NEEDA - National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association

Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) have signed oaths declaring that, should they win the presidency in 2008, they will issue an executive order during their first month in office instructing the entire executive branch to put into practice the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, a Google-like search tool that will allow you to see how your tax dollars are being spent on federal contracts, grants and earmarks.

All of the major presidential candidates have been invited to sign the "oath of presidential transparency" which is being promoted by a diverse coalition of 36 groups, led by Reason Foundation, a libertarian think tank that has advised the last four presidential administrations.

"The next president should be committed to transparency and accountability," said Adrian Moore, vice president of research at Reason Foundation. "Redesigning the federal government so that it is more accountable to taxpayers is a nonpartisan issue. Transparency will help produce a government focused on results instead of our current system, which is plagued by secrecy, wasteful spending and pork projects."

"Every American has the right to know how the government spends their tax dollars, but for too long that information has been largely hidden from public view," said Sen. Obama. "This historic law will lift the veil of secrecy in Washington and ensure that our government is transparent and accountable to the American people."

"Government transparency is essential to government accountability. Americans need to feel they can trust their government," Sen. Brownback stated.

"When government spends the people's money, it must be done with utmost possible transparency," Rep. Paul, the first to sign the oath, declared. "Signing the Oath of Presidential Transparency was a no-brainer for me."

The oath was sent to every presidential candidate who has met the Federal Election Commission's filing requirements and has "raised or spent $50,000 or more (the threshold for mandatory electronic filing) from sources or to payees other than the candidate him or herself." The oath was first distributed to every presidential candidate's headquarters on July 17, 2007. Subsequently, at least five follow-up emails or calls were made to each campaign.

The complete oath of presidential transparency is available online.

An alliance of 36 diverse groups is advocating the presidential accountability oath. The following groups are part of the coalition: American Association of Physicians and Surgeons, American Association of Small Property Owners, Americans for Tax Reform, Budget Watch Nevada, Capital Research Center, Center for Financial Privacy and Human Rights, Center for Individual Freedom, Citizen Outreach Project, Citizens Against Government Waste, Doctors for Open Government, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Evergreen Freedom Foundation, FreedomWorks, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Iowa Public Policy Institute, Liberty Coalition, Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Minnesota Free Market Institute, Mississippi Center for Public Policy, National Taxpayers Union, Nevada Policy Research Institute, Reason Foundation, Republican Liberty Caucus, Research Accountability Project, Rio Grande Foundation, Taxpayers League of Minnesota, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, The Harbor League, The Performance Institute, The Project on Government Oversight, The Pullins Report, The Rutherford Institute, US Bill of Rights Foundation, Velvet Revolution, Virginia Institute for Public Policy, and Washington Policy Center.

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS ENDORSES SEN. DODD (CT) FOR US PRESIDENT
Originally Posted: August 29, 2007 10:45 AM
Last Updated: August 29, 2007 10:49 AM

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has endorsed Senator Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT) for President of the United States. IAFF, one of the nations top 10 unions, has 281,000 members.

Previously, IAFF endorsed Senator John F. Kerry (D-MASS) for the 04 Presidential election. IAFF General President Harold A. Schaitberger made the announcement here in Washington DC this morning. Schaitberger plans to accompany Dodd to Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada for campaign appearances.

IAFF, unlike other unions, endorses in the primaries but says it is not opposed to other candidates. Schaitberger said Dodd has always carried the water for the union.

FIRE IN THE US -- 10TH EDITION OFFERS 10 YEAR STATISTICS OF FIRES IN THE US
Originally Posted: August 29, 2007 10:36 AM
Last Updated: August 29, 2007 10:50 AM

Gregory Cade, FEMA Assistant Administrator of the U.S.
Fire Administration (USFA), says the latest edition of "Fire in the United States" is now available.

This fourteenth edition of Fire in the United States covers the 10-year period from 1995 to 2004 and focuses on the national fire problem and provides as well an overview of the fire problem in structures, vehicles and other mobile
properties, and outside and other properties.

The purpose of the report? To aid the fire service, media, and general public with fire loss information that can be used to set priorities, establish and evaluate specific fire programs, and serve as a guide for fire data analyses at
the State and local levels.

U.S. Fire Administrator Cade "It is a sad reality that fire deaths and injuries occur everyday in this great nation. As a fire service leader, I understand and appreciate the value of fire data provided by the fire service community and other organizations. With the compilation of this data into the Fire in the United States report, we can examine the fire problem and use it to our advantage to aid in reducing the tragic deaths and injuries related to fires."

This edition of Fire in the United States is organized differently from previous editions. The report presents a summary of the national fire problem in terms of losses for structures, vehicle and other mobile properties, and outside and other properties. Detailed analyses of the residential and non-residential structure fire problems will be published as stand-alone reports.

Data on firefighter casualties are now published in two separate documents: the annual Firefighter Fatalities in the United States report and a new report, Fire-related Firefighter Injuries in 2004, to be released at a later date.

The USFA publishes Fire in the United States - a running 10-year statistical overview of fires in the United States, focusing on the latest year in which data were available at the time of preparation. The primary source of data is the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), along with data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), State Fire Marshals' offices, U.S. Census Bureau, and the Consumer Price Index.

US TREASURY TO IMPOSE 3% WITHHOLDING PENALTY ON ALL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT DEALERS WHO SELL TO ANY FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT: IS THIS A FAIR TAX ON DEALERS OR A DUMB IDEA AIMED AT HURTING SMALL BUSINESSES?
Originally Posted: August 27, 2007 5:23 PM
Last Updated: August 27, 2007 5:35 PM

By Kenton Pattie, Executive Director
National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA)
KentonP1@aol.com

The passage I quote in this NEEDA Newsletter article is from a US Treasury public notice (August 13, 2007): looks innocent, but it is a serious challenge to the small businesses, dealers and distributors who will be hurt by a new 3% withholding scheme Congress and the US Treasury Department have concocted.

Under the scheme, each sale you make to a Federal, state, or local government will have a 3% withholding by the government agency from the paycheck you have earned. That 3% will be taken from you at the point of sale and will be kept from you until the tax year is over at which point, once you pay the taxes you owe you must try to get some or all of the 3% back from the Internal Revenue Service.

Some opponents of the 3% withholding scheme contend that the government agency will be borrowing 3% of the income owed to you, keeping it for a year, and making you prove twice that you are really owed the 3%!

This is one of the most convoluted and obnoxious Federal ideas to hit small businesses in many years: it amounts to denying you 3% off every sale, forcing you at the end of the tax year to ask IRS to pay it back to you! By that time, the government will have had the use of your money for up to one year . . . you earned the money, but the government gets to keep it from you.

Rationale for the 3% withholding of the money owed to you? Treasury contends that some companies underpay their annual taxes owed to Federal, state and local governments; the only way to get all the taxes owed, they say, is to withhold 3% from every contract and then figure out one year later, on a case by case basis, whether the withholding was fair.

Instead of penalizing the few who may underpay, they plan to overtax all who have contracts to serve any government. It is a scheme which assumes you are guilty of underpaying taxes until you prove otherwise on your tax return!

This is an ugly and offensive way to view the dealers and distributors who serve the government sector. No one does a better job of serving than the emergency equipment dealers of the United States. No emergency equipment dealer deserves to be penalized 3% of sales every time they do work for a government entity.

This is not just a dumb idea that will sink of its own weight: Congress has already put this idea into Federal law. The only way your company won't be affected is if Congress repeals the new law that allows all Federal, state and local agencies to withhold 3% from the contract payments earned by you.

Was there any public debate about this law before Congress passed it? None. It was inserted into a bill with no public exposure, no hearings, no debate. No one I know in Congress or in Washington knew about it until the law was signed by President Bush.

Needless to say, repeal of any Federal law is very, very hard: it requires an Act of Congress supported by more than half the 100 US Senators and half the 435 US Representatives.

Now that Congress has already passed this 3% withholding law, the Treasury Department has issued this request for public comment (as requested by the US Department of the Treasury 2007 - 2008 Priority Guidance Plan):

"TAX ADMINISTRATION (page 17)
2. Notice under section 3402(t) soliciting comments regarding guidance to Government entities required to withhold on certain payments made by the entities."

If you agree or disagree with this new rule, you should express your views to
your US Representative and US Senators: then write to these Treasury officials below with copies of your views to your US Representative and US Senators. Should Treasury put the law into effect or should Congress repeal the law before it is imposed on emergency equipment dealers? Express your views:

Eric Solomon
Assistant Secretary (Tax Policy)
U.S. Department of the Treasury
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Washington, DC 20220

Kevin M. Brown
Acting Commissioner
Internal Revenue Service
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Washington, DC 20220

Donald L. Korb
Chief Counsel
Internal Revenue Service
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Washington, DC 20220

TEN PERCENT OF WASHINGTON DC FIRE HYDRANTS ARE OUT OF SERVICE: DC WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY
Originally Posted: August 27, 2007 11:42 AM
Last Updated: August 27, 2007 11:42 AM

by Kenton Pattie, Executive Director
National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA)
KentonP1@aol.com

NEEDA previously reported on the problem with fire hydrants in the District of Columbia (Washington DC): Many hydrants don't work. Those that are defective are supposed to be clearly marked and scheduled for repairs. But fire fighers frequently find that hydrants, with no marking and no previous identification as defective, don't work when they are needed to fight a nearby fire. And fire fighters are not informed when a hydrant has been repaired.

DC fire stations keep their own list of hydrants they know don't work even though they are not responsible for the inspection or repair of the hydrants in Washington DC. And fire fighters are not informed when a hydrant has been repaired.

After this problem became public, the DC Water and Sewer Authority which is supposed to check all hydrants and repair those which need fixing, has conducted a survey of 9,086 hydrants and says 10-11 percenty are defective.
The program of checking hydrants is still going on and may not be finished until the end of September, 2007. From now on, the hydrants will be checked twice a year, the agency says.

NEEDA has twice reported that fire fighters had to provide enough hose to take water from many blocks away to reach fires -- taking valuable time, effort and responding apparatus to deal with a critical problem facing people and property. One of the latest incidents was a fire at the Georgetown public library in April which had to be fought with water drawn from hydrants blocks away even though there were hydrants nearby, but defective.

The other owner of hydrants in the District is the National Park Service.

In the future, the responsibility to check these hydrants will probably be switched to the fire department itself. Should fire departments have the job of testing and fixing fire hydrants? Do they have the budget for the inspection staff, for ordering and inventorying the repair equipment, and fielding the repair staff, keeping up with the need for prompt and complete repairs on a weekly basis?

