NVFC partners with DRONERESPONDERS to help America’s Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the non-profit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services, has announced a partnership with DRONERESPONDERS – the world’s fastest growing program supporting public safety – to help coordinate, cooperate, and co-promote efforts to enhance the use of drones in the pursuit of public safety.

Drone Operations

The memorandum of understanding outlines the key initiatives under which the NVFC and DRONERESPONDERS will collaborate together to assist America’s volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services in adopting and perfecting the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to help save lives.

“Our members are increasingly interested in learning more about how they can use drones to enhance their ability to serve the public,” said Steve Hirsch, chair of the NVFC. “At the same time, we are also hearing concerns from members about privately operated drones interfering with their operations. Our partnership with DRONERESPONDERS will focus on both of these issues, providing information to the volunteer emergency services about drone operations, and educating public safety and the public in general about the benefits and challenges associated with drone use at emergency scenes.”

Aerial First Responders

The partnership works towards the common goal of enhancing public safety and furthering the capabilities of emergency responders. DRONERESPONDERS was created to unite aerial first responders, emergency managers, and search and rescue specialists to maximize drone operations for public safety. With volunteers comprising 65 percent of the nation’s fire service, it is important to educate this segment of the emergency responder community on this growing technology. It could also benefit departments struggling to meet staffing needs by helping them be more effective and efficient in their operations.

“Volunteer firefighters are the backbone of our nation’s fire service, providing life-safety services across most smaller towns and rural communities in the U.S.,” said Charles Werner, director of DRONERESPONDERS and retired fire chief from Charlottesville, VA. “Drones represent an amazing new capability to help these departments conduct a wide-array of operations, ranging from search and rescue missions to structure fires to HAZMAT incidents.”

Drones For Good

Werner says DRONERESPONDERS and the NVFC will work together to provide resources to help volunteer fire departments adopt and implement Drones For Good™, a program designed to utilise unmanned aviation capabilities in disaster response.

FireArrest app launched to “support compliance with fire safety measures”

Designed to support fire safety professionals in ensuring compliance with fire safety measures, the FireArrest app has launched. This new passive fire protection app allows site managers, surveyors and onsite teams to communicate across multiple fire safety projects.

The app has been designed alongside fire stopping professionals, specifically for use in the fire protection sector, with the aim of offering a solution that is “modern, easy to use, intuitive, wide-ranging.”

The full array of features allows fire professionals to work simultaneously on a project effectively and collaboratively while providing a complete audit trail of any work that has been completed to ensure compliance every step of the way, says the company behind the app.

Managing Director, Mark Shaw, said: “I’m delighted we have been able to roll this technology out. We’ve worked incredibly hard to create a product that is simple, affordable and effective. We are able to cover every stage of your passive fire protection project, from the first survey to completion. The app is full of tools and features which give users the opportunity to report and complete work efficiently.”

To coincide with the launch, FireArrest has also unveiled a new website. “We’ve opted for a modern and sleek design, to correspond with our brand values, and we’re really pleased with the results.”

To mark the app launch, FireArrest is offering an exclusive launch price, with the first six-months at half price for anyone who signs up.

DMP launches CellComF-LTE DualCom universal communicator with tip and ring terminals

For commercial fire installations, one can choose DMP’s new CellComF-LTE. Designed with the same platform as DMP’s DualCom Universal Communicator, the CellComF-LTE includes two sets of tip and ring terminals for easy installations.

This new design meets the NFPA 72 standard for single communications technology. For instance, if the CellComF stops communicating, it’s designed to automatically disrupt voltage on the second tip and ring, that triggers the host panel to annunciate the trouble.

Supervised LTE Alarm Communication

“For fire panels, it’s a simpler way of ensuring local annunciation,” says Aaron McGhee, product manager of Control Panels. “And, it’s a much cleaner and faster installation process.” The new CellCom Series includes both fire and non-fire options, each one with built-in LTE cellular.

When there’s an opportunity to upgrade non-DMP panels to LTE, this means one will be able to give customers a single path fully supervised LTE alarm communication over AT&T’s or Verizon’s LTE networks. As with earlier-generation products, the LTE communicators are designed to work with digital cellular service from SecureCom Wireless™, enabling dealers to get systems up and running quickly.

Berlin Fire Department to develop Hybrid Electric Firefighting and Rescue Vehicle

Berlin Fire Department’s “eLHF” project, an abbreviation of “electric firefighting and rescue vehicle” in German, is a scheme backed by the Berlin Program for Sustainable Development (BENE). The main aim of this program, which is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, is to procure and pilot-test an innovative firefighting and rescue vehicle equipped with an electric drive to get it from A to B and run its extinguishing technology.

