Cincinnati, OH—September 20, 2011—In 1853, the nation’s oldest fully paid professional fire department was organized in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since its establishment, the Cincinnati Fire Department has always continued to seek new methods and ideas to improve and increase the level of services provided to area citizens. And now, the nation’s first fire department is using the industry’s latest products to keep crew members safe, increase efficiencies and save time. These products, marketed under the name Foxfire® are developed by Cincinnati-based MN8-Foxfire.
The Cincinnati Fire Department recently ordered 1,000 Foxfire illuminating helmet bands to help increase safety after successfully using several Foxfire products for a number of months. Foxfire, which was launched less than a year ago, is changing the field of firefighting in keeping firefighters safe. To help firefighters reduce disorientation - one of the leading causes of interior firefighting line-of-duty deaths, Foxfire products utilize an advanced photoluminescent technology that possess the unique capacity to absorb and store light and then release it as a bright luminance in the dark. Unlike currently utilized high visibility colors and reflective striping that require an external light to be seen, Foxfire products act as their own light emitter. This is especially important considering that firefighters typically operate in very dark environments. When fully charged (by any light source), Foxfire products can glow for up to 17 hours.
Foxfire helmet bands stretch around the lower part of a firefighters helmet. The bright glow emitted from Foxfire’s helmet bands and other products illuminate surroundings and serve as a light emitter, enabling firefighters to keep track of their crews in dark environments. It also assists in quickly locating dropped tools in dark environments. Other Foxfire products include illuminating epoxy (paint) that can be used to make tool handles, fire hydrants and equipment glow; illuminating grip wrap for tool handles and more; and illuminating equipment bands. “When it comes to seeing with the lights off, there is nothing better (than Foxfire products),” said Fidel Akemon, fire apparatus operator on Cincinnati Fire Department Heavy Rescue 9. “The helmet bands help us keep track of one another in the dark. Now when we see a ‘floating halo’ we know it’s one of our guys. We’ve also been using Foxfire wrap and paint on our front line tools such as hooks, halligans and axes and have seen amazing results. The products put off an incredible glow and help us find our tools when we set them down.”
Foxfire products are visible not only in the dark but in smoky conditions too.
“One of the main dangers a firefighter faces is disorientation in dark and smoky environments,” says Zachary Green, president of MN8-Foxfire. “With Foxfire, firefighters can reduce the danger of disorientation and keep track of their crews and equipment in dark environments.”
MN8-Foxfire was recently named runner up in the Emerging Business of the Year category by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber during its Small Business Excellence Awards. The company also recently won an award from Cincinnati Innovates for utilizing this technology to help firefighters.
MN8-Foxfire is a firefighter owned company offering energy efficient and eco-friendly products utilizing breakthrough advanced illumination technology. MN8’s product offerings for the fire safety industry, marketed under the name Foxfire®, have earned a reputation for safety, high quality and performance-proven. This is readily apparent in Foxfire’s photoluminescent helmet bands, coating kits, grip wrap and other products. The company is headquartered in Wyoming, Ohio, a Cincinnati suburb. For more information, visit www.mn8products.com.