While this same problem turns up in other areas -- who is in charge of inspecting and fixing fire hydrants? -- most urban areas have a program to help ensure that fire hydrants are maintained in working order.

The District of Columbia has been slow in responding to this problem, putting an unfair burden on the Fire Department -- not only to fight the fires but to be creative and innovative in finding water. One warehouse fire in the district, firefighters had to go over a dozen blocks to find a working hydrant -- a totally unacceptable situation, a condition which no other city in the United States would condone.

Your comments? KentonP1@aol.com

PURVIS PROVIDES COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT TO RHODE ISLAND FIRE DEPARTMENTS
Originally Posted: August 24, 2007 2:18 PM
Last Updated: August 24, 2007 2:18 PM

ATLANTA. PURVIS Systems Incorporated, an IT systems and service provider for the public safety, emergency management and defense industries, August 24, 2007 announced from Fire Rescue International 2007 (Booth #4653), that it has been awarded new contracts by Rhode Island communities seeking reliable, powerful and cost-effective technology solutions and services.

The Central Coventry (RI) Fire District has selected PURVIS to optimize and maintain the Departments customized fire management technology systems, as well as develop and install a robust Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone system.

PURVIS has also received orders from three other Rhode Island communities, East Providence, Foster and Harmony Townships, to implement its mobile emergency medical services reporting software, PURVIS EMS Manager.

The projects undertaken by PURVIS Systems on behalf of the Central Coventry Fire District are designed to successfully integrate voice and data management. PURVIS will first install a core network to link the departments multiple stations and create an integrated communications system. Once the network is in place, PURVIS Systems will install the VoIP system to enable a powerful, full-featured voice communication system that will meet current and future needs of the District and its citizens. In addition, PURVIS will add modules to Central Coventrys existing PURVIS FD Manager software system to ensure a cohesive, merged data management system.

Chief Robert Seltzer, Central Coventry Fire Department: Having spoken with several service providers about this project, we ultimately chose to continue a long-standing relationship with PURVIS Systems. We are comfortable that PURVIS will provide our department with an extremely cost-effective, yet powerful, integrated network that will tie together our four area fire stations and enable us to be an even more effective response team within our community. We are also well-aware of the high levels of service and accountability that PURVIS offers and believe that, as a result, we have chosen an ideal partner for our department.

PURVIS FD Manager is the core fire solution offered from PURVIS Systems and its flexible, modular architecture makes it the ideal management system for municipalities such as Central Coventry. Central Coventry implemented FD Manager two years ago and under this new agreement, will expand its use of the system to include the addition of pre-fire plan information features and new record management capabilities that will enable, from a data management perspective, to smoothly merge voice and data communications into one cohesive package.

The department will implement PURVIS FD Prevention, a system that provides fire marshals with the tools to organize their pre-plan information and fire prevention inspections. Using this invaluable tool, inspectors are able to dramatically reduce the time needed to complete an inspection, thus freeing up time handle more inspections or conduct additional fire prevention education throughout the community. PURVIS FD Prevention benefits citizens by enabling more frequent inspections that can directly reduce the number of fires and prevent hazards. The system prompts inspectors on scheduled re-inspections and ensures that these re-inspections are never overlooked.

The East Providence, Foster and Harmony communities have chosen to implement the PURVIS EMS Manager, an electronic reporting software that ensures all required EMS data is collected electronically. Using PURVIS EMS Manager, first responders will have the ability to easily create EMS reports and send them electronically to DOH and third-party billing companies. Emergency officials will also be able to easily search for reports for both billing and legal purposes and also generate a variety of reports, including Quality Assessment and billing reports. PURVIS EMS Manager also interfaces with the ER Card electronic personal health recording system, enabling EMS officials to potentially receive immediate access to specific patient records. In addition, the product enables EMS officials to print Patient Refusals while in the field, and streamline the data collection and reporting processes.

John Desposito, president of PURVIS Systems, Inc.: As a company with a long history in the Ocean State, we are pleased to have the opportunity to address the public safety technology challenges of the cities and towns across Rhode Island. Our customers are well aware that no community is exactly alike and, as such, they require unique services and products. Central Coventry, East Providence, Foster and Harmony will receive customized solutions from PURVIS that truly fit the requirements of each community, as well as unsurpassed service and support.

PURVIS Systems is an IT systems and service provider with proven expertise and user-validated performance in the public safety, emergency management and defense industries. For more than three decades, PURVIS Systems has been committed to delivering value-driven solutions for organizations seeking a customer-focused, flexible and accessible partner for their essential technology needs. Based in Middletown, RI, with offices nationwide, PURVIS Systems leverages its knowledge, experience and accountability to create enduring and highly-effective partnerships. PURVIS Systems clients include the New York City Fire Department, American Red Cross, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, the Surface Warfare Development Group and various other municipal and commercial emergency/public safety organizations.

MORE INFO? www.purvis.com

SPARTAN CHASSIS INTRODUCES FURION FIRE TRUCK CAB AND CHASSIS AT FIRE CHIEF'S EXHIBIT IN ATLANTA
Originally Posted: August 24, 2007 1:42 PM
Last Updated: August 24, 2007 2:00 PM

ATLANTA. Spartan Chassis, Inc., a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. , unveiled the Furion(R) today at the Fire-Rescue International Expo in Atlanta, a trade show sponsored by the Internatinal Association of Fire Chiefs.

The Furion, which is the third fire truck cab and chassis in the Spartan Chassis product line, is designed to bridge the market between custom and commercial vehicles. This new product offers many of the key product features that Spartan Chassis is known for, yet will enable the body builder to offer a fire truck at a price competitive to a fire truck built on a commercial chassis.

The Furion is on display August 24-2, 2007 at Booth 1912 at FRI which is one of the emergency-rescue industry's largest trade shows. Spartan Chassis held a brief media conference on Friday morning, August 24, 2007.

Richard Schalter, president of Spartan Chassis: "The addition of the Furion completes our line up of custom cabs and chassis. Between the Gladiator(TM), Metro Star(R) and Furion, we offer departments the opportunity to build what they want -- and get what they want."

Schalter: "Spartan Chassis offers the next generation of custom by offering more than 5,000 options. Because of Spartan's flexible design capability we can meet the specific needs -- and budgets - of fire departments from coast to coast."

Unlike its commercial counterparts, which might wind up as a delivery or moving truck, the Furion is a purpose-built cab-and-chassis specifically designed for the emergency-rescue industry. When a Furion rolls off the Spartan Chassis line, it is ready for an apparatus to be fitted, which will
save the body builder hours of time and labor in chassis preparation currently required on commercial chassis.

"The Furion is a major initiative for Spartan Chassis and Spartan Motors and marks our entry into the customized commercial chassis market," said John Sztykiel, president and CEO of Spartan Motors. "Historically, we have been very good at converting commercial markets to custom. Over the years, we have secured increasingly large shares in our key markets.

Sztykiel: "The Spartan Chassis brand has tremendous cache. We feel this is an excellent time to launch the Furion, which will put the power and performance of a Spartan Chassis into the affordable range for virtually
all fire departments.

Furion features:

-- A 94-inch galvanized steel cab designed for safety, roominess and maneuverability
-- Plenty of room for six crew members and equipment
-- Cab-over-engine design, which allows for greater visibility and maneuverability
-- Advanced electrical system, featuring an under-dash heating and air conditioning system

In crash tests conducted by the Center for Advanced Product Evaluation, the Furion cab complied with roof strength, occupant protection and frontal impact requirements as defined by SAE J2422, ECE R29 and SAE J2420.

Schalter: "The Furion fills a niche in our product line by removing the price barrier and providing a rugged, dependable and performance-oriented Spartan at a price that is within reach of commercial products."

During IAFC, show goers are doing side-by-side comparisons with Spartan's Gladiator and Metro Star products. The Gladiator starts with a base cab width of 96 inches and the Metro Star starts with a base cab width of 94 inches. Both offer more standard features and option packages than the Furion, and both can be customized to meet the specific needs of any department. The Gladiator is selected by fire departments that are looking for engine horsepower above 425.

Spartan Chassis, Inc., a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc.), is a developer and manufacturer of custom chassis for recreational vehicles, fire trucks and specialty vehicles. Spartan Motors, which also manufactures emergency rescue vehicles under the brand names of Crimson Fire, Crimson Fire Aerials and Road Rescue, reported sales of $445 million in 2006 and is focused on becoming the premier manufacturer of specialty vehicles and chassis in North America.

NO BID PROCUREMENT PRACTICES BY FEDERAL AGENCIES SHOULD BE STOPPED; REGULATIONS CALLING FOR FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION SHOULD BE ENFORCED
Originally Posted: August 22, 2007 5:09 PM
Last Updated: August 22, 2007 5:09 PM

by Kenton Pattie, Executive Director
National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA)

The US Department of Homeland Security has been stepping around Federal procurement rules by awarding no-bid contracts. By using the "unique and innovative" clause, routine contracts are being awarded without seeking bidders, proposals, or competition for the work.

Even though the Federal government is supposed to award contracts following "full and open" competition, sidestepping competition has become common during the Bush Administration. In some instances, existing contracts are extended without opening the work to competition.

US House Oversight and Government Reform Committee: "The rapid growth in no-bid and limited-competition contracts has made full and open competition the exception, not the rule."

Ken Ashdown, Chief Investigator, Taxpayers for Common Sense: "Contracting officials are throwing out decades of work to develop fairr and sensible rules to promote competition. Government officials are skirting the rules in favor of expediency or their favored contractors."

Contractors often know how best to prepare documents to cover the no-bid approach to their own contract work.

The Department of Homeland Security's ethics officials have OK'd this practice. One DHS official said his goal is to get the work done quickly and efficiently so he uses consultants who can help get contract work through the no-bid channel.

The August 22, 2007 Washington Post, copyrighted article "Drug office's No-Bid Award Illustrates Ties Between Officials, Conractors" (A1 and A8) exposes one example of the close ties DHS officials have with consultants who use their inside track experience to steer contracts through the no-bid channel.

NEEDA Executive Director Kenton Pattie, who serves on the Procurement Committee of the US Chamber of Commerce, has opposed all Federal procurement practices which eliminate competition: "Without competition, dealers, small manufacturers, and small distributors are left out of procurement opportunities. Big firms with lobbyists and close ties to Federal agencies win contracts while small businesses with strong local sales and service are not eligible to bid or are not informed of the business opportunity."

