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Welcome to the new and improved Fire & Safety Services website. For those of you who have visited our site over the years, I’m sure you noticed the transformation of the website a couple of years ago. While that was a HUGE improvement over what we had, we still thought it could be improved upon. Well - here it is… Kudos go to Michelle, our marketing guru, for coming up with the design and layout. Thanks to Chris, our webmaster, for making the magic work.
There are a couple of features I would like to point out to you:
1) The new Truck of the Month feature highlights a Fire & Safety Services customer and one of their Pierce units, as well as providing a little history about their organization.
2) The Fired-Up section allows you, the visitor, to share photos of your Pierce units in action! Just follow the instructions in the Fired Up section and you can see your photos posted on our site.
3) The News section is in a new format and allows you to post your comments regarding the news you read, the site in general or any other thoughts you might have. We also have a RSS feature that automatically sends you an email alert when we update the News section.
4) The Fire & Safety video - I’m very proud of this. Michelle (once again) went above and beyond on this and really came through with a top flight production piece with the help of the guys at PanOptic Studios in Chicago, and Rich from Proforma ROI Promotions. Thanks to them for their great work.
5) The new and improved Deliveries section. Rather than the quarterly input of a handful of units, we have gone with a nearly live system so that “hopefully” within a week or two of our delivery a new unit, it will be posted in the Deliveries section in the form of a spec sheet that you can open and print. We are also working on adding some sorting features so that in the future you will be able to sort by chassis model, apparatus type or department name.
As always, we appreciate your time in visiting our site. Thanks for visiting and come back soon!
Dave Russell
 Fire & Safety donates to the St. Bernard Project and encourages volunteering to support rebuilding in the New Orleans area. See the pictures and read the story written by Fire & Safety’s Director of Sales and Marketing.
Nominate your department and Pierce unit, sold by Fire & Safety, to be our next Truck of the Month! Tell us why you love your truck and what makes your fire department unique or special. Be sure to include the Pierce model if it is a custom chassis (Arrow XT, Velocity etc.), type of unit (Aerial, Pumper etc.) and the Job # if possible. We’ll also need a way to contact you so please make sure you include your name, phone number or email address, and your fire company’s name and location. You can submit your nominations through the blog or send them to mrussell@f-ss.com.
Well, now that Wildwood is finished we can reflect on it with a slightly clearer eye. I’d like to thank my staff for putting together another incredible show… Really top notch and each and everyone out did themselves to make us the envy of the boardwalk! We had a great display, with the perfect blend of apparatus, including one or two new twists to the traditional equipment.
Kudos especially has to go to our Marketing Director, Michelle, who had to plan this without ever having really experiencedWildwood before - relying only on the input of our more seasoned members about what to expect and the recurring problems that come up. She will be hard pressed to top this year’s hits - as the new Fire & Safety Services video and water were very popular items. I understand she is already making notes for next year…
I’d like to thank Pierce and Oshkosh Capital for lending their support and allowing some of their very talented personnel come to the Jersey shore and help supplement our crew. It is always a pleasure to have them along, and I hope it is a rewarding experience for them as they get to have a lot of 1 on 1 interaction with NJ firemen. There is one thing for sure about NJ’s bravest, both those who love Pierce and those who prefer the competition have one thing in common; they are never shy about expressing their opinions, right Sean!?
I’d also like to thank Wildwood Harley-Davidson for storing and transporting the NFFF Pierce/Harley-Davidson custom bike back and forth to the show for us each day. That bike is the second bike Pierce and Harley-Davidson have joined together on with all proceeds from the chances going to the NFFF. Hopefully the showing of the bike in Wildwood helped kick up the donations a notch for the NFFF.
Thanks again to everyone for all their hard work. Be Safe!
Dave
Through April 26, 2009, participants can enter to win a custom, one-of-a-kind Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Firefighter Special Edition motorcycle by visitingNFFF.FullThrottleSupport.com.
