Firehouse® & Cygnus Expositions: Training America’s Bravest

Since its inception in 1984, Firehouse Expo has offered professional seminars by nationally recognized lecturers, hands-on training by front-line fire officers and firefighters, and hundreds of fire service manufacturers exhibiting the newest technologies and latest products and services. For the past two years, Cygnus Expositions and Firehouse® Magazine have worked together to present Fire-Rescue West. Here are some highlights:

1985 - A panel of leading apparatus manufacturers discussed the newest trends in safety and new innovation of apparatus. Seminars included an LPG explosion in Mexico City that killed more than 500 people and fire service management. All types of apparatus, from a 1860 Cowing hand-drawn pumper from Kennett, PA, to a state-of-the-art helicopter from Metro-Dade, FL, were on display along Baltimore's Pier 6 to end the Great American Firehouse Exposition & Muster '85.

1986 - Following the keynote speech by ABC News Political Director and Firehouse® Contributing Editor Hal Bruno, Boston Fire Commissioner Leo Stapleton gave a presentation on an eight-alarm fire in a 52-story high-rise building. A forum on new nozzle technology and the issue of a subscription fire service were presented. Some off-site excitement was brought on by a two-alarm fire in a vacant factory only a block from the Baltimore Fire Department's Steadman Station.

1987 - For the first time, the U.S. Navy displayed one of the its Mobile Training Laboratory trucks and a trailer specially designed by the Navy. The four-day event was started by keynote speaker Louis Galant, commissioner of the Chicago Fire Department. Next up was Lieutenant Colonel Leonid Telyaynikov, who was the incident commander for the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. A vision of the future, many apparatus with enclosed cabs were displayed on the show floor.

1988 - The Great American Firehouse Exposition & Muster '88 South was held in Charlotte, NC. Midland, TX, Firefighter Robert O'Donnell lectured on the rescue of Jessica McClure and Robin Guttman of Hollywood, FL, spoke on strategies for recruiting and training new members. A huge parade and muster rounded out the weekend.

1989 - Held in Philadelphia, the fifth annual expo featured Los Angeles City Chief Engineer Donald Manning who offered a presentation on the fire in the city's highest building, the 62-story First Interstate Bank. A hands-on class for hazardous materials, infectious disease control, a slide-show of the biggest incidents in 1988 and a look into arson trends rounded out the seminar program. The Philadelphia Fire Department put on a special seminar focusing on its Fire Prevention Unit. Congressman and former volunteer fire chief Curt Weldon presented the keynote address.

1990 - Returning to Baltimore after two years, Expo attendees were welcomed back by Baltimore City Chief Peter O'Connor and Baltimore County Chief Paul Reincke. Contributing Editor Hal Bruno was the keynote speaker, urging firefighters to become more involved with the political process for the fire service to gain a place on the local, state and federal levels. San Francisco Fire Chief Fred Postel told of the operations during the October 1989 earthquake.

1991 - Albert Kirchner, superintendent of the National Fire Academy, was the keynote speaker. New York City Firefighter Kevin Shea gave a first-hand account of a rope rescue 120 feet above midtown Manhattan, complete with slides and video, which brought attendees to the chaotic scene. A special panel of Desert Storm firefighters, moderated by Congressman Curt Weldon, told of working conditions and problems these firefighters faced.

1992 - The ninth annual Firehouse Expo included a special presentation by Los Angeles City Fire Department Battalion Chief Terry Manning, detailing the operations of firefighters during the April and May riots. FDNY Chief William Feehan described an aircraft crash at LaGuardia Airport.

1993 - A record-setting attendance at the 10th annual Firehouse Expo had a well-rounded look at incidents in recent months. FDNY Chief of Department Anthony Fusco detailed fire and rescue operations during the terrorist bombing of the World Trade Center. Deputy Chief J.J. Brown of the Metro-Dade, FL, Fire Department gave a first-hand look at operations before, during and after Hurricane Andrew. Chief Neil Hunnicut of Oakland, CA, gave a presentation on the Oakland Hills fire that destroyed more than 3,000 structures and caused over $1.5 billion in damage.

1994 - Los Angeles County Fire Chief Michael Freeman spoke on the wildfires and large-scale operations during a busy season in Southern California in 1993. Chesterfield, VA, Battalion Chief Dennis Rubin provided insights on operations following a tornado in Colonial Heights, VA. Chief Neil Svetanics of St. Louis discussed operations during the great flood of the Mississippi Valley.

1995 - In a two-hour presentation, Oklahoma City Fire Chief Gary Marrs gave an in-depth look into the operations of the bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. FDNY Chief Ray Downey discussed the operations of the FEMA teams at the bombing site. Phoenix Chief Alan Brunacini gave a talk on Fire Department Customer Service. Chief Richard Arwood detailed a Memphis, TN, fire in a high rise that claimed two firefighters' lives.

1996 - The second annual Shirl Sills Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Contributing Editor Hal Bruno. For the first year, seminars were repeated at the request of many. Phoenix Chief Alan Brunacini spoke on safety and FDNY's John Salka presented his "Get Out Alive" seminar and Robert Cobb of Jersey City, NJ, discussed rapid intervention teams.

1997 - The third annual Shirl Sills Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Sherry Adams on behalf of her late husband, Rich Adams, a contributing editor, for his service to the fire, rescue and EMS community.

1998 - With 353 companies exhibiting, the 15th annual Firehouse Expo broke all records, including attendees from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. Congressman Curt Weldon, founder of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, was presented with a special lifetime achievement award. The Expo also hosted the National Association of Emergency Vehicle Technicians seminars and the International Society of Fire Service Instructors annual meeting and awards program.

1999 - For the first time, the Firehouse Expo held several half-day and all-day hands-on workshops at the Maryland Fire Rescue Institute. National Fire Academy Superintendent Dr. Denis Onieal was presented with the Firehouse Lifetime Achievement Award and keynote speaker Congressman William Pascrell discussed the reasons why the fire service needs the financial support of the programs being sponsored by Congress. Proceeds from Fire-Rescue West in San Jose, CA, were donated to California burn centers.

2000 - Worcester, MA, District Chief Mike McNamee gave Firehouse Expo attendees a somber look at the operations of the department at the warehouse fire that claimed the lives of six firefighters in December 1999. A crew from the TV program "48 Hours" taped the presentation. A multitude of hands-on classes were offered at the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. At Fire-Rescue West, Contributing Editor Dennis Compton, chief of the Mesa, AZ, Fire Department, spoke on leadership issues.

Firehouse® Magazine also co-sponsors the "Vision" conference series in Seattle, the "East Meets West" training program in California and the "Worcester Memorial Safety & Training Seminar" in Massachusetts each year.