In the News

PIERCE MANUFACTURING• PIERCE MANUFACTURING has placed two Pierce® Arrow XT™ pumpers into front-line duty with the Rapid City (SD) Fire Department. The department’s Pierce fleet now includes six front-line engines, one reserve engine, one aerial, and five wildland brush trucks. In addition, the department runs five Medtec ambulances. The Arrow XT pumpers are each equipped with a Detroit Diesel 470-hp engine, 152-inch-long aluminum body, 10-inch raised-roof cab, seating for four firefighters, and three EMS cabinets inside the cab. The vehicles also feature frontal impact and side roll protection systems, TAK-4® independent front suspension, Command Zone™ advanced electronics, 1,500-gallon-per-minute (gpm) pumps, 750-gallon water tanks, Husky™ 12 foam systems, 25-gallon foam cells, and lowered crosslays. The Rapid City (SD) Fire Department comprises 135 paid firefighters who respond to 14,000 calls annually in a protection district of 55 square miles and a population of 67,000.

Phil Braun• BRAUN INDUSTRIES launched the Phil Braun Signature Series of ambulances. The series debuted on a Chevy G3500 chassis. Phil Braun Signature Series ambulances are 150-inch models that feature Braun’s exclusive SolidBody™ construction. Along with the SolidBody™ construction, the ambulances have Braun’s MasterTech Multiplex electrical system, Eberhard free floating latches, an all LED exterior lighting package, a customized interior front wall, and street-side wall layout. It will be available on GM and Ford platforms. Braun Industries also announced that Chad Brown has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing. Brown will focus on the long-term growth of Braun ambulances through sales and marketing; dealer development and recruitment; internal and external sales force management; and product branding. He will also lead the regional sales operations and sales strategies for growth throughout Braun’s network of ambulance dealers.

• FIRECOM recently announced that its communication systems have been deployed and are in use across all 191 Philadelphia (PA) Fire Department engines, aerials, and other apparatus. Firecom worked closely with reseller partners RSI Fire and Witmer Public Safety Group to configure, install, and support the solution for the department. The Firecom-equipped fleet currently contains five aerials, 56 engines, 28 tillers, two mobile command vehicles, two squad trucks, 37 two-person vehicles, 58 medics, and three rescue vehicles.

• SPARTAN MOTORS has named Andrew M. Rooke to its board of directors. Rooke currently serves as president and chief operating officer of Manitex International, Inc., a North American manufacturer of engineered lifting equipment. He has held this position since 2007. His professional experience includes GKN Sinter Metals, where he served as chief financial officer, and with other organizations that include Quaker Oats, Ltd. and Rolls Royce, Ltd. John Sztykiel, chief executive officer of Spartan Motors, states, “The board has been integral in transforming Spartan Motors, ensuring accountability, and providing leadership as management executes its strategy. Having Andrew join the board makes it stronger, which in turn strengthens the company and ensures that Spartan evolves in the right direction.” Hugh Sloan, chairman of the board, comments, “We are pleased to welcome Andrew to Spartan’s Board of Directors. We believe his experience and knowledge in finance, international business, and manufacturing will be helpful as Spartan continues to develop and grow. We look forward to working with him and benefiting from his extensive experience.”

KME• KME has introduced a new type of industrial fire apparatus designed to protect power generation facilities, including nuclear facilities. KME worked very closely with industry experts to define the needs of the vehicle. The truck is equipped with a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera, which can be used to detect and isolate hot spots that may be encased in metal housings. The truck carries 500 pounds of dry chemical firefighting agent, which is critical for attacking fires in energized equipment without the risk that would be posed by using water. In addition, because these sites have equipment with petroleum-based fluids, including large transformers, the truck also has a high-capacity foam system. The truck is mounted on an all-wheel-drive (AWD) chassis and can flow a strong, steady stream of water when the truck is moving, giving it more flexibility for the commanders on-site. The apparatus is also equipped with a 6,000-watt generator. Primarily, this will be used for lighting, but it can also be a small, supplemental power source as needs dictate. Finally, the unit has a high-capacity, 1,500-gpm pumping system. Should it need to move high volumes of water, it carries 36 feet of suction hose for drafting operations. The unit may be mounted on most brands of commercial chassis or a KME custom chassis including KME’s Predator™, Panther™, or Severe Service™ chassis models.

• PELICAN PRODUCTS, Inc. has announced that its vice president of sales, Mark Rolfes, was appointed to the Los Angeles (CA) Fire Department Foundation’s Board of Directors. The Foundation provides financial support and community backing to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) by providing essential equipment, technology, and training. Providing supplementary funding to LAFD not met by the city budget, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation was founded in 2010 by community volunteers, local business leaders, and community activists. It strives to support the department’s almost 4,000 uniformed and nonuniformed members in preparedness training and emergency response through funding various projects, while also providing tactical equipment and continued training programs. Rolfes brings executive business, sales, and leadership experience within the fire and safety industry to support LAFD’s various community programs and funding projects.

• UNRUH FIRE, Inc. has acquired the Renegade aircraft rescue firefighting vehicle (ARFF) line and related property from Crash Rescue Equipment Service, Inc. More than 100 Renegade ARFF vehicles have been sold during the past 10 years. The Renegade vehicles are typically built on Ford F550 chassis and are available in many different configurations. One configuration consists of a TriMax High Energy Cold Compressed Air Foam Twin Agent system, generating four times the foam of conventional systems. This system ranges from 100 to 500 gallons, is combined with dry chemical, and uses Hydro-Chem technology. A second configuration is a pump-driven system containing 100 to 750 gallons of water and 500 pounds of dry chemical, also using HydroChem technology. Larger Renegade trucks, from 500 to 750 gallons, for example, are available on larger chassis, such as the International DuraStar. Unruh Fire manufactures custom brush trucks, rescue trucks, ATV firefighting systems, and custom trailers ranging from command to rescue trailers.

• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released FY2012 grant guidance and application kits for seven DHS preparedness grant programs totaling over $1.3 billion to assist states, urban areas, tribal and territorial governments, nonprofit agencies, and the private sector in strengthening the nation’s ability to prevent, protect, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies in support of the National Preparedness Goal. In FY2012, DHS preparedness grants were reduced by nearly $1 billion from the FY2011-enacted level and $1.5 billion below the President’s FY2012 request. The FY2012 grants focus on the nation’s highest risk areas, including urban areas that continue to face the most significant threats. Dedicated funding is provided for law enforcement and terrorism prevention activities throughout the country to prepare for and prevent and respond to preoperational activity and other crimes that are precursors or indicators of terrorist activity. The FY2012 grant guidance incorporates input from DHS’ state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners and details specific steps undertaken by DHS to improve the ability of state and local partners to apply for and use grant funding. (http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/index.shtm)

David Cole• HORTON EMERGENCY VEHICLES appointed David Cole vice president of sales and marketing. Cole brings more than 24 years of emergency medical service (EMS) experience including 12 years in ambulance sales management. “Dave Cole’s extensive experience in the ambulance industry made him an ideal fit for Horton,” says John Slawson, president. “His career began as one of the first generation of EMTs in Iowa and he has remained dedicated to serving EMTs and ambulance operators through active participation on industry committees, ambulance sales, and customer service throughout his career.” Horton Emergency Vehicles manufactures ambulances and rescue vehicles in Grove City, Ohio.

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