The film ““BROTHERHOOD” which presents a portrait of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), debuted at the FIRE DEPARTMENT INSTRUCTORS CONFERENCE EAST (FDIC EAST) in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Director Lilibet Foster set out to capture the culture, dedication, and job of FDNY firefighters and the world events developing around them that impact their daily lives. The director visited countless fire stations throughout the city before settling on three on which to focus: Squad 252, Brooklyn; Rescue 1, Manhattan; and Rescue 4, Queens.
According to Foster, she looked for “the best group of characters and to see if they would let me live with a camera in the middle of their world for a while. I thought this would be the best way to convey the larger-than-life activity of a firehouse and drama of their jobs [and], at the same time, the unspoken detail and subtlety of their personalities and camaraderie.”
“Brotherhood” focuses on these three companies as they right themselves after the 9/11 tragedy, prepare for the war in Iraq, face the threat of station closings or changing quarters because of budget cuts, and try to recover from the mass retirement of some of the department’s most seasoned members. The film works to capture the pecking order, personalities, respect for fires, teamwork, commitment to training, and camaraderie of the members of these companies. A “firefighter cam” provides a glimpse of firefighters doing their jobs as they rescue an entire family from a burning brownstone. For more information on the film, visit http://www.brotherhoodfilm.com.
The application deadline for the 2005 HARVARD FIRE EXECUTIVE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM is January 31, 2005. Senior fire executives with significant career accomplishments and the potential to influence and initiate change are encouraged to apply for fellowships to attend Harvard’s Program for Senior Executives in State And Local Government. Eight fellowships will be awarded for the three-week program on the Harvard campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Selected Fellows will be assigned to attend one of the two session dates: June 12-July 1, 2005, or July 10-29, 2005. Applicants must be available to attend either session. Applications must be postmarked no later than January 31, 2005, and include a FEMA General Admission Application (Form 75-5), an organizational chart of the applicant’s sponsoring organization (with applicant’s position highlighted), and a résumé. For additional application information, contact Kathleen Carter, (301) 447-1349 or by e-mail at kathleen.carter@dhs.gov; the USFA/National Fire Academy Web site: www.usfa.fema.gov/fire-service/nfa/higher-ed/degree_programs/he3b.shtm; or the Harvard University/John F. Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives in State & Local Government Web site at http://www. execprog.com/programs.asp?programid=29&displaymode=view/.
The U.S. SMOKELESS TOBACCO COMPANY (USSTC) has expanded and enhanced its two-year-old national utility vehicle donation program for America’s emergency responders and renamed it the USSTC Polaris Ranger Donation Program, or Operation Ranger. The new program will award Polaris Ranger 6 2 6 utility vehicles to firefighting, rescue, emergency medical service, police, and wildlife law enforcement organizations that submit applications between October 7, 2004, and January 7, 2005. The company plans to award approximately 70 vehicles during 2005.
Operation Ranger replaces the two-year-old National Trail Gator Donation Program. Applications submitted to the previous program for consideration in 2005 will be automatically transferred to the new program. The Polaris Ranger 6 2 6 utility vehicle offers six-wheel drive, a large payload capacity, high ground clearance, and seating for three. For more vehicle information, visit www.polarisindustries.com. The Operation Ranger application is available at www.ussmokeless.com; click on “Corporate Giving” and then “Operation Ranger,” or call (203) 622-3628.
BEHRMAN CAPITAL, a private equity investment firm based in New York and San Francisco, has acquired privately held PELICAN PRODUCTS, INC., which designs, develops, and manufactures unbreakable, watertight protective cases and professional flashlights. The company’s senior management is also participating in this transaction, which has an aggregate value of approximately $200 million.
According to David H. Parker, CEO of Pelican Products, the company has been looking for an equity partner capable of supporting Pelican’s growth while appreciating Pelican’s own entrepreneurial culture. Behrman Capital invests in management buyouts, leveraged buildups, and recapitalizations of established growth companies and provides expansion capital to emerging growth companies. Behrman’s investments are focused primarily in information technology, contract manufacturing, outsourcing, and healthcare; it has a combined capital base of $1.8 billion.
PIERCE MANUFACTURING INC. has completed a territory change in its North American dealer network. Ten-8 Fire Equipment Inc., based in Bradenton, Fla., will be responsible for Georgia for PierceT and ContenderT fire apparatus and MedtecT ambulances in addition to its current responsibility for Florida. Ten-8 is completing final negotiations to expand into Georgia immediately, with sales and service office locations soon to be announced. Ten-8 is an authorized Pierce service dealer and can be reached at (800) 228-8368 or by visiting www.ten8fire.com.
The AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION awarded its Heart Ready Award to Boynton Beach as the first “Heart Ready” city in southeastern Florida. The Heart Ready Award recognizes community partners that have provided leadership and commitment to saving lives through continued and significant contributions to advancing the “Chain of Survival.” The term refers to the steps to be followed in a life-saving rescue attempt: 1. Early access (call 911); 2. Early CPR; 3. Early Defibrillation (AED); and 4. Early Advanced Care. Boynton Beach has either met or exceeded the requisite criteria to earn the Heart Ready honor.
Boynton Beach uses an enhanced 911 emergency medical dispatch system designed to lower time to defibrillation; all Boynton Beach Fire Rescue personnel carry an automated external defibrillator (AED). Through the department’s CPR and AED training/ tracking programs, additional AEDs have been placed throughout the city at City Hall, the Civic Center, the Senior Center, the Tennis Center, The Links golf course, and at the beach for ocean rescue. By tracking the placement of the AEDs, dispatchers can direct any first responder to the nearest unit, thus saving essential time in the chain of survival. The Boynton Beach Fire Rescue Department has equipped and trained several other city departments in the use of AEDs, including the police department. The fire rescue department secured funding for the AEDs through federal, state, and local grants. For more information, contact Boynton Beach Fire Rescue at (561) 742-6000.
