At least 17 firefighters from four local fire departments traveled from Lewis County to Seattle on Sunday to climb the 69 floors of the Columbia Center as part of the 32nd Annual Firefighter Stairclimb. Participating firefighters climbed the Columbia Center in full structural turnout gear, while on air, to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
- PUB DATE: 3/15/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Chronicle

The Washington National Guard and service members from the Kingdom of Thailand shared best practices for fighting wildfires during a State Partnership Program exchange in March. Since 2003, the Washington National Guard and Thailand have engaged in many informational exchanges, learning and training with one another.
- PUB DATE: 3/15/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: U.S. Army

A Crime Stoppers tip led to the arrest of an arson suspect in Tacoma on Tuesday, the Tacoma Police Department announced. According to TPD, officers arrested the suspect in the Freighthouse Square arson that happened in the early morning hours of March 8. A tipster recognized the suspect from a Crime Stoppers bulletin and flagged down a nearby police officer.
- PUB DATE: 3/14/2023 11:47:00 PM - SOURCE: KIRO-TV CBS 7 Seattle

Even though we don't have to worry too much about fire season yet, it is still important to understand the importance of fire safety in our homes, especially around our children. The Washington State Patrol State Fire Marshal's Office says although children might find fire fascinating, they may not understand that fire used for common activities like cooking or heating are controlled and used for said activities.
- PUB DATE: 3/14/2023 3:04:00 PM - SOURCE: KXLY-TV ABC 4 Spokane

APPLETON, Wis. (March 14, 2023) – Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) company, announced the Baltimore County Fire Department (BCoFD) in Maryland has placed an order for 23 custom Pierce fire apparatus. This is the second substantial order for the department since 2019. BCoFD will have taken delivery of 55 Pierce apparatus in total by the end of 2024.

The purchase of the new fire apparatus was managed by authorized Pierce dealer Atlantic Emergency Solutions in Virginia and is part of an initiative to improve the department’s strategic emergency response in the communities they serve.

The most recent order includes ten Pierce Enforcer™ 750-gallon pumpers, six Enforcer 1,000- gallon pumpers, two Ascendant^Ò 107’ Heavy-Duty Tillers, three Heavy-Duty Rescue engines, one Heavy-Duty Rescue Unit, one Heavy-Duty Rescue Hazmat Unit, and one Freightliner tanker.

“Our objective in purchasing the new apparatus is enhanced public safety,” said Fire Chief Joanne Rund. “Baltimore County Executive John Olszeswki Jr. prioritized this goal and secured the necessary funding to upgrade the fleet to keep our communities safe for many years to come.”

BCoFD’s Fire Maintenance Fleet Manager Michael Huber said, “Crews are happy with the maneuverability and ease of use of Pierce fire apparatus. They are eager to put this most recent order into service.”

Safety for fire and EMS personnel is a top priority for BCoFD. All the new fire trucks will be equipped with side roll protection and front airbags. Some units will contain decontamination showers.

“We appreciate Pierce and Atlantic Emergency Solutions working with us to meet our unique specifications and build the safest equipment for our crews,” Huber added.

Baltimore County Fire Department’s new fire apparatus replace aging units which no longer meet the needs of the department and will help improve tactics in emergency response situations.

All new fire apparatus feature a new black-over-red paint color scheme, a visible representation to the community that BCoFD is working to keep them safe.

The Baltimore County Fire Department serves a population of nearly 850,000 people and responds to approximately 150,000 incidents annually. The department has more than 1,000 sworn and civilian personnel based at 25 career and 29 volunteer fire companies.

“Working with the Baltimore County Fire Department to upgrade and improve their fleet has been an honor, and we are proud to have earned their trust by providing quality solutions and dedicated service,” said Bob Rosensteel, regional account manager for Atlantic Emergency Solutions. “Now operating a full Pierce fleet, with some in reserve, having a manufacturing partner who listens to their needs with convenient service center access are critical factors for Baltimore County as we work to place 55 new fire apparatus in service within the next few years. We are committed to being a trusted resource every step of the way.”

For a comprehensive review of Pierce pumpers, rescues, and other products, visit www.piercemfg.com for specs, video, and images.

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About Pierce Manufacturing

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] company, is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, mini pumpers, elliptical tankers, and homeland security appara