● FIRST BANKERS CORPORATION celebrates the 10th anniversary of providing scholarships to firefighters and their dependents through its Giving Back to those Who Give program, through which it has awarded a total of $35,000 to winners.
First Bankers award 10 $500 scholarships: five to firefighters, and five to dependents of firefighters. The scholarship application period is open from April 1, 2006, to August 31, 2006. Scholarships can be used for any postsecondary education and are not required to be used for emergency-related education. Firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and their children or dependents may apply for these scholarships, which are paid directly to the winner for expenses of their choosing. Applicants must write a 50-word essay on why they are deserving of the scholarship. Applications may be downloaded from the Web site, www.firstbankers.net.
● The WILL-BURT COMPANY is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its popular Night Scan® line with a special product giveaway for fire department and emergency management agency crews. The Will-Burt Special Edition Night Scan Powerlite® Sweepstakes begins March 15, 2006, and runs through May 15, 2006. The winning agency representative, chosen at random on June 1, 2006, will receive a specially designed NS10-6000 (OPT) Night Scan Powerlite, which features a blue housing, a low roof-mounted profile, dual-tilt remote control positioning, internal wiring, 6,000 watts of Optimum® quartz halogen lighting, and an integrated saddle.
Eligible active volunteer or paid firefighters may enter by visiting the Will-Burt Web site or by sending their name, fire department or emergency management agency name, full mailing address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address to: The Will-Burt Company Promotional Sweepstakes, Attn: Andrea Russell, P.O. Box 900, Orrville, Ohio 44667. All entries must be received by May 15, 2006 at 5:00 p.m. To learn more about Will-Burt, enter the Will-Burt Special Edition Night Scan Powerlite Sweepstakes online, or view a full set of sweepstakes rules, visit www.will-burt.com.
● FIRE-DEX will host NEXTEL Cup driver Brent Sherman at Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) booth 709 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on April 27, 2006, for an autographing session, and will also have the BAM Racing No. 49 Dodge on display throughout the weekend. Fire-Dex is sponsoring BAM Racing’s NEXTEL Cup team, rookie driver Brent Sherman, and the No. 49 Dodge for the 2006 NEXTEL Cup Season. See the Fire-Dex Web site, www.firedex.com, for updates on Brent and BAM Racing.
Fire Dex has hired Tony Scheufler as regional sales manager. He will be managing Fire-Dex protective apparel sales in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
● FERRARA FIRE APPARATUS, INC. delivered of seven heavy-duty 107-foot ladder trucks to the Houston (TX) Fire Department. In addition to these aerials, Ferrara recently built and successfully delivered 11 pumpers to the department. The seven aerials each feature a Cummins ISM 500-hp engine, cab seating for six, and a 107-foot heavy-duty ladder with 750-pound tip load. Aerials are built on Ferrara’s custom Igniter cab and chassis.
● E-ONE has been certified to offer a wide range of apparatus that meet the latest Underwriters Laboratories Canada (ULC) requirements. After an extensive review and documentation process, E-ONE can now offer ULC listing for many types of fire and special service apparatus delivered in Canada. The CAN/ULC-S515-04 Standard for Automobile Fire Fighting Apparatus identifies the minimum requirements of performance and design for new firefighting apparatus. Suppliers must validate their individual products and the finished apparatus must undergo independent, third-party testing and certification of the pumps, aerial devices, engines, brakes, and overall vehicle weight and balance.
Normally, ULC listing is only sought for apparatus such as pumpers, aerials, and water tankers. But E-ONE can now arrange for ULC listing of apparatus such as pumpers, aerials, water tankers, initial attack/mini-pumpers, mobile foam firefighting apparatus, skid-mounted units, and a variety of special service units.
E-ONE has named Advantech Service and Parts, LLC as their newest dealer covering Ohio and West Virginia. Advantech has an established track record in the industry. At its new facility in Midvale, Ohio, Advantech will offer on-site and mobile service as well as a full array of E-ONE parts. In addition, plans are in place to expand into additional facilities in other areas of their new E-ONE territory.
● BULLARD has named Tracy Williams fire helmet product manager in the Emergency Responder Division. She has 10 years of experience in distribution and retail management, sales, and customer service, and will manage the Bullard line of fire and rescue helmets on a domestic and international level.
● INTERNATIONAL SAFETY INSTRUMENTS (ISI) has appointed Gavin McLachlan as director of sales and marketing. He has worked with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA), and other organizations in developing and testing products to meet customers’ standards of quality and reliability.
● AMERICAN LAFRANCE, LLC recently hired Steve Moore as the new manager of quality assurance. In his new position, Moore will manage the implementation of new and improved systems and procedures of quality assurance within the Ladson, South Carolina, corporate headquarters, He will also manage the inspection and testing of all materials purchased and manufactured. Mark Gobessi has been hired as vice president of engineering, responsible for all aspects of American LaFrance product design and development, including engineering management of the company’s line of chassis, aerials, ambulances, pumpers, rescues, and tankers.