FB Awards

The Ultimate Glow+ Firefighter Gloves from Lakeland Fire & Safety represent a major step forward in hand protection, combining cutting-edge photoluminescent technology with proven thermal, abrasion and grip performance. Certified to NFPA 1971:2018, these gloves are designed to meet the highest global standards for firefighter PPE, delivering safety, comfort and operational reliability in the harshest environments. At the heart of the design is revolutionary photoluminescent technology. By absorbing ultraviolet light during the day and releasing a powerful afterglow in low-light or smoke-filled conditions, the gloves provide visibility when firefighters need it most. The glow band emits at a 555-nanometre wavelength, penetrating through heavy smoke where traditional torches often fail, and enhancing situational awareness for navigation, task execution and team coordination. A five-minute charge under bright light delivers over eight hours of illumination, making the gloves a practical safety tool as well as a protective garment. Two material options are available to meet diverse operational preferences. The PBI Flex 7 variant combines an outershell of advanced PBI fabric with a silicone-coated Kevlar palm, providing outstanding grip, durability and abrasion resistance without compromising dexterity. The premium leather variant pairs high-grade cowhide with suede leather for a traditional feel, enhanced abrasion protection and reliable control in challenging tasks. Both options are engineered to withstand repeated exposures while retaining tactile sensitivity essential for firefighting operations. Lakeland has also considered wearer comfort and integration with other gear. The gloves are offered with three cuff styles: an open cuff for flexibility, a knitted Kevlar wrist cuff for secure integration with turnout gear, and a long Nomex gauntlet, often referred to as the Texas style, for those who require additional coverage over jacket sleeves. Each configuration ensures a tailored fit for operational needs while maintaining thermal protection and mobility. Beyond material strength and thermal performance, these gloves are designed for the realities of modern firefighting. The photoluminescent technology reduces reliance on handheld lights during moments of disorientation, while the construction ensures resistance to cuts, tears and high-temperature exposure. Importantly, the gloves are PFAS-free, aligning with the sector’s sustainability and health priorities. The Ultimate Glow+ Firefighter Gloves are more than just protective handwear. They are a visibility-enhancing, confidence-building tool designed to keep firefighters safe, effective and in control. By merging traditional materials with photoluminescent innovation, Lakeland has created a glove that not only shields against the dangers of heat and abrasion but also actively supports situational awareness in the most critical conditions.

The SL-SideSaddle® is a hands-free lighting system that is lightweight and compact. It is designed to mount to a wide variety of hats, hard hats and safety helmets, integrating seamlessly without interfering with visors, hearing protection, or other accessories. Featuring two ultra-bright front LED with spot, flood and spot/flood combined beams, as well as a blue rear safety taillight allowing the user to see and be seen for increased safety. Both front and rear lights are programmable for function and output.

The FL360 LR, part of the FirstLook360 range, is the world’s first fully spherical, 360° wireless search camera engineered for modern search and rescue operations. It marks a significant advancement beyond older analogue, gearbox-driven cameras, combining state-of-the-art imaging, mobile connectivity and real-time communication into a single, compact and highly durable device. When deployed into confined or obstructed spaces, the FL360 LR delivers seamless spherical video to a tablet, allowing rescuers to pan, tilt and zoom effortlessly through touch control — without mechanical moving parts or delay. Its dual ultra-wide lenses are digitally stitched together to create a complete 360° view, enabling operators to gain full situational awareness instantly. Beyond its imaging capabilities, the camera incorporates two-way audio, allowing rescuers to communicate directly with trapped individuals or listen for sounds within the environment. It also records both video and still images, embedding essential metadata such as GPS coordinates and time stamps for accurate reporting and documentation during critical missions. The FL360 LR offers both wireless and wired connectivity. Wireless streaming is ideal for nearby deployment, while wired options extend operational range to deeper or more inaccessible areas. Its rugged design, constructed from high-impact materials and sealed to withstand water and dust ingress, ensures performance in the harshest conditions. Additional features such as hot-swappable batteries allow continuous operation without downtime, while its lightweight build supports rapid deployment in collapsed structures, vertical shafts, caves and submerged environments. With its robust design, intuitive application support and advanced data-sharing capabilities, the FL360 LR provides rescuers with unmatched speed, safety and decision-making power in life-critical scenarios.

The Heliskid is designed to overcome one of the main challenges in wildland firefighting: delivering significant quantities of water to remote and difficult-to-reach terrain. Conventional pick-up vehicles offer speed and mobility, but their firefighting potential is restricted by the limited tank size of standard skid units, typically ranging between 450 and 600 litres. The Heliskid addresses this limitation by providing six times more water capacity than traditional models, dramatically increasing the effectiveness and autonomy of firefighting operations. Compact and versatile, the Heliskid is tailored for light vehicles to enable direct attack strategies with extended water supply lines. This means crews can maintain a continuous and reliable water source while conducting suppression work in areas where access is restricted and traditional firefighting trucks cannot operate. Its design ensures that the skid unit remains highly mobile despite its capacity, allowing fire teams to adapt to evolving conditions without compromising speed or safety. A key feature of the Heliskid is its dual deployment capability. It can be transported over rough terrain on the ground, but equally it has been engineered for aerial movement. This makes it possible to position the unit rapidly in otherwise inaccessible locations using helicopter support, a factor that significantly broadens its operational range. Once deployed, its high-performance fire pump provides robust and dependable delivery, ensuring crews have the necessary power to sustain suppression efforts across variable conditions. Beyond its technical performance, the Heliskid enhances operational strategy by extending the reach of light and highly manoeuvrable vehicles. Firefighting teams benefit from the speed and flexibility of pick-up transport, but with the critical advantage of substantially increased water availability. This combination of mobility and capacity gives emergency services a decisive tool in managing wildland incidents, where speed of response and reliable resources often determine the success of operations. In short, the Vallfirest Heliskid represents a step change in wildland firefighting logistics. By multiplying water capacity, optimising deployment methods, and maintaining a compact profile, it enables fire crews to deliver “water wherever and whenever it is needed most,” transforming pick-up vehicles into far more capable firefighting assets.