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| The Future of Technology Partners for Public Safety: A Case Study on First Due
Author: Dan Munsey, CFO, Fire Chief, San Bernardino County Fire District
When fire service leaders look to acquire and adopt new technologies, we need to ensure we lead through the technology we implement--not be led by it. This concept is something I have witnessed again and again as fire agencies implement new technology integration into operations--we all want to have the "shiny new toy," and we buy it impulsively. The fire service technology vendors we need to partner with should be thought leaders and innovators in technology. read more |
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| Roof collapses at historic College Station bar The roof of a historic College Station bar collapsed Wednesday night during heavy rainfall. The Dixie Chicken in the Northgate Entertainment District in College Station is a longtime Aggie hangout. College Station firefighters were called to the bar just before 9:00 p.m. Officials on the scene say the bar was still open with a few customers inside when the roof gave way, but no one was injured. One of the bar's well-known features is a rattlesnake enclosure. Authorities said the roof collapsed near that enclosure but the snake was not harmed, did not escape, and was safely retrieved and has been relocated. "We appreciate the outpouring of love and support. Tomorrow [Thursday] we will release a full statement," the bar posted on its Twitter page Wednesday night. KWTX-TV 10 NEWS WACO SW Bexar County home a 'total loss' after fire Firefighters responded to a single story house fire in Southwest Bexar County early Thursday morning. The fire was called in just before 7 a.m. at a home in the 9700 block of 7th Street near Macdona Lacoste Road, just outside of Loop 1604. Battalion Chief Javier Esparza with Bexar County Fire District 5 said they arrived to find a locked gate and the home fully engulfed on all sides. Firefighters fought the fire defensively and were able to put the fire out quickly after successfully finding a hidden fire hydrant. Esparza said the family who owns the home wasn't staying there and that the house was being renovated. Flames were seen at one point by a KSAT crew popping up on the roof as firefighters worked to put out hot spots. The roof or a possible car port covering on the back part of the property also completely collapsed. KSAT-TV ABC 12 SAN ANTONIO Texarkana firefighter union files ballot initiative petition The city's firefighter union has filed a petition it hopes will be the first step toward forcing officials into binding arbitration regarding a new employment contract. Including more than 300 in the last six days, 1,360 residents signed the petition to put a city charter change up for a vote in November's general election, said Texarkana, Texas, Fire Department driver-engineer Scott Robertson, union president. He submitted the petition to City Secretary Jennifer Evans on Thursday afternoon. The union needed signatures from 5% of the city's registered voters, or 1,127, according to Robertson. Evans could disqualify some signatures during the petition's certification process. About 40% of the signatures on a 2016 union petition were disqualified. "It's going to be close," Robertson said. If enough signatures pass muster, residents will vote whether to change the city charter to require that negotiators accept binding third-party arbitration. TEXARKANA GAZETTE Denison looking at fire prevention methods for downtown buildings The City of Denison is looking to install fire suppression inside buildings downtown to avoid a fire like the one from October. The Denison Development Alliance started a fire suppression matching grant initiative that will commit $100,000 to install improvements for fire safety. The safety measures include sprinkler system improvements and suppression systems inside. In October 2019, a fire started in a downtown Denison nail salon that quickly spread to neighboring businesses. The nail salon was destroyed and three families were left without a home. KXII-TV CBS 12 SHERMAN Lightning strike suspected cause in San Antonio house fire A lightning strike is the suspected cause of a fire at home still under construction late Wednesday night, San Antonio firefighters said. The fire was called in around 10 p.m. in the 19300 block of Allora Avenue, not far from Graystone Landing on the city's North Side. Firefighters said they believe the lightning strike happened when heavy storms hit the area, damaging the unoccupied home. The fire smoldered for some time before firefighters were called out, fire officials said. Damage to the home is estimated at $10,000. KSAT-TV ABC 12 SAN ANTONIO PREVIOUS STATE NEWS |
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| As new hot spots emerge, the pandemic may be entering another phase The simplest way to track the progress of any outbreak is by seeing how many new cases and deaths are reported in a given area each day. And in the United States, falling numbers in some of the hardest-hit places have offered glimmers of hope. Totals for the country have been on a downward curve, and in former hot spots like New York and New Jersey, the counts appear to have peaked. But infections and deaths are rising in more than a dozen states, as they are in countries around the world, an ominous sign that the pandemic may be entering a new phase. Wisconsin saw its highest single-day increase in confirmed cases and deaths this week, two weeks after the state's highest court overturned a stay-at-home order. Cases are also on the rise in Alabama, Arkansas, California and North Carolina, which on Thursday reported some of the state's highest numbers of hospitalizations and reported deaths since the crisis began. NEW YORK TIMES First woman battalion chief in 171-year history of New Jersey fire department is sworn in PHOTOS: Audra Carter has a simple message for any young woman or girl who asks her about becoming a firefighter: "Please. We need more." The 48-year-old Hoboken native is providing a shining example for future female firefighters. She was promoted Thursday, becoming the first woman battalion chief in the 171-year history of the Hoboken Fire Department in a ceremony at City Hall. "I'm extremely proud," Carter said. "It was the next step in my career. My goal from the first day being hired was to progress up the ladder and better myself and reach the top. It's a proud moment." Carter fills the void left by the retirement of Battalion Chief William Rozmester. She is an 18-year veteran of