Rural Fire Brigades in the Blue Mountains receive $1.1 million boost

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Rural Fire Brigades in the Blue Mountains have received a boost from the delivery of three new appliances, worth a combined $1.1 million, ahead of the official Bush Fire Danger Period beginning on 1 October.

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke joined Rural Fire Service (RFS) staff and volunteers at Katoomba to hand over the keys to Category 1 tankers for the Blaxland, Hazelbrook and Lawson Brigades.

Cook said: “Each of these appliances, worth $385,000, will assist our volunteers in providing an even greater level of fire protection to the local community.

“The Blaxland, Hazelbrook and Lawson Brigades are very active and do a wonderful job protecting people and property in one of our State’s most bush fire prone areas, as well as responding to building fires, vehicle accidents, and storm and flood responses.

“I am confident the new state-of-the-art appliances will prove to be invaluable assets, ensuring volunteers have access to modern firefighting technology when responding to fires and other incidents.”

RFS Acting District Manager, Inspector Rob Vinzenz, said the efforts of volunteers do not go unnoticed and the new Category 1 tankers will support their work: “The men and women of the RFS remain on-hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we should be extremely proud and grateful for their contribution.”

Since the 2019-20 Black Summer bush fires, the NSW Government has funded more than 400 fire trucks for RFS Brigades across the State.

Survitec unveils new fast rescue boat for emergency first responders

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Global Survival Technology leader, Survitec, has introduced a new lightweight design inflatable rescue boat capable of rapid single-point inflation to meet the unique demands of waterborne search and rescue operations by the emergency services.

The Survitec 420 GP/GPM FR (Fast Rescue) boat, which was unveiled at the Emergency Services Show, is based on military-grade technology. The seven-person boat is unique in that it is the emergency services sector’s first 4.2m long fast rescue craft that can be rapidly inflated using just one nine-litre self-contained carbon air cylinder. The GPM 420 is light weight and is easily deployed, handled and operated to the criteria of DEFRA. The new 420 GP/GPM FR takes just 40 seconds to inflate.

Scott Tonks, Maritime Defence Category Manager, Survitec, said: “We have redesigned the manifolds to ensure the optimal amount of air is going to each compartment of the boat to minimise the amount of air expelled though pressure relieve valves.”

“Smaller, fewer cylinders are needed for a more rapid inflation, which significantly increases the speed of deployment, resulting in faster emergency response times, potentially saving more lives.”

Designed for rescues in fast flowing waters and areas prone to flash flooding, the 420 GP/GPM FR boat is 4200m long and 1800m wide has a maximum payload of 903kg. The boat is manufactured from a durable Hypalon 1670dtex fabric, and benchmarked against SOLAS and DEFRA rescue boat standards.

Tonks added: “Before now fire brigades had to tow trailers and launch boats from slipways potentially some distance away from the location of the emergency, which obviously places limitations on water rescue capability.

“With this solution, responders can access the immediate emergency area, get the boat in the water safely and quickly, and get on with the job of saving lives. We’ve been working with several fire brigades during testing stages who are very interested in this product.”

Ferrara Fire Apparatus appoints Sunbelt Fire as Mississippi dealer

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Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc., a subsidiary of REV Group Inc., and a leading manufacturer of custom built, heavy-duty fire apparatus, has announced the appointment of Sunbelt Fire as the exclusive Ferrara dealer for Mississippi. Sunbelt Fire is now authorised to sell and service the complete portfolio of Ferrara apparatus.

Established in 1983 and headquartered in Fairhope, AL, Sunbelt Fire’s mission is to serve those who save and protect lives. With two service centres that include parts warehouses with more than 20 technicians along with a mobile service fleet, Sunbelt Fire is positioned to serve the needs of surrounding departments and communities.

Chris McClung, Director of Sales, Ferrara, said: “We are very committed to our existing Ferrara customers in Mississippi, and we intend to grow our presence there. With its dedicated sales and service teams, Sunbelt Fire will provide fire departments with the superior products, parts, and service our current and future customers deserve.”

