With half of its firefighting vehicles under repair at once, the Texarkana (TX) Fire Department has borrowed a reserve pumper truck from its neighbors on the Arkansas side, according to a report from Arkansas Online.

Myriad mechanical issues—such as brake problems and a malfunctioning motor—have shrunk the Texarkana FD’s fleet of eight trucks, five front-line vehicles and three reserve, to four that are operable, Texas-side Fire Chief Eric Schlotter said.

The Arkansas collective is left with two of its normal three reserve trucks, one of which itself needs work, the report said.

“That is kind of thin, but it’s not so thin that I wouldn’t help them out when we can, because you never know when we might have to reciprocate,” Arkansas-side Fire Chief David Fletcher said.

The Texarkana FD is fully operational, with all five fire stations staffed and ready to respond to emergencies, and residents will not see a difference in service, Schlotter said.

The situation is somewhat unusual but not unheard of, both chiefs said. Schlotter said the situation was a matter of bad timing and noted that keeping such complex, heavy-duty vehicles in good repair is a continuous challenge.

“This isn’t the first time that things kind of stacked up on us,” he said. “It always seems like Murphy’s Law, if it’s ever going to really jump on us, it’s with fleet issues. Every fire department fleet that I know of deals with the same issues.”

When the Texas department’s trucks will be repaired is uncertain.

“It’s not something we would prefer to happen,” Schlotter said. “We certainly don’t like it when we’re in this situation, but it is nice that we have partners, and it’s why we maintain those agreements with all those partners. Our strength is a collective one. We’re stronger because we have these partnerships with these other cities and agencies.”

Monroe, NC (April 6, 2021) – 3M Scott Fire & Safety, a global leader in respiratory protection and thermal imaging solutions, proudly announces its latest facepiece solution to help firefighters communicate clearly and hear what matters, the 3M™ Scott™ Vision C5 Facepiece with Radio Direct Interface.

Designed using a platform approach, the Vision C5 facepiece with radio direct interface incorporates the latest technology to enhance situational intelligence in a customizable solution. Expanding on the 3M™ Scott™ Vision C5 Facepiece with E-Z Flo C5 Regulator, the facepiece now includes Bluetooth^® communications to help address critical communication challenges on the fireground.

 “Two of the biggest challenges in fireground operations are communications and accountability,” said Gary Silsby, application engineer and firefighter. “Firefighters’ ability to communicate clearly over the radio and hear incoming communications is paramount to successful fireground operations.”

Utilizing proprietary noise suppression algorithms, in combination with a facepiece-integrated microphone, Bluetooth^® enabled in-mask communications provide enhanced voice intelligibility during two-way radio communications. An integrated bone conduction headphone assists firefighters with hearing and understanding of incoming radio communications.

“As an industry leader, our role at 3M Scott Fire & Safety is to provide innovative solutions to help improve the safety and accountability of first responders,” said John Graves, global product marketer. “Providing a modular facepiece with in-mask communications allows fire departments the flexibility to configure the best solution to meet their needs.”

The Vision C5 facepiece with radio direct interface operates with compatible 3M™ Scott™ Air-Pak™ SCBA, as well as compatible two-way radios. A perfect companion to the 3M™ Scott™ Air-Pak™ X3 Pro SCBA, the Vision C5 facepiece was designed to provide enhancements to five key areas – cleanability, comfort, connectivity, communications, and configurability – helping firefighters to see m

PBI Performance Products, producers of high-performance PBI^® fiber, announced today the launch of its new logo and website. These changes come at a time when the company is evolving its brand identity while expanding its global reach.

“PBI is a unique molecule which is finding new end uses by solving critical issues in personal protection, energy, hi-tech manufacturing, and water purification. Our business has grown and evolved over the last 30 years and we continue innovate with solutions for a safer tomorrow” Says Bill Lawson, President.

“We are really excited to launch the new identity, as part of the ongoing evolution of our business. We have transformed our branding to reflect who we are today and our dynamic future tomorrow.” says Catalina Ciobanu, Marketing Director.

Designed to work effortlessly across digital and physical channels, as a stand-alone and ingredient brand, the new logo evokes movement and velocity, while maintaining the integrity of the PBI brand equity and color cues, valuable and recognizable assets built throughout the years.

To highlight the new logo, PBI has introduced a redesigned website. The primary goal during the redesign process was to create a more valuable, user-centric and responsive resource across all platforms and devices. With feedback from our customers and stakeholders, we wanted to focus on making it easier for our customers to obtain technical information about PBI fabrics, with a simplified message and a collection of digital resources such as, laboratory testing videos and comparative performance data.

About PBI Performance Products

PBI Performance Products, Inc. is the sole producer of high-performance PBI fiber – used in turnout gear outer shells, thermal liners, moisture barrier substrates, hoods, gloves – and other premium flame-resistant fabrics.

PBI Performance Products, Inc. provides firefighters, first responders, petrochemical and utility workers, soldiers, and emergency professionals around the world the ultimate in thermal and flame protection, combined with comfort and durability.

PBI Performance Products, Inc. is a wholly owned business of The InterTech Group, Inc., located in North Charleston, SC. The InterTech Group is a holding company and operator of a diverse global group of companies specializing in custom-engineered solutions.

For more information, visit www.pbiproducts.com

Raynham Fire Department is one of nearly 300 fire departments across the state to have been awarded a grant for fire equipment, reports Wicked Local.

The grants are awarded via the Department of Fire Services Fiscal Year 2021 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program. The $4 million awarded to departments statewide is part of a $25 million bond bill filed by the Baker-Polito Administration to support firefighter health and safety over the next five years.

The $10,900 grant awarded to the Raynham Fire Department will be used to purchase a gear dryer to clean Raynham firefighters’ personal protective equipment.

Fire departments in Massachusetts were able to apply to this program for 114 different types of eligible equipment, including personal protective clothing, gear washers and dryers, thermal imaging cameras, assorted hand tools and extrication equipment, communications resources, hazardous gas meters, fitness equipment and more.