Industry News

from Fire News Pennsylvania, July/August 2022

Special Features

NATIONALFIRE SERVICE RESEARCH AGENDAREPORTRELEASED

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.

Pennsylvania Apparatus

The Weisenberg Fire Department recently placed into service this 2021 RosenbauerCommander 2000-gpm pumpertankerwith a 3000-gallon water tank and a 30-gallon foam tank as Tanker5121. Atglen PAFire

- Fire News photo by Shane Shifflett

Weisenberg Tanker5121

- Fire News photo by Geoffrey Wetherhold Enola Truck 17 at FDIC 2022.

- Fire News photo by Shane Shifflett

Whitehall’s Brush 3761

- Fire News photo by Geoffrey Wetherhold

The West Catasauqua Fire Company of Whitehall Township operates this 2020 Ford F-550/Levan with a 250-gpm pump and a 300-gallon watertank as Brush 3761.

Fatality at Graham Blvd. Blaze

On June 19, 2022, around 1240, firefighters were dispatched to the 800 block of Graham Boulevard fora reported house fire. When crews arrived, they were met with heavy fire conditions in the back of the home and weretold an elderly man was still inside. Asecond alarm was requested as crews began to search forthe victim. Crews encountered heavy fire conditions during the search and were forced to back out. Unfortunately, crews found the victim, a 70-year-old man, deceased. Crews worked forovertwo hours before the fire was placed undercontrol. - Fire News photo by First Due Photography

Working Barn Fire UpperMahantongo Twp.

Klingerstown units were advised of a working barn fire on Saw Mill Road in UpperMahantongo Twownship. Aspecial call forsecond alarm tanker task force was requested. On arrival, crews found a large barn fully involved with partial collapse already and additional structures with fire. Command advised it would be exterioroperations only as the remaining part of the barn had fully collapsed. Crews worked to douse remaining flames and hot spots.

- Fire News photo by Seth Lasko

Obituary Swedesberg’s, Perkiomen’s Joseph Barnshaw

Joseph J. Barnshaw, an active volunteer firefighter, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, May 1, 2022, at his residence with his loving family at his side. He was 73.

Mr. Barnshaw was born in Bridgeport, PA, on February 16, 1949, and was the son of the late J. Wilson Barnshaw, former Fire Marshall of the Boro of Bridgeport and the late Mary (Choinski) Barnshaw Longacre. He was employed as a laborer for the Township of Perkiomen and a Deputy Sheriff of Montgomery County.

He started his career as a volunteer firefighter as a Junior Fireman with the Swedesburg Volunteer Fire Company. He was also an Assistant Engineer, served on the Board of Directors and the Fire Police Unit.

While with Swedesburg, he received numerus awards, including Firefighter of the Year, the Fire Chief’s Award, Chief Engineers Award, Presidents Award and Fellowship Award.

When Joe moved to Perkiomen he continued as a volunteer firefighter and joined the Perkiomen Volunteer Fire Company. There he became Deputy Chief and President of the company and received the Firefighter of the Year award. Because of his many years and service to both companies, Joe was bestowed the honor of Life Member. He was a Security Guard with EPS.

Surviving are his loving wife: Catherine (Myers) Barnshaw, daughter Cathy Jo Barnshaw, son John J. Barnshaw, Collegeville Police Officer and Chief of the Perkiomen Fire Co. and his wife Carrie, and his grandchildren Diana, Olivia, Beau and Brooks.

He was preceded in death by a grandson: Nicky, whom he missed dearly and his stepsister Janet Smith and sisters Betty Saladino and Roseann Milewski

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to Nicky’s Heart of Gold, 343 Maple Ave., Collegeville, PA19426. - Fire News photos by Ted Hodgins