As the Fourth of July approaches, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is reminding the public that there’s no safe way to use consumer fireworks. According to NFPA, coordinator of the Alliance to Stop Consumer Fireworks, U.S. fire departments responded to an annual average of 18,500 fires caused by fireworks between 2009 and 2013. These fires included 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, 16,900 outside and other fires, and killed two people per year. Last year, two NFL players made headlines by losing fingers in accidents involving fireworks. The two separate high-profile incidents raised awareness about the dangers of consumer fireworks...

Another suspicious fire sent crews racing to a Renton high school early Wednesday morning. Firefighters have put out several blazes around Lindbergh High School this month - and they all sound suspicious. Crews also had to respond to at least one fire at nearby Tiffany Elementary School earlier this month.
- PUB DATE: 6/29/2016 7:39:55 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

New Sales Staffing Structure, Online Ordering Platform for Dealers, On-Demand Chat Option, and Increased Customer Support Introduced

Putnam, CT – Kochek has recently announced significant company changes, including the introduction of a new online ordering platform designed specifically for dealers, an increase in customer support personnel including a new online ‘live-chat support’ option, and a restructuring within the sales division.

Lou Thomas will continue to lead Kochek’s sales force while assuming a new title of Director of Sales and Marketing. Reporting directly to Lou, Laurie Prucker has been promoted to Senior Account Manager. Rodney Furgison will also assume increasing responsibility in his new role of National Sales Manager. Kochek’s new regional account managers include Eric Lane (East Coast), Annie Lussier (Northwest), and Justine Lane (Southwest). David Mihailides will now assume the role of Business Development Manager, reporting directly to Dan Olm, Kochek’s Vice President and General Manager.

Dan Olm said “Over the past year, we’ve been listening to our customers and collecting intel on ways in which we can refine and improve elements within our organizational structure. Most importantly, we are confident that these recently implemented changes will support much of the positive change that has recently occurred. There is no question that we are poised and ready for a period of unprecedented growth.”

Kochek has increased on-the shelf items by 45 percent and now carry over 500 items. These items are available for immediate shipment and can be ordered using Kochek’s new easy order Web site. Kochek’s new easy order site was designed to make ordering stocked product as simple and straightforward as possible while dramatically improving on-time delivery rates. According to Olm, “We are currently deliver these stocked items within 24 hours with a 99-percent fill rate. We continue to supply special order items in all the configurations our customers have grown accustomed to. We are a one-stop shop for our customers.”

Any dealers who have questions or need assistance with Kochek’s new online easy order platform are encouraged to reach out directly to their account manager.

At FDIC International 2016, Kochek hosted a breakfast for dealers and unveiled several of these recently introduced measures.

Kochek President, Charlie Kozey, said “While there has been a lot of recent changes here at Kochek, it is important to state that we are still the same company at our core. We move water and make connections. That is the consistent theme throughout everything that we do. At Kochek, we understand that people’s lives depend on our products, and we stand committed to serving the families, communities and brave men and women who rely on the performance of our products each and every day.”

More: https://www.kochek.com/

Mike Burnett thinks his fire department is well-positioned to fight wildfires this summer. The chief of Chelan County Fire District 1 has made some upper-level staffing changes, gotten the fire district’s helicopter up and flying earlier than last year, and has fire district employees out canvassing neighborhoods next to wild lands so they can tell homeowners how to make their homes more fire resistant.
- PUB DATE: 6/29/2016 3:34:57 AM - SOURCE: Wenatchee World - metered site

A member of the Dakota City Fire Department has died after suffering a heart attack while in the line of duty. Capt. Eric Speck, 38, died Monday after suffering from a heart attack on Thursday after responding to a medical call. Dakota City Fire Chief Clint Rasmussen said Speck had been complaining of chest pains during the call and traveled to the hospital afterward, where it was found he had suffered a heart attack.
- PUB DATE: 6/29/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: sioux city journal