Sunbelt also provides:

  • 24-hour technical support
  • Complete fire apparatus parts inventory
  • Tiered fire apparatus inspections
  • High quality fire equipment
  • Breathing air compressors and SCBA
  • Welding and fabrication
  • Aerial ladder inspection and overhaul services
  • Comprehensive training
  • Wreck and refurb solutions
  • Plumbing and fire pump overhaul
  • Four (4) mobile Draft Commander® units to perform NFPA pump testing

Slade McLendon, CEO of Sunbelt Fire, said: “We are excited to be an authorised dealer for Ferrara, complimenting the other premier manufacturers we are partnered with to help us serve every firefighter and their respective department.

“We’re passionate about listening to their needs and partnering with them to provide the best apparatus solution and offer service, parts, and equipment to help them save and protect lives.”

Pierce secures 10-year contract with Calgary Fire Department

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Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, has announced its Canada-based dealer, Commercial Emergency Equipment Co., has secured a 10-year contract with the Calgary Fire Department.

The contract covers all aerial platforms and ladders in an unlimited, as-needed quantity. The first aerial apparatus in production under the contract include three rear-mounted 100’ Heavy-Duty Steel Aerial Platforms and three Ascendant 107’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Ladders on tandem rear axles.

The department’s new aerial fire apparatus will feature:

  • Enforcer chassis
  • A truck company configuration (no pump, no tank)
  • Cummins X12 525 hp engines
  • TAK-4 Independent Suspension
  • Low profile, high-output combination scene lighting
  • Forward-facing seat configuration in crew cab

The Calgary Fire Department has four platoons of firefighters with 1,326 front-line first responders located among 42 fire stations, responding to over 70,000 service calls per year,

The fire apparatus contract between Commercial Emergency Equipment Co. and the Calgary Fire Department will reinforce the strength of emergency response for the city’s growing population and infrastructure.

Nigel Thorley, Leader of fleet and equipment with the Calgary Fire Department, said: “We are excited to establish a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship with Pierce and Commercial Emergency Equipment,” said “Both companies encapsulate our values of pride, professionalism, teamwork, and respect. We look forward to the quality of the new fire apparatus and know these assets will be key elements in our service delivery in all operations for many years.”

Mike Feduniw, apparatus specialist with Commercial Emergency Equipment Co, said: “An incredible amount of work went into the specification for all units to be standardized across this contract to ensure streamlined interoperability, enhanced safety features, and reduced training time for the department.

“With standardization down to the exact location of every switch and tool location in a cabinet set for all trucks, Calgary Fire Department’s first responders can jump in any of these fire apparatus and know operational functions and equipment are in the exact same location on all fire apparatus, without the need for extra training or familiarization. Locking in the specification work upfront makes ordering another fire truck an exceptionally simple process.”

Feduniw added, “Our team is extremely proud to have been selected for a 10-year contract, and we are eager to partner with The City of Calgary for their aerial replacements over the years to come. We are excited to be working with such a professional group and look forward to providing the Calgary Fire Department with a level of quality and service we believe is unmatched in the industry.”

Arista Aviation wins Portuguese Air Force aerial firefighting contract

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Arista Aviation Services, a provider of rotary wing aircraft repair, overhaul, and modernisation with specialisation in the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, has announced that is has been been awarded a contract to provide six firefighting-capable Black Hawks to the Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa), besting Industry OEMs Leonardo and Bell Helicopter.

The contract includes the delivery of six aircraft over the next three years, training for six pilots and 21 mechanics, and five years of onsite maintenance and logistical support. With the addition of these helicopters, Portuguese Air Force aerial firefighting capabilities will be enhanced as each Arista-modified Black Hawk will have the ability to quickly transport 12 firefighters and over 750 gallons of water to rural areas when needed.

