Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment

In this episode of FEMSA Focus, David Durstine and Dave Russell, both on the joint FAMA/FEMSA Government Affairs Committee (GAC), provide an update on how the Government shutdown will impact programs like the AFG program and entities like the USFA and NFA. They both express the importance of engaging with your Congressional representatives and senators as well as provide ways firefighters can get involved and how to speak with one, unified voice.

Brought to you by our friends at Rescue Intellitech and The FireStore.

Fire departments across the country constantly balance operational needs, community safety, and budget realities. One critical factor often influencing these decisions is the Insurance Services Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating. This episode covers ISO criteria, its relationship with fire apparatus specifications, and practical guidance to help fire chiefs and apparatus officers make informed decisions that optimize both ISO scores and operational effectiveness.

Brought to you by our friends at Rescue Intellitech and The FireStore. 

Thermal imaging technology has transformed firefighting tactics over the past decades, enhancing firefighters’ abilities to detect heat signatures invisible to the naked eye. While thermal imagers are commonly associated with search and rescue or fire attack, their role in overhaul is equally critical.

Manfred Kihn, discusses how firefighters should use thermal imagers during overhaul operations in this episode of TIC Talk.

Brought to you by our friends at Bullard (https://www.bullard.com/thermal-imaging/)

In Inside Fire Facilities, Chris Mc Loone sits down with Zach Willard, general manager of Fire Facilities, to discuss the critical role of live fire training towers in firefighter preparedness. Fire Facilities has manufactured steel live fire training towers for over 35 years, pioneering innovations that have shaped firefighter training nationwide.

For more information, visit www.firefacilities.com.

In this episode of EVT Talk, brought to you by our friends at Rescue Intellitech, Chris Mc Loone sits down with Kevin Roberts, president of the Emergency Vehicle Technician Certification Commission (EVTCC), at the annual Fire Truck Training Conference (FTTC) in Lansing, Michigan, to discuss the evolving landscape of emergency vehicle technician (EVT) training, the critical role of hands-on gatherings, and the cautious but practical integration of AI in education. 

Brought to you by our friends at Rescue Intellitech.

In this episode of FEMSA Focus, Chris Mc Loone speaks with extrication tool manufacturer executives Shelly Elliott, President for North America at Holmatro and Emilie Maheu, President of AMKUS. They discuss challenges for manufacturers, challenges for the fire service, and what's on the horizon for future extrication tool design.

Brought to you by our friends at Rescue Intellitech.

In the latest episode of the Moving Water podcast from Fire Apparatus and Emergency Equipment, Andy Soccodato and Bill Adkins dive deep into the intricacies of fireground water supply, focusing on appliances, manifolds, and intake considerations.

Brought to you by our friends at Rescue Intellitech: www.rescueintellitech.com 

Chris Mc Loone and FAMA Vice President Jason Witmier discuss a new fire service education event designed to help fire departments specify their fire apparatus.

The latest episode of The Apparatus Workshop, hosted by Nick Wilbur and Win Slauch, offers an in-depth look at what happens after a new fire apparatus rolls off the factory floor. While some might assume the job of a spec committee ends at delivery, this discussion reveals the complex, ongoing process involving final inspections, operational training, and maintenance planning that extends well beyond delivery day.

In this episode of Apparatus Workshop, Win Slauch and Nick Wilbur explore what happens after the final inspection, including a thorough reinspection after delivery, training and documentation, and continually evolving the rig's spec.