Austrian specialist Rosenbauer, the world’s manufacturer of systems for firefighting and disaster protection, is playing a vital role in the “eLHF” project. The Concept Fire Truck (CFT) study devised and produced by Rosenbauer already features technical solutions that may well resolve the issues firefighters will face in the future.

Ergonomically and ecologically optimised vehicle

According to Rosenbauer, the electric CFT is an ergonomically and ecologically optimised vehicle that adapts to a wide range of requirements and is intuitive to operate. Connectivity, globalisation and knowledge cultures – key trends incorporated into the CFT technology – are said to reflect the importance of communication and digitalisation in the society.

The growing significance of networking between humans and machines is also expected to be crucial in ensuring firefighting missions are successful. “Our innovation partnership with Berlin Fire Department represents an important milestone as we work toward the series production of our Concept Fire Truck,” says Dr. Dieter Siegel, CEO of Rosenbauer International.

Arizona’s Bush Fire spreads, now largest active fire burning in U.S.

The Bush Fire, which has burned more than 64,500 acres in Tonto National Forest and is 0% contained, is currently the largest active fire in the U.S., according to data from the National Interagency Coordination Centre on Tuesday 16th June.

The wildfire started burning Saturday about 20 miles northeast of Mesa and is believed to have been caused by a vehicle fire, according to a statement from Mark Bernal, incident commander for the Southwest Area Incident Management Team.

“This fire is burning very heavy,” Tiffany Davila, public affairs officer for the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, told The Arizona Republic on Tuesday. “It’s running through dense fuels in the area, some of the reasons behind the smoke that we’re seeing.”

The Bush Fire is also very active at night and is visible from central areas of the state like Fountain Hills and Rio Verde, she said.

More than 400 fire personnel are currently fighting the Bush Fire as hot and dry weather is expected to continue this week in addition to wind up to 30 mph, according to a statement from Bernal.

The wildfire is the largest fire in Arizona this year, but it doesn’t compare to Arizona wildfires in recent years, such as the 2019 Woodbury Fire, which burned 123,800 acres in the Tonto National Forest, or the Yarnell Hill Fire, which only burned 8,400 acres but killed 19 firefighters and destroyed more than 100 structures in 2013.

In 2011, the Wallow Fire, the largest fire in the state’s history, burned more than 500,000 acres in eastern Arizona and led to the evacuation of multiple towns in the White Mountains area.

Though no structures have been damaged or destroyed, multiple communities have been evacuated and the Department of Forestry and Fire Management is ready to provide structure protection for those communities, Davila said.

“It’s hard to compare one fire to another — they’re so diverse,” she said. “It depends on the fuel, the landscape, the conditions, the weather.”

Other fires burning in Arizona are also some of the largest active fires in the country, according to NICC data. The Mangum Fire near the Grand Canyon’s north rim has burned nearly 30,000 acres and the Bighorn Fire in Tucson has burned around 15,000 acres as of Tuesday evening.

This year, more wildfires have occurred in Arizona than in 2019 partly due to more moisture over the last two years and an overgrowth of grass vegetation, said Davila. A combination of hotter temperatures in April, dry conditions and dry grass has also contributed to more fires this year.

“We’re seeing that actively when we have these fires in central Arizona,” she said. “They’re moving very rapidly, they’re spreading very fast and they’re starting quickly.”

States like Arizona and New Mexico are also in fire season, so it’s more likely for these states to have larger fires than some other western states, she added.

“We’re asking the public to please do their part, and pay attention to their surroundings,” Davila said. “We’ve got Stage II Fire restrictions in place, and there’s a reason.”

Stage II fire restrictions prohibit camp fires and any outdoor fire usage on all state-owned and managed lands in Arizona.

Illinois fire department warns against leaving hand sanitiser in cars after dashboard fire

An Illinois fire department is warning drivers not to keep hand sanitiser in their parked cars amid the coronavirus after authorities said a bottle with high alcohol content appeared to have been left on a dashboard and helped spark a fire.

“The fire appeared to be caused by the owner’s small bottle of hand sanitiser that was left on the dashboard,” the Waukegan Fire Department wrote on Facebook.

The driver’s bottle contained 80 percent alcohol sanitiser that was left in direct sunlight, according to the department.

According to an April video from the National Fire Protection Association, while hand sanitiser is certainly flammable, it still requires an ignition source to catch fire. And the World Health Organisation (WHO), citing a 2007 study that looked at decades of hand sanitiser use in hospitals, said that fire hazards were extremely rare: There were a total of seven “non-severe fire incidents.”