Arista President Rich Enderle said, “The Black Hawk has proven itself around the world as an extremely versatile airframe, and we are proud to offer our customers a wide variety of options to help ensure their mission success.

“Our aerial firefighting configuration is highly successful in fighting U.S. wildfires in California and other western states, and we are thrilled to be able to internationally introduce these lifesaving platforms to Portugal.”

Arista is an FAA Part 145 Repair Station and provider of MRO services with facilities strategically located in Alabama and California. Arista specializes in depot level repairs, custom painting, custom avionics upgrades, structural enhancements and repairs as needed to extend the useful life of legacy helicopter platforms.

London Mayor welcomes new fire boats on the Thames

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The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has welcomed London Fire Brigade’s new fire boats to the Thames as part of a £40 million investment made by City Hall to expand the Brigade’s fleet of equipment and vehicles.

The two new boats are named after Auxiliary Fireman Harry Errington and Auxiliary Firewoman Gillian Tanner, who in the Second World War were both awarded medals for bravery.

The Mayor committed to modernising and transforming the Brigade’s rescue resources – which includes investing in Europe’s first 64m ladders, new 32m ladders and two new replacement fire boats – so that the Brigade is better prepared, organised and equipped to fight fires and save lives anywhere in London.

On Thursday, the Mayor met crews from Lambeth River Station and was shown some of the high-tech equipment on board. The new boats are twice as fast as the two previous vessels and can reach speeds of forty knots. They can carry more life-saving equipment than ever before. As well as hoses that allow crews to fight fires from the river, the boats are fitted with a hydraulic crane for carrying out rescues from the water and a high-definition thermal imaging camera.

The Mayor also visited a range of some of the Brigade’s latest equipment, including the new 64m and 32m turntable ladders, the new fire rescue unit and a Heavy Demountable Unit (HDU) unit (capable of transporting large quantities of foam to extinguish large fires).

London Fire Commissioner, Andy Roe, said: “The Brigade is transforming for London and our brand-new fire boats are the latest improvements to the new equipment we are rolling out.

“Our investment of around £40 million on our fleet over the last few years is part of our commitment to do all we can to meet the changing needs of our communities and keep Londoners safe long into the future; the fireboats will be a fantastic new addition to our fleet.”

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am delighted to see first-hand the new state-of-the-art fire boats, which are part of London Fire Brigade’s expanding fleet of specialist vehicles and high-tech equipment which will be used to help keep Londoners safe. They are part of a £40 million investment I have made as Mayor over the past three years as part of my commitment to modernise and transform the Brigade so that it is better prepared, organised and equipped to fight fires and keep all Londoners safe.

“The demands on London Fire Brigade have never been higher due to the extreme temperatures and terrible flash floods we have seen as a result of climate change. That’s why, as Mayor, I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure our frontline emergency services have the right resources, policies and equipment to serve all of London’s communities.”

Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience, Dr Fiona Twycross, said: “I welcome the significant upgrading of vital rescue vehicles, appliances and equipment, which will help save more lives.

“The new fire boats are a brilliant addition to safety on the Thames and mean that the Brigade can tackle incidents of all kinds with dedicated teams on the water and on land, providing vital information to the fire service’s control room and emergency service partners to coordinate rescues.

“Since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, our fire service has transformed the way it responds to incidents – especially fires in high-rise buildings across the capital – and it’s so important that we ensure that this progress continues at pace so that we deliver the very best fire service for London.”

Toronto Fire Service orders two electric fire trucks

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Spartan Emergency Response, a subsidiary of REV Group, Inc., has announced that Toronto Fire Services has ordered two all-electric Vector fire trucks.

Upon delivery Toronto Fire Services will be one of the first fire departments in Canada to have fully electric, North American-style fire pumper trucks in their fleet. These fire apparatus were sold by authorized dealer Safetek Emergency Vehicles Ltd.

