- The United Nations weapons inspection team, in Iraq searching for evidence of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and the U.S. Marine’s Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF), which re-sponds to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats worldwide, have been outfitted with INTERSPIRO, INC.’s new high-technology breathing device, the S3. The S3 mask is the latest version of the original Interspiro Spiromatic-S. The company’s products were the first to have been tested and approved by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control for protecting users from WMD exposures. The inspectors wear the Interspiro S3 mask inside a fully encapsulated suit similar to those used by fire and rescue service haz-mat teams. These full-body suits are designed to give the wearer maximum protection against weapons of mass destruction exposures. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Secret Service also use Interspiro products.
- SEAGRAVE FIRE APPARATUS announced that AERIALSCOPE, INC., a Seagrave affiliate since 1996 located in Richmond, Virginia, will relocate to Seagrave’s Clintonville, Wisconsin, facility as of May 2003. Seagrave produces heavy-duty tractor-drawn and rearmount aerials, commercial and custom pumpers, and rescue vehicles. Aerialscope produces 75- and 95-foot midmount tower ladder trucks. Seagrave will maintain the Aerialscope product identity and brand name. Processes from design to final assembly will be integrated with a single dedicated workforce. The same sales force will represent both product lines.
Seagrave has opened the Seagrave West service center in Rancho Dominguez, California. The facility will provide maintenance and repair shop services, including 24-hour emergency and mobile service for on-site repairs. Two large service areas can accommodate up to 10 vehicles at one time, and the facility will serve as a delivery hub where vehicles will be outfitted with hoses, radios, and other accessories prior to final shipment to the customer. Seagrave West is the second remote service facility operated by Seagrave; the other is located on the East Coast. Both service centers are strategically located to serve the country’s largest metropolitan areas that typically operate the largest fire apparatus fleets. Tom Grein, general manager, will now direct operations for both facilities. Lisa Saldano was named the center’s new sales manager. She has 10 years of experience in the fire tools industry and a network of fire department contacts throughout the California market.
- PELICAN PRODUCTS, INC. invites customers to take part in the Pelican Tough Contest. Participants would share their stories of Pelican protective cases and flashlights surviving severe, potentially damaging situations. Common stories relate Pelican cases tumbling thousands of feet down mountains without damage. Three grand prize winners will receive $1,000 in Pelican Products and five consolation prize winners will receive $300 in products from the company’s 2003 MSRP price list. For more information, visit the Pelican Web site at www.pelican.com and follow link to Pelican Tough Contest. Contest ends June 30.
- The nonprofit NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA) Fire Safety Educational Memorial Fund Committee awarded the Toronto (Ontario) Fire Services Hazardous Materials Team of Canada the 2003 the Warren E. Isman Educational Grant. The team will use the grant to attend the International Hazardous Materials Re-sponse Teams Conference in May, sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). The $2,500 grant is awarded to hazardous materials incident response teams from fire, police, or other publicly-funded programs seeking specialized training. Qualified teams must have demonstrated excellent leadership and communications skills and must have been trained in compliance with NFPA 472, Standard for Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents, and NFPA 473, Standard for Professional Competence of EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials Incidents. For more information on NFPA scholarships, visit www.nfpa.org.
- The NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ON DISABILITY (NOD) First Emergency Preparedness Initiative Guide highlights key disability concerns for officials and experts responsible for emergency planning in their communities. This guide also helps emergency managers, planners, and responders make the best use of resources to include all citizens of the community in emergency preparedness plans. To download the guide in PDF format, go to: http://www.nod. org/pdffiles/epi2002.pdf. Emergency management professionals can also request up to three free print copies of the guide by e-mail at epi@nod.org or by fax at (202) 530-0727.
- The WESTERN FIRE CHIEFS’ ASSOCIATION group purchasing organization (WFCA FIRE-GPO) has selected TRI-ANIM as its primary supplier of EMS products for its members. The WFCA is a division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and is comprised of fire departments in the 10 westernmost United States. FIRE-GPO members will benefit from the e-QuickT System, Tri-anim’s Internet-based procurement system, which will streamline the ordering process and provide on-line access to order status and purchase histories for budget reports. Users may also search for more than 50,000 products from more than 360 manufacturers.
- SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. appointed Ken Kaczmarek to its board of directors. Kaczmarek will serve on the board’s audit committee. Previously, he was a consultant for Volvo Truck North America and its bus group and car finance entities.
Names In The News
- DONOVAN GLADE, a captain with the North Star (AK) Volunteer Fire Department, has been promoted to battalion chief. Chief Glade is also employed as a civilian firefighter at Ft. Wainwright Alaska. A 12-year veteran of the fire service, Glade joined the department in 1994 and previously served in Hoonah as a firefighter.
- RUSS ACKERMAN, a captain with the North Star (AK) Volunteer Fire Department, has been promoted to battalion chief. He began as a firefighter with the department in 1997. Ackerman is currently serving at Eielson Air Force Base on active duty.
