KEY FIRE HOSE has partnered with City Harvest, an organization that helps feed more than one million New York City (NYC) residents each year. During their “Hunger Action Month” of September, each dollar donated to City Harvest was doubled, meaning that the donation by Key Fire Hose and the corresponding matches provided approximately 40,000 pounds of food to the hungry throughout the NYC area. The Fire Department of New York and the New York Police Department hosted the Daily News Food Drive, the largest food drive in New York City. Started in 1982, City Harvest is NYC’s largest food rescue organization, feeding the nearly 1.2 million New Yorkers. www.cityharvest.org. www.keyhose.com.
PIERCE MANUFACTURING INC.’s seventh annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, in partnership with the Green Bay (WI) Metro Fire Department, raised more than $115,000, with all proceeds directly benefitting the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Nearly 2,200 members of the fire service, their families, friends, and community members climbed the steps of historic Lambeau Field on Saturday, September 7, to pay tribute to the 343 Fire Department of New York firefighters who died on 9/11. The participants ascended 110 stories—the height of World Trade Center Towers. Each climber wore a badge with the name and photograph of one of the fallen firefighters. www.piercemfg.com/climb. www.firehero.org.
5.11 TACTICAL announced an expanded partnership with Ubisoft® for its upcoming release, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint. In addition to once again giving players the opportunity to outfit their characters in 5.11 apparel and gear through in-game character customization options that impact game play, 5.11 has also partnered with Ubisoft on multiple custom content videos surrounding the Ghost Recon Breakpoint launch such as 2016’s Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon® Wildlands, which initiated the connection between the worlds of gaming and real-life tactical experiences. 5.11 continued their partnership with Ubisoft in 2018 appearing in the video game Far Cry 5. www.511Tactical.com. (866) 451-1726.
CUMMINS INC. is expanding its 2020 X15 portfolio with a new X15 Efficiency Series engine and the X15 Productivity Series, offering operational efficiency without compromising their performance and drivability. The 2020 X15 Efficiency Series engine delivers up to five percent better fuel economy than the prior X15 Efficiency Series engine and is designed for increased uptime and improved driver satisfaction. It has an industry-leading maintenance schedule, including an oil-drain interval of up to 75,000 miles. The new X15 Productivity Series offering has the broadest range of ratings in the industry, which means it can serve even more markets. cummins.tech/performance-series.
HONEYWELL was one of 21 companies that were honored for winning Occupational Health & Safety magazine’s 11th annual New Product of the Year contest. Winners were recognized with awards in September and in the November/December issue of Occupational Health & Safety magazine. They are also featured on Occupational Health & Safety’s Web site ohsonline.com. This year’s contest attracted entries in 24 award categories, with an independent panel of three highly qualified judges choosing the winners.
SPARTAN EMERGENCY RESPONSE received an order to build seven new Smeal-branded fire trucks for Edmonton (Alberta, Canada) Fire Rescue Services (EFRS). The order calls for a 100-foot Rear Mount Smeal Platform and six Custom Pumpers. EFRS has been using Smeal apparatus for more than 15 years. With the addition of these new trucks, EFRS will now operate an overall Spartan fleet of 33 pumpers and 13 platform trucks, serving 30 fire stations within a community that spans 684 square kilometers. All apparatus on order are equipped with the Spartan Advanced Protection System®; the only safety system featuring side-impact protection. Additionally, the trucks are equipped with Spartan’s industry-leading Green Power Auxiliary power units. www.spartanmotors.com.
JOHN DEERE is bringing to market a new line of Special Application Vehicles to suit the needs of federal, state, and local governments and first responders. This custom line of utility vehicles was designed in conjunction with International Automated Systems (IAS) to provide solutions for state and local government agencies and first responders. They address the unique needs of police, fire, rescue, and security as well as the broader needs of governmental customers. Built on John Deere Utility Vehicle chassis, you can customize these machines to match other fleet vehicles, and end-users can determine location and placement of custom decals. www.JohnDeere.com.
names in the news
SARA BOONE was sworn in as the first black chief in the history of Portland (OR) Fire and Rescue. Boone joined the bureau as a firefighter in 1995 and rose through the ranks over the next two decades to become a division chief. She replaces previous chief Mike Myers, who announced his resignation at the beginning of the year. Boone was raised in Northeast Portland and was a standout athlete at Lincoln High School, with all-state and all-American honors in track and field. She graduated from Boise State with a bachelor’s of science degree in secondary education on an athletic scholarship.