REV Fire Group introduced the Vector fire truck in August 2021, representing the latest in green, energy-efficient technology for the daily use of fire services. Equipped with 327 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of proven automotive-grade batteries, these trucks will deliver the longest electric pumping duration in the industry, enabling Toronto Fire Services crews to accomplish their typical driving and pumping tasks exclusively on electrically generated power. In addition, the design features low battery cell placement, offering a safer, lower centre of gravity for enhanced stability while operating.

Mike Virnig, Vice President of Sales, REV Fire Group, commented on the deal: “We are extremely proud to partner with Toronto Fire Services, the largest fire service in Canada, and the fifth largest in North America, to help protect the people of Toronto and the environment in which they live.

Chief Matthew Pegg of Toronto Fire Services commented: “Toronto Fire Services is pleased to be working with Safetek and Spartan Emergency Response on the design and delivery of our first fully electric pumper trucks. These trucks will have the same functionality and capabilities as our other pumper trucks but will leverage leading-edge electric vehicle technology.”

John Witt, President of Safetek Emergency Vehicles Ltd, added: “Since 1993, we’ve responded to our customers’ apparatus needs and are proud to develop leading technology that supports firefighter safety, efficiency, and progressive climate action strategies. We’re pleased to be contributing to the City of Toronto’s vision for a net zero emissions community by delivering two of the first North American-style fully electric trucks in Canada.” 

Magirus announces ‘Experience The Future’ Roadshow tour

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Firefighting vehicle manufacturer Magirus has announced its “Experience The Future” Roadshow tour set to make stops across Europe later this year.

Magirus will be launching its innovative roadshow across Europe from September on. Under the motto “Experience The Future”, firefighters and interested trade visitors will have the opportunity to experience a cross-section of the highly innovative product portfolio.

In the months to follow, the roadshow will be coming to events in four countries. The initial start will be at the jubilee of the Magirus Lohr subsidiary in Premstätten near Graz in Austria from 01 to 03 September 2022. 

In the further course, the roadshow will stop at the following locations, among others:

  • 08. – 09.09.2022: Germany, Münster – Fire Expo
  • 21. – 24.09.2022: France, Nancy – Congrès National des Sapeurs-Pompiers
  • 07. – 09.10.2022: Italy, Montichiari – REAS Salone dell’Emergenza
  • 13. – 15.10.2022: Germany, Dresden – FLORIAN

Magirus said on the motivation behind the roadshow: “The world is in constant flux. In particular, the effects of climate change and trends such as urbanisation present modern societies with ever new challenges. These have a direct impact on fire-fighting and disaster control. Forest and vegetation fires, the growing number of natural disasters as well as constantly more complex situations require new technologies, new approaches and innovative solutions that perfectly adapt to these changing conditions.

“At Magirus, these are at the heart of the “Next Generation Firefighting” philosophy. This is expressed in a product portfolio which, in the interplay of networking, robotics and the continuous further development of the core range, particularly reflects Magirus’ traditional striving for practical, safely deployable and directly available innovations.

“Particularly in conjunction with the unconditional endeavor to offer the ideal solution for every context. For example, Magirus translates the latest developments in the field of mature alternative drive technology into practical vehicles that can be used reliably without compromise. Here, the company is convinced that a sensible and context-dependent interplay of different alternative drive technologies is required in order to meet the challenges adequately, safely and sustainably.

“Engine technology based on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is of central importance in this context. In combination with biogas, it enables completely climate-neutral operation of fire-fighting vehicles.”

On the road show, Magirus will present its new innovations an products including the new turntable ladder generation with SmartControl as well as digital systems such as FleetConnect and TacticNet.

Special highlights of the “Experience The Future” Roadshow will be the consistent expansion of robotics with new solutions as well as the presentation of groundbreaking innovations and new products – also in the field of personal protective equipment.

Survitec selected as preferred supplier by UK public sector

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The Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO) – the UK’s largest public sector purchasing consortium, has granted preferred supplier status to Survitec for its survival technology.

