WYOMING, Minnesota (September 22, 2025) – Rosenbauer America, a leading manufacturer of fire apparatus, today announced its participation at the 35th Annual ARFF Working Group Symposium. As part of this, guests have the opportunity to attend a Rosenbauer America customer appreciation event and live vehicle demonstration, providing a first-hand look at the future of aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) with the PANTHER electric.
The event will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm ET at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
Attendees will have the unique opportunity to ride in the cab of the PANTHER electric and experience its power and nearly-silent operation. This is more than a presentation—it is a live experience designed to showcase the vehicle’s revolutionary capabilities. Guests will also enjoy complimentary refreshments and a barbeque.
The PANTHER electric represents a monumental step forward in sustainable and effective ARFF response. Its innovative design and technology deliver uncompromising performance while significantly reducing environmental impact.
Key features and functions of the PANTHER electric include:
- Zero Local Emissions and Ultra-Quiet Operation: The all-electric powertrain eliminates exhaust fumes and drastically reduces noise and vibrations, creating a healthier and safer working environment for firefighters and airport personnel.
- Superior Acceleration and Driving Dynamics: With a powerful electric drive, the PANTHER electric outperforms its diesel counterparts, accelerating from 0 to 50 mph (80 km/h) in less than 25 seconds, ensuring a rapid response to any emergency.
- Full-Performance Firefighting Technology: The vehicle’s high-voltage batteries and electric pumps deliver the same powerful firefighting capabilities as a conventional PANTHER, with a pump flow rate of up to 2,250 GPM (9,000 liters per minute) and a turret throw range of up to 300-feet (100 meters).
- Integrated Energy Backup System (EBS): An on-board diesel-powered EBS provides seamless, continuous power to the pump and other systems, guaranteeing full operational readiness even during extended or unforeseen incidents.
- Rapid Charging Capabilities: The PANTHER electric can be fully charged from empty in approximately 45 minutes with up to 300 kW charging, and a typical operational charge can be achieved in as little as 15 minutes, ensuring a fast turnaround between responses.
To experience the next evolution of ARFF technology, noted event details are as follows:
Where: Foxwoods Resort Casino, Rainmaker Room, 350 Trolley Line Boulevard, Mashantucket, CT 06338
When: Wednesday, September 24, 2025, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm ET
Transportation: Shuttle bus departs from Mohegan Sun at 5:30 pm ET
About Rosenbauer America
Rosenbauer is the world’s leading manufacturer of firefighting vehicles and equipment. With a history of innovation spanning over 150 years, Rosenbauer is a full-line manufacturer, providing pumpers, aerials, rescues, and other specialized apparatus to fire departments across North America from its facilities in Wyoming, Minnesota; Lyons, South Dakota; and Fremont, Nebraska. Rosenbauer America is part of the Rosenbauer Group, which operates in more than 100 countries and is a trusted partner to fire services worldwide. The company is dedicated to developing and providing the most advanced and reliable firefighting technology to save lives and protect property. Learn more at www.rosenbaueramerica.com.
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Posted: Sep 23, 2025
Keeping It Safe Robert Tutterow
It was not that many years ago that I saw a drone on display at FDIC International that was being promoted for use in the fire service. I do not recall having either a negative or positive reaction and did not give the idea much thought.
As with a lot of new things, I could not relate to its possibilities based on my historical perspective. Here we are in 2025, and thousands of drones are now owned and used by fire departments. I had not realized how popular they had become until about five years ago when I asked a battalion chief in a large department if it had a drone. The response was, “Yes, I think we now have 15 of them.”
We do not have to look far to see how other industries are incorporating drones. Restaurants are now using drones, which are usually contracted, to deliver takeout food orders within a few miles of their locations. A drone food delivery was made in my neighborhood a couple of days before I wrote this column. And, a few of the big-box stores and online retailers are now using drones for package deliveries. How crowded will the skies be in just a few more years?
I am embarrassed to admit that I never gave firefighter safety a thought when it comes to drones. Then, I was reading some words of wisdom from the late Chief Alan Brunacini and came across one of his timeless tactical truths: “Make the unknown known.” I think that is where the value of how drones are being used today has a tremendous safety value. They provide added insight into situational awareness and can make the unknown situation known, and in a quicker time frame. Think of how many firefighters have lost their lives or were injured because of a lack of situational awareness.
Drones with thermal imaging cameras and live video streaming are probably default features to have on a department’s first drone or part of other features on a larger drone. It is amazing how small and inexpensive live, high-quality video cameras have become. These features have value at both structural and wildland fires. In fact, I doubt there has been a large wildland fire without the use of drones in recent years. With the right equipment, they can provide precise geographical location and atmospheric conditions.
I suspect that though drones are now common in many departments, we are still at the cutting edge of their influence on our service delivery. And, with the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), the famous Yogi Berra saying is most definitely apropos: “The future ain’t what it used to be.” At a technology conference I attended last year, there was a lot of talk about drones. Drones have been developed that can apply water to a fire. There are studies indicating the viability of using a “swarm” of drones for wildland fire suppression. At this same conference, it was almost a foregone conclusion that many departments will have drones dispatched to a scene at the same time responders are alerted. The drone will inevitably arrive on the scene before the first-arriving ground units and will send real-time information to the responding units.
