The West Hartford Fire Department made the following post on its Facebook page Wednesday:

“Last week members of Local 1241 completed training on the departments new UTV. This vehicle gives us the ability to facilitate search and rescue in the more rugged parts of town and also provides us with a great mobility platform for the larger scale public events in town. Just another way we will be ready to serve.”

Bail-Out Kits

The West Hartford Fire Department now has enough bail-out kits for every single front-line member of the department – kits that will provide those department members with the proper equipment to evacuate themselves from a life-threatening situation – thanks to a generous $25,000 grant provided by the Leary Firefighters Foundation.

The kits were on the back burner until the department learned of the grant opportunity from the Leary Firefighters Foundation and applied for the tools that will make sure the town’s firefighters have the most modern and efficient tools to keep them safe, the report said.

The successful grant application means that the West Hartford Fire Department now has 85 bail-out kits – enough for every front-line firefighter to have a means of self-rescue, according to the report.

The kits include a hook/anchor, rope, and a device that attaches to a window sill and allows for safe and rapid descent from higher levels of a building, the report said.

We're thrilled to spotlight one of our 2022 grant recipients, the @WestHartfordFD in CT. Through our grant program, we were able to provide a bail-out kit to each firefighter in the department. pic.twitter.com/W9g0Uq52ba

— Leary Firefighters (@LearyFF) February 26, 2023

Pasco County (FL) Government posted the following on its Facebook page:

“Another fire station is in the works in #PascoCounty! Commissioners & county leaders break ground on Station #3 – which will serve the State Road 52/Little Road area. The state-of-the-art station includes special zones to keep our first responders safe by eliminating harmful chemicals. Learn more about how Pasco Fire Rescue serves you: mypas.co/FireRescue.”

Patrick Camp
The Cullman Times, Ala.
(TNS)

Mar. 8—The city of Cullman approved Mayor Woody Jacobs to enter into an agreement that could result in new fire trucks for the city’s fire department, but it is likely going to be more than a year before those orders are filled.

With an assist from Councilman Brad Smith, an addition to the agenda was made during the City Council’s meeting on Monday, March 6, to “allow the mayor to enter into an agreement for firetrucks.”

Jacobs added context to this addition during his report. Citing a recent trip to Washington D.C., Jacobs said that he was informed that orders for bucket trucks were being met with a turnaround time of approximately 60 months. Upon his return, Jacobs said he was met with a call from Fire Chief Brian Bradberry saying after his recent enquiries into new fire trucks he was given a 30-40 month turnaround time.

Jacobs said the fire department is currently in the fortunate position of having a fully functioning fleet of vehicles, but if something were to happen, “You’d be in trouble.”

“Unfortunately, we’re used to ordering something this budget year and getting it this budget year. But now we’re going to have to order something that’ll be two budget years down [before the order is filled,] but if you don’t commit you’ll never get it,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs said he believed the current delays are temporary, but stressed the importance of “getting on the merry-go-round” as quickly as possible to ensure that the fire department is outfitted with safe and up-to-date equipment.

“Now, this is not going to last forever, but temporarily, that’s where we’re at and for us to keep safe equipment we’ve gotta get in these time slots,” Jacobs said.

In other business the council:

—Re-appointed Michael Sullins to maintain his position on the City of Cullman Planning Commission.

—Extended the bid for resale fuel for the Cullman Regional Airport with Epic Fuels.

—Held the Second Reading to adopt the 2021 International Building Code and companion codes after receiving a favorable recommendation from the Planning Commission.

___

(c)2023 The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.)

Visit The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.) at www.cullmantimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Austell (GA) Fire Department posted the following on its Facebook page:

Welcome, Baby Adalynn Marie Williams!

Born at 12:28 p.m. on Friday, February 10, 2023, this baby girl made her appearance in a BIG WAY!

Firefighter Brett Langston’s daughter & his wife stopped by Austell Fire Department to use the restroom while on their way to the hospital. Things happened fast from there! The ambulance was called, but by the time it arrived, there was no time to go to the hospital. Luckily, the midwife made her way to the fire station and delivered a healthy baby girl – 7 lbs 2 oz., 20 inches! We’re happy to share that mom, baby, (and even new Granddad , Firefighter Langston) are doing very well! #austellproud #firefighter #firefighterlife #surprisedelivery

11alive.com filed the following report:

Austell Firefighter Bret Langston has been on the job for 28 years and has responded to the tiny wail of a newborn infant half a dozen times.

As a father of six, Langston said he loves those calls and always wishes he could follow up.

This time, the baby he delivered at his own fire station this spring was his own granddaughter, Adalynn.

