
KME has added Keystone Fire Apparatus Inc., to its sales team. The company, which will represent KME in 19 Western Pennsylvania counties, has been providing sales and major service capabilities for its customers since 1994, when it was founded by owners Tom and Paula Ball. Keystone Fire Apparatus operates out of a recently expanded 18,000-square-foot facility with on-site pump testing capability. It also provides bumper-to-bumper preventive maintenance, nondestructive testing, collision and body repair, pump service and repairs, tank repair or replacement, hydraulic repairs, AC/DC lighting and wiring, and full fabrication capability.
PIERCE MANUFACTURING Inc. has delivered two Pierce® Enforcer® hazmat vehicles to serve the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal’s (OSFM) statewide Regional Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Teams System. Each Pierce Enforcer vehicle features a 70-inch extended-length cab with a 24-inch raised roof (a four-door configuration with a rear wall walk-through) and seating for up to 10 team members.
The vehicles also each feature a seven-foot slide-out in the body, a command area that includes a workstation with overhead and under-desk cabinets, interior wall cabinets, a light mast, electric awning, and roof storage compartments. The vehicle replacement program includes a 10-year contract between OSFM and Pierce for procurement of Pierce Enforcer apparatus.
AVON PROTECTION has launched a 15-year endurance warranty for the Avon Deltair SCBA. The new Deltair Endurance Warranty is effective on all Deltair SCBA shipped as of February 1, 2016. This “bumper-to-bumper” warranty includes all components of the SCBA, including the electronics. With no mandatory parts replacements or overhaul requirements, the Deltair Endurance Warranty is expected to significantly lower the cost of SCBA ownership throughout the life of the SCBA.
THEFIRESTORE has promoted James Witmer to the role of chief executive officer (CEO). Witmer, former vice president of sales, joined TheFireStore team in 2003 as the special projects manager. From there, he worked his way through the company ranks, serving as the marketing manager, director of business development, and vice president of sales. Witmer assumed the CEO position in place of his father, Jim Witmer, who will continue to serve as co-founder and chairman of TheFireStore.
The Julian-Cuyamaca (CA) Fire Protection District has taken delivery of an HME Rapid Attack Truck (RAT). Built on a 4×4 HME SFO chassis and powered by a Cummins ISB6.7 360-hp engine, the truck features an Allison 3000EVS transmission and Michelin super single tires.
Other features include an 18-inch bumper extension; 1,500-gpm Hale RSD midship pump; Harrison 8-kW hydraulic generator; Fire Research Turbo Foam system; 500-gallon rectangular water tank; PowerArc lighting package; NFPA ladder complement; and trays, shelves, and tool boards throughout.
IDEX CORPORATION announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire AKRON BRASS HOLDING CORP., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Premier Farnell plc and a global manufacturer of safety equipment and emergency response equipment. Operating under the Akron Brass and Weldon brand names, the company produces a large array of engineered life-safety products for the safety and emergency response markets, including apparatus valves, monitors, nozzles, specialty lighting, electronic vehicle-control systems, and firefighting hand tools.
FWD SEAGRAVE offers electrical diagnosis, repair, refurbishment, or rechassis as a fast, efficient, and cost-effective alternative for departments without the budget for a new truck. A customer’s truck can be completely rebuilt, remounted, or a portion refurbished including complete disassembly, repair, rework, and reassembly.
FWD Seagrave features an expert paint shop, complete metal fabrication and machine shops, and a team of refurbishment technicians who can handle challenging rebuilds and upgrades. The Refurbishment department performs maintenance tasks as simple as brake service, fluids and filters, and small repairs or the most complex hydraulic, mechanical or electrical upgrades, and rebuilds in any area of the truck. FWD Seagrave can also refurbish aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicles for fire departments that respond to airports.
OSHKOSH AIRPORT PRODUCTS, LLC, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, has delivered 17 Oshkosh® Striker® aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicles to airports operated by Grupo Aeroportuario Del PacÃfico, S.A.B. de C.V (GAP) in Mexico. The deliveries include a variety of Oshkosh Striker configurations, including seven 4×4, eight 6×6, and two 6×6 vehicles with the Oshkosh-exclusive Snozzle® high-reach extendable turret (HRET).
The Oshkosh Striker 6×6 axle configuration, with Oshkosh TAK-4® all wheel and fully independent suspension, offers a smooth ride and exceptional off-road capabilities. The 670-hp, Tier 3 Deutz engine is mated to a seven-speed Allison electronic automatic transmission. The Snozzle HRET features 50- or 65-foot lengths and can be equipped with a penetrating nozzle and color or forward-looking infrared cameras.