UK-headquartered Survitec, supplier of Survival Technology to the global maritime, defence, and government, energy and aerospace and maritime sectors, has been placed on the YPO’s Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the provision of public sector emergency response and rescue equipment.

Ordering a YPO-approved product through the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) avoids a lengthy tendering process, allowing procurement officials to streamline supply and benefit from cost and administrative efficiencies.

More than 100 different products from the Survitec portfolio have been approved for use by the country’s ambulance, fire, police, search and rescue, and environmental services teams.

The Survival Technology scope of supply includes protective clothing and footwear, lifejackets, liferafts and new innovative dry suits, inflatable lifeboats and fast rescue craft, ropes and safety harnesses and leading-edge protection, fire hoses and pumps, lighting systems alongside flares, pop-up shelters, rescue tools and cutting equipment.

Martin Whittaker, CEO of Survitec’s Aerospace & Defence business, said: “This is a significant development for Survitec. After a rigorous selection process, we are delighted YPO has approved our Survival Technology for use across the UK’s public sector services. We are immensely proud as a UK-based manufacturer we are able to support the country’s first responders using the national supply chain.”

He explained: “It is completely different from a traditional framework agreement in that the DPS is an electronic procurement process. It provides customers with an audit trail and simplifies contract management.”

Mandy Easter, Survitec’s UK Business Development Manager, said: “Communication from our emergency service customers reveal they have been waiting for the DPS to come through so they can commence placing orders for Survival Technology through the system.”

“We underwent a rigorous process to achieve approval as a DPS supplier. This process provides an independent endorsement of the quality of our products and services for purchasers.”

Three Disaster Response Vehicles delivered to Gulf Coast State College

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Gulf Coast State College has received three frontline communications disaster response vehicles from Frontline Communications, a division of Pierce Manufacturing and a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation. The new disaster response vehicles will support Gulf Coast State College and the surrounding eight counties with advanced communications and technology assets during emergency scenarios.

Sold through Pierce and Frontline Communications’ dealer, Ten-8 Fire Equipment, the highly customized vehicles include two C-25 Mobile Command Vehicles and one C-33 Mobile Command Center.

The new disaster response vehicles were delivered in late May, and emergency responders have begun extensive training to properly utilize the assets when needed.

James Baxley Jr., Executive Director of radio, TV, and broadcasting with Gulf Coast State College, said: “When hurricane Michael came through in 2018, it was a category 5 event resulting in extensive damage and communications challenges.

“We aimed to close communications gaps and do a better job next time, and our new Frontline Communications disaster response vehicles provide us with the most technologically advanced resources to face future events. The vehicles were obtained through the Triumph Grant and maintain an eight-county memorandum of understanding to be put in service where and when needed to support emergency operations.”

Some of the most notable system design and integrated communications attributes of Gulf Coast State College’s new disaster response vehicles include:

  • Cellular and satellite data network
  • Point-to-point transmission system 2+ gigabit per minute
  • Dual HD/thermal PTZ camera
  • Columbia weatherstation
  • HAM radio system with auto-tuning and PC controls
  • Video switching matrix
  • Multiple PCs for data processing
  • 42-foot mast for custom antenna/camera deployment
  • Docking station for TVU cellular backpack encoder
  • Exterior workstation with anti-glare monitor
  • Electric awning
  • UHF, VHF, and HAM radios

“We’ve appreciated having the opportunity to work with Gulf Coast State College developing vehicles which will provide critical disaster response and communications support for such a substantial geographic area in Florida,” said Rob McAtee, fire apparatus sales representative with Ten-8 Fire Equipment.

“The customized design of the two C-25 Mobile Command Vehicles and one C-33 Mobile Command Center incorporates some of the most advanced features we’ve built into specialty vehicles to date. Our team, and our partners at Frontline Communications, look forward to providing dedicated support for training, service, and beyond.”