A 2012 Billerica (MA) Fire Department ladder truck is out of commission after it struck the Mount Pleasant Street bridge Tuesday morning, reports wickedlocal.com.

A department member was transporting the apparatus back from Lowell around 9 a.m. following repairs when the accident happened, the report says.

There were no passengers or injuries, but the truck’s ladder was totaled—though the apparatus is otherwise operational. It’ll be sent to Attleborough for repairs, officials say.

Related:
New Billerica (MA) Fire Station Almost Complete

The bridge, which has been a bone of contention with regards to vehicles getting trapped or damaged, nor the MBTA train line that sits on it were damaged.

Officials say the driver, who was apologetic about the incident, was drug-tested, as is standard protocol for accidents on the job.

The department says it will be relying on mutual aid from other departments until the ladder is repaired.

The demolition of the Nashville (TN) Fire Department’s Station 2 will commence in a couple of weeks, which will make way for construction of the department’s new Station 2.

The old station, built in 1974 at 500 2nd Avenue North, was closed in December 2019 due to building and mechanical issues.

Crews were temporarily reassigned as such: Personnel assigned to Engine 2 and Medic 2 relocated to Station 9 at 601 Second Avenue South; personnel assigned to Rescue 2 relocated to Station 5 at 1101 8th Avenue South; and personnel assigned to Tower 2 relocated to Station 11 at 1745 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Boulevard.

The demolition of Station 2 will last for a few months. The department is in the planning stages of creating the design and layout of the new Station 2, which will be in the vicinity of the old facility.

New firefighter all-band smart radio incorporates advanced technologies for trusted communications in the most intense environments

CHICAGO – Nov. 2, 2021 – Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI) today announced its newest radio for firefighters, the APX NEXT® XN, designed to meet the most stringent fire industry standards for use in hazard zones and conditions. The APX NEXT XN is part of the company’s APX NEXT portfolio of next-generation Project 25 (P25) mission-critical radios that incorporate data applications for enhanced situational awareness.

“We conduct extensive research with firefighters – who face the most demanding conditions including extreme heat, almost no visibility and deafening noise all at the same time – and design radios to meet their unique needs,” said Scott Mottonen, senior vice president of Products, Motorola Solutions. “The APX NEXT XN thrives through our most rugged tests, including dropping it on concrete from nearly 10 feet when frozen or heated and multiple cycles of heating it to 350 F followed by submersion in cold water, while still offering the effortless usability on which first responders rely.”

The radio is designed to meet the most meticulous fire industry requirements for use in hazard zones, including those related to heat exposure, immersion and drop/impact acceleration. It also meets requirements for software safety, including automated checks of battery capacity and accessory connections. Testing included heating devices to 500 F (260 C) for five minutes and direct flame exposure for 10 seconds. It can be connected to Motorola Solutions’ new XVN500 remote speaker microphone, which is also designed for hazardous environments.

Like the APX NEXT XE, the APX NEXT XN combines trusted mission-critical communications with broadband capabilities for applications that provide essential information to help firefighters respond to an emergency. The radio includes interactive maps with firefighter locations to coordinate response, multimedia messaging to share pictures and videos, and GPS location information that updates every few seconds to enhance safety for every firefighter. It also features ViQi™ Voice Control, which enables users to control their radio through simple and intuitive voice commands.

Motorola Solutions’ APX® line of fire radios now includes the APX NEXT XN, APX NEXT XE, APX 8000 XE all-band P25 radios, APX 6000 XE P25 radio, and other multi-band, single-band and hazardous certification radios and accessories for first responders.

About Motorola Solutions
Motorola Solutions is a global leader in public safety and enterprise security. Our solutions in land mobile radio mission-critical communications, video security & access control and command center software, bolstered by managed & support services, create the most integrated technology ecosystem to make communities safer and help businesses stay productive and secure. At Motorola Solutions, we’re ushering in a new era in public safety and security. Learn more at www.motorolasolutions.com.

Pascrell-authored legislation will improve benefits for those harmed in the line of duty and their families

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), co-chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus and Congressional Fire Services Caucus, today celebrated the Senate’s passage of his Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021 (PAFRA).

This bipartisan legislation is sponsored in the House (H.R. 2936) by Rep. Pascrell and in the Senate (S. 1511) by U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA). PAFRA makes significant improvements to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) program, which provides first responders who die or are permanently disabled in the line of duty with a federal benefit of $370,000 and education assistance of $1,200 a month to their children or spouse.

PAFRA first passed the Senate on June 10 and subsequently passed the House on October 27 with an amendment to extend the statutory presumption guaranteeing public safety officers who contract COVID-19 are eligible for benefits should they become disabled or die from the virus. Rep. Pascrell championed legislation to enact this important presumption last Congress. Today’s passage in the Senate will send the bill to President Joe Biden’s desk.

“During this devastating pandemic, America’s first responders have stood valiantly on the frontlines keeping our communities safe. Every single day, our firefighters, police, and EMS have risked their lives and the well-being of their families. With final passage of our bill today, Congress has made clear that America’s heroes have our fullest support and that their families will be protected should the worst come to pass,” said Rep. Pascrell. “I fought like hell to pass this bill in the House and I want to thank Senator Grassley for all of his work to get this bill across the finish line in the upper chamber. I now look forward to President Biden signing this bill into law so that our first responders and their families may have the peace of mind they deserve.”

Currently, first responders permanently disabled in the line of duty are only eligible for Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) if they can never again perform any compensated work. This high bar leaves behind far too many public safety officers. PAFRA corrects this by ensuring disabled first responders whose work is for therapeutic purposes, involves simple tasks, or provides special accommodations can still receive benefits. The bill also provides for retroactive disability benefits to public safety officers who responded to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, allowing those first responders who became permanently disabled from their heroic work at Ground Zero to re-apply for disability benefits.

The Protecting America’s First Responders Act also addresses lengthy delays in processing benefit claims, so that impacted officers and families aren’t left waiting for their owed relief during the most difficult of times. For cases pending longer than 365 days, PAFRA indexes the award amount to the date of final determination, rather than the date of death or injury, so families aren’t financially penalized for the de