KIMTEK announced that W.S. Darley’s e-commerce Web site, eDarley.com, now features the KIMTEK® MEDLITE® and FIRELITE® line of transport skid units custom designed for UTVs. The addition of KIMTEK’s products on eDarley.com provides customers with more options for purchasing UTV-based skid units specifically designed for off-road EMS, medical, and firefighting applications. Noting that loyal Darley customers can now buy KIMTEK products direct through eDarley.com, a Web site that Kimball Johnson, president of KIMTEK, says is trusted throughout the industry, Johnson says, “This development is another milestone in a long, successful relationship between W.S. Darley and KIMTEK.”
HONEYWELL has announced the list of winners of full scholarships to FDIC International 2016. The 20 firefighters will receive a full-paid scholarship, including travel and accommodations, to attend the industry’s premier training event. Winners will receive admission to FDIC International 2016, which includes classroom training, seminars, and exhibits.
The winners are:
- Scott Peterson, City of Fulton & Montgomery Protection District
- Carmen Delia, Wilmington Fire Department
- Neal Schweiner, De Pere Fire Rescue
- Randy Aust, Richland Fire &Emergency Services
- Stoney Mathews, Bradley County Fire Rescue
- Brent Muller, Northville Township Fire Department
- Mark Toohey, Ashburn Volunteer Fire Rescue Department
- Jimmy Greene, Harrisburg Fire Department
- James Greenwood, Boise Fire Department
- Brandon Maurer, Wichita Fire Department
- Chris Hill, Holly Springs Volunteer Fire Department
- Candace Wetter, Solon Township
- Kelly Meyer, Canadian Forces Base (CFB)/Suffield Fire Services
- Dan Krushinskl, East Franklin Fire Department
- Gary Smiley, Albrightsvllle Fire & Rescue Department
- Joe Brooks, Denver Fire Department
- Pike Krpan, Hamilton Fire Department
- Michele Ehlinger, Baltimore County Fire Department
- Mlchael Welchman, Pine Island Fire Department
- Chris Holcomb, Raleigh Fire Department
OSHKOSH AIRPORT PRODUCTS LLC, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, has delivered and placed its 300th new generation Oshkosh® Striker® aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicle into service at Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport in Quebec, Canada. The delivery (in mid-December) included a Striker 6×6 equipped with the Snozzle® high-reach extendable turret (HRET). The Oshkosh Striker 6×6 axle configuration features the Oshkosh TAK-4® all-wheel and fully independent suspension and an Allison seven-speed electronic automatic transmission.
The firefighting system includes a 3,000-gallon water tank, a 420-gallon foam cell, and a 2,550-pound dry chemical system for multiple agent fire suppression capabilities. The Oshkosh-exclusive Snozzle HRET is equipped with a hardened carbide steel tip, a perforated nozzle, and a forward-looking infrared camera and allows firefighters to discharge from 20 feet below grade to elevations as high as 65 feet. The Striker’s engine power pack components are readily accessed through walk-in doors on either side of the engine compartment for easier servicing.
FWD SEAGRAVE has expanded sales and service in the state of California to strengthen its response capability for past, current, and future customers. Charlie Zuercher has joined Seagrave and will be linked with the California-based sales team of Jim Demattei and Adrian Anderson. This team has combined experience of more than 100 years in fire service operations and fire apparatus sales, with particular expertise in the California market. This, coupled with the Seagrave service centers of Fire Apparatus Solutions, SoCal Fleet, West Coast Frame, and West-Mark, encompasses the entire state of California.
SMEAL FIRE APPARATUS CO. has appointed Patrick Patton to the newly created position of director of chassis sales with responsibility for sales management, dealer and technical support, and chassis business development for Smeal’s entire selection of custom fire chassis. Chassis available through Smeal include Smeal’s Sirius, Sirius II, S450, and S600 models; Spartan; HME; and Seagrave models. Patton will report to Michael Bowman, Smeal’s vice president of sales. Patton has more than 20 years of experience in the fire and emergency response industry. Most recently, he worked for Spartan Motors, Inc., as a regional sales manager with responsibility for business development, dealer and OEM relationship management, and sales process management for a 22-state territory. Prior to joining Spartan, Patton was in direct sales and sales management roles with two fire apparatus dealerships.
PIERCE MANUFACTURING has announced that Firematic Supply Company of Long Island, New York, has opened a new service facility in Altamont, New York, near Albany. Firematic expanded its existing territories in Connecticut and southeastern New York State to include 19 counties in eastern portions of upstate New York. Firematic’s new facility will enhance customer support to fire departments in the 19 counties of this newly acquired territory.
