The Last Word with Jim Everett, President of the Performance Advantage Company

by Breaking NewsFirefighting Equipment

What is your role at Performance Advantage Company?

As President of the company, I directly oversee all phases of the PAC operation which includes sales and marketing, financial management, engineering, human resources, and all phases of shop operations. In other words, the buck stops with me.  While we have a great staff of professionals here PAC, it is my responsibility to keep steering the ship in the right direction, and I do this by making sure or customers are getting the value and service they deserve.

Why are tool mounts important for firefighters?

When we look at the development of tool mounts, we look to have every product evaluated on the following criteria: organization, accessibility, protection against loss or damage, and value. These four principal areas directly affect a firefighter’s ability to properly fulfil their responsibility when called to action.  Minutes count when it comes to life or death and PAC is committed to producing the best alternative in properly and effectively mounting tools and equipment so firefighters can react effectively at moment’s notice.

Have you noticed any interesting trends in the tool mounting market?

Tool and equipment manufacturers are constantly improving their products either through modification or by introducing new concepts.  To properly meet the mounting needs with these changes, PAC has to adopt that same approach. Everything from simple hand tools like sledgehammers and entry tools to constantly changing designs in heavy rescue equipment keeps us looking at our design improvements or the development of new products.

How would you evaluate the past year for your company?

From the standpoint of sales and overall demand for our products, the past year has been excellent.  Availability of materials and the ever-rising cost of those materials is the biggest challenge we face on a week to week, month to month basis. Logistics are also a concern when it comes to addressing the needs of our customers in a timely and cost-effective manner.  Shipping related costs have continued rise as well.  Every expense is elevated today, and as a result, we are constantly looking at every opportunity to create cost savings that can be passed on to our customers.  Through all this we still stand on our core values as a company when it comes to backing up what we manufacture with a limited lifetime warranty, offering the absolute best in customer service, and offering additional services to our customers.

What plans does PAC have for the future?

One of our biggest efforts is going to be broadening our exposure in the fire and emergency services industry on a global basis.  We have great distributors internationally, but we need to develop additional sources of distribution in areas around the world where PAC is not as well known. In addition, we are adding people and resources within the company to not only maintain, but to continuously improve our ability to answer the needs of our customers. There are things we are doing internally that will enhance our service to our customers that will not necessarily require additional cost to those customers.  Increasing the value of PAC as the solution to the needs of our customers is a majority.

IFSJ Exclusive: Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures

by Breaking NewsSafety
Neil Gibbins, lead fire consultant at CROSS-UK, discusses the evolution of building safety culture

In December 2017, just six months after the Grenfell Tower fire, Dame Judith Hackitt produced her interim report “Building a Safer Future” which stated: “The work of the review to date has found that the current regulatory system for ensuring fire safety in high-rise and complex buildings is not fit for purpose. This applies throughout the life cycle of a building, both during construction and occupation, and is a problem connected both to the culture of the construction industry and the effectiveness of the regulators.”

The Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS), made up of leading thinkers from the Institution of Structural Engineers, recognised that there could be great benefits achieved by organising a route for people in their profession to share learning in a safe, independent, non-judgmental process and so it decided to give CROSS, a structural safety reporting system that had been in operation for over 15 years, a new focus.

CROSS, which stands for Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures, was recently relaunched with a new website and scope, reflecting the wider remit that now includes fire safety. Significant investment by the UK Government’s Building Safety Programme team has facilitated a complete refresh of the website and engagement with the fire sector, the driver for this being the Grenfell Tower fire and the subsequent analyses of our building safety system.

CROSS has established structural safety expert panels in the USA and Australasia. The expansion into fire is limited to the UK at this time, but many people around the world are expressing interest and it is clear that there does not need to be boundaries to sharing learning. The expansion of CROSS will support fire sector learning, providing a route for professionals to safely share lessons that need to be learned and to give some oversight of the health of the fire safety system, helping protect the public and firefighters.

Thankfully very few people will suffer a loss of a friend or relative from fire in their lifetime. However, Grenfell demonstrated that we must not become complacent. The hundreds of tall buildings clad in a similar manner could have led to similar disasters with potentially more unidentified failings yet to be revealed. Dame Judith pointed out many areas that could be improved, one of them being that there is a need for a knowledge hub.