Pattie: "Dealers are victims of the no-bid Federal practices in two ways:
first, losing out on any Federal work and second losing out on state and local contracts which are awarded to large GSA contractors who need not bid or compete for the work. Congress has let this anti-dealer atmosphere flourish in the Federal government and the no-bid movement has washed over into the state and local government market with the blessing of the Federal government."

Pattie: " Criticizing such Federal agencies as the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense and General Services Administration is hazardous because they control so much of the emergency equipment and services funds spent by the Federal government. Throughout the ten years NEEDA has been fighting for small businesses on this issue, Federal officials have consistently said they like no-bid procurement because they can do things fast without any questions being asked. With no-bid procurement, there is no "request for proposals" or "request for bids" or any other publicity given to the need for the purchase. No one knows what the government wants except the insiders. Further, there is no publicity after the purchase has been made and no public record is available. The loss of the bright spotlight of public access to procurement information is a serious failure in the Executive Branch, often condoned by employees who should know better."

Pattie: "The Washington Post has performed a very useful public service by investigating an example of this no-bid practice. Unfortunately, Congress is adjourned this month and few Members of Congress will see the Post story. So the no-bid practice will continue until Congress and the Administration insist on "full and open competition" as provided by law. Law and procurement regulations need strengthening and clarifying and administration of procurement should be based on full and open competition: this should be done promptly."

MORE INFO? Kenton Pattie, Executive Director of the National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association: 703 850 8552 KentonP1@aol.com

AUSTRALIA HOLDS NATIONAL DISASTER RESCUE COMPETITION IN BANBURY NOVEMBER 3-4, 2007
Originally Posted: August 22, 2007 10:29 AM
Last Updated: August 22, 2007 10:32 AM

Australia holds national disaster rescue competition NATIONAL DISASTER RESCUE COMPETITION in Banbury, Western Australia, November 3-4, 2007.

As Spring breaks in Banbury, Australia, this picturesque South West town hosts the National Disaster Rescue Competition (NDRC).

Held every two years, the competition enables State and Territory Emergency Service agencies to come together to engage in friendly rivalry in the field of general rescue.

The competition features a number of stands with scenarios that reflect realistic events often encountered by emergency service agencies. Each stand is designed to challenge teams while their performance and competency is assessed by independent adjudicators.

The stands test teams in the areas of:
general rescue; reconnaissance and information gathering skills; leadership and team management; and first aid.

Providing an ideal opportunity for teams from across the country to co-operate and exchange rescue techniques and ideas, the competition will be conducted under guidelines set by the National Education and Training Committee.

With the aim of increasing innovation and good practice in rescue, the NDRC has previously brought about important advancements in rescue skills and procedures, helping to ensure Australias emergency service volunteers are continually improving and serving the community at the highest possible level.

MORE INFO? NDRC@fesa.wa.gov.au

GENERATORS POSE DANGER OR DEATH AS SOURCE OF CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)
Originally Posted: August 22, 2007 10:21 AM
Last Updated: August 22, 2007 10:21 AM

Students struck by carbon monoxide poisoning at a student apartment near Virginia Tech, Blacksburg VA should remind everyone of the dangers of CO.

When a member of your community is killed or injured from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning as the result of improper generator use, it is important to let others know how they can prevent a similar tragedy. As you continue to report on the incident, the U.S. Fire Administration encourages you to remind your audience that many CO deaths are preventable

From 1990-2003, 228 CO poisoning deaths were associated with portable generators.

From 2001 to 2003, the number of reported CO poisoning deaths associated with portable generators doubled.

The most common improper placement of portable generators that result in injury or death are in crawl spaces, basements, and attached garages (within or in close proximity to the home).

FEMA CREATES REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Originally Posted: August 22, 2007 10:00 AM
Last Updated: August 22, 2007 10:00 AM

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Region 10 (Seattle) is creating a Regional Advisory Council for the Pacific Northwest, to advise the regional administrator on all aspects of emergency management in an effort to ensure close coordination with all involved.

The council will be made up of elected officials, emergency managers, and emergency response providers from state, local and tribal governments from the four-state region which includes Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

"Our goal is to attract the most knowledgeable and dedicated people with practical experience in management and on the ground to make sure we can all work together more effectively when disaster strikes," said Regional Administrator Susan Reinertson.

Authorized under the Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act of 2006, establishment of advisory councils in each of FEMA's ten regions is an extension of the National Advisory Council, which works with FEMA Administrator David Paulison.

Members of the regional council will be appointed by Reinertson from among nominees recommended by state homeland security advisors and adjutant generals, emergency managers, governors' offices and homeland security-related professional associations. The council is charged with reviewing preparedness, protection, response and mitigation programs and policies to identify weaknesses and recommend improvements.

A primary goal of the council will be to improve communication and understanding among the various organizations involved in emergency management and response. "We have to build our alliances before we need them," Reinertson said in a letter to state emergency managers. "We can't wait until a disaster strikes to start creating common understanding and shared sense of purpose."

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

PENNSYLVANIA FIREFIGHTERS OFFERED FREE WORKSHOPS ON HOW TO RUN VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATIONS
Originally Posted: August 22, 2007 9:47 AM
Last Updated: August 22, 2007 9:54 AM

Pennsylvania's Auditor General Jack Wagner announced the fall schedule for free workshops offered to officers and members of volunteer fire departments providing operational guidelines for Volunteer Firefighters' Relief Associations.

The workshops are instructed by Department of the Auditor General employees who give emergency service volunteers the opportunity to receive first-hand instruction on administrative procedures and to get answers about relief association-related matters.

Wagner is responsible for ensuring that all state money is spent legally and properly. He is the commonwealth's elected independent fiscal watchdog, conducting financial audits, performance audits, and special investigations. The Department of the Auditor General conducts approximately 5,000 audits per year.

In 2006, the Department of the Auditor General distributed more than $66.3 million to 1,973 volunteer firefighters' relief associations in the state. The funds are primarily used to provide financial protection to volunteer emergency service personnel against any disability that might occur during participation in the fire service, as well as to purchase various types of fire equipment and to pay expenses to train volunteers.

All VFRA Fall 2007 workshop sessions begin at 7 PM:

-- Sept. 5, East End Fire Dept., 104 Wilson Ave., Mercer, Mercer County
-- Sept. 6, Bridgeville Vol. Fire Dept., 370 Commercial St.,
Bridgeville, Allegheny County
-- Sept. 11, Wellsboro Fire Dept. Annex, 21 East Avenue, Wellsboro, Tioga County
-- Sept. 13, J.E. DuBois Hose Co. No. 3, 301 First St., DuBois, Clearfield County
-- Sept. 25, Campbelltown Vol. Fire Co., 2818 Horseshoe Pike, Campbelltown, Lebanon County
-- Sept. 26, Spring Twp. Vol. Fire Dept., 2301 Monroe Ave., West Lawn, Berks County
-- Oct. 3, Penn Forest Twp. Vol. Fire Co. No. 1, 1387 State Route 903, Jim Thorpe, Carbon County
-- Oct. 4, Friedens Vol. Fire Co., 2243 Stoystown Road, Friedens, Somerset County

Workshops held in the past were well-received by volunteer firefighters, who offered such comments as "excellent source of information with opportunity to ask specific questions," "always helpful to learn of the new rules, regulations and changes," and "very knowledgeable
presenters."

Copies of the department's Management Guidelines for Volunteer Firefighters' Relief Associations manual will be distributed at the workshops.
The Volunteer Firefighters' Relief Associations program was established in 1895 through a 2-percent state levy on foreign fire insurance premiums. The Department of the Auditor General has the responsibility to audit volunteer firefighters' relief associations to make sure that VFRA funds are properly spent.

MORE INFO? Bureau of Firefighters' Relief Audits at (717)-787-1308 or fire@auditorgen.state.pa.us or www.auditorgen.state.pa.us.

US GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE AND SMALL BUSINESS OFFICE OF ADVOCACY AGREE: IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED IN WAY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TREATS SMALL BUSINESSES
Originally Posted: August 17, 2007 3:13 PM
Last Updated: August 17, 2007 3:13 PM

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report documents the need for more public participation and transparency in federal agencies review of their existing regulations. The Office of Advocacys new small business Regulatory Review and Reform (R3) initiative addresses many of the issues raised in the GAO report.

The report, Reexamining Regulations: Opportunities Exist to Improve Effectiveness and Transparency of Retrospective Reviews, documents the success and failure of federal agencies efforts to review existing regulations (see www.gao.gov/new.items/d07791.pdf). The report spotlights agencies implementation of section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), which mandates that agencies periodically examine their existing regulations to measure changing impacts on small business.

The GAO finds that agency implementation of section 610 review often suffers from a lack of clear standards, insufficient public participation and comment, and inadequate communication of the results to stakeholders.

The Office of Advocacy's new R3 initiative directly addresses these issues. The initiative will 1) offer agencies guidance and training on how to implement section 610 of the RFA, 2) solicit recommendations from the small business community on rules that should be reviewed, and 3) provide public updates on the status and results of agency retrospective reviews.

Todays GAO report makes clear that federal agencies need to do a better job of reviewing existing regulations, said Thomas M. Sullivan, Chief Counsel for Advocacy. The Office of Advocacy's R3 initiative will help them do that. At over $1.1 trillion per year, the cost of complying with the volumes of federal rules and regulations now exceeds the per family cost of healthcare. We owe it to small business to try to streamline, update, and reform those rules to minimize their cost.

The Office of Advocacy, the small business watchdog of the federal government, examines the role and status of small business in the economy and independently represents the views of small business to federal agencies, Congress, and the President. It is the source for small business statistics presented in user-friendly formats, and it funds research into small business issues.

MORE INFO? www.sba.gov/advo/r3

HOW TO SUCCEED ON LOCAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM: 6 DAY CLASS BEGINS NOVEMBER 11, 2007
Originally Posted: August 17, 2007 2:11 PM
Last Updated: August 17, 2007 2:16 PM

The United States Fire Administration (USFA), Department of Homeland Security, is conducting a pilot class at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg, Maryland, for its newly developed 6-day
course, Command and General Staff Functions for Local Incident Management Teams (IMT).

The pilot class is scheduled to be delivered November 11 - 16, 2007, with students to arrive Saturday, November 10 and depart Saturday, November 17, 2007.

