Rosenbauer America and North American Fire Equipment Company, Inc. (NAFECO) have announced they will be expanding their partnership into the state of Florida. Rosenbauer first joined forces with NAFECO in January 2021 to provide sales and service in the southeastern United States. Due to overwhelming success in Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia, Rosenbauer’s partnership with NAFECO has been expanded to include the state of Florida, effective April 2021.
“Florida is one of the largest and most concentrated markets for fire apparatus in North America” said Mark Fusco, Vice-President of Sales & Marketing for Rosenbauer America. “Rosenbauer is honored and confident to further partner with NAFECO to support, sell and service fire departments and communities throughout Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and now Florida”.
Founded in 1968 by Jerrell Oaks, NAFECO began its half-century in business by providing fire extinguisher service and sales to factories and other companies in the area. Over the course of its 50-year history, the company developed into a full-line distributor for fire, law enforcement, and industrial safety apparel and equipment, including fire apparatus, ambulances, and ATV/UTV-mounted skid units.
“NAFECO is excited to expand our partnership with Rosenbauer in the State of Florida,” added Jerrell Oaks, CEO and founder of NAFECO. “We have established a team that is ready and willing to support this great opportunity and product throughout the state. We are fully committed to supporting the existing Rosenbauer customer base and look forward to adding more customers to the Rosenbauer and NAFECO family.”
Headquartered in Decatur, Alabama, NAFECO has 125 employees supporting their four branch offices in the southeastern United States and has territory managers located in 12 states.
Training Specialties, Inc. will host their first Advanced Foam Firefighting School from September 28th – October 1st, 2021, with the event being hosted at the TEEX Brayton Fire Training Field® at the Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. This school promises to afford attendees unique classroom and hands-on flammable liquids and gases firefighting training. Using best practices and industry recognized strategies and tactics, students will be involved with complex scenarios from highway transportation incidents up to and including a scaled version of full surface flammable liquid bulk storage tank fire.
“We expect our students to go home after this weeklong training with a better sense of handling responses they could face when dealing with flammable liquids emergencies.” says Bob Gliem, President/CEO at TSI. “Hosting this program at TEEX allows us the opportunity to conduct simulated exercises using past experiences from many of our instructors, all of whom come with strong backgrounds in emergency response. We’re grateful to have this group alongside us to spread our word and providing their knowledge of this course material.”
Reasons to attend the TSI to host Advanced Foam Firefighting Schoolinclude:
Strategies and tactics proven successful on some of the most challenging flammable liquid incidents are introduced in the classroom, then thoroughly reinforced during live fires at what many consider the most realistic training facility in the world.
Instruction is provided by acknowledged subject matter experts on a wide array of topics including:
Foam chemistry discussed from the perspective of what responders need to know to do their job both during and after a response.
Strategic discussions focusing on the real ‘End Goal’ of incident response. RECEO and other assessment procedures will be used to demonstrate how to prioritize activities and avoid the mistake of considering extinguishment the ultimate goal of fire response.
Methods of avoiding pitfalls associated with improper, or untimely equipment deployment and demobilization will be discussed for all types of incidents.
Strategic water delivery requirements for the new millennium for all types of incidents.
To add further realism, night burns will be conducted to reinforce the material under adverse conditions.
Axon, the global leader in public safety technologies, and RapidSOS, announced today a partnership to provide emergency first responders and 911 telecommunicators access to critical emergency incident information from Axon devices being used by law enforcement officers.
Today, telecommunicators are often forced to rely on outdated 911 infrastructure, voice-only communication and manual processes to coordinate emergency responses. Through this partnership, Emergency Communication Centers across the U.S. will be eligible to access the location of officers, real-time alerts resulting from developing situations, and streaming video through Axon Respond devices such as Axon body-worn cameras, Axon Fleet in-car cameras, and Axon Air connected drones.
Additionally, emergency intelligence data from more than 350 million connected devices recognized as RapidSOS Ready will be available to dispatchers and first responders via Axon Respond. This data includes the location of the caller, health and medical information, connected building and alarm data, and more.
“Axon has a long track record of bringing life-saving technology and innovation to public safety,” said RapidSOS CEO and founder Michael Martin. “This collaboration furthers RapidSOS’s mission to support first responders and the communities they serve with an ecosystem that enhances safety, security, and health.”
This partnership will provide dispatchers with access to real-time information, such as the location of the person needing assistance and the responding public safety officer, viewable on a single monitor. The Axon and RapidSOS solution will accelerate the application of Next Generation 911 (NG911) capabilities by integrating rich data from both Axon and RapidSOS. It will help public safety agencies to better manage resources and response times, enabling more efficient resolutions of emergencies and better outcomes.
