- The INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS (IAFC) has developed “Model Procedures for Responding to a Package with Suspicion of a Biological Threat.” This standard operating guideline provides a decision matrix for managing a package with a suspicious substance, identifying and assessing biological threats, responder procedures, decontamination guidelines and resources on equipment and biological detection methods, and a list of additional resources. For more information and to download the document, go to: http://www.iafc.org.
White powder was found in the U.S. Senate Dirksen building in Washington, D.C. on February 2. The Washington Post is reported that six of the first eight tests conducted show the substance could be ricin that it was delivered through the U.S. Mail.
- SYMTRON SYSTEMS INC., SYMTRON GMBH, ICS INTERNATIONAL CODE SERVICES, and IFTE INTERNATIONAL FIRE TRAINING EQUIPMENT LIMITED now offer their products under the name KIDDE FIRE TRAINERS. Acquired by Kidde plc in September 2003, the group of companies provides live fire training systems and centers for firefighting, with offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Kidde Fire Trainers offers a broad range of products and will be able to provide more timely support services. Kidde’s computer-controlled and propane- or natural gas-fueled fire training systems allow safe and environmentally sound realistic training. These systems have been used by municipal, airport, and industrial fire departments and by military and maritime fire training organizations worldwide.
* UNIMOG NORTH AMERICA, a part of the Freightliner Commercial Vehicles Group, will showcase its Unimog U500 vocational vehicle across the United States and Canada during the “Unimog 2U” 2004 Tour. A trio of Unimogs, each pulling a trailer full of implements, will travel to participating Unimog dealer locations to demonstrate the vehicle’s unique on- and off-highway capabilities. The Unimog 2U Tour will consist of the Winter Tour East, the Winter Tour West, and the Canadian Tour. The Unimog 2U Tour will demonstrate mostly winter-related applications, using snow plows, snow blowers, salt and sand spreaders, front-mounted brooms, hand-held hydraulic tools, tree cutters, and snow chains. Built as an implement carrier, the Class 6 and 7 Unimog U500 vehicle accommodates a wide range of equipment for a variety of work duty applications. Potential customers interested in attending a Unimog 2U tour stop should call (877) 701-3000 or visit unimogtrucks.com for more information.
- CRIMSON FIRE, INC. has opened a 39,000-square foot manufacturing facility in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as part of its expansion into the premium aerial segment of the fire apparatus industry. The company is investing $1.7 million in the aerial part of its business.
- New York State volunteer firefighters may be eligible for long-term care and short-term rehabilitation at THE FIREMEN’S HOME in Hudson, New York. The only nursing home in New York dedicated to caring for volunteer firefighters, it also provides assistance to firefighters requiring 24-hour-a-day medical and nursing care. Current and former New York State volunteer firefighters who have served one year or longer during their lifetimes may be eligible. For more information, contact The Firemen’s Home at (800) 479-7695.
- ZODIAC OF NORTH AMERICA has opened the Zodiac Maritime Training Academy (ZMTA) at its headquarters in Stevensville, Maryland. The new initiative is designed to help first responders effectively respond to dangerous incidents on waterways in the United States. At ZMTA, first responders will undergo intensive training for a wide range of high-risk scenarios, including terrorist incidents, dangerous boardings, mass rescue, and tactical surprise. ZMTA is available to all public safety and first responder personnel, including fire/rescue, EMS, FEMA, U.S. Coast Guard, police/law enforcement, and SWAT teams. For course offerings, scheduling, and other information, visit the Zodiac Academy Web site: www.zodiacacademy.com.
- MSA named Ronald N. Herring, Jr. vice president. He will maintain his present duties as general manager of the Safety Products Division. Most recently, Herring served as director of marketing for that division.
- INTERNATIONAL SAFETY INSTRUMENTS INC. (ISI) named John W. Tully vice president of sales. ISI manufactures respiratory protection devices for fire, law enforcement, and industrial users. Tully is a 30-year veteran of the safety industry and most recently was vice president of sales and marketing at Interspiro. At ISI, Tully has primary responsibility for sales, where he will be working with the sales organization in areas of distributor network and managing relationships with key customers.
- AMERICAN LAFRANCE CORPORATION received ISO 9001:2000 certification for total operations at its corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility in Ladson, South Carolina. The ISO 9001 audit focuses on specific operation areas, including management responsibility, resource management, product realization, customer satisfaction and measurement, and analysis and improvement. The 2000 standard assesses how processes interact as a whole, rather than gauging procedures individually, and emphasizes continual improvement, customer satisfaction, and statutory/regulatory systems.
- The board of directors of the NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA) has appointed Michael Newman, P.E., of Cranford, New Jersey, to a three-year term on its Standards Council. A mechanical engineer, Newman manages the fire protection and property loss prevention programs in the risk management department of Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick. He is chair of the NFPA’s Industrial Section and a member of NFPA 5000TM, Building Construction and Safety Code Technical Correlating Committee.
The Standards Council administers NFPA’s consensus codes and standards development activities including issuance of documents and works to ensure that due process and fairness are upheld throughout the creation or revision of all NFPA codes and standards.
