- On Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26, the FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (FASNY) will team with several New York State fire associations for the fifth annual RecruitNY statewide volunteer firefighter recruitment effort. RecruitNY is a major initiative designed to help increase volunteer membership in local fire departments. Fire department membership has suffered in recent years because of a variety of factors. During the RecruitNY weekend, fire department volunteers will conduct tours of their facilities, demonstrate firefighting techniques, and allow visitors to try on turnout gear. Members will discuss the requirements and rewards that come with being a volunteer firefighter and help interested visitors through the process of joining their local department. www.recruitny.org. www.fasny.com.
- The Philadelphia (PA) Fire Department awarded KME an order for four 100-foot tractor drawn aerials. The units include a KME Predator Severe Service™ chassis with a 550-hp engine and both RollTek® and 4Front occupant protection systems for firefighter protection in the case of rollovers or a frontal impact situation. The 100-foot steel ladder includes the fire service’s highest and widest handrail and an unrestricted 500-pound tip load. The ladder also features a -7° to 80° elevation range. These units will join KME apparatus currently in service in the City of Philadelphia as well as a heavy rescue command unit also in production. www.kovatch.com.
- NATIONAL HEARING CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION announced Bill Murphy, Ph.D., a captain with the U.S. Public Health Service, as the recipient of its Award for Outstanding Hearing Conservationist for his outstanding research, programmatic influence, publications, and other contributions in the area of hearing loss prevention. Murphy served the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as a vigorous contributor in research and hearing loss prevention initiatives since 1992. He is the co-leader of NIOSH’s Hearing Loss Prevention Team in Cincinnati, where he serves as an exemplary scientist, technical expert, and supervisor in America’s principal agency for making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. www.hearingconservation.org.
- STIHL INC. was awarded the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Virginia Fire Service Support-Private Sector, which recognizes a private sector or nonprofit entity that has demonstrated exceptional dedication to the success of the fire services throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Governor’s Fire Services Awards were established in 2002 as a formal recognition of excellence in Virginia’s Fire Services.
- The INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN IN FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES (iWOMEN) announced Angela Hughes as its new president. Hughes is a lieutenant with the Baltimore County (MD) Fire Department. She was previously the Eastern Division Trustee for iWomen for the 2013-2014 term. Hughes began her fire service career as a 16-year-old volunteer with her local fire department. Her professional career began in 1989 as a paramedic with the Baltimore City (MD) Fire Department. Hughes has been a paramedic/firefighter, a fire specialist, and a fire marshall. iWomen provides education, support, and advocacy for women in the fire service. https://i-women.org.
- The City of Rio de Janiero’s Brazilian “Bombeiros,” who won the international CONRAD DIETRICH MAGIRUS AWARD‘s “Firefighting Team of the Year 2014,” visited with the Fire Department of New York during a trip to New York City in March. The 10-member team was selected from several fire departments from all over the world for its impressive rescue operation when a busy highway overpass collapsed in downtown Rio. Highlights of the trip included visits to The Rock training academy, the Marine 1 fireboat, the 9/11 Memorial Museum at Ground Zero, and the New York City Fire Museum. Departments can apply for the award at www.world-of-firefighters.com. The intervention submitted needs to have taken place after September 30, 2014.
- BULLEX, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, was awarded two Manufacturing Leadership Awards. BullEx’s Smart Class A technology won in the Sustainability Leadership category, while its patented digital technology-as seen in its Attack Firefighter Training System and BullsEye Fire Extinguisher Training System-won the award for New Product Leadership. Smart Class A allows firefighters to train using real heat and smoke as many times as necessary and includes an afterburner that cleans the smoke and hydrocarbon air before it is released from the training environment. The Attack system allows firefighters to conduct hands-on training in outdated burn towers, acquired structures, and any other location where fire emergencies may occur. The BullsEye allows firefighters and workplace safety programs to conduct hands-on extinguisher training in the community without the hazards of diesel fuel and dry chemical extinguishers. www.mlsummit.com. www.bullex.com.
names in the news
- Fire Engineering board member and longtime contributor BILL GUSTIN was honored by his department, Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue, at the department’s 2015 Medal Day ceremony in February. Fire Engineering Editor in Chief Bobby Halton (right, with Gustin) was on hand to a deliver a speech about Gustin’s contributions to the fire service at large.
- JOSE M. TORRES was named the new chief of the Northbrook (IL) Fire Department. He is a 34-year firefighting veteran and spent the past 18 years with the Santa Monica (CA) Fire Department as a firefighter, a paramedic, a captain, a battalion chief, and a training division chief. Torres’ fire service career began in Illinois with the United States Air Force, where he served as a firefighter and assistant chief for training. Torres takes over the position from 30-year veteran Mark Nolan, who retired as chief of the department last November.
- JAMES E. CLARK, retired chief of the Oak Brook (IL) Fire Department (OBFD), died on February 8 at the age of 86. He began his fire service career in 1965 when he joined the Yorkfield Fire Protection District (Elmhurst, Illinois) as a volunteer. Clark was promoted to lieutenant in charge of personnel training in 1970. He was appointed as OBFD chief in 1977 and stayed in the position until 1988. Clark was also president of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Educational and Research Foundation and president and a 35-year member of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association.