Mom Hannah was halfway to the birthing center when she realized she wasn’t go to make it, but her dad’s fire station was just down the street.

She made it — just 10 minutes before her daughter was born.

For more on this story, please go to

Rosenbauer—Mascoutah (IL) Fire Company pumper. Commander 7011 cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Hale Qmax 1,500-gpm pump; Pro Poly 1,000-gallon polypropylene water tank; 30-gallon foam cell; FoamPro 1600 Class A foam system; Command Light Knight 2 LED KL415 light tower; IDEX Fire & Safety SAM system for pump control. Dealer: Steve Williams, Sentinel Emergency Solutions, St. Louis, MO.

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Bill Lukitsch – The Kansas City Star
Two people were critically injured in a Kansas City crash involving a stolen ambulance on Tuesday afternoon, according to police.

The crash occurred around 3 p.m. on Meyer Boulevard near the exit ramp at 71 Highway, police said. The stolen ambulance crashed into four vehicles before leaving the roadway and hitting a tree. It went down an embankment before coming to rest in the northbound lanes of Prospect Avenue, police said.

Drivers from two of the vehicles that were struck by the ambulance were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Drivers of the two other vehicles declined medical treatment at the scene.

The suspect who was behind the wheel of the stolen ambulance was taken to the hospital as well, police said. All the injured persons were last listed in stable medical condition.

Police say the ambulance was stolen from the emergency bay at Research Medical Center. The vehicle belonged to the Kansas City Fire Department, according to police.

Kansas City police continued to investigate the crash on Tuesday evening.

©2023 The Kansas City Star. Visit kansascity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Jana DeCamilla
The Post-Star, Glens Falls, N.Y.
(TNS)

Mar. 8—A local fire department told Warren County they “don’t want a pancake to stop us from saving a life.”

The North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company on the east side of Lake George is requesting $150,000 to replace a hovercraft airboat from the 1990s used for water rescues in Warren County.

Volunteer fireman of 50 years Harold Halliday and assistant fire chief of the company Peter Carr went before the Warren County American Rescue Plan Act Committee on Friday to explain the need for replacing the current piece of equipment.

The boat, originally intended for recreation, was given to the fire company from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office after they experienced numerous maintenance issues with it.

“It came to a head a couple weeks ago. You probably saw on TV. We had a gentleman ice skate across Glen Lake to test the ice for everybody and it wasn’t good, so he fell through and unfortunately our hovercraft broke down after leaving shore to rescue the guy,” Halliday said.

“We were still able to get out of the lake safely. ‘The elders,’ as I call us, talked at the station and decided we need to replace this vehicle to take care of the people in the county.

“In order for us to replace the hovercraft we would need to have 67 pancake breakfasts or spaghetti dinners, but if someone is in trouble on thin ice, I don’t want a pancake to stop us from saving a life.”

Halliday said in his 50 years at North Queensbury, he has never come before any board or committee to request funds or grants for services, aside from their allotment factored into the Queensbury town budget.

“I’m very proud that our fire company has been very fiscally responsible in taking care of the equipment that we have and with everything we do keeping the budget in mind,” he said. “We have a great board of directors and a lot of businessmen running the fire company.”

Halliday went on to tell the committee they have maintained the hovercraft in-house and have not requested funds for a replacement, but the boat is used all over the county.

“Help us help all the people in Warren County,” he said.

Halliday noted that the county also has a marine rescue team that responds to any marine incident within the county. His department’s full rescue team has five or six fully-trained, certified scuba divers with their own gear.

The money requested would cover the costs of a new boat, trailer and gear.

“I don’t want to be greedy; I’ve never done this before. I’m just telling you what we need and if not, we ask you to come to our pancake breakfasts and spaghetti dinners,” Halliday said.

The fire company’s request was tentatively approved by the committee, pending the submission of a formal application for ARPA funds which had not been completed at the time of the meeting, and approval from the full Warren County Board of Supervisors.

Other business

The committee also reviewed some of the remaining ARPA applications. The remaining ARPA fund balance was at $734,704 at the start of the meeting.

The committee voted to approve the following recommendations totaling $455,873:

* $100,000 for the Salvation Army of Glens Falls

* $150,000 for the North Queensbury Fire Department

* $80,000 for the Warren County Historical Society

* $28,358 for the Bay Ridge Fire Department

* $97,515 for the Warrensburg Emergency Squad

The recommendations are all subject to approval from the full board at the March 17 meeting

For the first time in 25 years, Tampa’s South of Gandy neighborhood will have a second rescue vehicle at Tampa Fire Rescue Station 19, filling a critical need for this community, the city said in a press release. 