“Every firefighter death is a great tragedy, but the families take comfort in knowing the nation is grateful for their sacrifice,” said Ron Siarnicki, executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. “The NFFF Full Throttle Support campaign is truly a unique way for the country to come together to honor the families of America’s heroes.“
Throughout the four-month campaign, individuals can log on to NFFF.FullThrottleSupport.com to make a $10 donation, which will enter them for a chance to win the custom, one-of-a-kind Harley-Davidson Fat Boy motorcycle. Visitors to the Web site can learn more about families who have benefited from NFFF.
“Firefighter safety is a top priority for Pierce, and we have a long, proud history of commitment to giving back to those who risk their lives to protect our communities,” said Wilson Jones, executive vice president of the Oshkosh Corporation Fire & Emergency group and president of Pierce Manufacturing. “We will continue to help advance the work of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and support the families of our fallen heroes.
The deadline for entering the sweepstakes is April 26, 2009, coinciding with the final hours of the Fire Department Instructor’s Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis. The winner of the NFFF Full Throttle Support sweepstakes will be announced in May 2009.
No purchase necessary.Age for eligibility is subject to entrant’s State law. Complete rules for entering and for eligibility are available at NFFF.FullThrottleSupport.com. Employees of Oshkosh Corporation, Pierce Manufacturing, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, and their families are not eligible for the sweepstakes. Sweepstakes void where restricted or prohibited by law.
The bike, which is white and fire engine red, loaded with chrome and gold-leaf style designs will be making appearances at the following events prior to its award:
Daytona Bike Wee
February 28 - March 8, 2009
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona, Florida
Arizona Bike Wee
March 27 - April 5, 2009
Scottsdale, Arizona
FDIC
April 20 - 25, 2009
Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, Indiana
Go to NFFF.FullThrottleSupport.com for more details.
As you may have seen by recent updates to our Website, two icons in their respective industries, Pierce Manufacturing and Harley-Davidson have teamed up to produce a motorcycle to raffle off with the proceeds going to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Congress created the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to lead a nationwide effort to honor America’s fallen firefighters. Since 1992, the non-profit Foundation has developed and expanded programs that fulfill that mandate. Our mission is to honor and remember America’s fallen fire heroes and to provide resources to assist their survivors in rebuilding their lives.
The motorcycle, a 2009 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy is painted white and fire engine red and like all good rigs is loaded with chrome and gold-leaf style designs. This special edition unit will be making the rounds at several bike shows across the country and at the FDIC in April. For more information on the motorcycle, rules, regulations and your chance to enter, go to NFFF.FullThrottleSupport.com.
Thank you,
As we have all probably all heard by now, either in the papers, radio, Firehouse.com, or word of mouth, the Special Commission for Investigations, or CSI, issued a report damning the method fire apparatus are purchased in NJ. Our organization and Pierce Manufacturing were one of several companies referred to in the report. Unfortunately, the report wasn’t balanced, omitted or distorted facts and knowingly mis-portrayed certain events to make them seem as seedy as possible. We are proud of the people who work for this organization and the product we sell and the firefighters we work with. I do however agree with the Commission’s finding that the system is flawed and needs some overhaul and think a good start would be for the Legislature and DCA to take a close look at the COSTARS program in Pennsylvania and HGAC in Texas. These programs allow manufacturers and customers to work within state established parameters in the buying and selling of apparatus.
Rather than having state established “generic specifications” as the SCI recommends, it allows all manufacturers to submit specifications to the state for consideration and posting. The major flaw with the SCI’s recommendation is that in order to create a “generic” specification, you have to lower it to the lowest common denominator, so that manufacturer’s that chose not to advance with technology (and we all know who they are) will hold the process back, because the state will not be able to create “generic” specs that would write out even one vendor, even if everyone else has advanced with technology. This is not good for the fire service, or for the communities for whom we so proudly protect the lives and property.
On the other hand, the COSTARS and HGAC program allows all manufacturers to submit proposals for consideration and posting on the state list. They also allow “option” upgrades (for example, a charge per shelf to add shelving beyond quantity already specified), and also allows for “other” customer customization, usually up to 25% of the value of the posted price; so on a $400,000 posted apparatus, the customer could make changes worth $100,000. What these systems do, which the SCI’s recommendation doesn’t, is multifold. First, it takes into account that the firefighting in more rural Salem County, while similar in concept, differs vastly from firefighting in say densely populated Bergen or Essex Counties. Second, it recognizes that the state can not dictate tactical firematic approaches on the individual fire companies in the state. It recognizes that some fire departments operate fire to hydrant, and others hydrant to fire and this dictates how you configure and design you apparatus. Finally, and most importantly, it allows fire companies that want to be progressive and have the latest in technological advances can do so, and those who which to stay with older proven technology can do so as well.
