The Muscle Shoals (AL) Fire Department received a $49,191 Homeland security grant to upgrade its radios, reports waff.com.

The funds aim to allow the department to replace hand-held base radios at the city’s three fire stations, as well as apparatus radios, the report says.

Officials say the grant does not require local matching.

The Duluth (MN) Firefighter Foundation recently received a $10,000 donation from Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union to purchase a new Paratech MultiForce Air Lifting Bag.

The equipment can be used in myriad rescues, such as vehicle crashes, building collapses, and trench rescue operations.

“The Duluth Fire Department would like to thank Affinity Plus for their continued commitment to public safety in Duluth, and for providing equipment that without their support the Department would not have to save lives,” the department wrote on Facebook.

By Alan M. Petrillo

Motorola Solutions has brought out its newest radio for firefighters, the APX NEXT™ XN, part of its APX NEXT portfolio of next generation Project 25 (P25) radios that incorporate data applications for enhanced situational awareness.

Jon Touvannas, director of product management for Motorola Solutions, says the company conducts extensive research with firefighters, learning about the extreme heat, little visibility, and deafening noise they face in emergency situations, and designs radios to meet their unique needs. Touvannas notes that like Motorola’s APX NEXT XE radio, the APX NEXT XN “combines mission-critical communications with broadband 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, GPS location information that updates every few seconds to enhance firefighter safety, and features ViQi™ Voice Control, which enables users to control their radio through simple and intuitive voice command.

Scott Alazraki, senior manager of product planning for Motorola Solutions, points out that the APX NEXT XN passes several specific tests for heat and water immersion. “The radio was heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (F) for 15 minutes, and then immersed in five feet of water at room temperature for 15 minutes,” Alazraki says. “The test was then repeated six times, and then the radio was examined for quality levels of speech and levels of radio operation, which it surpassed.”

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Posted: Nov 15, 2021

Photo of the Day: November 15, 2021

Toyne—Leland (NC) Fire Rescue Department pumper. Severe Service LFD flat roof cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Steertek suspension; Waterous C20 1,500-gpm pump; 750-gallon polypropylene water tank; Axis smart truck monitoring system; 140-inch Flushback body constructed of 3/16-inch aluminum. Dealer: Cameron Marler, Safe Industries, Easley, SC.

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