The patented system exceeds all established permissible exposure limits set by NIOSH and OSHA, and can be retrofitted to apparatus within 48 hours, according to the manufacturer...More
Four adjustable stickmen are invertible for drying special ops gear upside down; each optional boot tree dries four pairs of boots in 90 minutes; and 12 drying ports quickly dry gloves, helmets and balaclavas....More
The decision to renovate a 70-year-old facility into a state-of-the-art fire headquarters was not made lightly. But it was a decision that resulted in a 2012 Station Style gold award in the renovation category from the Niskayuna (N.Y.) Fire District No. 1/Grand Boulevard Fire Company....More
The modern fire station is a very specialized facility, not just a garage in which to keep big trucks. And a specialized facility requires a designer who specializes in that building type. Departments will benefit greatly by including an architect with extensive expertise in station design on the project team. This realization has resulted in a category of station designers who can provide the entire design package for your project, or who can assist the local design team that may lack this type of experience....More
VFIS's Ryan Pietzsch said that many agencies do not consider safety and security during the fire station design phase. Instead, they wait until after construction is completed and accidents or losses begin to occur....More
Christopher Kehde of LeMay Erickson Willcox discusses the benefits of using building information modeling, which helps architects and their fire station design clients plan, collaborate, and predict performance before breaking ground....More
Steven Harms of Fire Facilities discusses where chiefs should locate training facilities, what materials they should use, and what grants and financing are available to pay for them....More
VFIS's Ryan Pietzsch said that many agencies do not consider safety and security during the fire station design phase. Instead, they wait until after construction is completed and accidents or losses begin to occur....More
By Daniel B.C. Gardiner--Hundreds of pieces of fire apparatus will be blasting their way down different Main Streets this Memorial Day, giving nearby spectators as well as the firefighters in the line of march, a good dose of acoustic trauma....More
Bad news spreads faster than good news — and thanks to social media, it spreads in nano seconds. Whether a fire chief is accused of altering drug prescriptions, driving teens to prom on a fire truck or failing to perform during crisis response, millions know about it in the blink of an eye. But the fire and emergency service also is filled with good news and inspirational stories that I wish more people heard....More
Is it better to promote within to meet the cultural demands of a fire department, or should cities feel free to bring in outside people for new ideas?...More
Business literature has numerous examples of successful businesses built on the model of visionary chief executive officer who drove the organization to high performance but neglected succession as part of his or her vision and responsibilities. These companies often floundered if not outright failed....More