SPARTAN EMERGENCY RESPONSE announced Palm Peterbilt Truck Centers [doing business as Palm Fire Rescue Group (PFRG)] will sell and service Spartan fire apparatus product lines in six locations throughout Florida. The centers specialize in accessory installations, mobile service, paint, and collision repair. Serving the commercial truck industry for more than 50 years under the same ownership, PFRG’s locations in Southern Florida offer large inventory quantities and dedicated staff with decades of commercial truck experience. Palm Peterbilt Truck Centers will add to its current inventory of more than four million parts to support Spartan Emergency Response. www.palmfirerescue.com. www.spartanmotors.com.
PIERCE MANUFACTURING INC. announced that Siddons-Martin Emergency Group (SMEG) acquired Superior Equipment, expanding its territory to include Utah and Nevada. The expansion excludes Clark County, Nevada, which will continue to be served by Hughes Fire Equipment Inc. As one of North America’s largest emergency vehicle dealerships, SMEG adds the new territory to its existing regions served, which include Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico. With the acquisition of Superior Equipment, Siddons-Martin Emergency Group has retained all employees, and operations will continue to be conducted out of the existing facilities. As Siddons-Martin expands its territory to Utah and Nevada, plans for the addition of more significant sales and service support are underway. www.siddons-martin.com. www.piercemfg.com.
UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES FIREFIGHTER SAFETY RESEARCH INSTITUTE (UL FSRI) has launched the UL FSRI Fire Safety Academy, an open access online learning management system that will effectively bring fire research knowledge to the streets in a free, easy, and user-friendly way. Users can now create their own profile and access UL FSRI courses anywhere with an internet connection, at no cost, when it is convenient for them. Training topics include fire dynamics, firefighting tactics, firefighter health, and more. UL FSRI’s science-based courses are backed by the latest in fire research, developed with the fire service and present best practices and tactical considerations from real-world applications. https://training.ulfirefightersafety.org.
THE CONGRESSIONAL FIRE SERVICES INSTITUTE and NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION have selected Sioux Falls (SD) Fire Rescue, the Clayton (DE) Fire Company, and the Prince George’s County (MD) Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department as the recipients of the 2020 Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award. Named in honor of former Maryland Senator Paul Sarbanes, the award recognizes fire departments and organizations for leadership in advancing firefighter health and safety. Representing career, volunteer, and combination fire departments, these three recipients developed important health and safety programs for their personnel based on the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives.
THE FRONT LINE FOUNDATION announced it will increase death benefits to the families of first responders killed in the line of duty. These enhanced benefits will begin with payments made to the families of National Guardsmen who were killed in a helicopter crash in December 2019. Founded in late 2018, the Front Line Foundation supports law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and National Guard members across Minnesota. The organization grants financial support to families of first responders who have died in the line of duty. The Foundation’s mission is to bridge the gap between the death and benefits being paid, which can help families with ongoing expenses. www.thefrontlinemn.org.
names in the news
ROBERT CAGANN was named as the new chief of the Elgin (IL) Fire Department. Cagann, who was serving as the EFD’s interim chief, succeeds David Schmidt, who retired in January 2020 and has since become chief of the Carrboro (NC) Fire-Rescue Department. Cagann started his career as an Elgin firefighter in 1993 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2001, to captain in 2008, to battalion chief in 2015, and to assistant chief in 2017. He is credited with instituting new programs such as firefighter rescue during his 15 years with the department’s training division and creating a comprehensive high-rise response plan.
CORY D. MOON was sworn in as the new chief of the Birmingham (AL) Fire and Rescue Service on February 3. Moon will now lead the largest fire department in Alabama, commanding approximately 700 personnel and 32 fire stations with an annual operating budget of $64 million. The BFRS responds to more than 60,000 emergency calls each year. Moon will be responsible for providing fire suppression, emergency medical, special operations, public education, and fire prevention services to more than 211,000 residents in Birmingham.
SHAWN GRANT took over as the new chief of the Jeffersonville (IN) Fire Department (JFD) on March 16. He replaces previous chief Eric Hedrick, who retired from the department after 19 years of service, including the past seven as chief. Grant is a 24-year JFD veteran who most recently served as the department’s deputy chief, a position he has held for the past six years. Grant is a native of Jeffersonville.
SAM WILSON was promoted to the position of chief with Wallingford (CT) Fire and Emergency Services. Wilson takes over the position from previous chief Steve Alsup. who retired. Wilson, 39, joined the fire department in 2007 and spent eight years as a company officer before being promoted to EMS lieutenant. Wilson was then promoted to the deputy chief in charge of emergency medical service operations and special operations. He came to Wallingford after four years at the Fairfax County (VA) Fire And Rescue Department.
CHRIS CRAFT was appointed as the new chief of the Geneva-on-the-Lake (OH) Fire Department. Craft takes over the position from former chief Tim Mills, who retired. Craft served as assistant chief under Mills and is an 11-plus-year veteran with the department. One of Craft’s main goals is to determine how to make the department full-time. The village has been developing mutual-aid agreements with other areas to help overcome the shortage of volunteers.