The broad role of CROSS

CROSS has a number of functions. It provides a route for a conscientious professional to tell others about something they are concerned about, or to share something they have learned. The information they give can be analysed by an expert panel that holds knowledge sufficient to identify its importance and what lessons need to be learned. The same expert panel sit back and look at the system and interpret how it is working and what needs to be done to keep it being effective.

All of this is reliant on trust, integrity and a level of transparency. The right people doing the right thing at the right time. Building, developing and maintaining a good culture. CROSS is well established, trusted and thankfully open to sharing the learning about the process with their colleagues in the fire sector.

Over 1,000 reports have been submitted to CROSS and the analysis has fed into many CROSS newsletters. Where appropriate, safety alerts have been disseminated to give a heads up, hopefully averting repeats that might lead to tragedies.

The UK approach to fire safety over the last forty years has changed quite dramatically, progressed from being almost totally owned and managed in a prescriptive manner by the fire brigades to a much more diverse, goal based, self-compliant and complex process.

In that period the bodies responsible for providing fire safe buildings, the people in the system and the materials used have changed dramatically. There has been little in place to bring them all together to look at the efficacy of the whole system. The expansion of CROSS is a key step that aims to improve learning in the fire sector and create a route for professionals to share lessons safely and provide some oversight of the health of the fire safety system.

How does CROSS work?

CROSS applies a process devised by NASA for the US aviation sector. First, reports are received by “Designated Persons” – the only people who know the identity of the reporter and or the building involved. The report is deidentified and shared with an expert panel. A CROSS report is then developed that sets out the issue that has been reported and the lessons to be learned, signposting associated references as appropriate before the report is then published. Subscribers to the website can chose to receive alerts as and when new reports are posted.

Over 1000 reports have been received, reviewed and learning points have been published in a quarterly update. Among those reports have been nuggets of information that have been read by structural engineers and have added to the knowledge pool for the sector. Structural engineers are now expected to become familiar with CROSS reports and hundreds of them have shared their learning with others. The expert panel also meet to review the overarching lessons identified from the reports that have been received, feeding their knowledge back into the safety system.

It is not a huge leap in some respects to think of fire safety as a natural partner to structural safety. CROSS has received reports relating to fire safety matters and these were generally in the space where fire safety and structural safety come together. As an example, current issues around the use of mass timber for structural elements brings engineering challenges to both professions. However, there has been no formal interface to bring the two together in a safe space where concerns and ideas can be explored.

The formation of a CROSS-UK Fire Safety Expert Panel and regular planned events that bring them together with the CROSS-UK Structural Safety Expert Panel provides the opportunity to feed informed opinion into the building safety system.

The future of building safety

The new CROSS has been launched. For the founders of CROSS, it marks a step forward in assuring the future of a body that has done a great job to date, underpinned by support from the IStructE, ICE and the HSE. The success of CROSS in the UK has resulted in the establishment of CROSS in Australasia (CROSS-AUS) and the USA (CROSS-US) in the last few years. In the UK, CROSS is ideally placed to fit into the new Building Safety Regulator framework as it develops and builds the new building safety regime.

CROSS  is a key piece of a jigsaw picture that describes a good culture. Culture is something that Dame Judith pointed towards, a small word but so pertinent when considering how to develop an effective building safety system. Numbers signing up to receive CROSS newsletters, sharing and submitting reports, are good indicators of the direction of travel of the culture in the industry.

CROSS is receiving and publishing fire related reports covering some of the key interest areas here in the UK including product markings and marketing, competence, oversight during construction, the use of modern or novel systems or approaches and the impact of climate change considerations on building and firefighter safety.

The fire sector is re-shaping and recovering from the horror of the Grenfell Tower fire. By supporting and becoming involved with CROSS, part of Dame Judith’s culture jigsaw will slot into place.

USB-rechargeable Syclone Jr introduced by Streamlight

by Breaking NewsProducts

Streamlight® Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting, has launched the Syclone® Jr., an ultra-compact rechargeable work light that fits in tight spaces for a variety of identification and repair uses.