Command and General Staff Functions for Local IMTs (P337)

* The purpose of this course is to present training to a designated team of fire, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Department of Public Works, Public Health and/or law enforcement personnel from a larger and generally more populated area, typically with a single jurisdiction
(city, county or region). They would be activated to manage an incident requiring a significant number of local and mutual aid resources

* This course is intended to be delivered as "team training" to an entire Local IMT. The aspects associated with training as a team are critical for effective coordination and decision-making under high-stress, dynamic situations such as those during emergency incidents. It is understood, however, that there are occasions where all team members may not be able to train together, and occasions when new/additional team members need to receive training.

Student Selection Criteria: Personnel assigned to fill a position on the Command and General Staff to manage an incident or planned event. Have demonstrated working knowledge of the incident command system and have
previously participated in the development of Incident Action Plans (IAPs).

Prerequisites: IS700 and IS800; ICS-100 and ICS-200 or equivalent. Examples for ICS100 and ICS200 are:

* Q462 - Introduction to ICS for Operations Responders (available through NFA Online at www.nfaonline.dhs.gov)
* Q463 - Basic ICS for Operational Responders (available through NFA Online)
* F806 - National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) for the Fire Service
* F163 - NIMS ICS for EMS

How to Apply:

* Students must complete FEMA General Admissions Application (Form 75-5), available at www.usfa.dhs.gov/nfa/about/attend/apply.shtm

* Completed applications must be postmarked by September 14, 2007 to:

NETC Admissions Office
Building I, Room 216
16825 S. Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, MD 21727

* Completed applications may also be faxed to the Admissions Office at (301) 447-1441.

* Applicants should not make plans to attend the pilot course until notified in writing by the Admissions Office.

* Stipends for eligible students are available for attendance for this pilot course. Attendance at the pilot course does not prevent an eligible student from obtaining another stipend within the same fiscal year.

HOW SMALL BUSINESSES SUCCEED IN KEEPING EMPLOYEES
Originally Posted: August 17, 2007 1:36 PM
Last Updated: August 17, 2007 1:36 PM

Every entrepreneur knows the hectic lifestyle that comes along with starting and running a company. (Heck, most of us live for the craziness!) But have you ever considered how this work schedule affects your employees? You can bet the fate of your business on the fact that they don't enjoy the long hours or the days (and nights) they must unexpectedly come into the office to handle the latest emergency. If too many such days come and go without any acknowledgement from you, you can bet they'll be handing out their resumes all over town. And since your employees make or break your business, you must keep your best ones around.

"Employees of small businesses are often asked to go way beyond the call of duty," says Ty Freyvogel, founder of MakingSenseOfYourBusiness.com, a new site with a plethora of great business advice for any entrepreneur."And they usually do it without receiving huge paychecks. But not being able to pay hefty salaries doesn't mean you can't take advantage of a million other ways to create happy, loyal employees."

Small business owners may feel that they are at a disadvantage compared to CEOs of large corporations precisely because of the lack of deep pockets. But Freyvogel says nothing is further from the truth. Because they work so closely with their employees, rather than being separated by layers of bureaucracy, it is easy for them to get to know their employees well.

"Think about it," he says. "You know your employees' points of pain and you know what makes them happy. If you use this information to meet the special needs of your employees and even surprise them with a few extra perks, you will be able to build strong relationships with them - and they, in turn, will be willing to go the extra mile for you."

Provide them with much-deserved time off. Time off doesn't have to translate to the business being understaffed for the day. There are all kinds of ways to give your staff a little break without slowing the business down. "Give them Friday afternoons off in the summer," says Freyvogel. "Or give them either the day before or the day after their vacation off to relieve the stress that always accompanies taking off work.
"Another option is to set up a compressed work week for your staff so that they get time off at the end of the week," he adds. "You'll help them ward off burnout, and after a little break, they'll be ready to get to work and do a great job for you."

Give them bonuses at critical times. Presumably, you work closely with your employees and know a lot about their lives outside of the work. Act on this knowledge in ways that benefit them exactly when they need it most. "If one of your employees has a new baby or a sick spouse or child, a bonus will help ease the financial burden during these times," says Freyvogel. "She will appreciate your concern for her and her family's well being."
Be flexible. Your employees are working hard to make your business the best. The least you can do is be flexible when they have to take unexpected time off or need to work a new schedule. If an employee is having a personal problem, help him create a work schedule that allows him to solve his problems without feeling like he is going to be in trouble with the boss.

"If your employees have children or are taking care of their parents, you may even want to consider providing childcare or eldercare assistance to reduce their scheduling burdens," says Freyvogel. "Either would be a huge benefit. And one of the perks of living in the Age of Technology is that location is no longer an issue with a huge number of jobs. Your employees might be interested in telecommuting at least part of the time or working flexible schedules. If your business can operate this way, talk with your employees to see what they prefer."

Be sensitive about their strengths and weaknesses. Carefully evaluate where your employees do their best work, and ask them what jobs they feel the most comfortable doing. For example, if an employee isn't a people person, chances are she won't excel working the front of a store. And you wouldn't want non-people people to be handling your customers anyway! Keep the lines of communication open. If an employee expresses an interest in getting trained for a different job, by all means get her trained! If your employees feel passionate about their jobs, it increases the chances that they'll want to keep working for you.

Help them better themselves (and in turn improve your business!). You can do this by paying for employees to take a class that will help them improve on their job skills or on something that interests them - even something unrelated to their current position. Or take an interest in their health. Provide your employees with health club memberships or enroll in a business-wide wellness program that everyone (including you!) will take part in.

"Your employees will appreciate that you care about their health and your healthy employees will help you save money in health care costs," says Freyvogel. "Like each of these loyalty-building exercises, it's a win-win for everyone."

Feed them! A free meal every now and then is one of the easiest (and most appreciated) perks an employer can provide. It's a great way for any employer to say, "Thank you" after a particularly rough work week or for a job well done. Another great idea for employers is providing a catered meal for any employee who is working late. You'll be surprised how far a full stomach goes in building employee loyalty.

Constantly recognize a job well done. Everyone likes to be told they've done a good job on something, especially your employees. "Typically, people who are interested in working for small businesses are driven more by recognition than by dollars," says Freyvogel. "So whether you implement an Employee of the Month plaque or simply say, 'Thanks for the great job!' never miss an opportunity to give your employees the recognition they deserve. And when a client compliments an employee's work, never steal the credit - indeed, be sure to pass the glowing review along to the rightful owner!"

Make them feel like owners. Whether it comes from having a voice in major decisions, being able to work directly with clients or actually owning stock, a sense of employee ownership will go a long way toward instilling loyalty. Nurturing your employees to love your business as much as you do will strengthen your company's foundation - and your business will be that much more likely to survive setbacks and grow to great heights.

"I like to use what I call A Stock and B Stock," says Freyvogel. "Here's how it works: A Stock is voting stock and B Stock is nonvoting stock. The B Stock is distributed among my employees and myself, while I keep all of the voting stock. While the employees have no final vote in what happens with the company, they still receive all of the benefits of owning stock. This helps me create employees who feel like partial owners of the company, which makes them work harder and take more pride in what they do."

Make sure they have everything they need to do their jobs. Nothing frustrates a high performing employee more than having to struggle to do his job because he doesn't have the right computer program or because he must make do with faulty equipment. "Be the boss that constantly communicates with his employees, and ask them whenever you have the chance if there is something you can do that will make their jobs easier," says Freyvogel. "Sometimes you'll be able to take care of it right away; other times it will take awhile. But the simple act of showing you care will go a long way."

Pamper them! Show your employees that you know working for you and your business can be stressful by providing a free spa treatment every once in awhile - even once a month - if you can afford it. Female employees, especially, will love this perk. If your male employees aren't particularly interested spa treatments, consider other, more "masculine" ways to help them unwind - tickets to a sporting event or gift certificates to the local watering hole.

Help them leave if it isn't the right job for them. Working in a small business isn't for everyone. If you notice that one of your employees is struggling in the environment or simply isn't happy, talk with her about whether or not your business is the right place for her. If you collectively decide that it isn't, help her find a more suitable job. How does helping an employee leave build loyalty? "Well, the exiting employee will spread the word about what a great boss you are," says Freyvogel. "Plus, your other employees will see that you are a caring and understanding employer, even when someone is ready to move on. Seeing how well you treat other employees, even those on their way out,will make others think twice about leaving - believe me, not all employers are so gracious!"

Provide employee attendance incentives. It's likely that your best employees are high performers who come in even when they're feeling a bit under the weather, and don't hesitate to come in on the occasional day off to take care of an emergency. These are the employees who deserve attendance benefits. For example, for every month without an absence, give employees an extra vacation day, a gift certificate, or a bonus of some kind. It's that simple. The reward they received for their perfect attendance will make them happy they worked so hard for you throughout the month.

"All of the perks in the world won't mean anything if you don't show your employees the respect they deserve," says Freyvogel. "As a small business owner, you can't treat your employees like cogs in a machine and expect them to keep coming back to you. Frequently ask them what they think about certain areas of the business. And if at all possible, implement their ideas and suggestions - there is no more powerful way to say 'I value you.'

"Your employees are your greatest asset," continues Freyvogel. "Anything you can do to ensure that they stick with you is worth it. As you can see from the examples, you don't have to break the bank to show them a little extra appreciation. The loyalty these actions build between you, your employees, and your business will be priceless."

PEOPLES BURN FOUNDATION GETS MILLION DOLLARS FOR CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY; SOURCE IS ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT PROGRAM
Originally Posted: August 16, 2007 4:05 PM
Last Updated: August 16, 2007 4:32 PM

The People's Burn Foundation is recipient of a one-million dollar "Assistance to Firefighters - Fire Prevention and Safety Program" grant from the Department of Homeland Security. Funding from the grant will be used to establish campus fire safety programs nationwide and continue their
efforts in firefighter safety and training programs. A team of firefighters from across the country as well as the Massachusetts-based publication "Campus Firewatch" will work with the foundation in coordinating the development of the campus fire safety component and third installment of
the firefighter training program To Hell and Back.

This is the third and largest grant of its kind given to the foundation and was awarded to assist in tackling two critical issues facing the nation's fire services and college age students. These two projects, though separate in nature, are desperately needed and this grant recognizes the
need. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 106 fire fighters died in the line of duty in 2006 with 77 already on record for this year. As in most years, younger firefighters were more likely than older firefighters to die from traumatic injuries. The grant will allow the People's Burn Foundation and its development teams the opportunity to create highly effective and innovative training tools to directly tackle the issue of situational awareness for our nation's firefighters.