“It appears sunlight shining through the windshield onto the sanitiser was enough to cause ignition,” the Waukegan Fire Department wrote in its Facebook post.

Photos of the damage show a melted dash, thick soot stains on the windshield and damage to the sun visor and headliner. The plastic frame of the rear-view mirror looks like it liquefied and dripped toward the floor before hardening again.

Authorities in Wisconsin issued, deleted and then clarified a similar warning last month after it went viral.

The Western Lakes Fire District had posted an image of a burned driver-side door along with a warning against keeping hand sanitiser in cars, The Hill reported. But after the post went viral, authorities removed it and said the image of a burned car door was not taken in the district and was not necessarily caused by “an exploding container of hand sanitiser.”

In its clarification, the fire district said that clear bottles – whether full of water or hand sanitiser or something else – could focus sunlight on a combustible surface and start a fire. It would be similar to aiming a magnifying glass near a piece of paper.

If the plastic container happens to contain alcohol that adds an “additional issue,” the district noted.

People have been increasingly using hand sanitiser when going out amid the coronavirus pandemic, in part due to state and federal health suggestions.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued safety guidelines designed to help Americans keep themselves safe as COVID-19 continues to flare up around the country. They include wearing face masks and disposable gloves or frequently washing or sanitising one’s hands.

The CDC recommends using hand sanitisers that contain at least 60% alcohol.

First Priority Group unveils new standardised product lines

First Priority Group, LLC, has announced the introduction of two new product lines for law enforcement and fire vehicle conversions, the BlueTac and RedTac specialised vehicles.

The new BlueTac product line will feature pre-configured mission specific vehicles for law enforcement specialty teams. Each BlueTac model is crafted around the core needs of the agencies expanding beyond routine patrol.

BlueTac and RedTac Specialised Vehicles

FPG’s mission is to deliver a selection of standardised field-proven designs for faster and more value-driven build outs. An extensive product range includes Emergency Service Units (ESU), Mobile Command, K9 Tactical, CSI/Forensics and more.

“We are extremely excited to be launching the BlueTac and RedTac lines,” said Alex Cherepakhov, CEO of First Priority Group.

Alex adds, “With over 20 years of experience, these models are based on vehicles we have supplied to some of the largest and most important fleets in the world. These units will serve as an important role in emergency and public safety fleets around the country.”

Integrated with machined custom storage solutions

First Priority Group’s RedTac extensive product range includes Fire Chief, Fire Rescue, Mobile Command and more. Like BlueTac, each RedTac model is pre-configured with standard features with additional options available.

The company is proud to announce the addition of OPS Public Safety’s machined custom storage solutions into the BlueTac/RedTac product lines. They will only help to improve the innovation, design and flexibility of the platforms offered.

OPS Public Safety manufactures and delivers optimised vehicle storage systems for law enforcement, fire safety and public safety vehicles.

Kent FRS and Bristol Uniforms partner up to deliver PPE Framework benefits

Thirty-three Fire and Rescue Services (FRS), comprising over 33,500 firefighters, are now benefiting from the Local Authority Collaborative PPE Framework. Launched three years ago in June 2017, the Framework gives UK FRSs access to high quality PPE ensembles and volume discounts through a streamlined procurement process. The Framework was set up in response to calls from government and the industry for FRSs to work together to share best practice and deliver efficiencies.

It is run by Kent FRS, with PPE supplied by Bristol Uniforms, who was selected as the preferred supplier following a rigorous two-year tender process. Signing up via a purchase only or fully managed service contract, FRSs continue to reap the benefits of the Framework, which guarantees quality PPE that has been independently evaluated and tested, and can save considerable time and costs.

Utilising the latest technology

So far this year through the Framework, Bristol has delivered new PPE to seven FRSs, including Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service who opted for a Fully Managed Services Contract. Despite the Coronavirus pandemic, they were measured and received their kit on 1 June.

The safety of our firefighters is of the utmost importance to us here in Oxfordshire”

Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall said: “Bristol Uniforms uses the latest technology in firefighter clothing, and they design PPE to provide fire crews with the very best protection. The safety of our firefighters is of the utmost importance to us here in Oxfordshire. The kit is lighter in weight, breathable and offers more support for the wearer and we are proud to know we are now one of many fire and rescue services in the country to utilise this latest technology in protective clothing for our staff. Thank you to Bristol Uniforms for providing us with a first-class service.”

