FE Volume 146 Issue 5

The first workshop to address the feasibility of instituting a National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) response system convened in Seattle, Washington, in January 1990. Since that time, many of the nonparticipants (and probably a few of the participants as well) doubted that a national network of US&R teams (25 in 17 states) could be organized, equipped, and structured under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to respond to natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and typhoons.

HALE PRODUCTS INC. has announced the appointment of GARRY BARBER to the position of group vice president of marketing. Barber, formerly president of American Godiva, will assume responsibility for the development and implementation of global marketing strategies at Hale. In addition, DALE CLEMENTS, president of Hale Fire Pump Company, will assume responsibility for strategic operational decisions for U.S. operations, and MIKE MACOMSON.president of Hurst Emergency Products, will take on responsibilities for the operations of Hale Products’ southern-based facilities.

Fire service personnel respond to a wide range of emergencies. Because of their training, ability to remain calm during disasters, and daily exposure to high-hazard incidents, they are called on by the general public to assist in everything from rescuing cats from trees to rescuing trapped workers from excavation cave-ins.

We assume we know all about our fire districts and their special hazards and resources. Looking at our towns, villages, and cities from a different perspective, however, can alter our vision of places we may have seen many times. Aerial photography can provide that perspective and has many uses in the fire service, including training, preplanning, public relations, and fire-tactics simulations.