College campuses unfortunately reflect the latest overwhelming trends in fire-related deaths and injuries as well revealing the need for immediate action nationwide. Since January 2000, there have been 114 campus-related fire deaths across the country with over 80-percent of them
occurring in off- campus student housing. The reason is clear as noted by Ed Comeau, publisher of Campus Firewatch.

"The bottom line is that an entire generation lacks basic fire
prevention knowledge and with diminished access to that generation, how will we ever decrease fire-related deaths? With a new approach," said Comeau. With this grant, the goal is to reach the nearly 17 million students currently nrolled on our nation's campuses by making the fire and
burn safety awareness program To Hell and Back III mandatory at freshman orientation.

To Hell and Back was first introduced to members of the fire service during the 2005 Fire Department Instructor's Conference held annually in Indianapolis, IN. The burn prevention program was built around a documentary featuring painters critically burned in a box truck fire. The
response to the program was phenomenal but also came with a strong demand from firefighters for a second installment that would focus specifically on firefighters burned in the line of duty.

As a result, To Hell and Back II: Firefighter Situational Awareness was launched at the 2006 FDIC conference and uses 3-D graphics to tell the story of what went wrong when firefighters were burned or died from their burn injuries. The second installment also featured a Community Awareness and Juvenile Firesetter component as well.

Terry Royce, a Reading, PA firefighter, was especially pleased with the To Hell and Back programs.

"As a firefighter in this department for 27 years, I was badly burned in a fire where two other firefighters and I were trapped," said Royce. "The firefighter who was with me and four civilians were killed, while another firefighter and I were burned. Thank you for doing something about those of us who have been burned and preventing those who haven't been burned from ever having that misfortune."

This grant completes the To Hell and Back series with a third project that will actually allow firefighters to participate in fireground operations, utilizing advanced interactive computer technology. Firefighters will learn or refresh situational awareness proficiencies imperative to preventing burn injuries or death from burn injuries.
Battalion Chief Tom Demint of the Poudre Fire Authority in Fort Collins, CO, believes this technique will benefit the younger, technology-driven firefighters who can often be a challenge to teach, considering their technology-savvy generation. With the help of the Art Institute of Orlando,
To Hell and Back III will be created specifically for use in fire service training.

As with previous installments, To Hell and Back III will be provided free of charge to all 38,000 fire departments across the United States. Numerous fire departments throughout the U.S. currently use the previous two editions of To Hell and Back as part of their firefighter training.

Effective January 1, 2008 To Hell and Back programs will be mandatory for all fire service agencies in the state of Arizona.

Shawn Longerich, Executive Director of the People's Burn Foundation is certain this advanced program will reach firefighters on their level.
"The People's Burn Foundation believes in the motto of 'Everyone Goes Home' as set forth by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The To Hell and Back programs are making news headlines across the country with
their success because these programs fall directly in line with safety initiatives established by the NFFF," said Longerich. "Our programs support the implementation of safe practices as an eligibility requirement for firefighters and we have every reason to believe that this program will
follow the same successful path."

A new path is being created by the People's Burn Foundation on college campuses nationwide. To Hell and Back III will offer a separate component specifically targeting this demographic. During the development phase of To Hell and Back II for community-based education, the team discussed this target audience and methods firefighters could use to insure the impact of the message. It was determined that the amount of information needed for
this particular group needed to stand out on its own. The proposed project will appeal to this "reality show" demographic and provide an in-your-face video production utilizing the acclaimed documentaries To Hell and Back and
After the Fire. After the Fire is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photo documentary, created by Star Ledger Photographer Matt Rainey, following the Seton Hall Fire in 2000.

Firefighters throughout the United States who currently protect college and university territories know far too well the complacency of college students due to their disregard for fire alarms and escape plans, their indifference for safety in student housing when doing daily household activities, and their impaired judgment from alcohol consumption. Right now, firefighters feel the students aren't motivated to practice fire safety because they don't understand the consequences of burns or death due to fire.

"We are extremely grateful to the Department of Homeland Security for providing PBF and Campus Firewatch the opportunity to develop this project which will begin to fill in the gap in fire prevention education for what has become an at-risk demographic for fire-related fatalities," said Longerich.

By teaching students the reality of burn injuries in a way that the message becomes personal, the goal is to motivate and empower them to not only change their attitudes, but pass those changes on to future generations. To Hell and Back III is not meant to be a scare tactic. It is however real, effective and statistically proven to motivate behavioral
change. If research hold true, students will walk away from this experience realizing it could happen to them too. "I am incredibly excited about this project and the opportunity to work with such an experienced and impressive team," added Comeau. "This project will set the standard for campus fire safety training. By using a dynamic DVD-based program, coupled with the power of the Internet, we will be able to put this information directly into the hands of every single campus and community fire official that wants it, free of charge."

MORE INFO? www.PeoplesBurnFoundation.org

FIRE FUELING WEEDS CONTRIBUTE TO DRAMATIC INCREASE IN NUMBER AND EXTENT OF WILDFIRE HAZARD
Originally Posted: August 15, 2007 10:51 AM
Last Updated: August 15, 2007 10:56 AM

Cornell University report: The economic impact of weeds -- invasive plants -- in the U.S. has been estimated at $34.7 billion annually.

In the western states the encroachment of resilient, invasive plants has paved the way for a succession of rampant rangeland and desert wildfires. Two culprits that play major roles in stoking the flames of these reoccurring western wildfires are Cheatgrass and Red Brome.

Where the dry, feathery foliage of the winter annual Cheatgrass is abundant, wildfires flare up more often. This invasive plant acts like highly flammable kindling, fueling the ignition of rangeland fires to a roaring blaze. And, parts of Arizona's picturesque Sonoran desert are actually bursting into flames with alarming frequency thanks to the spread of Red Brome, another non-native annual grass. Red Brome is a prime source of fires engulfing native vegetation, such as Palo Verde trees and various cacti, hallmarks of this desert habitat.

Steven A. Dewey, Ph.D., Extension Invasive Weed Specialist at Utah State University and wildfire expert: "These invasive plants can take over natural areas that once were home to a diverse variety of plant species," says . "The spread of invasive plants such as Cheatgrass and Red Brome across a western landscape can lead to more expansive and more frequent fires. Charred lands in turn are left wide open for an unchallenged invasion of annual, invasive plant species. And so the cycle continues, intensifying as it goes."

Dr. Dewey recently was named Weed Science Subject Matter Liaison to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the Weed Science Society of America. In this newly created position, he will be instrumental in
providing scientific information on invasive weed management to the EPA, including methods to lessen the role of invasive weeds in wildfires.

The effects of wildfires linger:

-- Fire-fueling invasive plants actually have increased the occurrence of wild fires in some areas from a natural frequency of every 60 to 100 years to an alarming 3 to 5 years.
-- Recurring fires can have a devastating effect on native plant species that are critical components of wildlife habitats, endangering animal species that rely on those habitats.
-- In many areas, the increased severity and frequency of wildfires driven by invasive plants are eliminating the natural assortment of native plant species. Large areas of land are becoming more homogenous -- home to merely a few plant species. "One of the advantages of a diverse plant population is the different ways in which various plant
species react to fire," says Dr. Dewey. "Those species that are not as combustible, such as perennial bunch grasses and forbs, can act as buffers, helping to contain naturally occurring wildfires so they don't spread out of control."

Weeds take over

-- Overgrazing or other human-caused disturbance of rangelands leaves bare areas that are quickly filled in by invasive plants.
-- Invasive plants produce countless seeds that travel by wind, animals or people, eventually settling in bare areas where they quickly establish themselves and spread.
-- Because of their fast growing cycles, invasive annual plants mature and then wither long before winter, usually at the height of summer heat, posing major wildfire threats.
-- Suppressing small-scale fires that nature commonly uses to remove dried, dead plants can lead to the buildup of excessive dead plant material that fuels more intense wildfires.
-- Variances in weather patterns, either severe drought or excessive rainfall, which affect natural plant growth patterns, can lead to an invasive plant population explosion.

Solutions?

Dr. Dewey: "The integration of herbicides to control invasive plants, proper grazing management, controlled burns to remove plant debris build-up and revegetating degraded sites with native plants all can lead to rejuvenated
rangeland ecosystems. Healthy, native landscapes are better able to resist invasion of non-native plants, thus restoring a more natural, prolonged wildfire frequency."

The more we learn about the far-reaching effects of invasive plants and weeds, the more able we are to work together to conquer the problems they cause.

The Weed Science Society of America, a non-profit professional society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. The Weed Science Society of America promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds; provides science-based information to the public and policy makers; and fosters awareness of weeds and their impacts on managed and natural ecosystems.

MORE INFO? www.wssa.net.or Lee VanWychen, Director of Science Policy for the Weed Science Society of America (202) 408-5388.

PIERCE AWARDED FIRE YEAR CONTRACT TO BUILD 119 HEAVY EXPANDED MOBILITY TACTICAL TRUCK WATER TENDERS FOR US ARMY: DELIVERY JUNE 08 . . . 2,500 GALLONS OF WATER, 50 GALLONS OF FOAM
Originally Posted: August 15, 2007 9:03 AM
Last Updated: August 15, 2007 9:32 AM

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., Appleton Wisconsin, has been awarded a five-year, Firm Fixed Price contract by the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) for the production of 10 Oshkosh® Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) platform-based Water Tender (HEWATT) vehicles, worth $4.5 million. The initial order could lead to a total of 119 vehicles under this new contract, with an estimated total value of $56 million. The vehicles are scheduled for delivery beginning in June 2008.

Pierce is a subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corporation.

The five-year contract was awarded after four HEWATT vehicles were delivered to and evaluated by TACOM at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground earlier this year.

The HEWATT is designed as a multi-purpose water distributor, capable of providing structural and airfield crash/rescue support alongside the Pierce® Tactical Fire Fighting Truck (TFFT).

The HEWATT can operate under extreme conditions and in a broad range of terrain, ranging from secondary roads to cross-country. The HEWATT water tender is built to support the TFFT while providing supplementary fire suppression capabilities.

Wilson Jones, Pierce Manufacturing President: "Earlier this year TACOM put four of our water tenders to the test. This contract is a direct result of the HEWATTs performance and reliability in those tests. This is among the largest U.S. Army contracts received by Pierce, and we look forward to fulfilling TACOMs need for powerful and reliable water tenders used to help protect our soldiers."

