NEEDA - National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association

Oshkosh Truck Corporation, a manufacturer of trucks and truck bodies, reports a year-end backlog for fire and emergency at $322 million vs 285 million in 02. But, fire and emergency segment sales declined 3.3 percent, to $132.1 million for the 4th quarter. The lower sales and earnings resulted from lower spending by municipal and state governments due to budget constraints and an adverse product mix, the company explained.

IF DISASTER STRIKES YOUR SMALL BUSINESS: SURVEY SAYS 55% ARE UNPREPARED
Originally Posted: October 21, 2003 4:18 PM
Last Updated: October 21, 2003 4:18 PM

Safeco conducted its Business Income Insurance Survey to shed light on one possible reason businesses may fail after experiencing a major crisis. Previous studies have shown that 25 percent of all businesses fail to reopen after a major disaster, and 40 percent of small businesses fail within a five-year period of a crisis.

"This is a real problem in the small-business market. Too often we find that by the time entrepreneurs are able to rebuild their workplace, they're in poor financial shape, and reopening is not easy," said Caryn Siebert, VP of claims, Safeco Property and Casualty Companies. According to Safeco's survey of small-business owners:

-- More than half (55 percent) said they do not have business income insurance;

-- Even more (63 percent) say they are unfamiliar with business income insurance;

Small-business owners typically take four to six months to rebuild their property and resume operations and another six months to a year to return to previous income levels if their property is destroyed and their company is shut down, Siebert said. Yet in Safeco's survey, only 19 percent of all small-business owners said they thought it would take six months or more. . .

(For more, just click on the title of this NEEDA NEWSLETTER item which includes the website for "MORE INFO?")

APPLYING FOR A GRANT TO REDUCE RISK OF WILDFIRES? TRY WEBSITE BY CALIFORNIA FIRE ALLIANCE OR ATTEND ONE OF 6 NOV. WORKSHOPS
Originally Posted: October 21, 2003 1:55 PM
Last Updated: October 21, 2003 2:02 PM

An online grants clearinghouse, made possible by grants to the California Fire Safe Council from the California Fire Alliance member agencies, allows organizations to apply for National Fire Plan grants for eligible community projects by writing one concept paper that is then routed to the appropriate funder(s).

The California Fire Safe Council and funding agencies will host grantwriting workshops in November 03, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. See full NEEDA text for details.

The California Fire Alliance includes, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF), the USDA Forest Service (USFS), the California Fire Safe Council, USDI Bureau of Indian Affairs, USDI Bureau of Land Management (BLM), USDI National Park Service (NPS), Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), local government fire agencies (represented by Los Angeles County Fire Department) and the USDI U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Alliance members coordinate efforts to improve preparations for wildland firefighting and help communities reduce wildfire risk.

"Anyone who's ever applied for federal grant funding knows what a breakthrough this program is. Essentially, we've boiled down multiple agency applications averaging about six pages each to one concept paper. For organizations that don't have staff to write those lengthy applications, this provides the same opportunities as those that have the staffing," said Bruce Turbeville, chairman of the California Fire Safe Council.

OSHKOSH TRUCK/PIERCE WILL DISCUSS $1.74 BILLION SALES, FUTURE OF COMPANY AND FIRE EMERGENCY INDUSTRY NOVEMBER 4 03
Originally Posted: October 21, 2003 6:34 AM
Last Updated: October 21, 2003 6:34 AM

A Pierce dealer and want to hear your major fire rescue manufacture discuss their sales future and the industry future? Oshkosh/Pierce offers a webcast of its November 4 03 presentation.

A live audio webcast of the presentation will be available through www.oshkoshtruckcorporation.com. To access the webcast, go to the website 15 minutes prior to the start of the presentation.

Robert Bohn, chairman, president and chief executive officer and Charlie Szews, executive vice president and chief financial officer, are scheduled to present on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 at 1:40 p.m. EST

REPORT SEES POSITIVE FUTURE FOR $3 BILLION FIRE AND RESCUE MARKET
Originally Posted: October 21, 2003 6:15 AM
Last Updated: October 21, 2003 6:15 AM

Lambert, Edwards & Associates, Inc. (LE&A), a Midwest investment firm with a relationship to Spartan Motors, has published a report on the nation's $3 billion fire and emergency-rescue industry and dynamics driving its growth.

The Grand Rapids-based firm examined the demographic, economic and industry factors that are expected to drive growth in the emergency-rescue market over the next decade:

* Increased federal funding: the Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program will provide more than $1.3 billion in funding for local fire districts by the end of 2003, and another $500 million has been proposed for 2004.

* Aging fleets: about 40 percent of the nation's 27,000 fire districts operate fire trucks and E/R vehicles of 1960s and 1970s vintage. Additionally, the National Fire Protection Association is working on a proposal that would require fire trucks older than 24 years to be upgraded or replaced.

* Sprawl: population growth in suburban and rural areas is driving the need for more vehicles, as well as specialized vehicles that can fight different types of residential, industrial and wildfires.

* Homeland Security: since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, communities have become increasingly aware of the need to properly train and equip their E/R personnel.

In addition to industry trends, the 8-page report identifies 15 public companies that provide products and services to the industry. LE&A represents three of those companies: Charlotte, Mich.-based Spartan Motors Inc. (Nasdaq:SPAR), which makes fire trucks, ambulances and chassis for E/R vehicles; Universal Security Instruments, Inc. (Amex: UUU), one of the fastest-growing firms in the $450 million domestic smoke-alarm market; and Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE:WWW), a leading marketer and manufacturer of branded footwear including combat boots and tactical footwear for police, EMTs and firefighters.

FIRST RESPONDERS CONFERENCE IN SAN FRANCISCO
Originally Posted: October 2, 2003 7:55 PM
Last Updated: October 2, 2003 7:55 PM

Firefighters, medical experts, and government officials from across the U.S., Canada, and beyond will gather in San Francisco October 6-9 2003 for a health and safety conference. The 17th biennial IAFF Symposium on the Occupations Health and Hazards of the Fire Service, sponsored by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) will be held at the San Francisco CA Hilton.

One of the speakers Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) who has been endorsed by IAFF as Democratic candidate for US President. (See earlier NEEDA NEWSLETTER story predicting this endorsement.)