I have heard architects who specialize in fire station design state that it might be wise to have an area designated for a future drone pad for larger, possibly staffed, drones. First responder capabilities will be enhanced with larger drones, again possibly staffed with paramedics, to respond to EMS calls.
Despite the promise of innovative technologies and enhanced drone capabilities, there are a couple of limitations that will be difficult to overcome. The first limitation is battery life. It is true that batte
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Posted: Sep 23, 2025
A South King Fire Department pumper was blocking an accident scene on Interstate 5 when it was struck by another vehicle at a high rate of speed, the fire department reported in a press release.
South King Fire crews were dispatched Sunday morning, Sept. 21, 2025, to reports of a single-vehicle rollover accident in the southbound lanes of I-5 near the 37500 block.
The on-duty battalion chief was first to arrive and located one patient ejected from the vehicle, reporting head and neck pain. Engine 361 arrived shortly after and positioned north of the incident to provide blocking for the safety of those on scene. Engine 364 followed to extend the safety zone with additional lateral blocking.
At 6:58 a.m., while firefighters were working to care for the patient and secure the scene, Engine 361 was struck at a high rate of speed by another vehicle. The engineer operating Engine 361, who was inside the cab with his seatbelt fastened, was injured in the collision. He was evaluated and transported by King County Medic One for non-life-threatening injuries.
Tri-Med transported the driver of the striking vehicle with non-life-threatening injuries, and Tri-Med also transported the original patient from the rollover accident with non-life-threatening injuries. Engine 361 sustained significant damage and was immediately placed out of service and towed to South King Fire’s Fleet Facility. A reserve engine was put into service to replace Engine 361, ensuring no interruption in fire and emergency response to the community.
Source: South King Fire.
Firefighter Safety on Freeways
Operating on high-speed roadways remains one of the most dangerous environments for firefighters. Every response includes strict safety measures such as strategic apparatus placement, use of high-visibility gear, and coordination with law enforcement partners to protect both first responders and the public. Incidents like this reinforce why those practices are critical and why they are followed every time our firefighters respond to freeway emergencies. Drivers play a vital role in keeping first responders safe by slowing down, paying attention, and moving over when approaching emergency scenes.
Importance of Reserve Apparatus
Maintaining a fleet of reserve engines is also vital to community safety. When frontline units are damaged or placed out of service, reserve apparatus allow South King Fire to continue responding without delay. This readiness ensures the continuity of emergency services that our community depends on, regardless of unexpected events.
Thank you to all our community partners for their response and support during a very dynamic incident. We are thankful that no one was seriously injured.
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Posted: Sep 22, 2025
The latest episode of FEMSA Focus, brought to you by our friends at Rescue Intellitech and hosted by Chris Mc Loone of Fire Apparatus and Emergency Equipment, dives into the evolving landscape of extrication tools through a conversation with two industry leaders: Shelly Elliott, President for North America at Holmatro, and Emilie Maheu, President of AMKUS. Their insights speak directly to the fire service’s current challenges and the path forward for extrication tool development. Here are three key takeaways from the discussion.
Both Elliott and Maheu emphasized that the fire service’s evolving operational environment heavily influences extrication tool design. Increasing complexity in vehicle construction, including use of high-strength alloys, advanced materials, and expanding electric vehicle (EV) presence, demands that manufacturers keep pace with rapidly shifting technology. Elliott pointed to the rise in natural disasters, tighter budgets, and staffing shortages as additional factors shaping customer needs.
Maheu echoed this, explaining how many departments still rely on tools that are decades old simply because funding to replace or upgrade equipment is scarce. “Fire departments using tools 30 to 40 years old” is a stark reality that contrasts with the significant advances made in extrication technology. The challenge lies in balancing cutting-edge features with affordability and reliability, ensuring tools meet the demands of modern rescue scenarios without pricing out struggling departments.
A strong theme running throughout the episode—and one resonating beyond extrication tools—is the value of industry collaboration through FEMSA membership. Both Elliott and Mayhew highlighted how FEMSA amplifies their voices on critical issues like funding, regulation, and training through unified advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C. This coordination helps secure much-needed resources and policy support for fire departments nationwide.
Additionally, FEMSA provides an important forum for manufacturers to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and form meaningful relationships. Given that only about 5-6% of the fire industry workforce is female, organizations like FEMSA also foster inclusion and mentorship networks, helping newcomers and diverse leaders thrive.
This sense of community strengthens both the manufacturers’ ability to serve their customers and the fire service’s ability to access advanced tools and training solutions. As Elliott put it, rescuing lives is “very purposeful and meaningful,” and FEMSA helps all stakeholders stay connected and focused on that mission.
Listen to the whole Podcast for more.
The post FEMSA Focus: Extrication Tools appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.
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