South County Fire announced Tuesday that Fire Commissioner Richard T. Schrock passed away Sunday, May 12 after a battle with cancer. He was 75 years old. Mr. Schrock served as a fire commissioner in South Snohomish County for more than eight years. He was appointed in October 2010 to fill a vacancy on the Snohomish County Fire District 1 Board of Commissioners and was elected by voters the following year to his first six-year term.
- PUB DATE: 5/14/2019 3:51:09 PM - SOURCE: MLTnews.com

By Alan M. Petrillo

Equipment designed for wildland firefighting is as important as the apparatus that brings it to the scene of a wildland fire. Approximately 250 wildland firefighters, officers, and incident commanders had the opportunity to meet with equipment, component, and gear makers at the recent Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) conference at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada.

WATERAX displayed its MARK-3 portable wildland fire pump, a four-stage, 58-pound unit powered by a WATERAX 10 horsepower gasoline engine. (All photos by Alan M. Petrillo.)

WATERAX exhibited its MARK-3 portable wildland fire pump, a 58-pound four-stage unit powered by a WATERAX 10-horsepower (hp) gasoline engine with a 2-inch suction intake, and 1½-inch discharge that puts out a maximum of 105 gallons per minute (gpm) at 380 pounds per square inch (psi). Mario Janson, WATERAX's sales manager, says,” This is a portable pump that can be handled by one firefighter. It's a great pump that's able to push water long distances, which often is needed in wildland firefighting." WATERAX also displayed its Mini-Striker® drip torch, and its Vanguard 18 portable pump.

GESS International Holdings Ltd. exhibited the Fire Bozz™ rapid-deploy sprinkler-like water cannon that can shoot water, foam, or retardants up to 300 feet in a 360-degree traverse.

GESS International Holdings Ltd. showed its Fire Bozz™ rapid deploy water sprinkler-like water cannon that can shoot water, foam, or retardants up to a radius of 300 feet with a 360-degree traverse. Ron Szasz, managing director of GESS International, says the Fire Bozz works with existing portable pumps, pumpers, hydrants, and 1½-inch and 2½-inch hoselines. "Its standalone, set-and-forget capability keeps firefighters out of danger and allows fire teams to be used elsewhere," Szasz points out.

Wildfire Property Protection displayed its Hurricane WD gear driven 360-degree oscillating monitor that can cover up to one acre of space through a 1-1/2-inch coupling.

Wildfire Property Protection displayed the Hurricane WD gear-driven 360-degree oscillating monitor that can cover up to one acre of space through a 1½-inch coupling. Jesse Pitt of Wildfire Property Protection says the unit can from from 25 to 200 gpm, but that it's ideal flow is in the 40- to 60-gpm range at 40 psi.

The Farm-To-Fire Suppression Hydrant was displayed by Trakker Industries LLC. The unit is a portable hydrant that fits over a farm's irrigation riser to provide a water source for wildland fires.

The Farm-To-Fire Suppression Hydrant, developed by Cody Bakker and Thomas Traphagan of Trakker Industries LLC, is a portable hydrant that fits on a farm's irrigation riser to provide clean water without contaminants to fight a wildland fire. Bakker notes that farm risers are generally spaced every 50 to 60 feet and provide between 30 and 75 psi of pressure. "The Farm-To-Fire Suppression Hydrant clamps onto the riser by going over the T-handle," he says, "which

Washington’s wildfire seasons are arriving earlier, and that’s probably not good news for anyone hoping to avoid a repeat of the sun-choking smoke that has afflicted Seattle and much of the rest of the state for the last couple of summers. So what’s being done to prepare for and contain the blazes? On Episode 107 of The Overcast, The Seattle Times news and politics podcast, we put those questions to state Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, the elected official who manages state forestland and wildfire-fighting efforts.
- PUB DATE: 5/14/2019 1:51:25 PM - SOURCE: Wenatchee World

The Fire Department Safety Officer Association (FDSOA) announced Royal P. Mortenson, Director, Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) will be the keynote speaker for the 2020 Health and Safety Forum to be held in January 13-16, 2020, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Mortenson has served as the Director for the IFSI since September 2012. He sets direction for all activities and training of the institute. In addition, he is also a sitting member of the Illinois Terrorism Task Force (ITTF), supporting the Director of IEMA and the all-hazard state-wide disaster response capability. Mortenson represents the Illinois fire service, the University of Illinois, and IFSI in Springfield and Washington, D.C.

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Colonel Mortenson studies include the National War College (2004-05), National Defense University, in Washington DC where he earned a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies; Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the School of Advanced Warfighting (1998-2000) earning a Masters Degree in Military Studies and the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School (1990-91). Colonel Mortenson also holds a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Mortenson’s keynote will focus on leadership and is titled Leadership Maxims for the Individual: 12 Maxims that Define Who You Are as a Leader and he will describe the foundation of good leadership and of being a good leader thru 12 maxims (rules to live by) that are essential for successful leadership.  Mortenson will also offer a program during the Apparatus Maintenance & Specification Symposium, January 13^th to 15^th.

FDSOA Chairman, Eric Valliere, added “As your Chairman, I am thrilled that Colonel Mortenson has agreed to be our keynote speaker at the January 2020 conference in beautiful Scottsdale Arizona. He brings a diverse background and knowledge base as a leader that he is excited to share. As you know, leadership is a fundamental need in the Fire Service at all levels and a necessity to be a respected Safety Officer.”

The FDSOA Apparatus Specification and Maintenance Symposium will be held Monday, January 13^th to Wednesday, January 15th. Concurrently the FDSOA Safety Forum will offer the two-day Incident Safety Officer Academy and the Health & Safety Officer Academy on January 13-15th. The 5 Reads class will be offered Monday, January 13^th and a Sets and Reps training will be held off-site on Tuesday, January 14^th, 2020.

For more information visit: www.fdsoa.org

Clark County Fire & Rescue recognized multiple community heroes on Thursday, May 9 at Fire Station 21. Local citizen Suzanne Koller, CRESA Dispatch Supervisor Julie Walker and Ridgefield police officers Tyler King and Andrew Marvitz all received the Fire Chief’s Life Saving award for providing critical life-saving care to Suzanne’s mother in law during a heart attack.
- PUB DATE: 5/14/2019 7:21:10 AM - SOURCE: The Reflector.com