“We are excited about this partnership, as we currently use both RapidSOS and the suite of Axon technology,” said Michelle Potts, Communications Manager at the Chandler Police Department. “These tools will provide our emergency dispatch teams with additional life-saving information, in real-time, as well as provide visibility to better assist any type of emergency.”
“We are thrilled to partner with RapidSOS to further unleash the power of our investment in the Axon Respond real-time operations platform to deliver faster, safer and more efficient responses by unifying and delivering rich data to emergency response coordinators and first responders alike,” said Axon Chief Product Officer and EVP of Software, Jeff Kunins. “Many agencies already rely on both Axon and RapidSOS to manage emergency response. By enabling our solutions to work seamlessly together, we empower first responders with a single source for mission critical information as well as the ability to deliver industry-leading tools for agencies to securely and more efficiently manage resources and thereby respond faster than ever.”
The rollout of this integration is expected to begin this year. To learn about the joint solution, please visit www.rapidsos.com/axon.
Following a year filled with worldwide strife – especially for first responders, frontline workers, and restaurants – Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation® set a new record for the most money ever awarded in a single quarter. The $2.5 million in grants are going to 118 nationwide public safety organizations and will be put toward the purchase of critical lifesaving equipment.
“Just one year ago, the Foundation was unsure of the future in the face of COVID-19 lockdowns and restaurant dine-in restrictions. But thanks to Americans opening their hearts as the country closed down, lifesaving equipment is being put in the hands of first responders who desperately need it,” said Robin Peters, executive director, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.
“We’re so thankful for the support from Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation and our local Firehouse Subs restaurant,” said John Cermak, Fire Chief, North Country Regional Fire Authority, and the grant recipient of a LUCAS 3 Automated Chest Compression System through the Foundation’s COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund. “The LUCAS device enables our first responders to give continuous, consistent chest compressions in cardiac resuscitations, providing the best chance to the citizens of our local community to survive a cardiac arrest. It will also improve the safety of the department’s first responders during COVID-19 by minimizing absorption of aerosolized virus particles during manual CPR.”
Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation awards grants on a quarterly basis which are given to first responders and non-profits that support community safety. A majority of the grants provided go toward purchasing lifesaving equipment for first responder organizations. Equipment examples include firefighter PPE (personal protective equipment) ($1,000-$1,300), thermal imaging cameras ($10,000), automated external defibrillators (AEDs) ($1,500), all-terrain vehicles ($20,000) and vehicle extrication tools ($25,000).
Since 2005, lifesaving equipment like this and much more has been awarded quarterly to first responder organizations thanks to Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. Established in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Firehouse Subs founders, Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen traveled to Mississippi where they fed first responders, as well as survivors. As they returned to Florida, exhausted and exhilarated, they knew more could be done, and the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was born. Over the past 15 years, the Foundation has awarded grants totaling more than $57 million in 49 states and Puerto Rico.
To learn more about Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation or donate online, visit FirehouseSubsFoundation.org.
The First Responder Center for Excellence® (FRCE), a National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) affiliate organization, is pleased to announce the appointment of three new board members. Fire Chief John Butler of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, Jeff Fackler, Director of North America Business Development for Dupont Personal Protection™, and Dave Halfpenny, Vice President of U.S. Accident & Health Underwriting, AXIS Insurance, were appointed to the FRCE during their Board Meeting on April 19, 2021.
Fire Chief John S. Butler
John S. Butler has been the Fire Chief for the Fairfax County (VA) Fire and Rescue Department since September 2018. He formerly served as the first internal Fire Chief for Howard County (MD) Department of Fire and Rescue Services and was the first chief to have held every rank within that department. He is an active paramedic and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Baltimore, a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, and certificates from the Johns Hopkins Public Safety Leadership Program, Harvard University, National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program, and Fire Service Executive Development Institute.
Chief Butler co-chairs the International Association of Fire Chiefs Diversity Executive Leadership Program; holds the Chief Fire Officer, Chief EMS Officer, Chief Training Officer, and Fire Marshal designations awarded from the Commission on Professional Credentialing; is a member of the National Fire Academy Board of Visitors; sits on the Northern Virginia Fire and Rescue Leadership Development Institute Advisory Board; and is a commissioner with the Commission of Fire Accreditation International. He is a retired U.S. Marine with 20 years of active and reserve service, including two combat tours.