Hands-free or hanging, the body of the light can rotate 360 degrees in its U-shaped magnetic base and can be easily adjusted with one hand.

Weighing just 56.7g and delivering up to 210 lumens and 8.5 hours of run time, it also provides the convenience and cost savings of USB rechargeability.

The new light features both high and low beams and uses a cool white LED for maximum illumination. The light can stand on its weighted base, which also includes magnets for attaching to metal surfaces for hands-free lighting. A folding hook to hang the light is also provided for added versatility.

On the high setting, the new light delivers 210 lumens, 1,550 candela, and a 3.75 hour run time. On low, it provides 85 lumens and 600 candela, with a run time of 8.5 hours.

Featuring a lithium-ion 1000 mAh cell, the Syclone Jr. offers battery charging by pulling open the rubber USB cover and plugging the charge cord into the light’s micro-USB port.

Charge times vary depending on the voltage the USB source provides. The light also can be recharged in 4.5 hours with an AC wall charger.

The Syclone Jr. features tough thermoplastic construction with an elastomer button, and an acrylic, gasket-sealed lens. It has an IPX4-rated design for water-resistant operation and is impact-resistant tested to 2 metres.

Streamlight Chief Revenue Officer Michael F. Dineen commnted: “The Syclone Jr. is small but mighty, with a rotating body that aims light where it is needed, even in the tightest spaces.

“First responders, auto technicians, industrial workers and DIYers alike will reach for it whenever they need a task light that can stand on its own, attach to metal surfaces, or function as a hanging light. And because it uses a USB rechargeable battery, it offers among the lowest operating costs of any area light of its type and size.”

Exclusive: A breath of fresh air with BAUER

by Breaking NewsBreathing Apparatus
IFSJ takes a look at the solutions from BAUER COMPRESSORS that keep firefighters’ air supply fresh

Necessity is the mother of invention, but sometimes invention can outgrow necessity. With the international outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, many companies rushed to create virtual solutions to overcome transportation restrictions, limitations on in-person contact, and supply chain issues.

Soon, fire chiefs were besieged with virtual reality (VR) options for training new recruits, sometimes confusing new technology for public safety, and more. For some in the industry, these new technologies could be overwhelming and rather than taking their inspiration from a preexisting demand, could be considered to fill a need where it did not exist.

With over 75 years of experience in manufacturing breathing air compressor systems, BAUER COMPRESSORS is not an amateur in the world of innovation. In fact, they were the force behind numerous technological introductions. “I’ve been in the breathing air industry for over 40 years, so I’m used to lots of old technology,” says Bill Dickson, the Vice President of Breathing Air Sales for BAUER COMPRESSORS.

“Well, times have changed, methods have changed, and at the end of the day what we’re trying to do is create solutions for the person at the end of the nozzle…to minimise their exposure to risk, if you will.”

One thing that sets BAUER apart is not only their leadership in producing new technology, but also their historic knowledge and investment in creating only what is necessary, with a reputation for responding and adapting to, the desires and feedback of firefighters.

BAUER is a company that is a leader in the industry after so many decades, which Dickson says is because it works consistently to regularly transform the industry for the better. BAUER continues to evolve by responding to new challenges, fueled by a desire to create the most dependable products in the industry.

BAUER B-VIRUS FREE

The pandemic brought a new awareness of the hazards of potential viruses, even in breathing air. Although breathing air goes through a rigorous purification process, this practice merely strips away the various unwanted gases and particulate matter and is not designed to target and inactivate viruses.

BAUER COMPRESSORS responded to this need with the first COVID-19 filtration system for breathing air compressors during the pandemic. The BAUER B-VIRUS FREE filtration system deactivates up to 99.9% of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the air intake section of the breathing air compressor using a specially designed UVC light source to destroy pathogens before the intake air section of the compressor, free of chemicals and ozone.

The UVC wavelength is absorbed into the pathogens’ DNA, where the photons destroy the bonds between the DNA strands of the virus, effectively preventing the virus from reproducing.

BAUER CONNECT 2.0

“When the firefighter is getting ready to fill the SCBA, they just scan it. And when they are finished at the end of the day, they use their Wi-Fi enabled handheld device to upload it to the BAUER cloud, giving them complete access to everything,” Dickson explains.