Each HEWATT is each equipped with a 2,500 gallon integrated water tank, 500 gpm single-stage pump, 50 gallon foam cell, 250 gpm front bumper mounted turret/monitor, Detroit Diesel 8V92TA electronic engine, two-person seating, an 8 x 8 axle configuration, Oshkosh two-speed transfer case and LED lighting.

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., is a North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, minipumpers, elliptical tankers, and homeland security apparatus. In addition, Pierce designs its own foam systems and was the first company to introduce the Side Roll Protection System to fire apparatus.

MORE INFO? www.piercemfg.com/company/news.cfm

FIRE DEPARTMENTS WITH BOMB SQUADS GET COBRA DETECTION KIT WHICH NO LONGER WORKS BECAUSE MONTHLY WIRELESS FEES HAVE NOT BE PAID; CHERTOFF SAYS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SHOULD GET LESS MONEY
Originally Posted: August 13, 2007 4:25 PM
Last Updated: August 13, 2007 4:26 PM

$25 million worth of bomb squad detection equipment is not being used because the FBI did not pay the monthly wireless and maintenance bill. Cobra kits were handed out to 400 state and local bomb squads. The kits require a monthly fee to be paid by the bomb squad. Without the fee, many kits are sitting unused by local fire and police departments.

The 2003 kits need "significant upgrading" to be effective today, a Federal official said.

Bomb squads at local fire departments said the equipment works but they have no extra money to pay the fees.

The Washington area has "a long list of terrorism-fighting items that need parts and service," The Washington Post reports August 13.

Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff, has warned local areas that Federal grants will not be coming to them like Social Security checks. Chertoff at a news conference: ". . . we should see them getting less money."

MERCURY HELPS WILDFIRE MONITORING FOR US FOREST SERVICE
Originally Posted: August 13, 2007 4:07 PM
Last Updated: August 13, 2007 4:10 PM

Mercury Computer Systems, Inc., Chelmsford, Massachusetts, was selected by the Remote Sensing Applications Center of the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service to support two wildfire monitoring and forest mapping projects in 2007 with the VistaNav(TM)- SSR Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS).

The Remote Sensing Applications Center, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, provides technical assistance to agency field units using advanced geospatial technology for improved monitoring and mapping of natural resources.

The VistaNav-SSR (Smart Surveillance and Reconnaissance) system is a complete, high-performance UAS that includes a ground control station integrated with 3D Synthetic Vision and a small unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV). The system features miniaturized airborne and mission computing image processing capabilities designed to improve control and command functions, increase situational awareness, and integrate ground-imaging
computations for aerial remote sensing applications such as oil and gas pipeline monitoring, border surveillance, forest fire detection and monitoring, precision agriculture, and more.

"Wildfire operations can be very costly in terms of equipment and personnel, especially higher-risk night operations," said Sally Collins, Associate Forest Service Chief, Forest Service. "Together with Mercury, the
Forest Service will employ VistaNav-SSR unmanned aircraft systems to helpin providing precise imagery and actionable intelligence to Incident Command Teams leading to significantly safer tactics in fighting wildfires."

"We are very pleased to be selected by the Forest Service for these projects, and to demonstrate an affordable solution that provides valuable imagery to help the Incident Command Team leaders decide on the most effective assignments for direct fire-suppressant resources," said Philippe Roy, General Manager of the Avionics and Unmanned Systems Group at Mercury Computer Systems. "Flying above fire at night can be dangerous for manned aircraft, and low-level manned aircraft flights are not currently utilized for safety reasons. Unmanned aircraft systems can fly long missions, survey wildfire sites at low altitude, and transmit critical data to enable more
informed decisions more quickly."

MORE INFO? Philippe Roy 978-761-9429 proy@mc.com

US CHAMBER, AFTER MINNEAPOLIS BRIDGE COLLAPSE, FOCUSES ON REBUILDING US TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
Originally Posted: August 11, 2007 5:34 AM
Last Updated: August 13, 2007 3:54 PM

In a major address in Irving, Texas, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue condemned the current condition of the nation's transportation, energy, and water systems and announced a
new initiative to spur hundreds of billions of dollars in
infrastructure investments.

"We're rapidly running out of capacity, and it's already costing us jobs, productivity, competitiveness, mobility, and most tragically, innocent American lives," said Donohue, who delivered a keynote address at the Transportation 2007 Summit. "We must begin now to build a modern and safe infrastructure system. The business community must lead the way to make this happen."

Donohue announced that the Chamber would organize, fund, and lead a new, multimillion-dollar initiative called "Let's Rebuild America." The four key goals of the Chamber's plan include: (1) documenting the problem with solid research, including state-by-state infrastructure report cards; (2) educating citizens and policymakers about the benefits of infrastructure and the cost of failure; (3)
unlocking pent-up private investment by removing legal and regulatory impediments; and (4) boosting public investment through congressional reauthorizations and public-private partnerships and stopping the diversion of infrastructure funds to other programs. An increase in the federal gasoline user fee-which has not been raised in 14 years even as
construction costs have soared-should be examined along with other financing options.

"We can create American jobs, reduce congestion, clean the air, succeed in a global economy, and save thousands of innocent lives by expanding both private and public investment in our infrastructure," said Donohue. "The enefits are great. The price of failure is high. We are going to make sure that the American people hear that message over and over again and hold their elected officials accountable."

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation
representing more than 3 million. NEEDA is represented on the US Chamber Procurement Committee by Executive Director Kenton Pattie.

ARRESTS MADE AFTER AUGUST 4, 2007 FIRES SET IN SPRUCE PINE, NORTH CAROLINA
Originally Posted: August 10, 2007 4:24 PM
Last Updated: August 10, 2007 4:32 PM

David Kenneth McCall, age 44, of Spruce Pine, was arrested and charged with setting the fires in Spruce Pine. McCall has been charged with one Class G felony count of Arson in the Second Degree in violation of North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) 14-58, four Class F felony counts of Burning a Commercial Building in violation of NCGS 14-62 and four Class H felony counts of Breaking and Entering in violation of NCGS 14-54. If convicted, McCall faces a maximum sentence of 23 years confinement on all of the
charges.

During the early morning hours on Aug. 4, 2007, a fire was reported at the Keen building, which housed various businesses to include a Hispanic Church (Inlesia Hispana San Juan 3:16) located at 380 Oak Avenue in Spruce Pine.
The building and church was completely destroyed by fire.

On the evening of Aug. 4, four additional fires were reported within a three-block area. Businesses that were damaged or destroyed on Locust Street include the Cheepskates Music and Thrift Store and apartments, the
Wylie Building, Lady Blues Boutique, DTs Blue Ridge Java, Tree House Mountain Realty and Spruce Pine Railroad Depot. The Mayland Armature Company on Oak Avenue was damaged by fire on this day also. The total loss
of the structures, contents and value to the community by these fires is estimated at more than $1 million.

After a thorough investigation of the fires they were all determined to be incendiary. An incendiary fire is defined as one that is deliberately ignited under circumstances in which the person knows that the fire should not be ignited.

"We will not let our communities suffer the pain of an arsonist without a proper and just response, and what we have in Spruce Pine is an example of our response. We expect justice to follow. The good citizens of Spruce
Pine can once again sleep peacefully at night," said Zebedee T. Graham, ATF special agent in charge of the Charlotte Field Division.

Carl Vasilko, special agent in charge of the ATF National Response Team said, "Arson is a senseless crime that has struck at the heart of this community and we take it with the utmost seriousness. We will deploy all of
our expertise and resources whenever someone decides to use fire as a tool to destroy lives and property."

"The citizens of Spruce Pine have been through a trying time. Even through this tragedy and difficult time, the level of cooperation and understanding for the process was outstanding, and I want to personally thank them all," stated Chief Hollifield. "The level of law enforcement cooperation and professionalism I observed was unprecedented in my 36 years as a police professional."

In addition to ATF, agencies participating in the investigation are the District Attorney's Office for the 24th Judicial District of North Carolina, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Spruce Pine Police Department, the Spruce Pine Fire Department, North Carolina Department of Corrections Probation and Parole, Mitchell County Emergency Management Department and the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating arson and fire.

MORE INFO? www.atf.gov or Chuck Vines Special Agent, NCSBI 828.654.8901 or Coy Hollifield. Chief of Police, Spruce Pine, N.C. 828.765.2233 or Earl Woodham, Supervisory Special Agent/PIO, ATF 704.716.1843

MINNESOTA BRIDGE COLLAPSE IS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FOR BOLANDER, MEMBER OF NATIONAL DEMOLITION ASSOCIATION
Originally Posted: August 9, 2007 11:47 AM
Last Updated: August 9, 2007 11:52 AM

St. Paul, MN, specialty contractor Carl Bolander & Sons Co. is removing debris from the site of the tragic Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis.

This is an example of emergency response tasks that demolition contractors are capable of.

These demolition contractors use some extrication and other equipment sold by emergency equipment dealers who belong to NEEDA.

Demolition contractors belong to the National Demolition Association.

Michale R. Taylor, CAE of the National Demolition Association: "Many emergency response coordinators are turning to demolition contractors to supplement First Responders' work by providing fleets of specialized heavy equipment, skilled labor needed to operate the complex machinery, and years of experience. When the Minnesota Department of Transportation contracted with Carl Bolander & Sons, they specifically indicated that they based their choice of contractor on experience, how quickly they could respond, and what equipment they had on hand."

Bolander, a member of the National Demolition Association, is using four 100-ton cranes and three excavators to process the debris in the $15 million project that is expected to begin this week. Initially, the contractor will focus on removing the debris from the land and then proceed
to clearing the channel. According to reports, the recovered debris will be moved to a staging area for the National Transportation Safety Board to reassemble in an effort to determine the cause of the collapse.

The National Demolition Association's Taylor noted that the state of California has launched a new Emergency Partnership Advisory Workgroup of state agencies and non-profit and private sector entities so that the state has the necessary resources to respond to events such as earthquakes, flood, fires, freezes, mudslides, and the threat of terrorist action.

Taylor: "The state recognizes the sophisticated nature of today's demolition industry, which is uniquely qualified to handle specific situations. Currently, the Association is working in tandem with OSHA to develop a Disaster Site Workers Training and Certification Program to train and pre- certify private sector workers so that they can be on standby to respond immediately to disaster situations.

"We are already working with many fire departments across the country to support the investigation of fire causes and the cleanup after fire," Taylor noted. "We want all states and municipalities to follow the example of California and organize their resources before the next disaster strikes."