Firematic Supply Company has represented Pierce for 35 years and was the recipient of Pierce’s 2014 Service Dealer of the Year award. The company offers comprehensive customer support through a network of seven locations and features a complete mechanical service center, a factory-authorized pump service center, factory trained mechanics, custom fabrication and design, comprehensive testing resources, and an extensive parts inventory.
CHANNELLOCK INC. celebrates its 130th anniversary in 2016. For the 13 decades since George B. DeArment founded the company in 1886 as the Champion Bolt & Clipper Company, CHANNELLOCK® has continued to produce high-quality products and domestic manufacturing. In 1932, Chief Engineer Howard Manning developed and patented the tongue-and-groove plier, dubbed “Channellock” at the time. The company now offers more than 140 types and sizes of hand tools that bear the company’s signature CHANNELLOCK BLUE® color. The company has greatly improved its manufacturing practices, including site-specific laser-heat treating operations for more durable products and implementing robotics in the forging, polishing, and machining arenas.
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK announced that over-the-air (OTA) reprogramming of engine control modules (ECM) for all International® Truck models powered by its N9, N10, and N13 proprietary engines is now available as a no-charge offering. OTA reprogramming of the truck’s ECM will enable the driver or fleet manager to use a mobile interface to initiate reprogramming to approved International calibrations. This quick procedure can be performed at the customer’s facility over a safe, secure WiFi connection. The company continues to partner with industry-leading data and technology companies to ensure the system offers the highest level of security.
STREAMLIGHT®, INC., recently announced that the company and several of its United States distribution partners recycled nearly 11,000 pounds of rechargeable batteries in 2014. Streamlight’s corporate headquarters and participating distributors throughout the U.S. recycled nickel cadmium, lithium ion, nickel metal hydride, and small sealed lead acid batteries. The company and its distributors are partners with Call2Recycle, Inc., North America’s first and largest consumer battery stewardship program offering no-cost battery and cellphone recycling solutions across the U.S. and Canada. The program helps businesses care for the environment through its rechargeable battery collection program.
WITMER PUBLIC SAFETY GROUP (WPSG) has announced the passing of Robert Hlavacek after his arduous battle with Muscular Dystrophy. Hlavacek was instrumental in the growth of WPSG through his development of the marketing department, and the relationships he established with the company’s advertising partners and vendors have continued to be examples of his level of dedication to the success of WPSG. “Bob was such an integral part of our company’s growth since he came on board in 2005,” says WPSG CEO James Witmer. “He brought so much knowledge to the table, was willing to learn new things, and he pushed the boundaries of our marketing capabilities. He challenged our team to do its best work and helped make sure that our marketing was ‘Best in Class.'”
F.I.E.R.O. FIRE STATION DESIGN TIP
In selecting a site for a new fire station and before considering renovating a current station or rebuilding a new station on its current site, become very familiar with National Fire Protection Association requirements for response times. Be clear about the differences between the response time for “first due” and the response times for a “full assignment” when defending your site selection to members of your coverage area. Avoid sites that require fill to bring the site to street level. Be wary of donated sites. They often come with liabilities that can be costly to mitigate.
Don Collins
Captain, Clemson University Fire Department
Task Force Tips Acquires AMKUS Rescue Systems
VALPARAISO, IN-Task Force Tips, Inc. (TFT) has announced the acquisition of AMKUS Rescue Systems, of Downers Grove, Illinois.
With new product innovation and a continued commitment to the support and growth of TFT’s distribution partners as a primary initiative, all engineering, service, and manufacturing operations will eventually transition from the Illinois location to a new facility in Valparaiso.
“We believe it’s a good fit and allows us to grow into another segment of our industry that we know fairly easily,” says Rod Carringer, TFT’s chief marketing officer, on the acquisition. “It’s a lot different than getting into a market segment and making something we’re not familiar with. There are a lot of barriers to that entry. The barrier to entry here for us is pretty simple. A lot of the AMKUS dealers are also TFT dealers. So, we have a tremendous crossover and know those people already. And, a lot of the people who are strictly AMKUS distributors already know us.”
AMKUS Rescue Systems will maintain its own unique identity with its own distribution network, field managers, and marketing message, but it will share TFT’s research, development, and new product innovation resources. “Yes, we are a water flow/agent delivery company,” says Carringer. “But more than that, we’re an innovation, research and development, world class machining, and heavily process-integrated company too. There are a lot of very positive traits that we can bring to the AMKUS company, which is already a very good name in the industry.” For an expanded interview, visit http://bit.ly/tft-amkus.