BAUER CONNECT is one remote option: an app and internet[1]based IoT solution that allows the user to remotely manage their entire breathing air compressor, purification, and SCBA filling system. The network can be accessed through any wireless mobile device or computer.

The BAUER CONNECT 2.0 update includes a new mobile “SCADA View” dashboard with a real-time display of the compressor system, improved historical reports functionality, a customer administrator function to manage users and access, and more. BAUER CONNECT 2.0 includes push notifications for instant alerts, as well as a remote HMI function for factory-trained personnel to control the system remotely for servicing upon request.

RFIDPro

BAUER’s RFIDPro data logging system gives a similar control. SCBA cylinders are scanned through the wireless handheld BAUER RFIDPro reader, which guides the user through the proper fill process. This allows fire departments to manage every aspect of their SCBA cylinders in real-time, including cylinder expirations, hydrotesting, and repairs, while eliminating the workload associated with manually logging SCBA fills and inspections.

Dickson says: “We have products that will enable the end user to electronically monitor and/or control the compressor system remotely. So if we have an unmanned volunteer fire department station, the fire chief can manage their compressor without being in front of the unit.”

BAUER ensures that each and every fire department’s data is completely secure, with cloud storage which is unique to each user, for total data integrity and compliance with data retention requirements. SSL data communication encryption between the RFIDPro server and user, along with SHA-256 password encryption with optional two-factor password authentication, provides the latest in state-of-the art network security.

The BAUER RFIDPro system keeps track of when the SCBA was put into service; when and where it was last filled; what pressure it was filled to; and more. The system also ensures that customers won’t be caught off guard, since RFIDPro alerts the user when the SCBA cylinder needs to be hydrotested, as well as when it has reached its expiration date. This allows the fire department to seamlessly log every SCBA fill event for convenience and accuracy, while maintaining compliance with NFPA 1989 regulations.

UNICUS 4i updates

The UNICUS 4i is one of the central solutions that BAUER has created for the fire service: an all-in-one compressor and filling station, controlled by a centrally located touchpad. The password-protected 15-inch HMI is around the same size as a laptop or computer screen, and can control the entire filling process – including the on-board air storage system, SCBA filling rate, and pressure.

“The compressors’ [HMI] control system is connected to the internet, when so equipped. So [the individual] can physically log into the compressor remotely to see what’s going on with [it]…maintenance, troubleshooting, diagnosing, things such as that nature,” Dickson tells.

In response to firefighters’ safety concerns with the compressor systems of the past, Dickson notes that the BAUER containment SCBA fill station is designed, proof[1]tested, and built in accordance with the latest edition of NFPA 1901, maximising firefighter safety and security during the SCBA fill process.

“We designed the SCBA containment fill stations to totally contain the fragments of a ruptured 5500 PSIG SCBA,” says Dickson. The fill station, when ordered with SCBA RFID data logging, has antennas integrated into the SCBA holders, such that during the fill process, data on the pressure and other metrics are uploaded automatically to the HMI and then to a cloud-based database specifically for the fire department.

The system also comes standard with BAUER’s unique auto-cascade function capable of handling up to 7000 PSIG (482 bar) service, precisely controllable by firefighters on the HMI touchscreen. The system will automatically direct air to-and-from the storage system, and compressor, without having to manually manipulate and monitor panel-mounted valves and pressure gauges. HMI keypad actuation will automatically send air from the onboard storage system down to the SCBA cylinders being filled by the UNICUS 4i.

In the event of a total power failure, the systems all come with a manual bypass system, ensuring that the fire department is still in service and able to utilise the stored air during electric outages.

75 years of support

Fire departments across Europe have their own specific regulations and codes. BAUER has responded to this diversity with a series of solutions adapted to meet a variety of needs, utilising the latest technological advancements. “We build to the customer’s requirements…because everybody’s requirements are different,” says Dickson.

BAUER’s vertically integrated approach to manufacturing allows for independence and control, while strengthening the support they can offer each and every fire department. With a 24/7 customer service line, ISO 9001 certified facilities, and a distribution network spread internationally, BAUER is a company that works to ensure that invention will not outpace support.

