WALNUT CREEK, Calif., (September 17, 2024) – Tablet Command, an emergency response and management solution for the fire service, has hired notable Retired Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr as a Senior Business Development Advisor.

Chief Kerr will focus on connecting with fire chiefs nationwide to enhance Tablet Command’s engagement with fire service leaders. She will support the company’s goals of continuous improvement and growth by gathering valuable feedback from the fire service community, while also serving as a brand ambassador at key industry events.

A fourth-generation firefighter with 40 years of experience, she served as the first female President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) before finishing her career as the Fire Chief of Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue (where her career began in 1983.) She also served as the fire chief in Austin, TX, and Little Rock, AR.

“As a fire chief, my priorities have always been taking the best possible care of fellow firefighters and providing excellent community service,” says Kerr. “The two go hand in hand. Tablet Command is a proven incident command solution that enhances situational awareness, increasing emergency scene management and personnel accountability, and I look forward to helping them expand their footprint in the industry.”

Kerr holds a master’s degree in public administration, a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health, and an associate’s degree in fire technology. She is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and attended Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

“Chief Kerr’s passion and dedication to the fire service is reflected by her commitment as a leader and mentor,” says Tablet Command Co-Founder & CEO William Pigeon. “Adding her knowledge and experience to the team is invaluable. We’re lucky to have her.”

Firefighters can learn more about Tablet Command at TabletCommand.com.

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About Tablet Command

Tablet Command provides the industry-leading Mobile CAD, emergency incident response and management solution to nearly 40,000 users and more than 1,000 public safety agencies across the United States and Canada, resulting in 190,000+ incidents managed to date. Tablet Command software solutions enhance safety and operational efficiency for emergency responders on the ground by providing comprehensive, real-time information under a single pane of glass. Tablet Command also records operational performance data as a byproduct of the incident management process, allowing fire personnel to assess performance accurately post-incident. For more information, please visit www.TabletCommand.com.

The Lowndes County Fire Rescue held a Push-In Ceremony recently for its newest truck company at Station 10, the department said in a Facebook post. The fire truck push-in ceremony is a cherished tradition with deep historical roots dating back to the early days of firefighting. It symbolizes the readiness of a new fire apparatus but also serves as a community celebration of progress and safety.

The tradition began in the 19th century when fire departments used horse-drawn equipment. After responding to a fire, horses would be unhitched from the steam engines or hose carts, and due to the lack of engines, firefighters had to manually push the equipment back into the station. This practice naturally evolved into a ceremonial event as fire stations began receiving new equipment.

This push-in ceremony symbolizes the unity and teamwork required in firefighting. It involves our firefighters and community members, reinforcing the bond between the fire department and the public they serve. Pushing the new fire truck into the station signifies that the apparatus is ready to serve and protect the community. It also marks the official start of the vehicle’s duty.

Specs by Sutphen

Lowndes County Fire Rescue SL 75-Foot Aerial Ladder

Dealer – Williams Fire Apparatus 

WHEELBASE: 232-inches

TRAVEL HEIGHT: 10-feet – 0 ½-inches

TRAVEL LENGTH: 41-feet – 8 ½-inches

CHASSIS: Sutphen Monarch Heavy-Duty Custom Chassis, 73-inch Extended Cab with a 10-inch Raised Roof

• Four-Door, Five-Person Cab
• 10-inch Double Domex Frame Rails (110K PSI)
• Front Axle and Suspension 23,000 lbs
• Rear Axle and Suspension 35,000 lbs
• Engine: Cummins L9, 450 HP
• Alternator: Leece Neville, 320 AMP
• Transmission: Allison Gen 5, EVS3000

PUMP: Hale

• QMAX-2000 GPM, Single Stage Pump
• Discharges: (2) 2 ½-inches Left, (1) 3” Right, (1) 2 ½-inches Right, (1) 2 ½-inches Upper Left Side Body, (1) 2 ½-inches Front Bumper, (1) 2 ½-inches Auxiliary Waterway
• Monitor: TFT Y5-E11A-L Typhoon Elec w/ M-ERP-1500 Nozzle
• Crosslays: (2) 2-inches Valve-Piping 1 ½-inches Swivel
• 500-Gallon Water Tank