Jeff G. Fackler
Since 2012, Jeff Fackler has been leading business development for DuPont Personal Protection. Jeff joined DuPont in 1981 and has held various roles in Marketing / Business Development, Sales, Training, Site, and Strategic Planning Management, as well as being a Six Sigma Sales & Marketing Deployment Champion and Black Belt.
From 1981 to 2006, Jeff worked in the Coatings business before moving into DuPont Personal Protection where he initially led the global body armor business segment, then the 1st Responder business segments in NA from 2006 to 2012. Jeff also serves on the board of directors of The Partnership for Electrical Safety, and The Global Emergency Services Action.
David Halfpenny
David Halfpenny brings 30 years of experience in the financial, insurance and reinsurance industries; the last 11 years overseeing AXIS U.S. Specialty Accident and Health business. Before joining AXIS, David was Vice President of Accident & Health for AIG, where he managed sales and underwriting staff, as well as a diverse multi-million book of accident & health business.
David was also Assistant Vice President of Underwriting at Endurance Reinsurance Corporation of America, where he was responsible for A&H and workers’ compensation reinsurance. Prior to that, David worked in progressive roles at CIGNA Group Insurance for more than 10 years, most recently as National Accounts disability and life underwriter with an employer group book of business exceeding $100 million.
David graduated with a B.S. in Accounting from La Salle University. “The First Responder Center for Excellence and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation are very pleased to have these three exceptional leaders join us in our commitment to reduce first responder deaths and injuries,” said Chief Ernie Mitchell, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the FRCE.
As a fleet operator or a company operating heavy machinery, vehicle safety will be top of the priority list. However, choosing a vehicle camera system supplier and ensuring vehicles are equipped with the most appropriate devices that are correctly fitted and simple to use can be a time-consuming and difficult process.
Here, Corey Heniser, a vehicle safety expert at Brigade Electronics INC, provides top five tips for choosing a vehicle camera system supplier.
1. Ensure the supplier can meet requirements with the correct products
Vehicle safety devices vary from vehicle to vehicle and industry to industry. Suitability is key to maintaining safety and both the vehicle type and the business sector will determine which products are needed and how they should be fitted. For example, construction machinery requires extremely robust and hardwearing products, such as radar obstacle detection, which is designed to detect people and objects, whether moving or stationary, in the severest weather conditions and toughest terrains.
Road going vehicles, such as semi-trucks, buses, garbage trucks, and vans will need devices that work to safeguard vulnerable road users in urban areas and prevent collisions with people and objects. A 360-degree camera system, like Brigade’s best-selling Backeye®360, eliminates blind spots by providing a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle and the surrounding area in real time, which is fed back to the driver via an in-cab monitor.
Before researching a vehicle camera system supplier, set the criteria by making a list of requirements. This will help to establish if the provider will be able to meet the customer’s needs and budget. Always speak to a potential supplier as this will help to gauge their knowledge and expertise about the industry, including relevant regulations and safety requirements, as well as their professionalism.
2. Make sure the company understands the rules and regulations relating to the industry
Commercial vehicle legislations, regulations and certifications heavily influence the automotive industry at all levels. Whether it’s to comply with road legislation or for an industry accreditation, a good supplier will have a thorough understanding and awareness of the current rules, regulations and product certifications required for all necessary compliance. They should be able to confidently guide customers through any uncertainties they might have about regulations in their sector as well as assist them with finding the correct products for a variety of criteria.
3. Find out what other customers have to say
Customer reviews, testimonials, and case studies are always an excellent indication of whether a vehicle safety system supplier and their products are reliable and professional. Ask to see recent reviews and, if possible, speak to existing or recent customers to find out about their experience of the company and its products.
4. Check out the warranty periods and industry standards on products
If the customer’s industry requires a particular standard of device, ensure the products meet these requirements. A supplier should be able to supply a customer with all the relevant information about which standards each product meets and what testing it has been through before being released for distribution.
Warranties are also an excellent indication of how well a product is likely to perform. At Brigade, we offer one, two, three, and five year warranties and, in some cases, we even offer lifetime warranties on our products.
5. Research the company’s aftersales support service
Suppliers that are confident in their products will be happy to support a customer with any questions or problems they may experience after the products are applied. Find out about how quick and easy it is to get hold of someone in the event help is needed and what other resources the supplier provides if assistance is needed outside regular working hours. A good supplier should display this information clearly on their website, brochures, contact details, and always be pleased to ensure any issues are fixed without delay.
