to meet every call or need as it arises.
- PUB DATE: 8/22/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Walla Walla Union-Bulletin - Metered Site