MINUTEMAN FIRE AND RESCUE, Pierce Manufacturing’s exclusive dealer for Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, was acquired by Allegiance Fire and Rescue, a division of Massachusetts-based Allegiance Trucks, LLC. Allegiance Fire and Rescue retained all of Minuteman Fire and Rescue’s employees, and operations will continue out of the existing facilities in Walpole, Massachusetts. Allegiance Fire and Rescue plans to immediately make strategic investments to better serve the region, including growing the sales team, adding service bays and locations, expanding its mobile service fleet and parts inventory, adding a pump testing facility, and creating training opportunities for fire department representatives, service technicians, and more. www.allegiancetrucks.com.
ENVISAGE TECHNOLOGIES has partnered with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) to support the IAFC’s Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System. This partnership will help maintain a safe and accessible platform where fire service personnel who have encountered dangerous situations can share their experiences online to help educate other first responders. The IAFC developed the program in 2005 to provide an integrated learning environment that helps fire department personnel turn shared lessons learned into actions that are applied. Through the program, firefighters and EMS personnel can share their near-miss experiences in the field in a voluntary, confidential, nonpunitive, and secure way. www.envisagenow.com.
names in the news
ERRON KINNEY took over as the new chief of the Norfolk (MA) Fire Department (NFD). He was previously the chief of the Sherborn (MA) Fire Department (SFD) since July 2017. Prior to this experience, he was the chief of the Mt. Juliet (TN) Fire Department and a captain with the St. Andrews Fire Department in Charlestown, South Carolina. Kinney replaces Coleman Bushnell, who retired in June 2019 after heading the department for 15 years. Kinney played for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League for six seasons, finishing his career in 2005.
DAVID SCHMIDT was hired as the new chief of the Carrboro (NC) Fire Department. Schmidt began his career in public service in 1989 at the Elgin (IL) Fire Department, where he was promoted through the ranks to the position of Chief in 2016. He completed his Executive Fire Officer certification through the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland; completed the International Association of Fire Chiefs Fire Service Executive Development Institute program; and received Chief Fire Officer Certification from the Center for Public Safety Excellence and through the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. In his new role, Schmidt will oversee two fire stations and 37 full-time employees.
DAVE COFFEY was announced as the new chief of the Danville (VA) Fire Department. He has more than 25 years of service with the Idaho Falls (ID) Fire Department, where he rose through the ranks to become deputy chief of operations. Coffey will succeed David Eagle, who retired in October 2019 after serving as DFD chief for 12 years and as a firefighter for 25. Coffey served as a flight paramedic for Air Idaho Rescue from 2005 to 2010. He holds the chief fire officer designation from the Center of Public Safety Excellence and is a delegate for the Idaho Fire Chief’s Association.
