company/association news
THE LEARY FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION announced three volunteer fire departments as the winners in its 2018 National “Spot-a-Hero” Technology Grant campaign. The departments received a $5,000 licensing grant for Spotted Dog Technologies’ Rover Incident Response Platform, which send alerts to first responders’ mobile devices with information that tracks responding firefighters and visually identifies hazards, hydrants, and water sources. Chosen for the grant were the Piggott (AR) Volunteer Fire Department, the Prince Frederick (MD) Volunteer Fire Department, and the Elk Ridge (UT) Volunteer Fire Department. To be eligible, volunteer departments were nominated by their community members on the SpotAHero.com Web site and were selected from the pool of nominees to have the opportunity to apply for the grants. https://spotahero.com.
BULLARD celebrates the 100th anniversary of its “Hard Boiled®” hat (or “Hard Hat”) in 2019. Founded in 1898 in San Francisco by Edward Dickinson Bullard, the company originally supplied carbide lamps and other mining equipment to gold and copper miners in California, Nevada, and Arizona. When Bullard’s son, E.W., returned from World War I, he combined his understanding of customer needs and his experience with his doughboy army helmet to design a protective headgear for miners. The Hard Boiled® hat was introduced in 1919 and represented the first of Bullard’s many innovative designs over the past century. Today, the hard hat is known as the “C30” and is produced from polyethylene plastic, making it lightweight, durable, easy to mold, and nonconductive to electricity. www.bullard.com.
LION donated turnout gear to the International Fire Relief Mission (IFRM) for distribution to firefighters in southern Ukraine. IFRM collects donated firefighting equipment from across the United States and selected items that are most needed by Ukrainian firefighters. In addition, LION laundered and repaired all donated gear for Ukraine at its Chicago TotalCare Center. LION also donated two of their training products, a new BullsEye digital fire extinguisher training tool and a smoke generator. Trainees use the laser-based fire extinguisher to knock down a realistic simulated fire, while the smoke generator enhances the training experience. www.lionprotects.com.
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JOHN CADEGAN was named the new chief of the Quincy (MA) Fire Department (QFD). Cadegan was previously the QFD’s deputy chief. He replaces former chief Joseph Barron, who retired in July 2018 after 40 years with the department. Cadegan is a 33-year QFD veteran. The local firefighters’ union endorsed Cadegan’s appointment. Quincy has eight fire stations and more than 200 firefighters. |
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ROSS TIBBETS was appointed as the new chief of Zeeland (MI) Fire Rescue (ZFR). He replaces former Chief Nick Bonstell, who left the position to become Ottawa County’s emergency management director in April 2018. Mitch Harsevoort was serving as interim ZFR chief. Tibbets was previously the lieutenant and acting battalion chief for the Kentwood (MI) Fire Department and has been a firefighter since 1998. He previously worked with the Georgetown Township (MI) Fire Department, the Wyoming (MI) Fire Department, and Holland (MI) American Medical Response. Tibbets is trained in vehicle extrication, fire suppression, technical rescue, and hazardous material management. |
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DAN CRUTCHFIELD was named the new chief of the Astoria (OR) Fire Department. He was previously the battalion chief of the Coos Bay (OR) Fire Department (CBFD) and replaces Interim Chief Richard Curtis, who led the department since September 2018 following the retirement of former Chief Ted Ames. Crutchfield began his firefighting career as a volunteer at 18 and spent nearly 26 years with the CBFD, where he oversaw its fire prevention program and helped implement a smoke alarm program, which resulted in the installation of 500 free smoke alarms throughout the community. |
