About 10 miles from where hundreds of firefighters were working to contain the 1,300 acre Rock Creek Fire, a much smaller crew was purposefully lighting the dry forest ablaze last week. The prescribed fire in the Rattlesnake Creek watershed to the west of Nile is an example of growing interest from forest managers — facing skyrocketing wildfire costs — in fighting fire with fire.
- PUB DATE: 10/2/2016 1:52:51 AM - SOURCE: Bellingham Herald

Fire departments in Spokane now have access to a device that could help them get to emergencies faster. The traffic signal device could improve emergency response times across the Inland Northwest. Scott Fitzgerald knowns how critical a fast response can be when your family is in danger. "First thought was to grab the phone and get my kid and get out the house,” said Fitzgerald.
- PUB DATE: 9/30/2016 7:13:04 PM - SOURCE: KREM-TV CBS 2

The Courage and Valor Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2017 Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award, which will be presented at next year's Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The award presentation will take place during the Wednesday Opening Ceremony, and the recipient will receive a check for $35,000.

The Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award is presented every year at FDIC to a firefighter who has exemplified extreme courage in the line of duty.

Download a the nomination form (6.2 MB, PDF) and send in you submissions today. The submissions deadline is

For more information on the award and past winners, go to http://www.pennwell.com/index/about-us/courage-and-valor-foundation.html.

The International Society of Fire Service Instructors, known collectively as the Society, announced the launch of the Fire Training Certification Program (Fire TCP), a new certification program that aims to elevate the quality standards of training courses made available to firefighters. The announcement was made at the Society’s Fall Instructor Development Conference 2016, held in Cincinnati September 27 through October 1. 
 
Launched with the support and technical expertise of Envisage Technologies, Fire TCP is a revolutionary program designed to enhance standardization and quality within fire training. By setting minimum standards that training courses must meet prior to being certified as the highest quality for use in training programs, Fire TCP will be the benchmark that determines the quality of courses offered to firefighters. Fire TCP standards are designed to meet or exceed individual state certification requirements ensuring that certified training will be accepted by all participating fire service organizations. Acceptance of the standard will also enhance the portability of training in the fire service, allowing firefighters to more easily transfer their training when changing departments, saving time and money through the elimination of re-training costs. Prior to Fire TCP, no standard system for certifying training courses existed, though there are similar programs that certify testing for fire service personnel. 
 
Courses subject to certification are screened by industry subject matter experts and must meet a set of predetermined certification criteria in order to earn the Fire TCP seal. Courses certified through Fire TCP will be available through an international catalog hosted on Envisage Technologies’ FirstForward^® training network. By compiling certified courses, Fire TCP fundamentally improves access to quality training, reduces costs, and improves training efficiency. 
 
“I believe that Fire TCP is a catalyst that will lead to significant improvement in the quality of training provided to the fire service. Quality training keeps firefighters safe and departmental costs down. The Society remains committed to ensuring that only the best training is available to our firefighters on the front lines,” said Steve Pegram, President of the Society. 
 
“I am pleased that the Society has been so highly involved in creating this new standard of quality for training courses,” stated Leigh Hubbard, Executive Director of the Society. “The Fire TCP seal on training courses means not only that the training is of the highest quality, but also that that training will be accepted across a wide geographical area as states and local departments begin to embrace the standard.”
 
“It is an honor to help launch this important initiative, and I look forward to seeing the positive effects that Fire TCP will undoubtedly have on the industry,” added Envisage CEO, Ari Vidali. “Envisage is deeply committed to the safety of our first responders and we are passionate about providing easy access to training programs that have met the highest quality standards in the nation. To accomplish this goal, we have launched FirstForward, the nation’s only platform where firefighters can access certified training from the best providers in the industry.”
 
As of the date of this release, Fire TCP is accepting applications from vendors interested in having their courses certified through the program.  Further information

Coxreels, the industry leader in hose, cord, and cable reels, announced the addition of two models (PC19 and PC24) to our UL-Approved product line. UL’s (Underwriters Laboratories) standards and certifications are universally recognized as important indicators of product safety and reliability. The vigorous tests conducted by UL Laboratories are essential to  helping ensure public safety and confidence, reduce costs, and improve quality of market products and services.

Millions of products and their components are tested to UL's rigorous safety standards with the result that consumers live in a safer environment than they would have otherwise. The new additions to Coxreels’ UL-Approved product line demonstrate Coxreels’ dedication to ensuring that each one of our products has been built to standards only depicting the utmost levels of safety, performance, and customer satisfaction.

Coxreels’ PC (Power Cord) Series reels are heavy duty, industrial-grade power sources. They replace tangled extension cords and self-retract to increase safety, productivity and efficiency. The PC Series are designed for long-lasting, hassle-free performance even under the most demanding conditions. The PC19 and PC24 models now proudly accompany the PC13 and PC17 models amongst the Coxreels’ products that currently maintain the UL stamp of approval. The new UL approvals represent Coxreels’ continued commitment to meet the needs of their customers.

Coxreels® has remained steadfast and focused on manufacturing high quality, industrial grade hose, cord, and cable reels with leading industry innovation since 1923. Offering a full product line serving the industry in every channel and application, Coxreels® takes great pride in designing, building, and supporting each and every product made exclusively in the U.S.A.

For further information on Coxreels® new line of UL-approved products, contact Customer Service at
(800) 269-7335 or visit www.coxreels.com.