A 33-foot Lake Assault fireboat, owned and operated by the Lake Vermilion Fire Brigade, provided support for wildland firefighting efforts during the Foss Lake wildfire near Ely, Minn. earlier this spring. The 33-foot craft was used to haul up to 20-person crews, and their canoes and equipment to staging areas to fight the blaze.

SUPERIOR, WI—A Lake Assault fireboat, owned and operated by the Lake Vermilion Fire Brigade, provided support for wildland firefighting efforts during the Foss Lake wildfire near Ely, Minnesota earlier this spring. The 33-foot craft was used to haul up to 20-person crews, and their canoes and equipment to staging areas to fight the blaze. The fire, located approximately 10 miles west of Ely, Minnesota in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), consumed a total of 936 acres and was contained and controlled on June 2.

“Providing support to wildland firefighting efforts on shore is an important role for the fireboats we build,” said Chad DuMars, Lake Assault Boats vice president of operations. “We are very proud that organizations like the Lake Vermilion Fire Brigade are here to help protect structures and vital natural resources such as the BWCAW, and that our boats play an important role in the brigade’s mission.”

Don Potter is the Lake Vermilion Fire Brigade president and operations chief. “We often assist the Forest Service, DNR, County Rescue Squads, and municipalities and go wherever we’re needed; we’re extremely reasonable and have state-of-the-art equipment. Last year, in the same area, we were responsible for structure protection during a prescribed burn. We did a lot of pretreating of fuels using our boat’s large roof monitor and spraying the shoreline. We also quickly extinguished a spot fire that was caused by firebrands flying across the lake.”

The landing craft style boat—with a ten-and-a-half foot beam—features twin 300-hp outboards that can reach speeds of up to 50 mph. The fireboat is equipped with a 1,600-gpm water pump, a 300-hp V8 pump engine, and three discharges—including a high flow monitor and water cannon. 

When supporting wildland firefighting operations, the Lake Assault fireboat can fill up tanker apparatus that are stationed on shore. “We serve as a water supply resource, and that’s a tremendous benefit to firefighters because we can fill a tanker in a hurry,” added Potter. “We’re like a floating fire hydrant.”

Lake Vermilion Fire Brigade has two Lake Assault Boats in its fleet, and also owns a 25-foot airboat used primarily for ice rescues. “Both of our boats were designed over the course of many meetings with an expert team from Lake Assault; their people are fantastic,” said Potter. “They’re a very talented group and it's a quality product. The thing about Lake Assault is that they can make just about anything.”

For more information, visit www.lakeassault.com.

Brass Knuckle® safety products has introduced the SmartShell™ BKCR4599, a heavy-duty protective glove offering wide-ranging protection for extreme jobs. The BKCR4599 is a category jumper providing heavy-duty cut resistance, light oil and moisture resistance, non-tacky slip resistance, and shock-absorbing impact protection—all in an easy-wearing glove that defies comfort expectations. Providing a broad spectrum of protection, the BKCR4599 is a high-end mechanic’s glove that delivers ANSI level 4 cut resistance in a very breathable, durable and flexible glove. 

On the palm and fingers, the BKCR4599 offers three layers of protection. The liner is an ultra-high-performance polyethylene (HPPE) and spandex composite that delivers strong cut resistance without bulk. Bonded to that first layer is a gray polyurethane (PU) fabric topped with a grippy nitrile surface—a barrier to light oil or other light liquid penetration. In critical areas of the palm, padding provides impact resistance. Finally, the back of the hand is loaded with sonically welded thermoplastic rubber (TPR) padding that easily counters workplace pounding and abrasion.

The BKCR4599 glove is well suited to work in a wide variety of industries including assembly, agricultural, construction, aerospace, electric energy, engineering, forestry and logging, heavy equipment, machine operation, manufacturing, material handling, mining, metal handling, oil and gas drilling, packaging, refining, rigging and transportation. 

For more information, visit www.brassknuckleprotection.com.

New Hamburg, ON—ARGO unveiled three new vehicle models for firefighters and search and rescue personnel as part of its 2017 Responder Series.

Designed for reliable off-road fire and rescue, the new 2017 ARGO Responder vehicles feature interchangeable modules allowing the unit to serve as a firefighting pump, off-road ambulance, or crew transport for a team of up to six first responders.

With go-anywhere amphibious capabilities, the Frontier 8x8 Responder S, Avenger 8x8 Responder X and Avenger 8x8 Responder feature a number of unique options as standard equipment including:

• 25” Steel off-set rims
• Skid plate
• Heavy duty bearing extensions
• Bilge pump
• Entry step
• 3,500 lbs WARN power winch 
• Robust brush guard 
• HD drive belt
• 1st Responder Package:
  • Rear receiver winch kit
  • Brake/tail lights
  • Folding seat
  • Stretcher frame

Both Avenger Series Responder models also include the revolutionary new Lite-Steer (LS transmission) which makes steering smoother and easier than ever and upgraded heavy duty axles and sprockets providing the units with increased strength and durability. The Avenger Series models also feature new reversible, offset steel rims which allow the wheels to sit closer or further out from the vehicle, simplifying track installation for dealers and first responders alike.

In addition to the Lite-Steer steering feature, the Responder series models also come with a choice of standard, high-torque, or high-speed transmissions, depending on customer preference.

All ARGO Responder models also have the option of being outfitted with a 75 gallon water tank and 5 gallon drop-in foam cell which firefighters can use to suppress fires on the spot or prevent fires before they start. The stretcher frame meanwhile, allows departments to add on a Ferno #9 stretcher for extricating patients or performing rescues. 

The Ferno #9 stretcher is also interchangeable with the standard stretchers used in ambulances, so there’s no need to transfer a patient from one stretcher to the other for transport to the hospital.

All Responder units can also be outfitted with a number of industry specific accessories, allowing fire departments and search and rescue organizations to customize their vehicles with add-ons such as Baskets (Ferno Traverse), Whelen lighting packages, warning sirens, O2 bottle holders, head immobilizers and more. 

First-response features and designs for ARGO fire & rescue vehicles have been in development, and in service for nearly ten years and these new and improved models come in direct response to feedback from industry professionals around the world. 

Assembly line production of the new 2017 models has already begun, and vehicles will be available in dealerships across North America and around the world soon. 

For more information, visit www.ARGOxtv.com.