Hyfire, Argus and Ramtech create Orama group in the Metaverse

by Breaking NewsProjects

Argus Security and Hyfire have joined a new group called Orama which launched in the Metaverse on 20 October. From the companies Argus, Hyfire and Ramtech, who all provide excellence in wireless solutions for the protection of people and environments, the Orama group was created.

Argus, Hyfire and Ramtech together reach more than 30 countries worldwide and offer a wide range of wireless and digital products and services, suitable for different industries, from construction to commercial and industrial applications. The new brand was presented in the Metaverse, to contextualise the technological vision and the orientation towards the future of the group.

The companies that make up Orama are working closely to take advantage of each other’s expertise, focus on developing new products and solutions, connected, customer-centred and customised, that support and encourage the evolution of the sectors in which they operate.

The common goal of group members is to combine the history and expertise of the three companies Argus, Hyfire and Ramtech to provide innovative services and assistance and ensure customers the maximum protection of sites and people in the most diverse applications, from construction sites and temporary sites to new or existing commercial and industrial buildings and more.

“The strong skills of each company have helped to form a powerful group that faces new and stimulating perspectives in the field of safety,” commented Giorgio Koursaris, Managing Director of the group. “Orama is the fil rouge that combines cutting-edge wireless technologies to the digital world.”

Koursaris continued: “The naming also recalls this new meaning. Orama means projection and vision to the future. The payoff, “the future of protection”, refers to the world of safety and protection to emphasise the solid and secure soul of the brand and the intention to invest in the future, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by wireless and digital technologies to shape a safer world through innovation.”

Orama’s logo is a fingerprint, a symbol of uniqueness, but also an eye that looks to the future. The dermatoglyphs, the lines that make up the fingerprint, refer to the waves of wireless, a characteristic element of the group, and also draw a circle that symbolises the uniformity and continuity between the three companies from which the new brand was born.

Orama’s aim is to go beyond the present, leveraging the technological and digital skills of each company from which it was born to speed up the process of digitising the world of the protection of people and environments, creating value and opportunities for customers and for the company.

Exclusive: Staying ahead of the fire with VIKING

by Breaking NewsPPE
VIKING’s new IGNIS series of fire suits have been designed from scratch to achieve the highest standards in protection while meeting today’s demands for comfort, visibility and durability

While Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) captured wildfires burning the highest amount of land in Europe (659,541 hectares) in the year to mid-August 2022 since records began in 2006 from on high, it was once again left to firefighters on the ground to get to the heart of the matter.

During August’s heatwave, one blaze alone in southwestern France set light to 7,000 hectares, with French authorities requesting attendance from over 1,000 firefighters and requesting support from organisations in Austria, Germany, Greece, Poland and Romania.

But the rising wildfire menace is only one cue for what VIKING Life-Saving Equipment believes has been an overdue reappraisal of firefighter needs, and the development of two new fire suits that the Danish company says meet and exceed the imperatives of certification, function, comfort and asset management.

“We gave our designers a free hand to start from scratch and deliver high-performance fire suits that go beyond latest protection standards while bringing gains for comfort, visibility and greater freedom of movement,” says Gitte Schou Jensen, Product Manager Fire, VIKING.

Structural firefighting

The VIKING IGNIS EN469 is a testament to VIKING’s strong position as a supplier of PPE for structural firefighting. With an optimised overall fit, VIKING IGNIS EN469 also features reflective piping to emphasise contours for greater visibility and safety without compromising breathability, while extra para-aramid reinforcements at the shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees and bottom of the legs provide maximum durability in challenging conditions.

Jensen tells: “We’ve also ensured that the jacket is designed for optimised mobility at the shoulders and arms with pockets in all the right places. The trousers are also ergonomically designed for maximum comfort and unhindered movement.”

PartX Particle Protection

 As an added safety feature, the VIKING IGNIS EN469 is available with optional PartX Particle Protection, adds Jensen. The result of years of development, refinement and rigorous testing, VIKING’s PartX solution draws on technological progress in PPE materials, multi-layered designs and particle filtering capabilities.

“Facing danger is part of the job for firefighters, but exposure to potentially carcinogenic particles represents a continuous risk whose consequences can be just as serious: that also demands innovation,” says Jensen.

