6 minute read
Industry News
FOR HE’S AJOLLYGOOD FELLOW… FIREHOUSE SYSTEMS AND THE PANTHER COMPRESSOR
To say I am proud of my father, Fred Gandolfo, would not offer him the justice he deserved. To say I am amazed by my father, would be more fitting, because sometimes we can’t find the right words, we can only feel them. From childhood to this day, I’ve had the opportunity to watch my father pick up any broken object and be able to fix any problem in his personal life or business life; to troubleshoot it and, if any need isn’t met he'd find a way to meet it, especially if solving the problem meant he got to fabricate something.
After several years of development, I watched him build what the entire industry knows today as THE CAT. Little did I know then, The CATwould fuel an entire market change. Having my father’s love of the industry and safety of his client base as the driving force behind his design, leads to high quality, safe, efficient equipment. The CATwas only the beginning.
After the success of The CAT, my father began to design and produce a new line of Breathing Air Compressors —Panther Compressors. Of course, he offered standardized style systems, as always going above any other compressor manufacturer on the market, offering custom solutions to your need, space, and budget.
Recognizing two needs in the industry, my father put the pencil back on the paper and got to sketching out an idea. He wanted to offer a Breathing Air Compressor Trailer Unit, one that a fire department would actually use. One that would safely operate on scene, one that would operate to its full potential without losing “steam,” one that would be safe for the long-term health of the operator. He needed to find a way to offer an economically friendly, efficient, easy to tow, safe to operate equipment in the middle of a world in the midst of an ecological and economic crisis. With that … I repeat, to say I am proud of my dad, is not enough…nonetheless…We are very proud to introduce the world’s first battery powered breathing air compressor trailer. Made especially for you by my dad, Fred Gandolfo … the Panther ECO. The Panther ECO provides eight hours of run time at full load, emits no diesel or fumes and, most importantly, no thermal runaway! The Panther ECO is available in 10- 15- or 20-horsepower versions. Already have a breathing air trailer? We can upgrade your current system to the Panther ECO, feel free to ask us for your options/! Remember: Go green…choose Panther Compressors.
- Liz Gandolfo
For more info contact Fred or Liz Gandolfo at 631-661-7515; or Fred at Fred@coastalfiresystems.com or at Liz@coastalfiresystems.com
Researchers and fire service practitioners met virtually last year for the 4th National Fire Service Research Agenda Symposium resulting in the National Fire Service Research Agenda Report with nearly 300 recommendations. Symposium participants worked in three facilitated working groups to create recommendations to have the most significant impact on firefighter health and safety. The facilitators then submitted the recommendations as worksheets to an expert jury of researchers and fire service representatives. After review, the jury was able to modify and move recommendations to other domains as needed. The report includes the finalized recommendations and the working groups’original worksheets. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) hosted the National Fire Service Research Agenda Symposium, and UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) was the exclusive sponsor.
NFFF Chairman of the Board of Directors Troy Markel said, “Our commitment to create a fire service national research agenda is embedded in the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives through Initiative 7. But even more critical than that, is our commitment to take a multidisciplinary approach to firefighter health and safety by providing the opportunity for researchers and fire service representatives to map out the future needs of the fire service.”
Steve Kerber, Executive Director of FSRI, added, “The research conducted today is without a doubt making a difference in the health and safety of our nation’s firefighters and communities across the country. It is promising to read these recommendations created with the input of firefighters and envision what the future of fire service research can be.”
The report features the working group recommendations based on their domains topical area. The planning committee determined the three domains to be: • Domain #1: Hiring/Retention/ Advancement included recommendations on recruitment, effective leadership, diversity/equity /inclusion/belonging, and hiring, promotion, and retention. • Domain #2: Effective operations included recommendations related to training, tactics, tools, equipment, apparatus, personal protective equipment, and community risk reduction. • Domain #3: Health and safety included recommendations related to wellness, understudied populations, cardiovascular health, cancer, mental health, metabolic health, reproductive health, occupational medical evaluations, fatigue, injury prevention/assessment, violence prevention/risk assessment, and work environment. The 4th National Fire Service Research Agenda Report can be downloaded here: http://www.everyonegoeshome.com/wp-content/uploads/ sites/2/2022/01/research-agenda-symposium-4-report.pdf For more information on the National Fire Service Research Agenda, please contact John Tippett, Director of Fire Service Programs, jtippett@firehero.org.
Honoring the Fallen
“Carry the Load” honors the sacrifices made by ournation’s heroes. They support military, veterans, first responders and theirfamilies through a continuum of care and services. Louisville Truck 1/Engine 2 and Engine 4 met the Midwest Relay Team as they passed through Louisville recently. The relay is 3,800 miles long. It started in Minneapolis and culminated in Dallas on Memorial Day Weekend. The Relay Team walked in honorof fallen Louisville Fire Department Firefighter Sean McAdam. - Photos courtesy of Louisville Division of Fire
Page 26, Fire News, July/August 2022 Obituary
Louisville’s Sean McAdam
With heavy hearts and tremendous sorrow, we mourn the tragic death of Louisville Fire Department Firefighter Sean McAdam who died from a medical emergency in the line of duty on May 11, 2022.
Sean joined the LFD family in March 2002, spending his entire career assigned to specialty rescue companies. Sean was assigned to Engine 2/Truck 1 in downtown Louisville for most of his career, and recently transferred to Quint 7 in the Louisville Highlands. Firefighter McAdam received numerous awards for courage and bravery throughout his career, including the Division-s Medal of Valor, and three Unit Citations.
This is a terribly sad time for the Louisville Division of Fire. Please keep Sean’s family and all whose lives have been touched by Sean in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. The Division expresses our deepest condolences to the McAdam family and Sean’s many friends. - Photos courtesy of Louisville Division of Fire