Fire And Rescue Service

Chris Colgan, Director of Operations at Kent Fire and Rescue Service, and Chair of the NFCC PPE/Clothing Committee, said: “The National Collaborative PPE Framework is the first of its kind for the fire and rescue service, enabling borderless provision of standardised critical kit.”

“So far, working with the team at Bristol Uniforms, we have made significant progress in demonstrating that the sector can work as one customer. However, more can be done. The pandemic has shown us that it is not an impossible target to expect all FRS to sign up to national arrangements delivered through the National Fire Commercial Transformation Programme and we are committed to continuing to build on the success of this arrangement.”

Working partnership

The selected styles combine innovative and ergonomic designs with the use of high-performance fabrics and fibres. 

“Bristol Uniforms has done a sterling job ensuring service continuity for all FRS throughout the disruptions caused by COVID-19, working closely with the contract management team at Kent FRS on behalf of the Sector. This has been one of the greatest tests of strategic relationship and service management and I am incredibly pleased that the result has been a real proof of concept.”

Roger Startin, Joint Managing Director at Bristol Uniforms said: “The demand for our cutting-edge PPE through the Collaborative Framework has been unprecedented as FRSs learn about the benefits of joint working. The Framework has significantly improved and simplified the procurement process and despite very challenging circumstances, we continue to size firefighters for their new kit, manufacture and deliver it on time and to budget.”

High-Performance Fabrics

PPE supplied by Bristol Uniforms within the Framework includes Full Structural Ensemble, a Layered Jacket, Rescue Jacket and USAR Ensemble. The selected styles combine innovative and ergonomic designs with the use of high-performance fabrics and fibres, offering maximum comfort, manoeuvrability and protection.

Seven Anaheim firefighters have tested positive for coronavirus

Seven Anaheim firefighters have now been tested positive for coronavirus with the most recent case facing complications and put on a ventilator. The first case among the firefighters is believed to have originated on May 27, but the source of their infections is still unclear.

Officials did not reveal the names of the two stations that were impacted to protect the privacy of those impacted. Four firefighters have recovered and are expected to return to work in a few days, one is isolating at home and doing well and two are hospitalised.

“We believe the first original case was related to exposure on a call serving our community,” said Anaheim City Spokesperson Mike Lyster. “That is just the nature of coronavirus and risk of exposure that we might all encounter in our daily lives.”

“Our stations are regularly disinfected. We go through health screening checks for our firefighters and paramedics up to three times a day,” Lyster said.

The Anaheim Fire and Rescue department strongly encourages the community to continue to wear masks and practice social distancing.

REV Group appoints two Senior positions

REV Fire Group, manufacturer of fire apparatus brands, has announced two senior-level appointments. In a dual role, Joseph Belle joins REV Fire Group as Vice-President of Operations overseeing operational excellence across all REV Fire facilities and undertaking day-to-day leadership of the E-ONE business as Vice President and General Manager.

Daniel Blatt, Vice President and General Manager of REV Group’s recently divested commercial shuttle business in Imlay City, MI, was appointed VP/GM of the Spartan Fire operations in Charlotte, MI reporting to Amanda Van Duyn, Vice President and General Manager of the Spartan fire brands. Mr. Belle and Ms. Van Duyn report to Kent Tyler, REV Fire Group President.

A veteran of fire apparatus manufacturing and seasoned operations leader, Joseph Belle has worked with REV Group brands throughout his career including Vice President and General Manager for Goshen Coach, Vice President of Operations for Capacity Trucks and as Director of Operations and Scheduling for E-ONE. Prior to his return to REV Fire Group, Joey was Senior Director of Operation and Continuous Improvement at TICO.

“Joseph is well-regarded in the specialty vehicle industry for delivering the highest standards of quality and service. His extensive manufacturing background and strong operations leadership are great assets for E-ONE, especially during this time of expansion” said Kent Tyler, President, REV Fire Group. “We are excited to welcome Joey back to REV Fire Group and to E-ONE.”

A graduate of the College of Central Florida, Joseph continued his operations specialization earning numerous training certificates in Lean Manufacturing and 5S. He is also a trained firefighter and EMT rescuer.

Following REV Group’s divesture of the shuttle bus business in May, Daniel was transitioned last month to oversee the Spartan Emergency Response team in Charlotte, MI. He also brings over 30 years’ experience in operations and P&L management in manufacturing and industrial environments.

“From his time at Imlay City and previous positions, Dan has a proven track record for operational excellence and transformational change, while achieving exceptional financial results,” said Kent Tyler, REV Fire Group President. “His well-balanced approach towards value creation, customer service and sales management, makes him a great asset for the Spartan Fire team.”

www.revgroup.com/