THE ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICIALS (APCO) INTERNATIONAL has received a $50,000 grant from the MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS FOUNDATION to provide qualified association members with continuing education and training opportunities. The donation was made to APCO’s Commercial Advisory Council Scholarship Award Program, which provides a means for commercial members to contribute to APCO’s vision of empowering and educating public safety communications professionals throughout the country. The grants program supports safety education and training for first responders, their families and the public in the United States and Canada. Scholarship information and applications can be found at http://apcointl.org/institute/forms_information.htm.
AMERICAN LAFRANCE has named ARATA EQUIPMENT CO. as its dealer for Northern California, including the San Francisco Bay Area. The Arata family has been a mainstay in the Bay Area since the 1920s, when the business operated as Arata Motor Sales. In 1953, Arata Equipment Co. opened with an emphasis on distributing refuse bodies and other vocational-type equipment and has since expanded into other lines.
HURST JAWS OF LIFE says select products in the eDRAULIC, Vetter, Airshore and Mini-Lite categories are now available through W.W. GRAINGER INC.
“Grainger, a leading distributor of facilities maintenance products and services, provides Hurst Jaws of Life with a great new avenue for reaching potential customers in the industrial, law enforcement and government markets,” said Bruce Johnston, director of marketing and product management for Hurst Jaws of Life.
Hurst Jaws of Life equipment available from Grainger includes eDRAULIC tools and accessories, Vetter products, Airshore products, and Hurst Jaws of Life Mini-Lite hydraulic tools.
“The addition of the iconic Hurst Jaws of Life brand is a great benefit to our customers,” said Gabrielle Horton, product strategy manage for Grainger. “Grainger provides customers quick, easy access to all of the tools and supplies they need – through our national branch network, traditional print catalogs, Grainger.com website and our new mobile site which makes it easier than ever to order from the field.”
UNRUH FIRE INC. has acquired the Renegade aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicle line and related property from CRASH RESCUE EQUIPMENT SERVICE INC. Renegade vehicles are typically built on Ford F550 chassis with aluminum or poly bodies and are available in many configurations.
“We are thrilled to enter the ARFF market after many years of working with municipal and military fire departments,” Unruh President Alex McDonald said. “We were attracted to the quality and reputation of the Crash Rescue Renegade trucks. Unruh Fire already specializes in high-quality custom firefighting vehicles and will add the Renegade ARFF trucks to its product line. Furthermore, we are excited about offering firefighters with greater firefighting capability using the Tri-Max technology.”
HARRIS CORP. has been awarded a $7.3 million contract by the Montgomery Metro Communications Cooperative District (MMCCD) to design and implement a standards-based digital radio system in the city and county of Montgomery, AL. The Harris P25IP (Project 25 to the Power of Internet Protocol) 800-MHz radio system will enable reliable, interoperable communications for MMCCD’s 2,400 users, including upwards of 1,500 first responders, with surrounding agencies. The contract also includes Harris M7300 mobile radios, P7300 and P5250 portable radios and CS7000 control stations for future-ready P25 Phase 2 operation.
SEAGRAVE FIRE APPARATUS has received an order for a dive-rescue unit from the Louisville Fire Department/Jefferson County Metro Government in Kentucky.
The Louisville Fire Department is situated on the Ohio River and protects many businesses, a large number of commercial and pleasure craft and the McAlpine Locks and Dam. The department uses a “task force” concept with an aerial ladder and pumper to respond with the rescue truck to water-related emergencies. The single-axle apparatus will be built on a Marauder II chassis with a 500-hp Cummins ISX engine. Delivery will take place in spring 2012.
METAL SHARK BOATS has named Tom Koch as Northeast regional sales representative, focusing on fire-rescue, law enforcement and commercial markets.
“We are very pleased to have Tom joining our team,” said Dean Jones, national sales manager. “His outstanding technical background and experience in the marine industry make him a quality-driven sales engineer who I am confident will contribute significantly to Metal Sharks’ continued growth in North America.”
OSHKOSH AIRPORT PRODUCTS GROUP has sold 10 new-generation Oshkosh Striker aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicles to Aena Aeropuertos S.A. of Madrid, Spain. The apparatus will be placed into service at Madrid Barajas International and other major airports throughout the country. Delivery will begin in September 2012.