Two leaders in clean transportation solutions, ROUSH CleanTech and First Priority Group (FPG), are partnering to create a line of purpose-built electric response vehicles. The companies are finalizing details for pilot deployment in 2022 with commercial production scheduled to begin in 2023.
“ROUSH CleanTech and First Priority Group share the same goals of reducing costs for specialized fleets and creating healthier communities in the areas they operate,” said Todd Mouw, president of ROUSH CleanTech. “This partnership is a natural fit for two innovative companies that are leading the emergency response vehicle industry toward clean transportation solutions.”
There are approximately three million law enforcement, fire and emergency medical service first responders operating more than 600,000 emergency vehicles in the United States. First Priority Group has been serving emergency and specialty vehicle fleets with custom vehicle solutions for over 20 years. The company also has been involved in delivery and service of electric vehicles since 2015.
“FPG’s team is ready to support its fleet customers with an end-to-end solution from grant research to fleet assessment through complete project management,” said Alex Cherepakhov, CEO of First Priority Group. “Through our forward-thinking partnership with ROUSH CleanTech, we can provide these fleets with specialized, robust vehicles that meet the high demand for medical and emergency response and their distinct operational requirements.”
First Priority Group has deployed thousands of emergency and specialized vehicles across the country. The company recently launched a new division, FPG Electrified, focused on electrification of light- and medium-duty emergency and specialty vehicles and products. This division allows FPG to combine its experience in emergency vehicle upfitting with its vehicle electrification expertise.
“Emergency response vehicles on city and county streets are focused on safety and saving lives. By transitioning to electric vehicles, fleets can more effectively serve their mission by providing a safe, emissions-free ride for first responders and their communities,” said Cherepakhov.
ROUSH CleanTech launched an all-electric Ford F-650 truck chassis last year. Backed by decades of e-mobility engineering expertise from parent company Roush, it has deployed more than 37,000 advanced clean technology vehicles since 2010.
Many studies show the cost per mile for electric fleet vehicles is about two-thirds less than with conventional fuels. With ROUSH CleanTech’s battery electric vehicles, the only service required is coolant and the batteries can charge unattended.
Additionally, battery electric vehicles emit no smog-forming pollutants or harmful emissions, including oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds and hydrocarbons. “These emergency, emission-reducing vehicles will save lives while reducing pollution levels, saving potentially billions of dollars in health care costs,” said Mouw.
Honeywell are supporting the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars to help protect players and staff throughout football and front office spaces at TIAA Bank Field. The Jaguars and Honeywell are collaborating to create a safer workplace experience by deploying air quality monitoring solutions, via a custom real-time Healthy Buildings dashboard, as well as offering individual personal protective equipment (PPE) packs for Jaguars players and staff.
The Healthy Buildings dashboard will help the Jaguars’ facilities staff quickly identify and correct critical building controls issues, including air quality factors such as carbon dioxide levels, temperature and humidity.
The Honeywell dashboard seamlessly integrates into existing systems within the stadium, giving the Jaguars’ facilities staff a comprehensive and upgraded view of building conditions prior to staff and players entering the stadium. The dashboard can be expanded to include other indicators such as occupancy and sanitization tracking.
“Monitoring air quality in enclosed spaces throughout the stadium like offices, meeting rooms and locker rooms is critical. Honeywell has helped us to quickly and efficiently deploy a custom solution suited for our needs,” said Michael Webb, vice president of technology, Jacksonville Jaguars. “We have worked hard, alongside Honeywell, to develop and implement solutions to provide a safer for experience for players and staff that not only kept us playing football last season but provide for a healthier workplace in the future.”
In addition to continuously monitoring the air quality within the stadium, Honeywell is providing an added layer of safety to players and staff via custom PPE kits. The Honeywell Safety Packs, branded for the Jacksonville Jaguars, include two masks and cleaning wipes. The Safety Packs will be distributed to players and staff.
“During these unusual times, helping sports teams return to the field is a way many people feel a small sense of normalcy,” said Jeff Kimbell, Honeywell senior vice president and chief commercial officer. “We’re proud to work with the Jaguars’ team to help provide a safer environment for players and staff and keep the 2020 and 2021 seasons up and running for football fans everywhere.”
Honeywell’s Healthy Buildings solutions are part of a comprehensive effort to innovate solutions that help critical sectors of the global economy recover, without the need to replace existing infrastructure. Honeywell’s Healthy Buildings solutions provide a holistic view of a building’s health based on key factors such as indoor air quality, occupant flow, PPE analytics, thermal screening, temperature monitoring, social distancing and sanitation efficacy.