Firmly closed PartX cuffs feature a special filtering solution to defend against particle entry without uncomfortable tightening around the wrists, while the PartX closure at the bottom of the legs helps prevent particles from slipping under the hemline without reducing mobility.

Wildland firefighting and technical rescue

Though completely new to the European market, the VIKING IGNIS WTR builds on VIKING’s experience as a supplier of multi[1]certified ‘VIKING SHIELD’ suits in North America. The VIKING IGNIS WTR delivers protection to exceed technical rescue (EN ISO 11612EN) and wildland fire (EN ISO 15384) standards.

“As the frequency of wildfires continues to rise in Europe, the VIKING IGNIS WTR suits meet the specific challenges faced in technical rescue situations,” says Jensen. “Designed for constant wear in changing work environments, they have all the features you expect from VIKING for comfortable, durable protection, and are dual approved to technical rescue and wildland firefighting standards.”

Track and Trace

The attention to detail involved in the IGNIS series’ design extends to the VIKING Track and Trace that helps fire services manage their fire suit portfolio, including the washing and reimpregnation process.

Via a smartphone app or customer portal, the user simply scans the bar code or the NFC chip on the suit and then registers information about exposure to dangerous particles, washings, maintenance and repair.

Fire services can use the information to get an overview of the suit per individual and the overall status of suits for the entire department. This overview can help improve washing routines, for example by using information to ensure that reimpregnation can be scheduled to help reduce firefighter exposure to contamination.

The system is also a key component of VIKING’s PartX Particle Protection Technology concept, that includes features that help reduce particle entry. A new PartX washing bag for storage and washing also keeps exposure to potentially harmful particles to a minimum by reducing handling of soiled suit. The bag includes a specially designed zipper that releases the suit during the wash cycle.

“The investment in digital asset management techniques represents an additional dimension in VIKING’s approach to providing high-quality PPE that can be relied upon to save lives in any situation,” adds Jensen.

Cooking appliances responsible for 45% of accidental dwelling fires

by Breaking NewsSafety

The Office for National Statistics has released its annual detailed analysis of fires attended by fire and rescue services, England, April 2021 to March 2022.

Cooking appliances were responsible for 45 per cent of accidental dwelling fires, but only 11 per cent of fire-related fatalities in the year ending March 2022.

Smoking materials showed the reverse pattern, accounting for only seven per cent of accidental dwelling fires, but resulting in 24 per cent of fire-related fatalities.

Almost half (49%) of all fires occurred where the time of call was between 16:00 and 22:00, but the number of fire-related fatalities was roughly equal between day and night hours.

The findings also revealed that by combining IRS and English Housing Survey data, Home Office statisticians have calculated that you are around nine times more likely to die in a fire if you do not have a working smoke alarm in your home.

Fire-related fatality rate per million is higher for men and older people. For men the fatality rate was 5.9 per million population, compared to 3.6 per million population for women. For men aged 65 to 79 the fatality rate was 13.3 per million population while the equivalent rate in the same age group for women was 7.8 per million. For those aged 80 and over, the rate for men was 20.2 per million and for women was 19.3 per million.

The full breakdown can be found here.

President Biden addresses summit on Fire Prevention and Control

by Breaking NewsSafety

President Joe Biden addressed attendees of the US Fire Administrator’s Summit on fire Prevention and Control, held during the 100th annual Fire Prevention Week.

During his speech, President Biden paid tribute to firefighters who lost their lives: “Over the years, I’ve spoken to — at too many — too many funerals for fallen firefighters.  From the national events like the memorial of Arizona 19 Hotshots in 2013, to the individuals in my home state that unfortunately are too numerous to name.

“And each one — each one of you is a hero to the community.  You’ve touched people’s lives.  So I’d — I’d like to take a moment at the top here to honour the lives we’ve lost of those in the past two years, including from COVID — 135 on-duty firefighters in 2021, another 77 to date in 20- — 2022.”

He noted the extreme heat and prolonged drought have turned wildfire season into wildfire years: “And local firefighters are being called in more to respond to the fires in the wildland urban interface where we’re moving out into the forest areas to develop and it becomes local and federal.