Fire & Safety Services, Ltd. is proud to announce the hiring of Michelle Russell to the staff. Michelle will be heading up the Marketing Department, as well as taking the lead on several special projects within the organization. In addition, she will be doing some sales of the Frontline apparatus in Southern New Jersey. Michelle was most recently working for PACCAR Financial as a Regional Sales Manager, and prior to that held several regional management positions with Kenworth Truck Company. Michelle got her start in the trucking industry selling for Chicago Kenworth. Prior to that Michelle worked in magazine advertising selling copy and working with customers in developing their ad space.
“Michelle has a lot of great ideas and brings a fresh look to our organization. Coming from the outside, albeit a related field, I think will allow her to approach things differently and challenge our way of thinking,” said Fire & Safety Services, Ltd. President David Russell. “I look forward to working closely with her on several of the things I’ve wanted to initiate, but just haven’t had the time to undertake them myself.”
Fire & Safety Services, Ltd. and Pierce Manufacturing, Inc had a wonderfully active Wildwood weekend September 11-13 at the New Jersey Firefighter’s Convention. This year’s booth included 14 apparatus.
A first this year for Fire & Safety Services, Ltd. was the inclusion of the BRAT (Brush Rapid Attack Truck), which is manufactured by Firematic Manufacturing in Yaphank, NY on Long Island. Firematic is a long time Pierce dealer who also has delved into manufacturing vehicles based on needs they found on the Island. “While the BRAT unit displayed is the bread and butter unit of the BRAT line, Firematic has expanded its offering to include smaller versions of the vehicle we had on display, a front mounted pump version, and a low profile (6’10” to 8”) mini-pumper with a Deutz diesel Hale 30FS pump ideal for parking garage applications,” said Fire & Safety Services Director of Sales, Craig Neal. For more information on this product line go to www.firematic.com.
Another big hit was the tandem heavy duty rescue on display courtesy of Lyndhurst New Jersey. “It was an ideal piece for people looking at any kind of rescue,” said Bill Himstedt a rescue sales specialist from Pierce Manufacturing on hand to assist Fire & Safety Services during the show. “It has non-walk in features, walk-in features, command unit features, just simply a great unit,” he continued.
“Our thanks go to all the people who helped out with this show,” said David Russell, Fire & Safety Services’ President. “I’d especially like to thank Craig Neal for directing things, Eric Trevena for handling the layout, all the driver’s who brought units down, and especially the fire companies and municipalities who let us display their vehicles. This includes: Cherry Hill, Williamstown, Berkeley Twp./Bayville FC, Lakewood, North Wildwood/Anglesea FC, Bogota, Middle Twp./Greek Creek FC, Carlstadt, Fair Haven, Lyndhurst, Maywood, Hope Twp., and Buena Boro/Richland FC.”
Fire & Safety Services, Ltd. was proud to be the main sponsor of the Burn Foundation’s Wildwood Fundraiser for the 8th year in row. The Burn Foundation raffles off an original framed work, created just for the show, as well as twenty-five prints of the same piece. Fire & Safety Services, Ltd. helps offset artist Joe Getsinger’s expenses so that all the funds raised through the weekend went to the Burn Foundations. The Burn Foundations is a Philadelphia based organization which supports the Greater Delaware Valley through education and support of five regional Burn Centers for 30 years. For more information on the Burn Foundation, please visit www.burnfoundation.org.
 This year’s piece “Rescue Two” features a motor vehicle accident with entrapment and incorporates several aspects of the Emergency Services, including fire, police, first aid, and even an advanced care transport helicopter.
For more information on this piece, or other artwork by Mr. Getsinger, visit his website at www.jgetsingerart.com.
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