The new ambulance will help in reducing response times during emergency situations. Additionally, this vehicle may be used to assist in responding to water rescue operations in South Tampa.

“We are excited to be able to provide this much-needed resource to the South of Gandy neighborhood,” Tampa Fire Rescue Chief Barbara Tripp said. “Our goal is to improve the level of service we provide to our community, and this new ambulance will help us achieve that.” 

This additional resource is part of a broader effort to enhance emergency services in South Tampa. Tampa Fire Rescue continues to invest in additional resources, including personnel and equipment, to ensure the safety and well-being of growing communities.  

The new rescue vehicle is now responding to calls.

Mercer County officials are still assessing the damage from last week’s historic wind storm in Kentucky, wymt.com reported.

• More photos of the damage to Mercer County (KY) Station 12

Powerful winds damaged the Mercer County Station 12 building near Harrodsburg. The building is still standing, but officials believe it will likely have to be demolished and rebuilt, the report said.

A fire official said the winds ripped off the roof then caused part of the structure to collapse. Part of a ceiling collapsed and settled on top of a fire engine.

According to the fire official, 75 percent of the building sustained major damage. He added the building was just remodeled, and now it will have to be rebuilt. He said the station also doubles as a training facility for 75-80 firefighters, the report said.

Insurance will cover some of their losses, but the fire official doubts they will be able to build a station the size of the current one, the report said.

The Tunnelton Volunteer Fire Department took delivery of its latest truck Saturday, wvnews.com reported.

Like the last truck the department purchased, the truck is painted orange and was purchased used, the report said. The 2012 truck with a commercial International chassis came from Command Fire Apparatus of Mount Hope (PA), according to the report. The refurbished truck has only 11,000 miles on it, a fire official said.

It’s referred to as a “wet rescue” truck because it has a pump and tank, as well as being able to carry the department’s Stokes baskets and rescue tools in four “coffin boxes,” as the built-in tool boxes are called, the report said.

Introducing a brand new, revolutionary asset tracking system that will take your rig to the next level – SafeTrack. Equip your apparatus with the high-tech SafeTrack system to assure your valuable or mission critical equipment is on the vehicle and has not been left at the scene or is onboard when responding to a call. Designed specifically for accountability of assets by compartment, SafeTrack will provide immediate visual notification that a tagged asset is not located in the designated storage location. SafeTrack is extremely easy to implement on your new apparatus or retrofit an existing one.

What SafeTrack does? 

• Mitigates the loss of expensive equipment.
• Assists with missing equipment recovery.
• Assists with equipment availability and readiness.

How SafeTrack works?

• A SafeTrack tag is placed on each piece of equipment.
• SafeTrack Hub records the status, timestamp, and GPS location.
• The cab mounted status indicator warning light illuminates to notify the crew if any equipment is missing or needs attention.
• The mobile web user interface provides details on specific equipment that may need attention.
• Tracks multiple tagged equipment located in the same compartment.

To manage your assets and integrate SafeTrack on your apparatus, please visit our website or call 631.724.8888.

Safe Fleet: Fire, EMS, and Industrial

Safe Fleet Fire, EMS & Industrial is a leading global provider of safety solutions to the firefighting industry.  Safe Fleet Fire, EMS & Industrial is comprised of 4 industry leading brands: FRC, FoamPro, Elkhart Brass, and ROM.  The combination of these brands allows us the opportunity to offer our customers the best of high performing, technology leading, safety related products.  Safe Fleet Fire, EMS & Industrial provides integrated systems of monitors, valves, foam proportioning, scene lighting and electronic controls for the global emergency market.  For more information on Safe Fleet visit www.safefleet.net.

Firefighters are subjected to heat stress and noise pollution on the fireground.

When back in the truck, the goal is to help provide a cool, quiet cabin. Aearo Technologies can help. For more than 50 years, Aearo Technologies LLC, a 3M company, has been known for its high-performing, system solutions for controlling unwanted heat, noise, and vibration. After
successfully serving large commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers for more than 40 years, Aearo is now providing solutions to the fire, rescue, and emergency services segments. As Betty Carew, Aearo Technologies Business Development Director, explains: “Aearo
Technologies offers the most comprehensive service and insulation portfolio options to help our fire truck customers win in the marketplace.”

The focus, according to Carew, is to make apparatus cabins more comfortable for firefighters and other emergency personnel while improving efficiency of cooling systems. Aearo Technologies uses
a data-based approach to identify unwanted thermal and acoustic sources to create custom engineered insulation packages. These system solutions can help decrease operating and maintenance costs because the insulated cabin will reduce reliance on the heating-ventilation-air-conditioning (HVAC) unit, reducing energy needs. Let’s look at Aearo’s comprehensive engineered solutions in more detail.