Honeywell previously announced similar efforts with the Carolina Panthers to create a safer fan and team experience.
Demers Braun Crestline (DBC) a subsidiary of Demers Braun Ambulance manufacturer, today announced that it has recently completed the acquisition of Medix Specialty Vehicles, a full line final stage ambulance manufacturer headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, for an undisclosed financial consideration. The transaction is not subject to further regulatory approvals.
Through this transformational transaction, DBC further strengthens its global market leadership position in ambulance manufacturing, now employing over 1140 talented individuals working across 12 different production and service center sites across North America.
“With today’s acquisition, we continue to make significant strides towards our vision of being the partner of choice for the Emergency Medical Services providers across the United States and the world, offering the very best in vehicles and customer care across all market segments,” said Kim Braun, President, U.S. Operations. “I wish to extend a very warm welcome to each of the nearly 200 new colleagues joining DBC and look forward to working very closely with Greg Rusk, the entire Medix team, and the Medix dealer network to better support our customers towards the achievement of their objectives – and most importantly, saving lives.”
“I am sincerely delighted with this transformational acquisition. The Medix addition expands and reinforces our brand portfolio while increasing our competitive position and reach among ambulance manufacturers across North America and in the over 40 countries we now serve,” said Alain Brunelle, President and Chief Executive Officer of Demers Braun Crestline. “As a natural next step following the merger between Demers and Braun in early 2018 and the Crestline acquisition in Western Canada later that same year, today’s transaction reaffirms our position as the reference for ambulance innovation in the market. This acquisition could not have happened without the continued support from our financial partners at Clearspring and CDPQ and I wish to thank them for their vision and commitment.”
“On behalf of our employees, clients and partners from around the world, I would like to thank Alain, Kim and the entire DBC leadership team. We take great pride in combining forces and joining an organization with such an extraordinary legacy, reputation and recognition for excellence. This is a winning transaction for our customers and employees alike,” said Greg Rusk, Chief Executive Officer of Medix Specialty Vehicles.
Advanced RF Technologies, Inc. (ADRF), a leading provider of in-building Distributed Antenna System (DAS) and repeaters for public safety and commercial radio frequencies, have announced a strategic agreement with Edwards, a division of Carrier Global Corporation, and leading provider of fire detection and alarm solutions, to provide Edwards customers with mission-critical, emergency radio communication enhancement systems (ERCES) for first responders. The agreement expands Edwards’ fire and life safety products to include ADRF’s suite of in-building public safety communication solutions to help keep buildings and their occupants safe.
Across the country, Authority Having Jurisdictions (AHJs) require buildings to install ERCES systems that adhere to local public safety mandates and codes. This ensures firefighters, EMTs, and police officers can communicate during emergency situations using land mobile radios (LMR) in every building area, including critical coverage zones like fire command rooms, exit stairwells, elevator lobbies, basements and exit passageways. Without these systems, natural and manmade obstacles such as low-emission glass, foliage, building materials, and more, can disrupt RF signals from entering a building and thus inhibit ubiquitous wireless connectivity.
“For well over a century Edwards has dedicated itself to providing the best fire and life safety protection for building owners, and through this agreement, we are excited to continue our commitment by offering ERCES to help first responders communicate in emergencies,” said Angie Gomez, general manager of Edwards. “ADRF is a well-known leader for in-building public safety communication and we are confident there is no better equipment to help our customers properly protect their buildings and inhabitants.”
ADRF’s best-in-class suite of public safety DAS, repeaters, battery backups, and passive components meet or exceed the latest National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and International Fire Code (IFC) codes, UL standards, and FCC rules. The company’s repeaters and battery backups were the first to be listed and certified to UL 2524, Second Edition, the most rigorous standard for emergency in-building communication. ADRF’s solutions also cover all public safety frequency bands including 700/800 MHz, UHF/VHF, FirstNet (Band 14) to provide ubiquitous connectivity in all areas of buildings.
“For over 20 years we have kept our promise to develop products that protect lives by ensuring first responder communication throughout a building,” said Dennis Burns, director of public safety at ADRF. “Through our collaboration with Edwards, we are broadening our reach in the fire and life safety sector and are now able to more directly provide our solutions to building owners when they need it most.”
To learn more about ADRF’s full suite of public safety products including DAS, repeaters, antennas, and components, visit www.adrftech.com. For more information on Edwards’ innovative fire and alarm detection services, visit www.edwardsfiresafety.com.
