With organised firework displays cancelled this year due to Covid-19, London Fire Brigade is calling on Londoners to think twice about holding a firework display or building a garden bonfire at all and to consider celebrating a different way with less risks. The London Fire Brigade is preparing for a busier night than usual with a risk of people becoming injured at home or fires getting out of control. Last year, we attended more than 2000 incidents over the Halloween and Bonfire Night period – 29 October to 12 November. Over the last five years, 45% of fires ignited by fireworks during the Bonfire Night period occurred at residential properties. There is a reason why firework displays and bonfires are normally organised by professionals in large spaces as they can get out of control very quickly. With the LFB’s warning in mind, they are calling on Londoners to follow their safety advice and Covid-19 guidelines. The Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety, Paul Jennings said: “As public firework displays are not taking place this year, we understand you may still want to celebrate. But we urge you to think twice about holding a firework display or building a bonfire in your garden. “Think about your neighbours, particularly older people or those who are self isolating, pets and of course those of us in the emergency services. “Despite our warning if you do choose to have your own display, never drink alcohol and set off fireworks, keep fireworks in a closed metal box and only ever buy ones which carry the CE mark. “Bonfires should be clear of buildings, sheds, fences and hedges. Bonfires in your back garden can especially be dangerous. “This time of year is usually one of the busiest for firefighters and Control Officers and we also need to support our NHS colleagues, so please help us, by keeping yourself safe.”

Cadiz Fire Brigade has recently taken delivery of new, state-of-the-art fire kit supplied by Bristol Uniforms, a designer and manufacturer of protective clothing for emergency services across the globe.  The contract was secured through Bristol’s international distributor El Corte Ingles, who fought off stiff competition to secure the four-year contract.  Cadiz has ordered 780 sets of Bristol’s lightweight, ergonomic XFlex design (called FireFlex in Spain), with integrated safety harnesses incorporated into the jacket and trouser.  The kit has a Hainsworth TITAN1250 outer – a highly breathable fabric featuring Nomex and a high percentage of Kevlar, which gives the fabric outstanding tensile and tear strength. In addition, it has a GORE-TEX FIREBLOCKER moisture barrier, which is made from a micro-porous breathable fabric that stops water passing through to the firefighter’s personal clothing, whilst allowing sweat to escape and reducing heat stress.  To further protect the health and safety of its firefighters, Cadiz Fire Brigade has opted for a four-year care and maintenance contract to ensure that the kit is kept in good condition and free from contamination. Total Safety manages all Bristol’s garment care and maintenance in Spain and has worked with Bristol for more than 25 years. It collects soiled garments from customers and returns them clean and repaired within 72 hours.  Paco Griso, Bristol’s agent in Spain said: “The new kit has now been rolled out to firefighters in the Province of Cadiz and we are already getting positive feedback from them. “They are really pleased with how flexible the kit is and how easy it to manoeuvre in tight spaces. The integrated harnesses, certified to EN 361, are an additional safety feature which will help prevent serious falls in fire and recuse situations.”  Richard Cranham, International Sales Manager at Bristol Uniforms, said: “This is a large contract for us in Spain, which was delivered on time despite the ongoing pandemic. As the risks of wearing contaminated PPE become ever more apparent, more and more fire and rescue services across the globe are opting for ongoing care and maintenance packages to ensure their PPE is free of carcinogens and the health of their crew is prioritised.”  For further information about Bristol Uniforms, visit www.bristoluniforms.com. 

