- JOHN ALSTON JR. was sworn in as acting chief of the New Haven (CT) Fire Department (NHFD). Alston was Mayor Toni Harp’s pick for fire chief after a committee led the search for a new chief in January. With 30 years of experience at the Jersey City (NJ) Fire Department, eventually achieving the rank of battalion chief, Alston has taught fire training courses across the United States as well as across the world, including Canada, Mexico, and South Africa. The NHFD had been without a permanent chief since former Chief Allyn Wright retired in January and Ralph Black returned to the department as interim chief.
- DAVE SCHMIDT was promoted to the position of chief of the Elgin (IL) Fire Department (EFD) by City Manager Rick Kozal. Schmidt was formerly the department’s assistant chief. He steps into the role formerly held by John Fahy, who retired this past summer after more than five years as chief and 30 years as a firefighter. Schmidt is a 27-year fire service veteran. During his tenure, the city of Elgin has grown from having four fire stations to now having seven. The EFD had just started to do hazardous material rescues, and the focus was still largely on fires, but now about 80 percent of their calls are for emergency medical services.
- KELLY GILDAY was hired as the new chief of the Port Alberni [British Columbia (BC), Canada] Fire Department. Gilday was formerly the deputy chief of the Langley (BC) Fire Department. Gilday is a 21-year veteran of fire service leadership and emergency planning. He has served as deputy fire commissioner for the province of BC and has been a sessional instructor with the Justice Institute of BC-Fire Safety Division for the past 15 years. Gilday has diplomas in fire service leadership, fire officer level IV, and ICS level 400 and has received the Chief Fire Officer designation from the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs.
company/association news
- ONSTAR celebrated its 20th anniversary by giving $20,000 each to 20 public safety personnel who experienced serious physical injury or hardship that impacted their ability to perform their jobs. OnStar identified the 20 recipients by working with the International Association of Chiefs of Police Foundation, Association of Public Safety Communications Officials-Sunshine Fund, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians. See the full list of responders at media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/home.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2016/oct/1006-onstar.html.
- FIREHOUSE SUBS PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION awarded grant funding for Polk County (FL) Fire Rescue (PFR) to purchase an eDRAULIC Hurst Jaws of Life. The eDRAULIC Hurst Jaws of Life is a set of life-saving, battery-powered tools that doesn’t need hoses or additional power units when freeing trapped occupants in vehicles. In 2005, Firehouse Subs created the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation with the mission of providing funding, life-saving equipment, and educational opportunities to first-responders and public safety organizations. Through the nonprofit 501(c)(3), Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has given more than $23 million to “hometown heroes” in 46 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada, including more than $4 million in Florida.
