This spring, Allendale Township will begin construction on a $7.5 million fire station, reports mlive.com.

The new facility will be built near the intersection of Lake Michigan Drive and 68th Avenue, right next to the current one, and the department is expected to move in by the end of the year, the report says.

The project has been in the works for years, as the current station lacks space and isn’t ideal for the area’s growth. The report notes that Allendale Township saw its population balloon from 20,708 residents to 26,582 from 2010 to 2020.

The new digs will include sleeping quarters, a kitchen area for when it’s converted to a 24/7 staffing model, women’s quarters, restrooms, lockers, and be handicap accessible.

The project won’t result in any tax increases, the report says. Its price tag includes the construction and outfitting of the new building, the demolition of the existing building, and reworked entrances.

Local Grand Valley State University (GVSU) and the Allendale Charter Township Downtown Development Authority (DDA) made contributions to the new construction; GVSU contributed $1 million, while DDA donated $3.5 million.

Erhardt Construction is the project’s general contractor, and it will work with Construction Simplified and Architectural Group to complete the project, according to the report.

Spartan Emergency Response—Lincoln (IL) Rural Fire Protection District top-controls pumper. Spartan Metro Star MFD 10-inch raised cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Waterous CXSC20 1,500-gpm pump; 1,000-gallon polypropylene water tank; 20-gallon foam cell piped for future foam system. Dealer: Rick O’Hara, Fast Apparatus Supply Team, Lincoln, IL. (Photo by author.)

MORE FIRE APPARATUS ARTICLES>>

Pierce Manufacturing will kick off the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) 2022 with announcements and new product and technology demonstrations at their Lucas Oil Stadium display on Thursday, April 28, 2022, at 10:00 am.

APPLETON, Wis. (April 13, 2022) – Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) company, announced it will showcase an extensive selection of the latest standout fire apparatus and technology developments at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 28-30, 2022. A main feature will be North America’s first-in-service and fully U.S. manufactured electric fire truck – the Pierce Volterra™ Pumper. Attendees will find Pierce’s display in the north end zone of Lucas Oil Stadium (booth #8807), which will feature 14 fire trucks and interactive opportunities to learn about the latest product and technology innovations.

“The past year has been monumental for our company in advancing our objective to create the most progressive solutions in fire apparatus safety and efficiency,” said Lisa Barwick, vice president of marketing for Pierce’s Fire and Emergency Segment. “We’re excited to welcome Fire Chief Steven Davis from The City of Madison Fire Department and EnTech Solutions to our 2022 FDIC booth. Visitors will have the opportunity to hear first-hand from these representatives about the performance of the Pierce Volterra electric pumper, its charging infrastructure, and the impact on reducing emissions and improving firefighter safety; all with no compromise on features, performance, or functionality.”

Pierce’s Volterra Electric Fire Truck Display to Include:

• Two electric pumpers and charging infrastructure solutions
• North America’s first-in-service electric fire truck – The City of Madison, Wisconsin Fire Department’s Volterra electric pumper
  -City of Madison Fire Department’s recently retired Chief Steven Davis, and Assistant Chief Scott Bavery will be on-site and available for Q&A
• Portland, Oregon Fire & Rescue’s Pierce Volterra electric pumper
  -Pierce’s expert engineers will be available to discuss features, customizations, and attributes of the U.S.made electric fire apparatus
• EnTech Solutions electric vehicle charging infrastructure – Pierce has partnered with EnTech Solutions, an expert in energy solutions provider from concept to installation, and representatives will be on-site at Pierce’s FDIC booth to discuss: 
  -The impact of EV charging on a fire station
  -The best options for the individual site
  -ROI opportunities with renewable energy
  -Available grants/incentives
  -Costs and anticipated lead times
  -Ongoing support 

Additional Technology and Latest Fire Truck Component Features on Display Will Include:

• Introduction of the next generation in fire apparatus pump design and fire suppression upgrades with enhanced flow capabilities paired with unmatched serviceability and performance.
• 100’ Heavy-Duty Low Profile Steel Aerial Ladder – Introduced in late 2021, this 100’ low profile steel ladder has an overall height as low as 10’ 10” with waterway, and 10’ 8” without waterway, a rated load capacity up to 750 lb in winds up to 35 mph with a 100 lb allowance of additional firefighting equipment at the ladder tip (while flowing up to 1500 gpm).
• Pierce CZ Connect™ Fully Integ

FirstNet Subscribers Can Now Access GPC Smart via the FirstNet App Catalog

New York, NY, April 11, 2022 – Following a rigorous review process, GPC Smart is now FirstNet® Verified™ and accessible via the FirstNet App Catalog.

GPC Smart, a Syneroid Technologies product, is the nation’s first wireless communication platform dedicated to pets and public safety for use by first responders. It is a unified system that allows first responders to securely access and share animal information on FirstNet. It is the first and only pet identification solution available via the FirstNet App catalog.

FirstNet – America’s public safety communications platform – features the first-ever App Catalog geared to first responders, featuring more than 190 apps relevant to public safety’s mission. This gives FirstNet subscribers a dedicated location to find meaningful new solutions that have been specifically reviewed for use with FirstNet services. Before any mobile solution can be added to the FirstNet App Catalog, it must pass stringent third-party tests for security, relevancy, data privacy and more.

“GPC Smart is an animal I.D. system that brings pet identification from its analog past into today’s digital information age. Our pet recovery system consists of digital pet tags and implanted microchips that both work with a Universal Pet Registry, accessible through the GPC Smart app and smartphone, 24/7, from anywhere in the world. Our system is the most efficient, cost effective and humane way to reunite lost pets with their owners,” said Tom Ickovic, CEO, Syneroid Technologies.

Achieving a FirstNet Verified™ designation means GPC Smart is a vetted and trusted solution for public safety, meeting FirstNet app requirements. Additionally, FirstNet subscribers will also be able to take advantage of the GPC Smart solution while benefiting from FirstNet’s highly secure network core, which is the only physically separate network core dedicated entirely to public safety in America.

Built with AT&T, in a public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority, FirstNet is bringing public safety communications into the 21st century with new, innovative capabilities to strengthen first responders’ incident response. And it’s helping them connect to the critical information they need – every day and in every emergency.

“We only add applications to the FirstNet App Catalog that are high quality and relevant to public safety. And we’re pleased that GPC Smart is now Verified and available to FirstNet subscribers,” said Scott Agnew, assistant vice president, product marketing, FirstNet Program at AT&T. “GPC Smart will bring public safety additional capabilities to help streamline the process of reuniting pets with their owners. It’s the quickest and simplest recovery method possible.”

“Through our work with first responders, we heard their need for innovative applications to assist with their lifesaving mission. FirstNet is helping to address these needs, and we are pleased to welcome GPC Smart to the FirstNet App Catalog,” said Jeff Bratcher, Chief Network and Technology Officer, First Responder Network Authority.

To learn more about GPC Smart, go to GPCsmart.com. Click here for a full list of apps in the FirstNet App Catalog. For more on FirstNet, check out FirstNet.com.

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