Caroline Kubzansky Chicago Tribune (TNS) A 1941 fire engine has returned to Niles after a long sojourn in Wisconsin, village officials announced March 28. The vehicle, which Fire Chief Marty Feld told village trustees was the second fire engine ever used in Niles, had been in Birchwood (WI) as part of a private collection. The collection owner contacted the village and asked if officials would be interested in purchasing it, spokesperson Mitch Johnson told Pioneer Press. “Fire Department staff spent time determining if it was ours, eventua ..read more

By Ed Ballam Q&A with Bob Daigle Systems Manager, David Clark Company     FA: Please provide a short overview of David Clark Company. BD: David Clark Company is an American manufacturing company founded in 1935. The company designs and manufactures a wide variety of noise-attenuating communication headsets and headset systems for clear communication in high-noise environments. David Clark Company offers a broad line of aviation headsets for private, commercial, and military pilots. The company is also a leading manufacturer of aerospace and industrial protective equipment, inc ..read more

Alexis—Washington Township Fire Department, Arcadia, OH, flatbed brush truck. Ford F-550 Crew Cab and chassis; 7.3L V8 350-hp gas engine; Darley 375-gpm @ 25-psi 2BE 21H direct-drive, skid-mount pump with Honda 20-hp gas engine; 300-gallon skid water tank; 10-gallon foam cell; Scotty through-the-pump foam eductor and mixer; Akron 3463 front bumper turret. Dealer: Jeff Huber, 911 Fleet & Fire Equipment, Florence, KY. PREVIOUS PHOTO OF THE DAY >> MORE FIRE APPARATUS ARTICLES >> ..read more

A video circulating online shows a car racing in circles around an Orange County fire apparatus with lights and sirens on, wesh.com reported. According to Orange County Fire Rescue, it happened over the weekend near Sand Lake and Winegard as they responded to a car fire. When they arrived, they say the crew “encountered large crowds” and cars “involved in street racing,” the report said. When the fire apparatus found no car fire and attempted to leave the scene that’s when the trouble started, according to the report. Orange County Fire Rescue said as the apparatus tried to leave, someone driv ..read more

Oswego Fire Protection District officials are trying a new approach to gain passage of a referendum to help the agency pay for its rising operational costs, shawlocal.com reported. The agency’s Board of Trustees has placed a referendum on the April 4 ballot that, if approved, would allow the district to sell up to $17 million in general obligation bonds to pay for what district officials describe as its “critical needs,” the report said. A fire official said the fire district would, in turn, use the proceeds from the bond sale over next 10 years to buy new vehicles and equipment, fund th ..read more

A full-size fire engine costs approximately $4 per mile to operate when diesel fuel, upkeep and repairs are totaled, according to Gallatin Fire Chief Jeff Beaman, tennessean.com reported. An SUV can cost around 30 cents per mile, Beaman estimates. That’s why Gallatin is developing plans to utilize a Chevrolet Tahoe to run certain medical calls that have been handled by a full-time fire truck, the report said. Gallatin is implementing the “alternative response vehicle” program with a Chevrolet Tahoe that has been used by each shift commander when they are on-duty, the report said. The city has ..read more

The Princeton City Council approved the purchase of a new tender March 23 to replace Tender Two at Wyanett Station, hometownsource.com reported. Tender Two will then be sold with funds returning to the truck replacement reserve fund. This purchase is part of the overall truck replacement plan approved in 2019, the report said. The cost of the new tender is $372,563. The truck replacement reserve fund currently has just under $343,000 in it. The remaining funds will be taken from the fire equipment reserve fund, according to the report. The budget forecast for continued replacement of fire truc ..read more

According to a report from ABC7, the second of two Stinnett (TX) Fire Department (SFD) firefighters who was hurt in a rollover crash Friday received slightly better news about his neck injury today. Although the SFD initially reported that the firefighter may have suffered two hairline fractures in his neck, they are now saying the injury was actually “severe whiplash.” He is expected to be released from the hospital Monday after consulting with a physical therapist. The crash occurred while the members were responding to a wildfire in the Canadian River bottom FM 2277. The two firefight ..read more

The city of Lancaster dedicated the new Fire Station 3 Saturday, wgal.com reported. The Bureau of Fire also celebrated its 141st birthday. The completed renovation of Fire Station 3 marks a total investment of $13.6 million in Fire Bureau facilities since 2020, the report said. Saturday’s open house featured demonstrations, a restored 1936 Mack Fire Truck Cab (Ladder A), self-guided tours, kids’ activities, food, and the opening of a time capsule. April 1 is also the first day of the Fire Bureau’s open application period for potential firefighters ..read more

New technology is constantly emerging to help keep first responders healthier and safer. To give more volunteer firefighters access to this innovative equipment, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has partnered with MSA Safety to award three NVFC members a personalized MSA Cairns® XF1 Fire Helmet in 2023. The jet-style design of the Cairns® XF1 Fire Helmet reduces snag hazards, provides a personalized fit, and houses its own integrated light module. Plus, the soft goods are removable, washable, and replaceable, helping firefighters align with cancer awareness programs as written by th ..read more