IDEX Corporation have announced that Eric D. Ashleman has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective December 15, 2020. Mr. Ashleman has served as IDEX’s Chief Operating Officer since February 2015 and President since February 2020. He will continue to hold the title of President in his new position. This announcement follows the decision by Andrew K. Silvernail to step down as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the IDEX Board of Directors, effective December 15, 2020, to pursue an opportunity at a privately held company. In connection with the announcement, Mr. Ashleman will join the IDEX Board on December 15, 2020. The Company also announced that William M. Cook has been named Non-Executive Chairman of the IDEX Board, effective December 15, 2020. Mr. Cook, who joined the IDEX Board in 2008, currently serves as Lead Independent Director and a Member of the Board’s Audit Committee. “Eric is an inspiring leader with extensive knowledge of our business, deep insights into our market opportunities and a passion for bringing out the best in our people and delivering innovative solutions to our customers,” said Mr. Cook. “During his nearly 13-year tenure at IDEX, including serving as our COO for the past five years, Eric has played an integral role in developing the IDEX Difference, building our team and delivering excellence for our customers and shareholders. “Over the last five years, Eric has worked closely with Andy and the entire management team and his promotion to CEO is the natural outgrowth of our Board’s succession planning and leadership development processes. Eric is the ideal choice to build upon IDEX’s track-record of success.” “I am honoured to be named IDEX’s CEO during this important time in the Company’s history,” said Mr. Ashleman. “Over the last five years, I have had the pleasure to work alongside Andy and learn firsthand what it takes to successfully grow our business. “While the economic environment remains challenging, IDEX has a strong foundation and remains uniquely advantaged to succeed due to our resilient business model, highly engineered product portfolio, diversified and global end markets and the deep bench of talent that exists throughout the organisation. “I am very excited to work closely with the Board and management team to drive IDEX toward future growth, continued industry leadership and sustained shareholder value creation.”

Safe Fleet Fire, EMS and Industrial Group (FRC, FoamPro, Elkhart Brass, R•O•M) have recently announce that Jeffrey Benker has joined the company as their new Mid-Atlantic Regional Sales Manager. In his new role, Benker will be responsible for supporting established Fire & EMS customers and expanding our presence through distribution channel development in the Mid-Atlantic territory which includes: Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Benker joins Safe Fleet with an extensive fire industry sales background working the first 23 years of his career as a fire equipment distributor in Florida. Benker spent the past four years working for a fire hose and firefighting foam concentrate manufacturer where he was able to share his expertise in water flow and foam applications. Benker also brings a great deal of experience working with state and federal wildland organisations to assist in their fire suppression requirements. His passion and dedication are seen as vital factors in relation to complementing the Safe Fleet sales team and the company have gone on record to express their hope that he will be a strong asset to their customers. Safe Fleet looks at safety as a whole—safer fleets for humans, and safer fleets for businesses. Instead of sourcing multiple products from multiple manufacturers and hoping they play well together, the company believe there’s a smarter way to approach fleet safety.

Baldwin Boxall Finance Director, Neil Williams, will retire his post at the end of October, leaving the accounts department in the very capable hands of Richard Frost, the company’s new Financial Controller. Speaking of his time at the company, Neil said, “I’ve had 13 wonderful years with Baldwin Boxall and served the last eight of those as a director. I am proud to have been a part of the company’s success which could never have been achieved without the hard work, loyalty and dedication of our workforce. “Without them none of our success would have been possible. Baldwin Boxall has always been a family orientated company and it has been a pleasure to work in that environment; thank you to everyone at Baldwin Boxall for thirteen wonderful years. “Joining Baldwin Boxall was the best day’s work I ever did. I leave knowing that I have left the company in a strong position and, in the very safe and capable hands of Richard Frost who will continue the financial function. We are very lucky to have recruited this young man.” Nick Baldwin, Sales & Marketing Director commented; “We will miss Neil greatly and wish him well for a long and happy retirement. My thanks to Neil for his work with Richard to ensure a smooth handover and a heartfelt welcome to Richard, who we are certain will be a brilliant fit in the company and is expertly placed to continue Neil’s great work.” Baldwin Boxall Directors and staff all wish Neil well and very much hope that he enjoys a well-earned rest, all the while working towards improving his golf handicap and enjoying some holidays in the future.