CABIN COMFORT: LESS HEAT TRANSFER, LOWER TEMPERATURE

Aearo Technologies TUFshield™ thermal barrier and TUFCOTE™ aluminized polyester faced insulation reflect radiant engine heat and shield against convective heat, further enhancing firefighter comfort in the cabin. In effect, they reduce the transfer of heat from the engine into the cabin during stationary high-load operation.

Additionally, Aearo’s TK fiber insulation products provide a 10% on-average improvement in thermal flux through cabin walls. The combined improved cabin and engine compartment insulation reduces the time it takes for the HVAC to cool the cabin interior and helps to maintain a lower temperature for a longer period.

LESS NOISE
Aearo Technologies TUFCOTE™ foam and TK fiber insulation products improve articulation index (a speech intelligibility measure) by 10% within the cabin interior. For example, TUFCOTE™ XL acoustic foam has an 0.8 noise reduction coefficient in the one-inch thickness. This capability creates a quieter atmosphere, minimizing external noise and making communication in the cab easier.

QUALITY
Testing is a vital aspect of product quality protocol. To this end, Aearo Technologies engineering teams use a system approach to treat noise and heat sources in their advanced testing facilities, generating information through a variety of tests in their hemi-anechoic dynamometer room, hemi-anechoic room, or reverberant chambers. (See sidebar “State-of-the-Art Acoustic Technology Center.”)

It is easy to customize Aearo’s high-quality i

Pasquotank County will be paying a lot more for a new fire truck for the Nixonton Volunteer Fire Department than it initially planned, dailyadvance.com reported.

When the county initially ordered a new fire truck for the Nixonton VFD in March 2021, the cost was $392,655, the report said. But county commissioners unanimously voted Monday night to execute a change order for the truck that hikes its price to $636,100 — an increase of $243,445, according to the report.

The county’s cost will be offset by a $100,000 grant that the Nixonton VFD received from the Cannon Foundation on Tuesday, a county official said.

Commissioners made the change after hearing that the new fire truck may not start production until late 2024 to mid-2025 because of a lack of available commercial cab chassis, the report said. Because of the shortage, the new fire truck will be fitted with a custom-cab chassis costing the extra $243,000, the report said.

Manteca City Council Tuesday directed staff to secure two fire engines at a combined cost of $2 million, mantecabulletin.com reported.

By the time those engines arrive in Manteca to be put into service, the oldest engine in the backup fleet will have turned 29 years old, the report said.

Delivery time for new fire engines will be anywhere between two and three years, according to the report.

The tiller truck carries a price tag of $1,707,772 that the council locked in last year, the report said.

Rosenbauer—Nashville (TN) Fire Department eight pumpers. Commander cabs and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engines; Hale Qmax 1,500-gpm pumps; polypropylene 750-gallon water tanks; Dealer: NAFECO, Decatur, AL. (Photo by Paul Barrett.)

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U.S. investigators suspect that a Tesla was operating on an automated driving system when it crashed into a fire truck in California last month, killing the driver and critically injuring a passenger, abc7news.com reported.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday it has dispatched a special crash investigation team to look into the Feb. 18 crash in Northern California where emergency responders had to cut open the Tesla to remove the passenger, the report said. Four Contra Costa County firefighters had minor injuries.

The probe is part of a larger investigation by the agency into multiple instances of Teslas on Autopilot crashing into parked emergency vehicles that are tending to other crashes, the report said.

The $1.4 million ladder truck was damaged in the crash on Interstate 680. The truck was parked to shield a crew clearing another accident, fire officials said.

The driver of the the 2014 Tesla Model S was declared dead at the scene.

NHTSA is investigating how Tesla’s Autopilot system detects and responds to emergency vehicles parked on highways, according to the report. At least 15 Teslas have crashed into emergency vehicles nationwide while using the system, the report said.

• Tesla Driver Killed After Plowing into Fire Truck on CA Freeway

Joyce Hanz
The Valley News-Dispatch, Tarentum, Pa.
(TNS)

Mar. 7—Sometimes less is more.

Especially when it comes to ISO fire safety ratings.

Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company Chief John Foster hopes to reduce the company’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating from a 6 to a lower number, after receiving a one-point increase during the last ISO inspection in 2020. The lower the number the better the rating.

“We had a 5 and they downgraded us to a 6, primarily based on the age of our equipment and procedures,” Foster said.

