The STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA passed legislation that will require all cigarettes sold in Pennsylvania to be “fire safe.” Once signed into law, House Bill 1612 will adopt a fire safety standard for cigarettes, requiring all cigarettes sold in Pennsylvania to be low-ignition strength, making them less likely to cause fires if left unattended. According to the National Fire Protection Association, smoking materials such as cigarettes, cigars, and pipes are the leading cause of fire deaths in the United States. The Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes reports that 14 states and the District of Columbia have implemented fire-safe cigarette laws, and 22 states have passed such legislation. www.firesafecigarettes.org.
Four students won scholarships from the NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA)Fire Safety Education Memorial Fund based on their academic achievements, leadership abilities, fire safety activity contributions, and pursuit of fire safety careers. Glen Savell of Columbia Southern University received the George D. Miller Scholarship. Three University of Maryland students received the other three scholarships: Alyson Blair was awarded the Arthur E. Cote Scholarship; Lei Wang received the David B. Gratz Scholarship; and Haiwen “Heaven” Ding received the John L. Jablonsky Scholarship. .
Joseph Wayne Pavlisko was this year’s $10,000 winner in the NATIONAL BURGLAR & FIRE ALARM ASSOCIATION (NBFAA) Youth Scholarship Program, which provides $21,000 in scholarships annually to children of firefighters and police officers. Pavlisko won the Ohio Burglar & Fire Alarm Association Youth Scholarship Program and then competed with other state winners from around the country for the national prize. The second place winner, Mallory Hornerof Asheboro, North Carolina, will receive a $7,500 scholarship from NBFAA. Emilee Geedey of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, took third place and was awarded a $2,500 scholarship. Alyssa Rossonof Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was chosen as the nonparticipating-state nominee and was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. www.alarm.org. (888) 447-1689.
ABINGTON (PA) TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT (ATFD) recently graduated its first Firefighter I class from its newly enhanced training facility. The enhancements expand the scope of training evolutions that take place at the facility, as well as allow multiple training evolutions to occur within the building. Originally constructed in 1957, the facility added new drill tower sections, including an 18- × 45-foot, one-story burn room; expanded area for search practices; new maze configurations; a cold smoke distribution system; and door sweeps for hose advancement. The upgrades allow the department to host nationally certified training sessions for its new and existing members. (267) 536-1055. www.abingtonfd.org.
DUPONT ADVANCED FIBER SYSTEMS announces a 10 percent average global price increase for DuPont Kevlar® and Nomex® products. The increase applies across multiple markets and applications and is in response to extreme volatility in costs for raw materials, energy, transportation, and logistics, which cannot be totally offset by aggressive productivity and cost reduction measures. In addition, DuPont is investing in Kevlar® and Nomex® to support the increasing global demand for these products. www.dupont.com. (800) 441-7515.
SMITHS DETECTION announces AMTRAK’s purchase of additional SABRE 4000 advanced explosives detection systems to expand its capability for screening of passengers, trains, and stations. Using ion mobility spectrometry, the handheld system quickly detects and identifies explosives as well as narcotics, chemical warfare agents, and toxic industrial chemicals. AMTRAK will use only the explosives detection capabilities. The SABRE 4000 can detect explosives in 10 seconds, with a full analysis in 20 seconds, completing the entire process in under a minute. www.smithsdetection.com
PELICAN PRODUCTS, INC.has launched its Advanced Area Lighting Group (AALG), a new division focused on bringing to market environmentally sustainable, energy-efficient, and light emitting diode (LED) lighting products. The division combines Pelican’s lighting technology with the expertise and products of the newly-acquired Blue i UK Ltd., a European developer of remote-area lighting technology. The new area lighting systems being designed and built by Pelican use LED technology, presenting new commercial applications beyond the company’s handheld flashlights. www.pelican.com/aalg.
KOCHEK COMPANY has updated and expanded its Web site to improve customer communication and support. The new site offers greater functionality to create a more useful customer tool. It is a comprehensive source of application information, product descriptions, part numbers, and current pricing. Customers can now visit the Kochek site to view the latest products, custom options, and contact information. (800) 420-4673. www.kochek.com.
LION APPAREL has developed the first technical rescue garment to comply with EN469 Performance Level 1 based on a design specification led by Strathclyde (Scotland) Fire and Rescue. The new, one-piece coverall is being issued to all of Strathclyde’s 3,200 firefighters, making Strathclyde the first fire and rescue service in the UK to issue a garment that is an alternative to the traditional fire kit for all appropriate nonstructural or compartmental fire and rescue requirements, subject to an appropriate dynamic risk assessment. www.lionapparel.com.
