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Posted: Apr 12, 2019

Iowa Fire Department Utilizes Microsoft Power BI to Analyze and Display Data Collected with Emergency Reporting Software

Bellingham, WA – Emergency Reporting® (ER), a leader in cloud-based Fire and EMS records management software, was featured this week in a blog post published by Microsoft. The interview-based article summarizes a discussion between Chief Andrew Olesen of Cedar Rapids Fire Department and Microsoft. You can view the complete post here: https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/industry-blog/government/2019/04/10/cedar-rapids-firedepartment-how-data-analysis-helps-their-citizens/ 

In the interview, Chief Olesen describes why his agency switched to Emergency Reporting Records Management System (RMS) and how his department uses it to track and analyze important fire incident and patient care data. The blog post highlights Cedar Rapids Fire Department’s innovative use of Microsoft Power BI to create visually impactful dashboards using their data from ER.  

By leveraging both of these platforms, Chief Olesen has been able to provide real-time information and business intelligence that has been instrumental for decision makers in his community. 

The ability to collect and analyze accurate data has long been a need for the fire service, but modern tools and integrations are making that easier than ever before. When Chief Olesen was asked what challenges led his agency to switch to ER, he stated: 

“We’ve always been a data-driven organization, but the data collected wasn’t always at the level we would have liked due to the legacy reporting system we had used for the past 15 years or so. The system was hosted on-premises and needed to be installed and maintained on each machine. We had a limited number of users who could be on the system at the same time. We had an issue with data quality and integrity and spent a lot of time doing QA to ensure it was accurate. We were the complete opposite of cloud-based. 

“We needed a stronger Records Management System (RMS) that would also enable us to share data and analysis across organizations, with the City Council and other agencies, as well as with the public. We want the community to be able to track what’s going on in their neighborhoods and engage with the fire department.” 

The blog post also discusses the importance of using information from your RMS to justify your services and make data-driven decisions, now and for the future “The City Council constantly wants us to talk about why and how we do things and make reportable, data-driven decisions. It is an integral responsibility of government to communicate to the public how they run operations and leverage technology to be more effective. Leveraging Emergency Reporting and Microsoft Power BI, we’re planning to develop a customer facing dashboard next. Our time, incident, and medical data is now really tight, and we want to be able to share that,” stated Chief Olesen. 

“Emergency Reporting is excited to announce the kickoff of a new project that will empower our 6,500+ fire departments with a powerful data visualization tool,” said David Nokes, Chief Executive Officer of Emergency Reporting. “In collaboration with both Microsoft and several key beta customers, we are excited to show how your data can be utilized in Microsoft Power BI.  This is a great step forward in our ongoing relationship with Microsoft Public Safety and the municipalities we proudly serve.”  

To learn more about Emergency Reporting, or how ER data can be imported to Power BI, please visit https://explore.emergencyreporting.com/information-request-form/ to contact our sales

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Posted: Apr 12, 2019

KME Fire Apparatus Announces New Midmount AerialCat™ Platform at FDIC 2019

NESQUEHONING, PA—KME Fire Apparatus, a subsidiary of REV Group and a manufacturer of fire apparatus, is proud to announce the launch of the new KME AerialCat™ midmount platform at FDIC International 2019. The new midmount AerialCat™ is now available with an 84’ and 102’ platform. These two replace the existing line up of 81’, 95’ and 100’ midmount platforms, with a longer horizontal and vertical reach and a shortened overall length.

The 102’ midmount AerialCat™ platform has a 2’ rated increased vertical height to 102’ and a 3’ horizontal increased horizontal reach height to 94’. The apparatus’s overall length is decreased by 2’; using an MFD cab a 46’ OAL is achievable. The 84’ midmount platform rated vertical height is increased by 3’ to 84’ and the horizontal reach is extended 4’ to 77’. The vehicle overall length of the 84’ MM platform is just 43’.

Additional benefits of the new 102’ and 84' AerialCat™ midmount platform design include:

  • 2.5:1 Structural Safety Factor
  • State of The Art Motion Control System
  • Dual Integral Parapet Ladders in Platform Structure
  • 2,000-gpm Waterway Rating
  • 3/16” Aluminum Body
  • Full Height Full Depth Compartments
  • Larger, Fully Enclosed Ground Ladder Storage
  • One-Piece Torquebox
  • Deep Penetrating Outriggers
  • Two Available Travel Heights:126” & 132”
  • Shortened Rear Body Overhang by 10”
  • Features a Straight Shot Hose Bed with Access Doors

“This new design brings our midmount platform products in line with our current rear-mount platform design. It allows KME to offer design benefits of better reach, better flow capacity, higher structural safety factor, lower maintenance, and increased compartmentation designed in the AerialCat™ family., said Pete Hoherchak, KME Product Manager.”  

For more information, visit www.kmefire.com.

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Posted: Apr 12, 2019

REV Group Grand Prix Pays Tribute to First Responders

REV Group, Inc, a Milwaukee-based manufacturer of specialty vehicle brands, along with Road America, have teamed up to pay tribute to first responders at the inaugural NTT IndyCar series REV Group Grand Prix June 20-23, 2019.