The Insurance Services Office is an independent, for-profit organization. Its scores result in a Public Protection Classification on a scale of 1 to 10, and those resultscan impact homeowners.

Insurance providers consider the ISO’s ratings, which measure a community’s fire preparedness in case of an emergency.

They use the score to help them determine home insurance rates because a home that is less likely to be severely damaged by fire is cheaper to insure.

The downgrade in the rating means Leechburg residents are paying about $35 per year, per resident, Foster said.

Foster said the majority of the equipment used by his firefighters is more than 60 years old, and its age is becoming a detriment to the ISO rating.

“I want to emphasize that the borough citizens were never in any danger,” he said. “Our equipment works; it’s just old and outdated, and it does affect ratings.”

The ISO rating evaluates municipal fire protection efforts in four key areas: emergency communications systems, water supply, community risk reduction and fire department effectiveness.

The ISO does not publicly release scores.

Council chips in Covid relief funds

Foster said it will cost $40,000 to upgrade the company’s fire equipment.

He asked Leechburg Council to donate $20,000 to the fire company for new equipment, which council unanimously approved Feb. 14.

“It’s tremendous,” Foster said. “We fundraise constantly. It’s an inside joke but true: We aren’t professional firefighters; we’re professional fundraisers.

“We’re fortunate to have the support and generosity from the borough. The community does support us very well.”

Foster said he is concerned the outdated equipment is an accident waiting to happen.

“We’re at the point where an ax could fly off the handle, fly through the air, hit somebody in the head and split their head open,” he said.

Leechburg Mayor Tony Roppolo reassured Leechburg residents that fire equipment safety is a priority and the new equipment upgrade is necessary.

“I am fine with it. It’s for the betterment for the entire community, and it will help our insurance coverage premiums,” Roppolo said.

The donated funds will come from the borough’s covid-19 pandemic relief fund.

“Covid funds are for the people, and this will help the people,” Roppolo said.

Foster said the new equipment is expected to be delivered in several weeks.

The old equipment will be donated to an organization that refurbishes fire equipment.

Foster said he is going to request a re-inspection this year because he doesn’t want to wait until the next evaluation, scheduled for 2024, to try to lower the ISO score.

“We’re trying to get our procedures and policies updated and written so we can do another inspection. I feel like we can get our rating down to a 4 with the new equipment,” he said.

Joyce Hanz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joyce by emai

Lisa Backus
New Haven Register, Conn.
(TNS)

Mar. 8—NEW HAVEN — A city fire engine was struck by a car on Interstate 91 southbound near exit 7 while responding to an accident late Tuesday, state police said.

Preliminary information shows Troop I responded to in the area of I-91 near exit 7 for a motor vehicle accident involving a fire truck around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, Connecticut State Police Sgt. Christine Jeltema said.

It appears that troopers and the New Haven Fire Department were at a scene of a previous motor vehicle accident in the same area, Jeltema said.

No further information was immediately available Wednesday morning.

___

(c)2023 the New Haven Register (New Haven, Conn.)

Visit the New Haven Register (New Haven, Conn.) at www.nhregister.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Alachua County Fire Rescue invites the public to join them for the groundbreaking of a new fire rescue station on Friday, March 10, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at 10180 SW 24th Avenue in Gainesville, according to a news release.

The outdoor event will include comments from County Manager Michele Lieberman, Alachua County Commission Chair Anna Prizzia, and Fire Rescue Chief Harold Theus.

The station will house an Advanced Life Support Engine, which will allow Alachua County Fire Rescue to fill a critical gap and work with neighboring stations to improve service for Alachua County residents.

“The men and women of Alachua County Fire Rescue are excited to be a part of these communities and look forward to enhancing the level of service with quicker response times in this growing area,” said Fire Chief Harold Theus.

For more information, contact Alachua County Communications Director Mark Sexton at 352-264-6979 or msexton@alachuacounty.us.

The Statesville City Council Monday unanimously agreed to use $5 million from the fund balance and borrow $2 million to cover a large portion of the cost of construction of the new Fire Station 1, iredellfreenews.com reported.

Site work has begun on the 26,000-square-foot facility near the intersection of Wilson W. Lee Boulevard and Charlotte Avenue. The total cost of the project, including IT work and furnishings, is estimated at $14.8 million, the report said.

The remaining $7.8 million is being paid for with $7.1 million in ARPA funds and a previous allocation by council of about $600,000, according to the report.

Prior to Monday’s vote, a city official advised council that the $2 million loan for the fire station likely would be bundled with a loan for the new city garage and warehouse, the report said. City officials expect to receive bids on the garage/warehouse project in early May.