BODY: Sutphen

• Huckbolt #304 Stainless Steel
• Amdor Roll-Up Compartment Doors
• Over 230 cu ft. Total Compartment Space
• Duo-Safety Ladder Package: 16-foot R, 24-foot 2-Section, 35-foot 3-Section & 10-foot F
• Body: SAA-6, Left High / Right High Split / EXT / Trans

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT:

• 18-inch Formed Steel Channel, Bumper Extension
• Federal Q2B Siren, Grille Mount
• Intercom System: FRC ACT 2-Station
• Camera System: FRC, Inview Trueview, Two Cameras
• Roto Ray Warning Light
• Hi-Viz 3-Piece 12V LED Brow Light
• Whelen Freedom 4 Lightbar
• FireTech Guardian Elite 20K Scene Lights

Submit Video, Audio, and Articles HERE

Bob Brawdy
Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.)
(TNS)

Sep. 18—The Richland Fire Department celebrated the opening of its newest station Tuesday with the uncoupling of a two fire hoses instead of a traditional ribbon cutting.

The $7.4 million, 10,800-square-foot facility is now fully staffed to respond to fires and emergencies.

About 140 people, including firefighters, families, dignitaries and community members attended the event at 4307 Trowbridge Boulevard, just off Dallas Road and Interstate 82 in south Richland.

Built in the Badger Mountain South community and with its proximity to Interstate 82, the station ensures quicker response times to emergencies in the area, according to a city news release.

The facility also features dedicated space for police officers to complete reports and coordinate with firefighters and emergency medical crews.

This is the sixth fire station in Richland and the fourth to include space for police.

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(c)2024 Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.)

Visit Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Was

By Alan M. Petrillo

Emergency medical services (EMS) responders need different kinds of protection in the personal protective equipment (PPE) that they wear to medical calls compared with traditional structural firefighting PPE. So, turnout gear makers have designed PPE for EMS personnel that protects them not only from external hazards but also from liquids and bloodborne pathogens.

Alysha Gray, product marketing director for fire PPE at Lion, says Lion makes MedPro™ rescue wear that is compliant with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1999, Standard on Protective Clothing and Ensembles for Emergency Medical Operations. She says that MedPro has a Milliken Textiles Westex® DH fire-resistant outer shell with a fiber content of 48% Tencel, 40% Modacrylic, and 12% Aramid for durable protection against flash fires and a Gore® CROSSTECH® EMS moisture barrier that protects against blood, bodily fluids, and water while remaining breathable.

She points out that Lion’s EMS gear is custom fit in 2-inch increments for the chest and waist; the coat has a biswing back and underarm bellows for greater mobility; and the pant has a banded crotch, PCA-reinforced knees with Lite- N-Dri padding, pant leg take-up straps, PCA-reinforced cuffs, and zippered legs to make it easier to don and doff over boots.

MedPro EMS gear is available with Lion Ventilated 3M™ Scotchlite™ II reflective material, lime-yellow triple trim, or 2-inch silver solid high-visibility trim. Lion also offers a removable winter liner for the EMS gear to give added protection against cold temperatures, Gray says, and a detachable lined hood for head protection.

Gray notes that Lion also makes the TR51™ rescue/EMS turnout gear that is dual compliant with NFPA 1999 and NFPA 1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents. TR51 turnouts are made with a Safety Components Sigma™ outer shell with a fiber content of 45% Meta-Aramid, 32% Lenzing FR, 17% Polyamide, and 6% Para-Aramid, she says, and a Gore CROSSTECH® SR removable liner for penetration resistance to water, common chemicals, blood, and other bodily fluids. The TR51 coat has a biswing back and bellows underarm to help prevent hem rise when the wearer reaches up, and the pant has a banded crotch seam so there are no intersecting seams and pre-bent self-fabric knees.

Todd Herring, vice president of product innovation and strategy for Fire- Dex®, says the company makes EMS Gear, which is compliant with NFPA 1999, and USAR Gear, compliant with NFPA 1999 and 1951. He notes that the EMS gear is made with either a TECGEN51 or Nomex Essential outer shell and a sewn- in CROSSTECH EMS fabric that provides breathability and heat stress relief while maintaining liquid penetration resistance from blood, bodily fluids, commonly encountered chemicals, and water.

Herring says that Fire-Dex’s USAR gear can be made with TECGEN51 for the outer shell, which allows greater flexibility and breathability, or Nomex, along with a lining of CROSSTECH EMS fabric for protection against comm