KIMTEK is proud to introduce the Ford Motor Company Bronco-Filson Wildfire Vehicle, which features the KIMTEK FIRELITE Fire Rescue skid unit that includes a Darley-Davey Pump, Hannay Reel and Mercedes Boostlite Forestry Hose.   KIMTEK is excited about this collaboration between Ford, Filson and KIMTEK and more excited to see the formation of the Bronco Wild Fund to celebrate wildland firefighters and to help raise awareness and funds to assist in preserving America’s Natural Resources and National Forests. The company took the time to thank both the Ford Motor Company and Filson for choosing and trusting the design quality of the FIRELITE Transport skids, which of course is manufactured by them as a corporation. KIMTEK Corporation is one of the largest producers and marketers of ATV/UTV-specific skid units for public safety agencies in the U.S. The company’s FIRELITE fire and rescue skid units and MEDLITE medical skid units are now in service in all 50 U.S. states and across Canada, all branches of the military, the National Park Service, numerous NASCAR tracks, sporting complexes, schools, universities and in several countries worldwide. The company was founded in 1984 as a research and development company dedicated to advances in life safety technology in the fire sciences.

Midwest Fire Equipment & Repair Company, (Midwest Fire) have recently announced the hiring of new Sales Representative Newt Johnson. Johnson is a native of Rapid City, S.D. and is a 2019 graduate of South Dakota State University. He is engaged and soon to be married to his fiancé Claire who is from Rock Rapids, Iowa. Johnson & his fiancé will be relocating to the Luverne area soon. Johnson has worked as an onsite-equipment specialist before becoming a part of the team. He is expected to start later in October. Johnson will follow Midwest Fire’s standard practice by beginning on the production floor to gain a foundational knowledge of Midwest Fire’s Apparatus, how they operate, how they are designed, and how they are manufactured. Speaking about the appointment, Sarah Atchison – CEO of Midwest Fire – said that by investing back into the company by hiring the likes of Johnson, they can resume offering their customers a superb level of service. “Midwest Fire is investing in our growth by adding Newt to our team,” said Atchison. “We want to continue our record annual sales growth by investing back into the company and our team. By doing this we will continue to provide the best customer service and sales experience in the industry.”  

According to AMA Research, during 2020 the Passive Fire market is expected to suffer a major downturn due to Covid-19 and the accompanying adverse effects upon construction activity, economic outlook and business confidence. For these reasons, the market is forecast to dip by 9% over the course of the year. Prior to 2020, the market experienced a period of consistent growth, increasing in value terms by 11% between 2015 and 2019. Much of this can be attributed to a positive performance in various sectors of the non-residential construction industry, such as commercial offices, infrastructure and leisure/entertainment. The market is expected to remain heavily dependent upon trends in construction output, especially for non-residential applications. The present Government’s intention to invest in infrastructure projects via its Getting Building Fund should provide some market impetus in the short term. In the residential sector, new regulations are being introduced aimed at rectifying problems identified in ‘The Hackitt Report’ which followed the Grenfell Tower disaster. The Fire Safety Bill of March 2020 covers fire safety in residential dwellings and has created new areas of responsibility and accountability. More stringent regulations are also expected to affect the wider industry, as the pressure continues to grow upon manufacturers and specifiers alike to provide safer and more fire-resistant environments. Michelle Turner, Market Research Analyst at AMA Research, comments “positive performance in key end use sectors pre-2020 helped bring a spurt of growth to the Passive Fire Market. These same end use sectors are now experiencing detrimental effects as a result of COVID-19 and investment has tightened. “Supported by the very need of the products found within this market, and driven by further calls for tighter legislation and stricter accountabilities as a result of the Hackitt Review, the Passive Fire Market looks set to remain relatively strong as fire safety remains paramount, helping to keep the boat steady in such adverse conditions.” Overall, the longer-term scenario for the passive fire protection market remains mixed. Much of this will depend on how well the UK emerges from the various political and economic challenges posed by Covid-19, as well as what form Brexit will eventually take. Growth is projected to return to the market after the downturn experienced in 2020. Between 2021 and 2025, market value is forecast to rise by more than 11%.

