For the Record 2/18

FirstNet Gets Unanimous Approval, Sets Goals for 2018

All 50 states, two U.S. territories and Washington, D.C. have joined FirstNet, a public safety communications network designed to help first responders save lives and protect their communities.

"This is a landmark day and monumental achievement for public safety—one that has been years in the making," said First Responder Network Authority Board Chair Sue Swenson. "There are many who said this network would never happen, but public safety never gave up on their network. Because of their vision and hard-fought efforts, I can proudly say that this life-saving network is now a reality across America; FirstNet is going to enhance the safety and security of our first responders and the people they serve."

According to FirstNet, the goal of its public-private partnership with AT&T is to provide first responders with immediate access to mission-critical capabilities over the FirstNet network. This includes priority and preemption features that reportedly gives first responders their own “fast lane” on the public safety network to communicate and share information during emergencies, large events or other situations when commercial networks could become congested. FirstNet is the only broadband network to provide ruthless preemption for public safety.

FirstNet shared that it has set several key milestones and activities for 2018:

• Expanding the Network and Building out Band 14: AT&T will expand FirstNet's footprint and deploy Band 14 capacity and coverage throughout the nation, providing first responders with the bandwidth and mission-critical connections they need to communicate, share information, and use innovative technologies.
• Driving Public Safety Innovation: FirstNet will unlock a new technology marketplace for public safety, enabling first responders to benefit from advancements in innovation. The FirstNet App store will include FirstNet-approved mobile apps that are optimized for public safety use over the first responder network.
• Securing Emergency Communications: FirstNet's core infrastructure is designed to give first responders the dedicated, highly secure, non-commercial network they deserve. On schedule to be operational in March, the FirstNet public safety core will provide full encryption of public safety data over FirstNet and provide end-to-end cyber security. FirstNet subscribers will also have access to a dedicated Security Operations Center, offering 24/7/365 support.
• Engaging with Public Safety: The First Responder Network Authority will continue to engage with public safety in the states, territories, federal agencies, and tribal nations to ensure the network meets their needs and incorporate their feedback in the design of future FirstNet products and services.

"While getting to this point is a major achievement for public safety, our job is not finished," said First Responder Network Authority CEO Mike Poth. "We still have much work to do to realize the full potential of FirstNet for public safety everywhere, including rural America, and we will move full speed ahead to make it happen."

For more information on FirstNet, visit firstnet.gov.

CMC Rescue Celebrates 40^th Anniversary with Big Announcements

CMC Rescue marked its 40^th anniversary year with the introduction of a refreshed name, a new website and plans to introduce a series of new products for both the rescue and rope access markets throughout 2018.

CMC Rescue will now go forward as CMC, a name that more accurately reflects the expanded range of its business, and its commitment to providing all work-at-height professionals with innovative life safety gear and training.

“CMC was founded as a rescue company with the broad mission to provide those working at height with innovative life safety gear and training to do their job safely and confidently,” stated CMC CEO Rich Phillips. “Over the years, we’ve remained committed to innovating within the rescue market. However, as the work-at-height market has evolved to include other non-rescue disciplines, demand for our products pulled us into a number of new and growing vertical markets.”

To coincide with the introduction of its updated brand, CMC is launching its next-generation website and customer portal. At the same time, the company has revamped many of its internal manufacturing processes to accommodate growing demand while reducing waste. The company is also slated to introduce a number of new products over the course of 2018—one of which promises to be a game-changer in the rescue and rope access industries, according to the Phillips: “Our last ‘game-changing’ product, the CMC Multi-Purpose Device (MPD), launched seven years ago and it changed the way professionals do their jobs; our next will launch in the coming months. It’s only appropriate that the first new products introduced under our updated brand similarly impact both the rescue and our other work-at-height markets.”

For more information, visit cmcpro.com.

Line-of-Duty Deaths

12 U.S. firefighters recently died in the line of duty. Nine deaths were health-related, two firefighters were killed while battling fires, and one died from injuries sustained during a fall. This edition of Firehouse is dedicated to these firefighters.

