Company/Association News

• LEONARD CARMICHAEL JR. retired as the deputy chief of the Trenton (NJ) Fire Department (TFD), the department’s highest uniformed rank. Carmichael served for more than 25 years at the TFD and held every position in the department, having also served as acting fire director for 10 months in 2010 and briefly in 2014. He made history in 2013 when he was sworn in as deputy chief, the first African-American in the department to hold the rank. He joined the TFD in 1991 and was promoted to captain in 2001 and to battalion chief in 2009.

• ROGER SWINT was sworn in as the new chief of the Morrow (GA) Fire Department (MFD) on December 1, 2016. He is the first permanent fire chief for the city since 2015, when Mark Herendeen retired after 10 years with the department. Swint had been a battalion chief with the MFD since 2004. From 1980 to 2005, Swint was a captain with the Jonesboro (GA) Fire Department (JFD). He won the Distinguished Service Award for the JFD in 1989, was named Clayton County (GA) Firefighter of the Year in 1995, and was honored as the county’s Public Safety Personnel of the Year in 2002.

• BRIAN SCOTT was sworn in as the new chief of Evanston (IL) Fire Department. A Chicago native, Scott has been with the department for 17 years. He most recently served as deputy chief of operations and training, where he led fire suppression efforts and managed the department’s fire prevention bureau.

• BEN BARKSDALE will be appointed chief of the Prince George’s County (MD) Fire/EMS upon the retirement of former Chief Marc Bashoor in March. A West Virginia native, Barksdale began his career with a seven-year stint with the Spelter (WV) Volunteer Fire Department a month after turning 16. After college, Barksdale joined the Arlington County (MD) Fire Department, where he rose through the ranks to be No. 2 in command. He was a battalion chief there during the 9/11 terror attack and responded to the Pentagon. Staffing is one departmental challenge Barksdale hopes to address.

• DOUG FOWLER was named the new chief of the South Padre Island (TX) Fire Department. Fowler is a 35-year fire service veteran who most recently served as an assistant chief for the Austin (TX) Fire Department (AFD). During his 31-year career with the AFD, Fowler served in various positions including training instructor, hazardous materials team member, rescue diver, community services captain, fire investigations captain, Battalion 1 and aircraft rescue firefighter, battalion chief, and division chief for education services as well as assistant chief for logistics, homeland security, and operations.

company/association news

• SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. completed the acquisition of SMEAL FIRE APPARATUS CO. and its subsidiaries. The newly combined Spartan Emergency Response business unit will rank as one of the top-four North American fire apparatus manufacturers. With its expanded geographic reach spanning 44 U.S. states as well as 10 provinces and three territories in Canada, Spartan is better positioned to deliver its products, services, and technologies to its broad range of customers. www.spartanmotors.com. www.smeal.com.
• THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN IN FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES (iWOMEN) announced a partnership with RescueAir Systems that will help iWomen continue to advance its advocacy, education, and training programs. RescueAir will support iWomen throughout the year as a gold level sponsor and help underwrite the organization’s annual leadership event, which is scheduled for this year’s Fire Department Instructors Conference International in Indianapolis. RescueAir is a leading provider of firefighter air replenishment systems, a permanently installed air standpipe that is part of a building’s structure. iWomen is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization, providing education, support, and advocacy for fire service women. www.i-women.org/about-us.
• THE NATIONAL VOLUNTEER FIRE COUNCIL (NVFC) has expanded its member benefits to include optional cancer and critical illness coverage. NVFC members can take advantage of special rates and plans to protect themselves and their family in the event of a serious illness or accident. Cancer, accidents, and critical illnesses are a real threat to members of the fire service. Although health and safety precautions can help limit some of the risks, having an insurance plan in place provides protection and peace of mind to fire service families. The NVFC has partnered with several insurance carriers to provide options to individual and department members regarding cancer, accident, and critical illness coverage. www.nvfc.org/BeYourBest.
• FIRE-DEX presented its first Fire-Dex Hometown Hero award to Townville (SC) Volunteer Fire Department (TVFD) Firefighter Jamie Brock. Also included in the award are a new Fire-Dex helmet and a pair of FDXL-100 Red Leather Fire Boots. Additionally, Fire-Dex donated $500 to the charity of Brock’s choice. Brock is a 30-plus year TVFD member. On September 28, 2016, he responded to an active shooter at Townville Elementary School. He immediately rushed to the scene and, without hesitation, tackled the 14-year-old shooter, detaining him until authorities arrived and likely preventing others from being hurt. www.firedex.com.
• E-ONE received an order from the U.S. Air Force for 167 ECOLOGIC® testing systems. The ECOLOGIC testing system is a patented technology developed by E-ONE to allow customers to test their aircraft rescue firefighting (ARFF) vehicles’ foam systems without discharging foam into the environment. The ECOLOGIC technology was first introduced on an order for 24 E-ONE 4×4 Titan Force ARFF vehicles for the Canadian National Defense. Since its inception, the ECOLOGIC testing system has proven effective on several brands and models of ARFF vehicles. The U.S. Air Force’s contract will integrate the ECOLOGIC system on 23 different ARFF models within their fleet. www.e-one.com.