“So I want you to know that my administration is doing everything we can to make sure you have the resources you need to do your job as safely and effectively and efficiently as possible.”

He also made reference to cancer prevention: “Cancer is a leading killer of firefighters.  Toxic substances you’ve been exposed to as part of your job are almost certainly — certainly connected to those cancer diagnoses.  And we’re doing — we’re going to do something about it.” He said that the Government has created a special claims unit at the Department of Labor to ensure that they are processing federal firefighters’ cancer claims quickly. 

He finished by stating that the administration was doing everything it can to ease the burden on our firefighters by preventing fires: “This is the 100th — hard to believe — it’s the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week.  And the landmark legislation I’ve signed into law includes historic investments to reduce the risk of fire.

“The Bipar- — the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes significant forest management, increases community resilience and — to wildfires, and harnesses new technologies to keep communities safe.  It’s also repairing vital infrastructure and — firefighters and other first responders rely on to quickly get to the — to those — those in need.”

Home fire deaths hit 14 year high in the US across 2021

by Breaking NewsSafety

The latest Fire Loss in the US report released by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has revealed that 2021 saw the largest number of home fire deaths since 2007, reflecting a 14-year high.

According to the report, people are more likely to die in a reported home fire today than they were in 1980. While the number of US home fires has continued to decline over time, the home fire death rate has stagnated in recent years, with annual spikes like the most recent one seen in 2021. 

According to NFPA data, home is where people are at greatest risk of fire, with three-quarters (75 percent) of all US fire deaths occurring in homes.

Lorraine Carli, vice president of the Outreach and Advocacy division at NFPA, commented: “While we’ve made great strides in reducing the public’s risk to fire on many fronts, the latest number of home fire deaths reinforces that today’s home fires present real challenges.

“Educating the public about the increased speed at which today’s home fires grow, along with the importance of knowing how to escape quickly and safely, is critical to reducing that risk.”

This week the NFPA celebrates the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week  with the theme, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape.” which reinforces the potentially life-saving importance of home escape planning and practice.

Carli continued: “To many, the concepts of home escape planning and practice may sound so simple that their value is underestimated, but the reality is that these advance preparations can truly mean the difference between life and death in a home fire – now more than ever.

“Ask anyone who’s experienced a home fire and they will tell you how dark, scary, and disorienting a home fire can become within moments. Having a practiced plan with all members of the household builds the muscle memory needed to get out as quickly and safely as possible.”

The following are key messages behind this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme:

  • Make sure your home escape plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
  • Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.
  • Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
  • Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet.
  • Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night.

To learn more about Fire Prevention Week, visit www.firepreventionweek.org

Exclusive: Mark Fusco, President at Rosenbauer America, talks supporting the mission of saving lives and protecting property

by Breaking NewsIFSJ ExclusivesProductsVehicles
IFSJ caught up with Mark Fusco, the newly appointed President at Rosenbauer America, to discuss supply chain issues, electric vehicles and plans for the future of the business

First of all, congratulations on the appointment – how does it feel?

It is an honour. Rosenbauer is in a strong position in the market and as a company. We’re positioned for a lot of growth, we’ve made a lot of investments over the last several years. For me personally, this is a great opportunity to contribute on the long tradition and heritage of the company and be a part of its future is an extremely exciting. I’m very humbled and thankful for it.

Can you tell me a little about yourself, your background, and your career leading up to your appointment as President?

I’ve been with Rosenbauer for nearly two years. I was brought on as its Vice President of Sales and Marketing. The privilege I’ve had in the last few years is being a part of the leadership team to develop and craft the forward direction of the business. Learning the company and getting involved in its products, the market that we serve, and the customers was something that I was focused on for the last few years leading up to this role.

Prior to joining Rosenbauer, my background is in agriculture specifically in heavy equipment manufacturing. When you look at the products, there are a lot of similarities between large agricultural equipment and fire trucks. They are customised, complex and built in a way that is designed to serve communities.

In 20 years, I spent 13 of them with John Deere and had an opportunity to work in a variety of different capacities including from a product development standpoint, dealer development aspect, field sales and factory operations. My last three leadership roles at Deere included sitting over its Asia and Africa business, I repatriated to the US and was responsible for its tactical marketing organisation, and last finished leading its eastern US business division where I was responsible for its dealer channel, complete goods sales, service and parts organisations.