CAPTAIN DENE BARBER, 56, of the Brazoria, TX, Fire Department, died on Dec. 13. Barber responded to an apartment building fire. Upon exiting the structure, Barber complained to others of not feeling well. He was treated on scene by West Brazos EMS, then transported to the hospital where in spite of all efforts he passed away from a reported heart attack.

ENGINEER CORY IVERSON, 32, of CAL FIRE, died on Dec. 14. Iverson was part of a multi-engine strike team dispatched from the San Diego area to fight wildfires in other parts of Southern California. He died while fighting the Thomas Fire—the largest wildfire in California history—near Fillmore, CA. The nature and cause of Iverson's death has not been released pending a CAL FIRE serious accident review.

ENGINEER JEFFERY ATKINSON, 43, of the Tallahassee, FL, Fire Department, died on Dec. 15. Atkinson died while on-duty at the fire station from a nature and cause of fatal injury still to be determined.

FIREFIGHTER DAVID JAHNES, 58, of the Nyack, NY, Fire Department – Fire Patrol, died on Dec. 18. Jahnes fell ill while at the scene of an investigation into an odor at a bank, which turned out to be an overheating battery in the alarm system. He was treated by fellow responders and transported by the Nyack Ambulance Corps to the hospital where during treatment he suffered coronary failure and passed away.

FIREFIGHTER JEFFERY ALAN BLACKMER, 42, of the Hamilton Township, IN, Volunteer Fire Company, died on Dec. 20. Shortly after working a barn fire with his fire department, Blackmer was discovered deceased at the fire station where he had been cleaning and stowing away gear used to fight the early morning blaze. The nature and cause of fatal injury are still to be determined by authorities.

CAPTAIN JEFFREY A. VOLLMER, 40, of the Mayer, MN, Fire and Rescue Department, died on Dec. 19. Vollmer passed away at home from an apparent cardiac arrest several hours after participating in non-classroom training of a non-routine strenuous nature at a local community center.

FIREFIGHTER CRAIG A. MAULL, 71, of Haddon, NJ, Fire Company #1, died on Dec. 21. Maull responded to a dwelling fire call on Dec. 19, but his apparatus was recalled while en route. Upon returning to quarters, Maull mentioned to other members that he wasn't feeling well, but declined medical assistance and later went home. Maull missed additional calls later, which was uncommon for him, and members were unable to contact him by phone or email. Family and department members went to his home on Dec. 21 and found him deceased from a heart attack.

FIREFIGHTER FRANK MATAGRANO, 75, of the New Milford, NJ, Fire Department, died on Dec. 23. Matagrano suffered cardiac arrest inside the fire apparatus while responding to an emergency call on Dec. 13. His fellow crewmembers immediately initiated CPR and utilized an AED to successfully regain his pulse. He was transported to a local hospital, where he remained hospitalized for continued care. Doctors determined that Matagrano suffered a stroke, which caused his cardiac arrest. He never regained consciousness and subsequently passed away in the hospital.

FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC JASON GARRETT, 46, of the Kansas City, KS, Fire Department, died on Dec. 26. Fellow responders discovered Garrett deceased in the firehouse bunkroom when he did not appear for a morning response call. The nature and cause of fatal injury are still to be determined by authorities.

LIEUTENANT JEFFREY S. WHITE, 53, of the Oklahoma City, OK, Fire Department, died on Dec. 26. White was assigned to Fire Station 36 where he began to experience complications from a medical condition. He was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where he later passed away from a nature and cause of fatal injury to be determined.

FIREFIGHTER JOHN RANDLE, 67, of the Wamego City, KS, Fire Department, died on Jan. 2. The Wamego Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire on Jan. 1. Upon completion of the call and after returning to the station, Randle sustained a life-threatening injury from a fall while returning fire apparatus to service. He was air lifted from Wamego Health Center to Stormont Vail Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

LIEUTENANT MATTHEW LETOURNEAU, 42, of the Philadelphia Fire Department, died on Jan. 6. LeTourneau succumbed to injuries suffered from a structural collapse while fighting a rowhouse fire.