ERIC THOMPSON was named the new chief of Medford (OR) Fire-Rescue. He will start the position beginning in January 2020. Thompson replaces previous chief Brian Fish, who announced his retirement in June. Fish will stay with the fire department through Thompson’s transition into the position. Thompson has more than 24 years of experience in fire service and comes to Medford from Red Oak, Texas, where he served as its fire chief and assistant city manager for the past 16 years.
ROBERT WEECH was sworn in as the new chief of Polk County (FL) Fire Rescue (PCFR) on October 29. Weech, PCFR’s former deputy chief, joined the department in February 2017 as deputy fire chief of logistics and special services. He replaces previous chief Tony Stravino, who retired. Polk County Fire Rescue responds to more than 250 calls daily across the county, and on some busier days, up to 300. Weech said last year the department ran about 100,000 calls; this year it’s on target for about 105,000.
DAVID EZELL was sworn in as the new chief of the Clermont (FL) Fire Department (CFD). He takes over the job from former Chief Carle Bishop, who retired after 49 years with the CFD. Ezell was previously a 25-year member of and an assistant chief with the Bradenton (FL) Fire Department (BFD), where he helped redesign the BFD’s computer systems and negotiated union contracts on both sides of the bargaining table. He was also able to drastically reduce turnover at the agency while serving as a volunteer board member for an organization that trains leaders in the public safety community.
RICK TUSTIN was named as the new chief of the Winchester (MA) Fire Department (WFD). He replaces former Chief John Nash, who retired in October after 46 years with the department. Tustin has worked at the WFD for more than 33 years and has served as its captain and fire prevention officer since 2001. Prior to joining the WFD, Tustin worked at an auxiliary fire department in Medford, Massachusetts. One challenge that Tustin will have to confront is the department’s high turnover rate. Tustin’s main long-term goal is to rebuild the department’s West Side Station.
JOE TENNEY was sworn in as the new chief of the Davis (CA) Fire Department (DFD) by retired DFD Chief Rose Conroy. Tenney comes to the position with more than 30 years of experience as a firefighter, including nearly 20 years with the DFD. Tenney advanced through the ranks of Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Captain, and Division Chief. In 2004, he served for several years as a board member of Davis Professional Firefighters International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3494. He also was named Firefighter of the Year in 2003 and 2004.
JESSE MOODY was chosen as the new chief of the Lufkin (TX) Fire Department (LFD). Moody began his career with the LFD in 1993, climbing the ranks from firefighter/paramedic to battalion chief and now chief. The search for a new chief began in July after the June resignation of former chief Ted Lovett, who served in the role for eight years. Moody takes over for Interim Chief Duane Freeman, who was the LFD’s assistant chief.
RANDY HOVIND was sworn in as the new chief of the Galesburg (IL) Fire Department (GFD) on November 22. He takes the helm as the leader of the GFD from former Chief Tom Simkins, who retired after 10 years in the position. Hovind is a 20-plus-year member of the GFD and has held the positions of firefighter, captain, and fire marshal at the rank of battalion chief. He has experience in fire prevention and suppression, training, operations, emergency management, hazardous materials, technical rescue, and administrative oversight.
GAVIN BABIERACKI took over as the new chief of the Vanderbilt-Corwith (MI) Fire Department (VCFD). He began his career as a first responder in Flint, Michigan, eight years ago. After three years in Flint, he moved on to the VCFD. Babieracki said one goal he has is increasing ties between the department and community members. He plans to create emergency response preplans by visiting businesses in the community and surveying places such as schools, churches, and manufacturing facilities.