For the ninth year, the IAFC has received a grant from the Motorola Solutions Foundation (MSF) to fund another year of the Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI). FSEDI is a program developed by the IAFC to provide new and aspiring chiefs with the tools they need to have a successful and productive tenure. Applications for 2021 are due no later than 5 p.m. ET on Friday, December 11, 2020. The Motorola Solutions Foundation awards grants each year to organisations such as the IAFC to support advanced public safety programs that support enhanced relationships and understanding between fire service organisations and the citizens they serve. The FSEDI program is designed to identify and support the next generation of fire service leaders, which will help create safer towns, cities, and thriving communities. “This year, the Foundation’s grants will support programs that help millions of students, teachers, first responders and community members around the globe,” said Karem Perez, executive director of the Motorola Solutions Foundation. “We are thrilled to partner with organisations like IAFC that are actively making a positive difference in their communities.” The members of the previous eight sessions have been very successful in achieving promotions, fire chief positions and appointments to regional, state and national fire service committees and task groups. Approximately one‐third of the previous class of chief officers have achieved fire chief positions or promotion to higher executive levels. The year-long program is open to new (a year or less in the position) and aspiring (currently applying for chief positions or in department’s succession plan) chiefs who have demonstrated a commitment to career advancement and enhancing the fire/EMS service through their leadership. During the year, the cohort members meet three times for sessions conducted in the Washington, DC, Metropolitan region. Experts from the fire and emergency service and the private sector will cover topics such as ethics, leadership in the new era, emerging concepts in organisational design and delivery, effective use of science and data, budgeting and spend management, as well as labour-management relations, diversity and inclusion and many more contemporary topics. This program differs from other executive-level programs in the fire service. Because the focus is on real world and emerging issues on the subjects presented. There is also an emphasis on developing the individuals in the program as executives and creating professional networks. One member of a recent FSEDI cohort said, “There is hardly a day that goes by where I don’t draw from either the experience or cohorts to help my decision‐making process. This program is impacting the fire service for future generations.” Members of the 2021 FSEDI cohort will have assignments to complete between sessions in addition to maintaining communications and networking via an on‐line community. They will participate in mentoring and coaching opportunities. Members of the cohort also will be introduced to the members of the first eight cohorts as part of expanding their professional networks. The program is limited to 20 members. The program looks to have a diverse group representing all U.S. and Canadian regions, from various sizes and types of fire/EMS departments. Chief officers accepted into the program will be awarded a scholarship that covers the cost of housing, meals and activities for the on‐site sessions. Successful applicants also will be expected to attend Fire‐Rescue International 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. All expenses related to attending FRI and travel expenses to the conference centre are not covered by the scholarship. To stay up to date on the latest, trends, innovations, people news and company updates within the global fire market please register to receive our newsletter here: Media contact Christian Brown Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

International Fire Buyer catches up with David Reid, Sales Manager for Johnson Controls and Crew Manager for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Services. David has been with LFRS for close to ten years outside of his role at JCI and is an expert in the industry.  If you could change anything in the industry, what would it be? Cost always being the defining factor. What three traits define you? Adaptable, Outgoing, Hardworking. What’s the coolest (or most important) trend you see today? Investment in training and recognised qualifications within the industry. How do you define success?  Food on the table and roof over my head and my children smiling. What made you want to work in the industry? Honestly something has always excited me about the Fire Industry knowing something you do could save someone’s life. That has always driven me. What would you most like to tell your 13 year old self? School really isn’t that bad, keep your head down and work hard. (P.S Paula Clarke from your class is already in her prime, it’s downhill from there!) If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? Salvador Dali What’s your favourite aspect about working in the industry? The characters you meet on a daily basis and the knowledge within the industry. You also work for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, what is it like being a firefighter? Working for LFRS has given me training and experiences I will never forget and taught me lessons I will take through life and pass onto my children. Where do you see yourself in five years time? In 5 years I would still love to be working for JCI, whether that be in my current role or a newer more challenging role as long as I am still working with a fantastic team around me I will be very happy. To stay up to date on the latest, trends, innovations, people news and company updates within the global fire market please register to receive our newsletter here: Media contact Christian Brown Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com