For the Record 3/15

March 1, 2015
Elbit Procures $100 Million Deal with IMOD

Elbit Procures $100 Million Deal with IMOD

Elbit Systems Ltd. has been awarded an approximately $100 million contract from the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD) to procure six new firefighting aircraft and operate the firefighting squadron, which will consist of a total of 14 aircraft, including eight aircraft previously procured by Elbit. The contract, to  be performed over an eight-year period, also covers flight hours, infrastructure upgrade, maintenance, airstrip operation, handling of fire retardants and other aspects of operating the squadron.

The firefighting aircraft, manufactured by Air Tractor, are single-engine aircraft, capable of carrying approximately 3,000 liters of water and flying three hours without refueling.

Globe Selected as Part of This Built America

This Built America is a website devoted to supporting American companies and American-made products. Throughout the year, the editorial and video teams will explore 50 states in 50 weeks to bring 50 stories of the people who are bringing back manufacturing to America. The platform is produced in coordination with Man Made Content. AOL is proud to support the effort along with sponsor Ford Trucks.

Globe Manufacturing was chosen to represent New Hampshire manufacturing and firefighters from around the world in the editorial series.

Now in its fourth generation of family ownership, Globe has always been one of the great innovators in safety gear for firefighters. In recent years, the company has partnered with agencies like The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army to elevate the technology keeping our first responders safe.

“What we make, it doesn't go in a machine and come out the other side,” says Gef Freese, great-grandson of company patriarch Courtland Freese and senior vice president for operations at Globe. “It’s people who are doing it and they are really proud of what they do—they want the firefighters to come home alive.”

Globe isn’t just making an impact globally, their presence makes a huge difference locally as well. The company employs about 300 people in the Pittsfield area—around 10% of the town’s population.

To see how Globe Manufacturing continues to innovate firefighter safety, visit thisbuiltamerica.com/new-hampshire. Or, follow This Built America on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google+.

Fire Hurts…Red Cross Helps

The American Red Cross and the Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada (PFFN) have launched their 2015 “Fire Hurts…Red Cross Helps” Campaign with the goal of raising $250,000 for local fire victims. Scott Gorgon served as the spokesperson for the PFFN, giving a speech at the event. The “Fire Hurts…Red Cross Helps” Campaign is a special fundraising initiative of the local American Red Cross supported by the PFFN to provide assistance to local families who have lost their homes and belongings to fire. As the primary sponsor and partner, the PFFN donated $10,000. 

Line-of-Duty Deaths

Six U.S. firefighters recently died in the line of duty. Two career firefighters and four volunteer firefighters died in six separate incidents. Five deaths were health related and one death was the result of an accident.

CAPTAIN FRANCK W. TREMAINE, 58, of the Jackson, CA, Fire Department died on Jan. 10. A day earlier, Tremaine responded to a motor vehicle accident. He was found deceased at his home several hours after the call. Tremaine was a 40-year veteran of the fire service.

FIREFIGHTER LESLIE W. FRYMAN, 58, of the Rosendale, WI, Volunteer Fire Department died on Jan. 21. On Jan. 14, Fryman was a passenger in a tanker responding to a structure fire on mutual aid when he became ill and became unresponsive. Fellow firefighters provided immediate aid and he was transported to a local hospital. He was later transported to another hospital, where he died.

FIREFIGHTER RONNIE W. PEEK, 49, of the Garden City, KS, Fire Department died on Jan. 22. While participating in a department mandated air management training exercise, Peek experienced difficulty breathing. He was transported to St. Catherine Hospital, where he suffered a heart attack and died. Peek was a 16-year veteran of the department.

FIREFIGHTER CLIFFORD SANDERS, 55, of the Caney, KS, Volunteer Fire Department died on Jan. 29. The day before, Sanders collapsed at the fire station while responding to a grass fire call. Fellow firefighters provided immediate aid and he was transported to Jane Phillips Hospital in Bartlesville, OK, and then to St. Johns Hospital in Tulsa, where he died from a stroke. Sanders was a 24-year veteran of the department. This was the department’s first line-of-duty death.

ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF MIKE COOPER, 61, of the Centerville, IA, Fire Department died on Jan. 31, the day after he responded to a fire in a 300,000-square-foot building at Cowan Enterprises. The storage building was destroyed by the fire. Cooper was found dead at home several hours after the fire. Cooper was a 38-year veteran of the department.

FIREFIGHTER CHARLIE V. WALLACE, 74, of the Montgomery, NY, Volunteer Fire Department died on Feb. 3. On Jan. 10, Wallace was directing traffic in front of the fire station as apparatus responded to a mutual aid standby call when he was struck by a vehicle. He was transported to Westchester Medical Center, where he died. Wallace was a 43-year veteran of the fire service.

Jay K. Bradish

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