the department, serving the past nine years as a fire captain, officials said. NJ.COM US Representative urges FEMA to protect firefighters' jobs U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to take action that would avoid potential layoffs of America's experienced firefighters. Specifically, Rep. LaHood and U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) called on FEMA to temporarily expand the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program to include firefighters already on payroll. Currently, the SAFER program has a requirement that funding be used only to hire new firefighters, according to a May 26 letter the lawmakers sent to FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor. "Public health concerns have forced cities across the country to shut down and, in turn, take drastic budgetary measures," wrote Rep. LaHood and his colleague. "This threatens the immediate viability of fire stations. Fire stations are struggling to retain the experienced firefighters already on staff — the same men and women that go out day after day as first responders to some of our most vulnerable." RIPON ADVANCE Rioters set Minneapolis police precinct on fire as protests reignite over George Floyd's death VIDEO: Mayor Jacob Frey said he made the call to evacuate police officers from the 3rd Precinct before rioters set the building on fire Thursday night as protests continued to boil over in Minneapolis after the death of George Floyd. Police said officers were able to safely evacuate as rioters breached the perimeter and started a fire that spread through the building. Shortly after, city officials warned protesters to move from the building after receiving reports that gas lines may have been cut. They urged people to move away from the building. In a tweet, Mayor Jacob Frey said the fire department is working to respond to the fires that have been set. However, he added, "We all need to work together to ensure the safety of our friends, family, and Minneapolis residents. And right now working together means clearing the area." KMSP-TV FOX 9 MINNEAPOLIS FDNY hosts sendoff for 1,600 caregivers, 500 ambulances that came to New York, New Jersey during pandemic The FDNY on Thursday hosted a ceremonial sendoff to medical response teams that traveled to New York City to assist with the coronavirus pandemic. For 60 days, American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance crews, Network Providers and support staff from across the country have worked in New York as part of the urgent response to the COVID-19 crisis. More than 1,600 caregivers and 500 ambulances from AMR and other EMS companies were deployed to New York and New Jersey to help support efforts to transport and treat patients at the height of the pandemic. "We say good bye to 85 different units from across the country, some of which have been here 60 days away from their own families and have long trips home," EMS Operations Chief Lillian Bonsignore said. "We are eternally gratefully. They came to our service. They came to our city and helped the people who needed them the most. They fit right in to the FDNY and the city, and fit right in to all those who needed our help." WABC-TV ABC 7 NEW YORK PREVIOUS NATIONAL NEWS |
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| | | Rosenbauer Touts WFCA and Sourcewell Partnership Rosenbauer America congratulates the Western Fire Chief Association’s recently announced partnership with Sourcewell. The WFCA-Sourcewell partnership will provide members the ability to maximize their department budgets. Rosenbauer is the most experienced Sourcewell vendor in the fire-rescue sector |
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| | | San Bernardino Regional Emergency Training Center State-of-art ARFF training facility stands ready to train fire professionals domestically & internationally utilizing the latest in curriculum and equipment, setting the standard in Aircraft and Rescue Firefighting. |
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| | | FireRescue GPO - is now partnering with Sourcewell, one of the largest cooperative purchasing organizations in North America. Sourcewell (formerly NJPA) - is a government organization providing cooperative purchasing solutions across the United States and Canada to over 50,000 public-agency members. Membership is free with no obligation to purchase. With over 400 competitively awarded vendors - members have access to contracts for fire apparatus, ambulances, fleet vehicles and products, facilities (MRO), furniture, office supplies, leasing services, and more. Learn more about the new partnership. AT&T - Featured Vendor - Wireless voice and data services including Smartphones, Tablets, 4G LTE, 5G, Internet of Things (IoT) Hackney - Featured Vendor - Specialty operations response vehicles and custom body solutions for fire, rescue, and law enforcement agencies |
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| Fire Chief - NASA Ames Fire Department - Moffett Field, CA Deputy Fire Chief - Mountain View Fire & Rescue - Auburn, WA Firefighter - Fox Valley Regional Fire Department - WI (closes: May 31, 2020) Fire Chief - Town of Middletown - Middletown, RI (closes: Jun 05, 2020) Fire Chief - Williston Fire Department - Williston, VT (closes: Jun 12, 2020) Deputy Fire Chief - City of Boulder City - Boulder City, NV (closes: Jun 17, 2020) Firefighter/Paramedic - Experienced - City of Everett - Everett, WA (closes: Jun 19, 2020) Deputy Fire Chief - Village of South Holland - South Holland, IL (closes: Jun 24, 2020) Fire Chief - City of Winchester - Winchester, VA (closes: Jul 10, 2020) POST JOB MORE JOBS |
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| International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference - IAFC - Baltimore, MD - June 4-7, 2020 Canceled: NFPA Conference & Expo - Orlando, FL - June 15-18, 2020 Water Rescue Instructor Academy - Lifesaving Resources, LLC - Portland, ME - June 25-28, 2020 Canceled: TEEX Municipal Fire School - College Station, TX - July 25-30, 2020 Canceled: FFABCs Diversity Workshop - 50th Convention IABPFF - Hartford, CT - August 2-7, 2020 Fire-Rescue Med Conference - IAFC - Phoenix, AZ - August 17-18, 2020 Fire-Rescue International Conference and Expo - IAFC - Phoenix, AZ - August 19-21, 2020 American Fire Sprinkler Association to host AFSA39 - Orlando, FL - September 13-16, 2020 Wildland-Urban Interface - IAFC - Reno, NV - November 2-6, 2020 VCOS Symposium in the Sun - IAFC - Clearwater, FL - November 12-15, 2020 POST EVENT MORE EVENTS |
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