Ricochet, Along with Partner ADS, Awarded Second Contract for Fire Emergency Services Personal Protective Equipment (FES PPE) Both Inside and Outside the Contiguous U.S.

PHILADELPHIA, PA, February 21, 2023 – Ricochet, a leading manufacturer of Fire, Rescue and EMS personal protective equipment, announced that it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force to serve as the sole manufacturer for firefighting structural turnout gear. This contract, valued at $40 million, is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Fire Emergency Services Personal Protective Equipment (FES PPE). Ricochet partners with ADS Inc., the prime vendor for this contract. The period of performance for the contract runs through Q4 of 2027.

“This award underscores Ricochet’s strong commitment to serving the military and our ability to scale up to meet the growing demand for best-in-class firefighting gear,” said Peter Askey, President, Ricochet. “We are proud and honored to continue to support the U.S. Air Force as the sole provider of structural/turnout gear since 2017, and remain deeply dedicated to serving firefighters.”

Ricochet, along with partner ADS Inc., was initially awarded a contract with the U.S. Air Force in 2017 to serve as the sole manufacturer for firefighting structural/turnout gear ($45 million) and firefighting proximity gear ($23 million) for all Air Force agencies worldwide. That contract successfully closed in Q3 of 2022. 

Ricochet has a strong history in providing PPE to the U.S. Military. In addition to serving the U.S. Air Force, Ricochet has manufactured specialized PPE for the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marines, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Secret Service, and other Federal Agencies.

About Ricochet

Ricochet is an industry leading manufacturer of sophisticated, high-tech Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that is focused on protection, performance, and comfort. Ricochet has been headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for over 20 years, with all manufacturing and operations located in a single master facility.

In addition to serving the United States Military, Ricochet serves customers in multiple sectors of public safety by providing custom engineered PPE including EMS gear for the Philadelphia and Honolulu Fire Departments, Technical Rescue gear to all FDNY Rescue and Squad companies, and structural/turnout gear to multiple Fire Departments throughout the United States and beyond. Ricochet is a long-standing member of FEMSA. For more information, visit ricochet-gear.com.

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Warren Township Fire Department – Trumbull County, Ohio released this video and this post on its Facebook page Sunday:

“Today at 8:38, an off duty firefighter/paramedic, was pulling into the parking lot of our West Market Street fire station to finish an administrative task. While he was slowing down, had his turn signal on, another vehicle rear ended the off duty firefighter/Paramedics vehicle as they were making the turn into the parking lot. This is the 3rd motor vehicle crash recently in front of, or on the property of, our West Market Street Fire Station. This is the 2nd crash involving our firefighting personnel. Off duty personnel were called in to assist. The driver of the other vehicle and the off duty firefighter/paramedic were transported to a local hospital for minor to moderate injuries. Ohio State Highway Patrol is handling the investigation.”

Keeping It Safe Robert Tutterow

One of Yogi Berra’s famous sayings was, “The future isn’t what it used to be.” As the fire service goes kickin’ and screamin’ forward, there are many changes lying ahead, and we probably have some clues as to what they will be, though we do not know for sure.

 

One of the more discussed changes that has now cracked the eggshell open is electric fire apparatus. However, not much has been discussed about the changes in fire stations to accommodate the switch from diesel to electric.

This may not be on your radar, but if your stations are less than 35 to 40 years old, then you will likely have electric fire apparatus in your stations. Most certainly, if you are building a new station, you might as well plan on electric fire trucks. From a firefighter health perspective, electric fire apparatus in the station is an incredibly significant advancement. The elimination of fossil fuels is much healthier than trying to capture and remove the carcinogens they produce. There is no need for diesel exhaust removal systems.

A few months ago, the mayor of Charlotte (NC) stated she wanted the fire department (from which I am retired) to purchase an electric fire truck and put it in an all-electric station. No fossil fueled engines were to be on the property except for the firefighters’ personal vehicles—and I am sure there will be incentives to minimize their parking on the property. Moreover, she stated that the funding for the truck and for the station would not come from the fire department budget but from other sources. Whoa. This declaration is a prime example of the commitment to green energy by many of those in governing positions.

Several questions immediately came to mind as this relates to the station. What is the backup power plan in case the grid fails? Currently, all stations in the department have backup generators to power the entire station. What happens when the electric apparatus is in for repair/maintenance and all the reserve apparatus are nonelectric? What happens when the electric apparatus is at the training academy all day or deployed on an extended incident requiring a company move up from another station to maintain coverage in the area? These are among the questions to be answered.

From a firefighter safety perspective, there are station design considerations. The fire wall ratings probably need to be increased as electric fire trucks burn much hotter than diesel-powered fire trucks. The station sprinkler system will need to provide more capacity. The bottom line—basic life safety codes for the station will be more robust than current standards.

Based on current knowledge, it is wise to include additional conduit sleeves for electrical lines and a dedicated electrical room large enough to house the equipment needed for an all-electric station. Of course, there is a need to include in the feasibility studies for a new station or station renovation the current capacity of the electrical grid. Is it large enough to power the station? Most rural areas currently do not have the capacity.

It is important to include the outside stakeholders in your electric station/electric fire truck procurement process. They must have a full understanding of the often-overlooked needs. The procurement process must include a vision of emerging electrical needs, such as a landing zone for larger drones, possible use of UVC light for decontamination, sensory devices throughout the station (motion, smoke, HV

Ferrara—West Chicago (IL) Fire Protection District top-mount controls pumper. Igniter SMFD cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm pump; 750-gallon polypropylene water tank; Hendrickson Steertek NTX front axle; Ziamatic Quick Lift ladder rack. Dealer: Mark Nixon, AEC Fire & Safety, Springfield, IL.

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