“We got involved in racing about three years ago with Team Penske when we were taking the company public,” says Tim Sullivan, president, and CEO of REV Group. “We looked at where all of our vehicles congregate in one spot—it’s a race track. Everything we do finds its way to a race track.” Sullivan says he was talking to George Bruggenthies, an old friend and recently retired president of Road America, who asked if REV would sponsor an IndyCar series for the next three years to take place in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. “We started talking about it, and he told me that on any given day there are 200 first responders around the track. We said if we sponsored it, we would make it a tribute to first responders. I said if we’re going to do it, I want to do it right. I want to make sure all first responders get in for free all weekend. It’s really a tribute to them.”

As part of the tribute, all active-duty first responders will receive free entry to the REV Group Grand Prix during the entire weekend of activities including the NTT IndyCar feature race. Additionally, REV Group and Road America have planned a unique race experience to honor the men and women who answer the call to protect and serve our communities. First responders, including law enforcement, fire, paramedics, and EMTs, will be admitted free of charge by showing valid identification indicating active service Thursday, June 20 through Sunday, June 23. Free admission must be redeemed at the gate and is only valid during the event weekend.

Fire and ambulance vehicles from REV’s E-ONE, KME, Horton, AEV, and Wheeled Coach brands will be on display, allowing race fans to get a close look at some of the vehicles that equip the nation’s first responders. “We are honored to have the REV Group Grand Prix as a platform to recognize first responders. The employees of REV wanted to share our appreciation for the dedicated people who use our vehicles each day to serve their communities,” says Sullivan.

The NTT IndyCar Series (NICS) will take center stage at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI, June 20 to 23, where an international lineup of drivers will compete on one of the world’s most revered road courses. NICS Championship driver, Josef Newgarden, will return to defend his 2018 Road America win in a REV-branded Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet. “Safety is paramount at our track and in this sport, and the fire and medical team are critically important. Our award-winning Road America Safety Team, which is entirely first responders, have saved many lives over the years, and we are thrilled that the REV Group Grand Prix gives us the opportunity to recognize all first responders on and off the track,” says Mike Kertscher, Road America’s president and general manager. 

Sullivan explains that getting involved with the race is about being part of the industry. “My grandfather was a fire chief for 30 years. My father was a firefighter. My uncle just retired as a captain,” he says. “It’s more than just providing vehicles. It’s being part of the industry. It’s being connected with firefighters and EMTs. It’s above and beyond vehicles. We want to be part of the industry. You can’t be part of the industry unless you really embrace the people who are part of the industry. It’s beyond vehicles for us. It’s something we want to be deeply involved in. It goes back to my personal roots, but it is also the right thing to do: t

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Posted: Apr 12, 2019

FDIC International 2019: Innovations All Under One Roof

In 2014, MSA embarked on a new journey in the fire service—one driven by our customer’s needs, fueled by more than 100 years of a passion for safety—to develop an innovative SCBA, which became the G1. This SCBA delivered customer benefits including: an electronics-free facepiece, world class ergonomics, and an ability to be a “platform of the future” helping firefighters stay up to date with the best technology the world has to offer. Since that time, MSA has continued to deliver to its customers with Bluetooth voice connectivity to Motorola, Harris, and Kenwood radios; a Bluetooth link to MSA’s Altair 4X and 5X gas detectors; and iTIC—a TIC integrated into an SCBA.

At FDIC International 2019, MSA is announcing the next evolution of its platform for the future approach: The Connected Firefighter. MSA recognizes the importance of connection on the fireground: to the hoseline, to your crew, to your officers over the radio. Firefighters want to be connected, and today’s technology lets us deliver like never before possible. 

The MSA Connected Firefighter is a system of products that provides situational awareness for all personnel on the fireground, driven and powered by LUNAR. LUNAR is a new, connected firefighter device that helps firefighters whether they’re working on a fireground,or working to respond to any other type of hazard. LUNAR is a wireless, handheld device that provides firefighters with thermal imaging, firefighter-to-firefighter ranging, a person-down alarm, and an “always on” cloud connection, including GNSS location. For firefighters, this helps them know where they are now, and what their next move should be. For incident commanders, this ushers in a new era of on-scene awareness and accountability for their crews. This new product works to keep firefighters safe, connected, and accounted for: no matter what type of job they are facing.

Global Manager, Product PR and Influencer Engagement, Sam D’Uva, offers this advice for firefighters hitting the show floor at FDIC International for the first time: “Don’t miss it! There are very few places in the world where you can see the latest innovations in the fire service all under one roof—and FDIC is it!”

MSA is located at Booth 2309.

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Posted: Apr 12, 2019

Colorado Firefighters Put Out Fire Inside Fire Station

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (CBS4) – A fire alarm went off for a crew of firefighters at an Adams County fire station on Thursday and the fire turned out to be inside their own building. One of their fire trucks caught fire at the South Adams County Fire Station located in Commerce City.

The firefighters grabbed their equipment and along with the sprinkler system were able to put the fire out. MORE

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