What have you been working on since taking over as President?

My initial focus, which is really an industry situation, is the supply chain dynamic that any heavy manufacturer is currently faced with. Fire trucks, on road trucks, tractors – no matter what it might be, there is a necessity to manage the supply chain on a day-to-day, minute-to-minute basis. Our factory operations are an immediate focus for me so we can continue to build on the strong position the company has found over the last two years.

Fire departments are counting on us. Something we like to share with our team members is that we have the strongest order backlog in company history. There is a severe need for replacement apparatus in communities, with many making emergency purchases. It is an extreme focus for us to deliver trucks to the communities that desperately need them.

What are your thoughts on the firefighting vehicle market and the rise of electric vehicles?

From a new product development standpoint, the EV (electric vehicle) space has been something Rosenbauer worldwide has focused on for more than a decade. We have been involved with research and development, thought partnerships, working with leading universities, fire departments and outside industries such as automotive to really start to understand the EV trend.

Rosenbauer has developed the first fully electric fire truck in the world for full scale application. All the supporting elements that are needed to support customers in this new vehicle category is an area that has been a key focus for us. It is something that the entire company has enjoyed and is something I have taken hold of as we get closer to bringing the RTX electric fire truck to market.

Does Rosenbauer America have any plans in the pipeline for the years ahead that you would like to share?

A great product that we significantly invested in and did research on for about six years globally is the battery extinguishing system technology (BEST) to assist fire departments in combatting EV fires in a more sustainable and safe way than the previous practices. BEST is placed to solve the problem that is EV fires occurring on a radically increasing basis as the number of EVs continues to exponentially increase across the world. That has been a key focus, and we’ll continue to build upon that platform with enhancements and additional technology down the line.

We’ve also got a whole host of digital solutions that we recently brought to market globally which were launched within the last month. They are designed to help fire departments become more predictive and efficient with their firefighting capabilities. For example, with some of the different topography you can pinpoint a wildfire before it has started and develop a tactical strike team. We’ve got many technology products in pipeline in several different stages to assist fire departments in that regard.

We have a host of remote diagnostics in different machine type analytics and connected services that can proactively predict whether a fire apparatus has not been properly serviced for example, whether that means it has passed its service interval or needs an update that the department has been unable to attend to for whatever reason.

We are committed to looking at all the market segments and developing new products and new technology to bring to market whilst still supporting the current apparatus requirements of our customers.

There has been radical growth within our aerials business, with our smart aerials which have automated features, taking a lot of risk out of the operation of a complex vehicle. Some of the automated features and technology of our smart aerial has been widely accepted into the market and bringing safer operations, assisting many of the pain points of a fire department.

We recently brought out a new custom general chassis. We are now able to bring a custom truck to some markets that maybe didn’t have the funding or budgets historically, presenting a suitable price point without sacrificing the safety and benefits and features that a custom chassis offers.

Finally, do you have any predictions for the future of Rosenbauer America.

Some folks have asked me as I’ve come into the new role what we can expect over the next few years. The message I’ve been driving is to continue what we’re doing well to get us to this point, which is due in part to the hard work and commitment of team members throughout the company.

I fully expect us to become more integrated as an organisation. The Rosenbauer group is built from a variety of joint ventures or different business units. As we look to bring the company to the next level and set it up for the next 150 years, the increased collaboration amongst out campuses, leveraging what we do best in each of the areas is a big focus of mine. We’ve got a very hard working and committed culture that we want to continue to foster, leverage and build upon. We have new team members that are joining and ensuring we continue to do what we do well.

Also, with all the different dynamics externally, we put ourselves in a position of agility in what is probably going to be a continuing supply challenge environment. We are challenging ourselves to do things a little faster than we have before and counting on team members to raise ideas and promote a culture that is inclusive, forward driven, and committed to the fire service, which is really what Rosenbauer is all about.

Rosenbauer’s purpose is the mission of saving lives and protecting property. We’re here for communities, we’re here to serve. It’s truly in Rosenbauer’s DNA and that’s why we do what we do every day.

This article was originally published in the October edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here