The National Fire Protection Association appointed Jack Terefinko chief engineer for KME Fire Apparatus, and Jim Currin, director of KME Aerial Engineering, to the committee for Fire Department Apparatus. The committee is currently responsible for maintaining and revising NFPA Standards 1901, 1906, 1911, 1912, 1914, and 1915 which cover the areas of automotive fire apparatus, wildland apparatus, fire pump system service tests, refurbishing, aerial device testing, and apparatus preventative maintenance.
Terefinko has been involved at KME in the design and engineering of a variety of specialty application vehicles and currently supervises KME’s engineering department.
Currin, named a NFPA committee alternate member for KME’s chief engineer, has 35 years of engineering experience. He currently supervises the AerialCat apparatus line engineering at KME’s Virginia factory.
The NFPA appointed James Dolan regional manager for the fire code field office. He will be responsible for field outreach and support for NFPA codes by working with state and local officials and associations. He will represent the NFPA at code hearings and legislative sessions.
VFIS Web site, www.vfis.com, now includes Grants News Online which provides updates on grant programs, the Fire Act, available funding resources, advice on researching and writing grant proposals, and links to additional information.
Also available is the the VFIS News quarterly newsletter, course calendars that include locations and schedules for VFIS training/education workshops nationwide, risk control information, and links to fire- and EMS-related sites.
FWD/SEAGRAVE received a certificate of merit from the Wisconsin Society of Professional Engineers for new product development for its new Flame first attack pumper. The Flame includes an aluminum cab, operators’ stand and body with full roll cage extrusion construction, a new electrical system, and the capability to carry up to 1,000 gallons of water, and deliver up to 1,500 gpm.
FIRE DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK (NY) firefighters with Engine 298 and Ladder 127 have created the Lieutenant John M. Clancy Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund is intended to provide educational scholarships to children of firefighters and funds to the families of firefighters who fall in the line of duty. Lt. Clancy died in the line of duty in 1995 while fighting a fire in a vacant building. To send a tax-deductible donation to the fund, contact the Lt. John M. Clancy Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Richard Berkout, 48 Lakeview Drive, Mastic Beach, New York. 11951; or call Engine 298 and Ladder 127 at (718) 476-6298.
LION APPAREL formed a marketing partnership with HAIXT SCHUBE of Germany under which it will offer a full line of NFPA 1971-compliant HaixT leather firefighting boots through its extensive North American dealer network. Haix Schube, based in Germany, markets firefighting boots in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
KENWOOD COMMUNICATIONS won a contract with the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service for Kenwood 90-Series mobile two-way radios. The Forest Service is responsible for fire suppression in all national forests. The long-term agreement allows all U.S. Department of the Interior agencies to participate in the contract.
SEATS, INC. completed all requirements for ISO 9001 certification. Part of the Nordic group of companies, Seats, Inc. produces seating for emergency vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, and other highway and off-highway vehicles.
BASF donated a former mobile chemical production unit to the Beaumont (TX) Fire/Rescue Services Training Center and Lamar University Center for Industrial Fire and Hazardous Materials Training. The structure, adapted for fire training, includes an array of 44 valves that control the supply of liquid or propane fuels for the two-story structure, allowing a wide variety of possible fire scenarios.
LUXFER GAS CYLINDERS announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has determined that the company’s carbon composite cylinders need to be retested only every five years, instead of three years. Luxfer is the only U.S. cylinder manufacturer to be granted this extended retest cycle. The DOT decision covers all Luxfer cylinders manufactured to DOT Exemption DOT-E 10915, which includes the entire Luxfer carbon composite product line. DOT requires that all composite cylinders be periodically requalified for continued use, including a visual inspection and hydrostatic retest.
The IRVINGTON (NJ) FIRE DEPARTMENT received a restored 1980 PemFab pumper from the St. Barnabas Burn Foundation. The West Orange (NJ) Fire Department donated the pumper to the foundation, which used it as part of the foundation’s school education program. The pumper can carry a crew of four firefighters and pump up to 1,000 gpm. It will be a reserve pumper pending the tentative acquisition of three new apparatus by January 2002. The Saint Barnabas Burn Foundation provides burn education to the general public and provides patient assistance.
NAMES IN THE NEWS
CHRIS HARRIS has received the 2001 Firefighter of the Year Award from the Fullerton (CA) Fire Department. A 16-year veteran of the department, Harris is a fire engineer and is serving his second term as president of the Fullerton Firefighters Association. In addition, he serves as captain for two shifts a month with the La Habra Heights Volunteer Fire Department.
