>> PBI PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS (PBI) promoted Bill Lawson to the position of president effective September 1. Lawson has been with PBI since 1981, serving in the role as chief operating officer and managing director since 2005. The InterTech Group, Inc. purchased PBI from Celanese Corporation in 2005, at which time the company transformed into a market leader of thermal and flame-resistant products made with the world’s highest performing polymer: polybenzimidazole. Lawson’s leadership of PBI has strengthened its market presence and operational excellence, which is reflected in the strong performance of its business. wwwpbiproducts.com. (704) 554-3378.
>> On September 21 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS (IAFF) paid tribute to the 157 firefighters who died in the line of duty over the past year by etching their names on its Wall of Honor and holding an emotional ceremony for their friends and families. The firefighters and paramedics honored this year died between June 1, 2012 and June 1, 2013. Firefighters who died prior to June 1, 2012 but were reported during the past year were also honored. See the complete list of the names added to the Wall of Honor at www.iaff.org/HS/ffm/wall/index.aspx. Watch video of the ceremony at http://www.iaff.org/HS/ffm/thisyear/index.aspx.
>> ELECTRONIC SECURITY ASSOCIATION (ESA) donated $13,617 to the Warrior Dog Foundation. ESA Executive Director Merlin Guilbeau and ESA Vice President of Sales and Marketing Shannon Murphy presented a check to Mike Ritland, former Navy SEAL and founder of the Warrior Dog Foundation, which is dedicated to serving the special operations community, families, and Special Operation Forces working with K-9 military dogs. The K-9s employed with these forces are expected to work in the most austere of environments and face conditions that most human beings cannot survive. www.esaweb.org. http://warriordogfoundation.org.
>> UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES (UL) Firefighter Safety Research Institute released “Effectiveness of Fire Service Vertical Ventilation and Suppression Tactics in Single Family Homes,” an online course that presents the work performed under the 2010 Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program. The interactive training walks learners through the research approach, experimental setup, test results, and tactical considerations derived from the test results. This course supplements the project’s technical report through fire service commentary on the impact UL research has on firefighting tactics, interactive fire scenarios, video from all 17 full-scale residential structure fires, and numerous photos. The course content is available online at ULfirefightersafety.com.
>> STREAMLIGHT® INC. introduced a pink version of its high-lumen ProTac HL® tactical flashlight, the latest in the company’s line of “pink” flashlight products designed to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation® (BCRF), a not-for-profit organization that strives to prevent and find a cure for breast cancer. Streamlight will donate $3 to the BCRF from the sale of each pink ProTac HL. To date, the company has donated more than $450,000 to the research organization from sales proceeds of its existing pink flashlight products, including pink versions of its Strion® LED tactical light and Nano Light® key chain light. www.streamlight.com.
>> The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE FIRE MARSHALS Fire Research and Education Foundation and Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company announced that 117 fire departments across the United States have earned the Life Safety Achievement Award for their fire prevention accomplishments in 2012. To qualify for the award, fire departments must record zero fire deaths in residential structures or a 10 percent reduction of fire deaths from the prior year. In addition, they must demonstrate commitment to prevent residential fires in their local communities through active and effective fire prevention programs. The complete list of Life Safety Achievement Award winners is available at www.firemarshals.org.
>> IOWA FIRE SERVICE TRAINING BUREAU has entered into an exclusive agreement with Pearson VUE® to transition its testing program to a computer-based format, allowing firefighters to pursue certification at 15 highly secure testing sites across the state. A range of 13 computer-based exams can be taken at Pearson Professional Centers, Pearson VUE Authorized Test Centers and community colleges. The agreement includes provision of call center registration and support, Web registration, test publishing, and test administration. On-site score reporting informs test takers of their results on the day of an exam, allowing them to plan the next stage of their careers quicker than before. www.dps.state.ia.us/fm/fst.
>> WORKRITE UNIFORM COMPANY, INC. launched Workrite Canada to include local sales representation, inventory, and a distribution center. The launch of Workrite Canada also includes the creation of a product line specifically developed to meet the Canadian standards and practices for protective clothing at the jobsite. This new line includes a variety of coveralls as well as an insulated bib, a parka, and a hood, all made with leading flame-resistant (FR) fabrics such as UltraSoft® and Nomex®. The line is complemented by a full assortment of additional Workrite® FR styles to meet the protection needs of customers in oil and gas, mining, utilities, manufacturing, and fire service. www.workrite.com/canada.