The National Demolition Association is a non-profit trade organization representing more than 1,100 U.S. and Canadian companies and many international firms that are involved in the demolition process. Membership
includes demolition contractors, general contractors, engineering firms, and firms directly in the waste handling/recovery business, such as recycling companies, landfill owner-operators, deconstruction companies,
and materials salvage operations. The Association's efforts help members stay abreast of regulatory and safety matters, keep regulators informed about issues facing the industry, increase public and industry awareness, and provide members with networking opportunities and information on the latest technical advances in equipment and services.

MORE INFO? www.demolitionassociation.com or 800-541-2412

OVERDUE NATIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN CAUSES TENSION BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICIALS
Originally Posted: August 8, 2007 3:03 PM
Last Updated: August 8, 2007 3:09 PM

The final secret National Emergency Response Plan, due out June 1, 2007, has not been published as of August 7, 2007.

However, a 71-page draft of a revised plan, titled "National Response Framework" was released to state officials in the first week of August, 2007. The National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) says the new draft plan is a step backward, citing failure of the drafters to consult with state and local officials who will have to use the report once it is finalized.

Handling of the draft report will probably stir up more tension between state and federal homeland security officials.

State officials have complained about the drop in Federal grant support and sharing of Federal information with state and local leaders. The New Mexico state director of emergency management, testifying before a House of Representatives Committee says that coordination between the federal agencies and state and local governments is deteriorating. New Mexico feels that the Federal agencies are trying to lower the Federal profile in future disasters and focusing any blame on state and local decision makers.

The new draft plan is being written by Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Michael Jackson and White House Deputy Assistant for Homeland Security Joel Bagnal.

The Bush Administration viewpoint of the situation is: the state, local and private sector will get its chance to comment on the plan during a 30-day period later in 2007. Then the plan will be presented to President Bush.

John Harrald, George Washington University, Washington DC, says it is ill-advised to shut out the state and local decision makers: the administration appearfs to "be guided by a desire to ensure centralized control of what is an inherently decentrilized process. . . Response to catastrophic events requires collaboration and trust in a broad network of organizations," as quoted by the Washington Post, August 8, 2007, page A5.

DRS TECHNOLOGIES WINS $8 MILLION CONTRACT TO PROVIDE THERMAL IMAGING EQUIPMENT TO THE US ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
Originally Posted: August 7, 2007 1:43 PM
Last Updated: August 7, 2007 1:43 PM

DRS Technologies, Inc. received an $8 million contract from the U.S. Armys Research, Development and Engineering Commands Acquisition Center at U.S. Army Garrison Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, on behalf of the National Guard Bureau to provide thermal imaging equipment.

The work for this contract will be accomplished by the companys Night Vision Systems, Inc. business unit in Allentown, Pennsylvania and Prescott Valley, Arizona. Night Vision Systems will provide the National Guards Counterdrug Program with hundreds of Rugged Miniature Thermal Imagers from the companys MX-2A product line.

The thermal imagers will be used by the soldiers and airmen of ground reconnaissance units assigned to help law enforcement agencies observe and detect illegal drug activity. The reconnaissance units operate along the nations borders at suspected drug trafficking corridors, drop zones, airstrips, and laboratories, and inspect suspicious aircraft, watercraft and motor vehicles. Night Vision Systems will immediately begin delivering the thermal imagers and is expected to be finished by March 2008.

The MX-2 and MX-2A detect infrared sources such as human beings and vehicles at extended distances in complete darkness and in the presence of smoke, fog, and dust that obstruct traditional night vision technology. These handheld thermal units are effective during both day and night and offer multiple interoperable capabilities with common thermal imaging systems. The MX-2 and MX-2A can be used as a handheld device, attached to a tripod or mounted on a weapon.

DRS Night Vision Systems has provided these and other products and systems for military units, government organizations and law enforcement agencies for more than 30 years to enhance their surveillance, target acquisition and security missions, assist in the accurate and silent firing of small arms, and employ combat identification products to prevent fratricide due to friendly fire.

The MX-2 and MX-2A give the National Guard a high-powered device to enhance Americas continuous fight against drug trafficking, said James M. Baird, president of DRS Reconnaissance, Surveillance & Target Acquisition Business Segment. It provides a clearer view at a longer distance than most thermal imagers and its versatility will allow guardsmen to use it in a number of ways.

Beginning in federal fiscal year 1989 the National Guard Counterdrug Program has supported local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in combating illegal drug activity.

The RSTA Business Segment develops, manufactures and supports electro-optical technologies, including advanced cooled and uncooled thermal-imaging solutions for soldier systems, ground vehicle, airborne, and maritime as well as for industrial, security, public safety and firefighting applications.
DRS Technologies, headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, is a leading supplier of integrated products, services and support to military forces, intelligence agencies and prime contractors worldwide. The company employs approximately 10,000 people.

www.drs.com

TYCO THIRD QUARTER REVENUES UP 8% TO $5.1 BILLION
Originally Posted: August 7, 2007 1:28 PM
Last Updated: August 7, 2007 1:33 PM

Tyco International Ltd. reported a loss of $6.13 in earnings per share for the fiscal third quarter of 2007.

Revenue in the quarter increased 8% versus the prior year to $5.1 billion, with organic revenue growth of 5%.

Third quarter income from continuing operations was negatively impacted by previously disclosed special items which totaled $3.3 billion after tax or $6.68 per share as follows:

On June 29, 2007, Tyco International completed the spin-off of its healthcare and electronics businesses and the operating results of thesebusinesses have been reclassified as a single line item, net of tax, in discontinued operations for the third quarter of 2007 and all prior periods.

Tyco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ed Breen : "We achieved a significant milestone during the third quarter by completing the spin-off of our healthcare and electronics businesses. We also reached an important agreement to resolve the majority of our legacy securities class action litigation. Operationally, Tyco International's performance came in at the high end of our estimates as we had solid growth in revenue and operating income before special items driven by improvements across most of our
businesses."

Fire Protection Services designs, sells, installs and services fire detection and fire suppression systems to commercial, industrial and governmental customers. Revenue in this segment increased 7% in the quarter to $882 million with organic revenue growth of 4%.

Operating income was $57 million and the operating margin was 6.5%. Before special items, operating income increased 13% to $70 million. The operating margin before special items of 7.9% improved due to the benefit of higher revenue in North America, Asia and Australia partially offset by weaker performance in Europe. Special items of $13 million in the quarter consisted primarily of restructuring charges in Europe.

Safety Products designs, manufactures and sells fire protection, security and life safety products including fire suppression products, breathing apparatus, intrusion security, access control and video management systems. Revenue in this segment increased 5% in the quarter with organic revenue growth of 2%. Strong revenue growth in fire suppression and electronic security was partially offset by lower revenue in the life safety business. Operating income was $73 million and the operating margin was 16.2%.

Before special items, operating income of $81 million was essentially flat versus prior year. The benefit from volume increases in fire suppression and electronic security was offset by a decrease in sales in the life safety business. Special items in the quarter included restructuring and
impairment charges of $8 million. Special items in the prior year quarter included a $100 million charge for the estimated cost of a voluntary replacement program for certain fire sprinkler heads.

Tyco International Ltd. is a diversified, global company that provides vital products and services to customers in more than 60 countries. Tyco is a leading provider of security products and services, fire protection and detection products and services, valves and controls, and other industrial products. Tyco completed the spin-off of its healthcare and electronics businesses on June 29, 2007 and today has annual revenues of more than $18 billion and 115,000 employees.

MSA SALES UP 14 PERCENT: SECOND QUARTER 07 SALES $249 MILLION
Originally Posted: August 7, 2007 12:55 PM
Last Updated: August 7, 2007 1:11 PM

MSA net sales for the second quarter of 2007 were $249.1 million compared with $218.6 million for the second quarter of 2006, an increase of $30.5 million, or 14 percent. Net income for the second quarter of 2007 was $17.3 million, or 49 cents per basic share, an increase of $1.2 million, or 8 percent, compared with $16.1 million, or 44 cents per basic share, for the same quarter last year.

Current quarter sales reflect growth in MSA's International and North American segments. Local currency sales in the company's European segment were flat quarter-to-quarter.

Chairman and CEO John Ryan noted it has become evident that many paid and volunteer fire departments in the U.S. have elected to delay SCBA purchases until the new NFPA-2007 units are available and can be field evaluated, rather than
purchasing existing products. "This has caused a considerable part of the market to defer decisions until later in the year or early 2008. Such a situation is good for MSA in the medium term. We feel confident about the competitiveness of our new device, and the entire
market for breathing apparatus in North America will be priced at a higher level than that of SCBA that meet the previous NFPA standard. For the near term, the major issue is when the approval agencies will complete their
testing and issue approvals on the qualified products that have been submitted. There has been good progress thus far on testing of our devices, but several tests still remain." After August 31, only SCBA manufacturers that have received third- party NFPA certification can label and market devices as NFPA-compliant. On another U.S. fire service matter, Mr. Ryan noted that the release of Federal Government Assistance to Firefighters Grants for the new program year has recently begun. "This is an improvement over the last two years, though this, in the immediate future, impacts our business after the NFPA approvals are received."

Ryan "As I said at the end of the first quarter, we have generally seen a pattern of higher fire service sales in the year following the introduction of a new NFPA standard. I am also pleased with the progress we are making in our International and European segments. Continued growth in our International segment reflects the success of our strategic initiatives to expand our operations in these markets. This is particularly true in China and South Africa, both of which showed significant sales growth during the quarter. We continue to see strength in incoming orders in Europe, in International markets and in North American markets other than the fire service."

Ryan: "Although there is continuing uncertainty in the timing of U.S. Fire service breathing apparatus business as the new NFPA standard goes into effect, with some reasonable results in this area and with continued success in our other markets, I continue to believe that we have a shot at achieving our 2007 goals of record sales and earnings."

Sales in the International segment improved $14.4 million in the current quarter. This increase includes a $4.8 million shipment of ballistic protection products to the Iraq Joint Command and continued growth in sales to the South African mining industry and in breathing apparatus and instrument sales in China. Currency translation effects increased International segment sales by $0.9 million, when stated in U.S. dollars.

Sales in the North American segment grew $10.4 million in the current quarter. Shipments of Advanced Combat Helmets to the military were up $3.6 million and sales of ballistic protection products, including those made by Paraclete Armor and Equipment, were up $2.5 million in the current quarter.

Second quarter 2007 sales of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and thermal imaging cameras improved $0.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively. Continued strength in North American construction and industrial markets was reflected in sales of fall protection and head protection products, which improved $3.6 million in the current quarter.

These sales increases were partially offset by a $1.7 million decrease in shipments of instruments, due primarily to reduced demand for both portable and permanent instrumentation from specific segments of the Homeland
Security (HLS) market. The company did, however, receive several significant HLS orders for gas masks and hood- type respirators as some cities looked to update their respiratory protection capabilities.

Sales in the European segment improved $5.7 million for the current quarter. The increase in European segment sales, when stated in U.S. dollars, was primarily due to favorable currency exchange effects of $5.3 million.

Second quarter net income in the North American segment was $1.0 million lower, primarily due to lower gross profits, reflecting proportionately higher sales of Advanced Combat Helmets and ballistic protection products to the military at gross margins that are generally lower than the margins on commercial sales, as well as higher inventory management-related costs. European segment net income was essentially flat quarter-to-quarter. Net income in the International segment was up $1.4 million in the quarter, on higher sales.

John T. Ryan III, MSA Chairman and CEO: "I am pleased that we made improvements in results during the second quarter and the first half of 2007 from the comparable sales and earnings in 2006. The second quarter growth is encouraging, considering the continuing sluggishness in SCBA sales to the fire service market as customers wait for the implementation of the new NFPA standards that all manufacturers must meet by August 31, 2007."

Established in 1914, MSA is a leader in the development,
manufacture and supply of sophisticated safety products that protect people's health and safety. Sophisticated safety products typically integrate any combination of electronics, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations. The company's comprehensive line of products is used by workers around the world in the fire service, homeland ecurity, construction and other industries, as well as the military. Principal products include self-contained breathing apparatus, gas masks, gas detection instruments, head protection, respirators and thermal imaging cameras. The company also provides a broad range of consumer and contractor safety products through retail channels. These products are marketed and sold under the MSA Safety
Works brand. MSA has annual sales of approximately $914 million, manufacturing operations throughout the United States and Europe, and more than 40 international locations.

MORE INFO? www.msanet.com

WEST VIRGINIA HIGH TECHNOLOGY CONSORTIUM OFFERS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Originally Posted: August 7, 2007 12:35 PM
Last Updated: August 7, 2007 12:35 PM

Business opportunity announcement received by NEEDA:

The West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation (WVHTC Foundation) is a non-profit organization located in Fairmont, WV. Under contract of the Department of Defense (DoD) we developed and currently maintain the DoD TechMatch system (www.dodtechmatch.com) a web-based portal aimed at facilitating technology deployment collaboration by providing DoD Research & Development (R&D) information and identifying Opportunities (FedBizOpps, Grants.gov, and SBIR/STTR solicitations), Licensable Patents, Labs, and current Technology Needs using a unique keyword matching function.

This no-cost service can provide great value to your organizations membership by saving them time, money, and by providing a useful tool to assist them in identifying potential opportunities, which can lead to increased revenue.

I have been a registered user of DoD TechMatch since 2004. It is a great service and you cant beat the price (free). I look over the possible opportunities daily and have responded to ~15 in the past year and received significant SBIR funding. By registering for DoD TechMatch I receive the SBIR solicitations when they are released. I get them quickly and dont have to search through all of them to find the few that are related to my business, due to the keyword matching function. DoD TechMatch is a great service and I would recommend it to anyone in the Defense Research & Development arena. Bud Cass, Advanced Cerametrics

In addition, DoD TechMatch provides a centralized location to find information on 120 Defense labs across the U.S., including a way to contact the technology transfer decision makers at these labs. It also identifies calendar events and hot technologies technologies from the labs that have the highest commercial potential.

It is a key component of our outreach to industry and for finding new technology for DoD use. Cynthia Gonsalves, Deputy Director of Technology Transfer and Transition, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Advanced Systems and Concepts) Office of Technology Transfer

Industry and academia can register at no-cost to receive:

* A single, daily e-mail containing their technology transfer information including possible opportunities and related information.
* A time saving of ~50% in finding Federal Opportunities and Grants.
* Upcoming SBIR/STTR matches (over 3.2 million matches have been sent to our registered users in the last 24 months).
* Access to over 7,500 DoD licensable patents.

Your membership base can join the 8,700 users already taking advantage of this service.

MORE INFO? DoD TechMatch at http://www.dodtechmatch.com
High Technology Consortium Foundation
1000 Galliher Drive
Fairmont, WV 26554
mpizzuto@wvhtf.org
www.dodtechmatch.com

PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS 9/11/01 COMMISSION REPORT LEGISLATION
Originally Posted: August 7, 2007 11:42 AM
Last Updated: August 7, 2007 11:42 AM

With Secretary Chertoff standing aside congressional leaders in the Oval Office on Friday August 3, 2007 President George W. Bush signed legislation implementing the recommendations of the 9/11/01 Commission. In signing the bill, the President said that the legislation builds upon the considerable progress that has been made in strengthening the countrys defenses and protecting Americans since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

I am pleased that the legislation I signed today protects Americans from being unduly prosecuted for reporting activity that could lead to acts of terrorism, the president said in his signing statement. I also appreciate the steps taken to modernize the Visa Waiver Program, particularly the additional security measures, but I will continue to work with Congress to advance our security and foreign policy objectives by allowing greater flexibility to bring some of our closest allies into the program. I will also continue to work with Congress to ensure the workability of the cargo screening provisions in a way that increases our vigilance on homeland security while ensuring the continuance of vital commerce.

The president also noted in his statement that Congress needs to do more on other outstanding recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, including reforming the legislative branchs oversight of intelligence and counter-terrorism activities. The president added, I also believe it is important to recognize the urgent need for Congress to pass legislation to modernize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a decades-old law that should be updated to address changes in communication technology while protecting the civil liberties of our citizens.

NEEDA NEWSLETTER previously reported on the progress of this legislation through the Congress.

MORE INFO? www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/08/20070803-1.html

BRIDGE COLLAPSE ON I-35 GETS PRESIDENTIAL AND HIGH LEVEL FEDERAL ATTENTION; FEMA AND COAST GUARD AMONG THOSE RESPONDING
Originally Posted: August 7, 2007 11:36 AM
Last Updated: August 7, 2007 11:36 AM

The U.S. Coast Guard and FEMA continue to assist state and local authorities involved in the rescue and recovery operation at the site of the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis, Minn., which collapsed into the Mississippi River on Wednesday killing several people and injuring many others. President Bush visited the site on Saturday.

The Coast Guard has established a seven-mile closure of the Mississippi River to support local responder's efforts to search for victims and remove debris from the waterway. A 25-foot smallboat crew from the Marine Safety Detachment from St. Paul, Minn., was on scene after the collapse, and HH-65C Rescue Helicopter crews from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, Mich., along with the Coast Guard Auxiliary in St. Paul, Minn., were deployed to assist in search and rescue operations.

Region V Administrator Edward Buikema traveled to Minneapolis from Chicago following the collapse and went to the States Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) just after the incident. According to Buikema, FEMA and local DHS representatives from TSA and the Coast Guard were part of the SEOC, along with representatives from other federal agencies. All worked closely with their state counterparts to ensure a coordinated response, Buikema said.

NEEDA wishes to thank those phoning NEEDA about this disaster. NEEDA has previously publish information on the safety problems of America's bridges and we'll continue to monitor information on bridge safety and response to bridge emergencies.

VERSAR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT GETS ISO 9001:2000 CERTIFICATION
Originally Posted: August 3, 2007 4:48 PM
Last Updated: August 3, 2007 4:48 PM

Versar, Inc. says the Life Support Systems Division of its wholly-owned subsidiary, GEOMET Technologies, LLC, has received a Certificate of Registration to ISO 9001:2000 for manufacturing and supplying Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) products used in government, military, and commercial applications.

GEOMET designs, develops, and integrates National Fire Protection Association-certified and other PPE products such as chemical protective suits, gloves, boots, and respirators used in environments where chemical warfare agents or other hazardous and toxic chemicals may be present.

Dr. Ted Prociv, Versars President and CEO: We are delighted to receive the international ISO 9001 certification for our line of personal protective equipment. I believe this certification will fuel increased PPE sales in the coming months."

Dr. Prociv: "Versars entire business remains robust and I expect a strong positive response from the market when we release our year end results on September 10, 2007. The positive news over the coming months will reflect the hard work of our employees as we continue to grow our business."

Versar, Inc., (Springfield, VA) is a publicly held infrastructure program management company for the Federal Government and the commercial market specializing in homeland defense, engineering and construction management, environmental health and safety and the management of toxic and hazardous materials.

MORE INFO? www.versar.com, www.viap.org, www.homelanddefense.com, and www.geomet.com; and www.nbcprotect.com and www.dtaps.com.

THE MANY WAYS IMPORTANT DEALER INFORMATION CAN BE STOLEN FROM YOUR COMPANY: DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEE IS LIKELY PERPETRATOR
Originally Posted: August 3, 2007 4:14 PM
Last Updated: August 3, 2007 4:14 PM

The latest technologies and gadgets make it incredibly easy for your data to be stolen from right under your nose, unless you take steps to protect it. Nick Lowe, from Check Point Software, reports.

The ability to move massive amounts of information between PCs and portable storage devices means that it's now incredibly easy for confidential data to be taken from companies without knowledge or consent.

The perpetrators of such crimes are rarely stereotypical hackers, attacking systems via the internet from their mafia headquarters or their student dorms. Instead, the data thieves are frequently much closer to home.

Unescorted visitors, for example, or temporary staff who have joined the organization purely to copy data and hand it over to a competitor. Or, as is becoming increasingly common, unhappy staff who are about to resign but think it's a good idea to first take copies of anything which might be useful in their new job. And lastly, innocent employees who simply dont follow security policy, copy work files to take home and lose the unprotected storage device.

Unguarded USB ports on today's PCs are perhaps the biggest threat to corporate IT security. USB memory sticks can typically store up to a gigabyte of data, but an MP3 player, smartphone or PDA can be just as effective for the data thief as they can all be quickly connected to any PC via a USB cable without the need for any driver software to be installed (and therefore, without the need for the thief to be logged in as an administrator).

A few drags and drops, and the deed is done in a few seconds. Where the amount of data to be stolen is beyond the capacity of an iPod or PDA, external USB drives comprising half a terabyte of storage are now available on the street.

USB devices aren't the only way in which information can be stolen electronically, of course. Most mobile phones nowadays include a camera, which can be used to quickly make an electronic copy of a printed page.

Pocket OCR wands and portable scanners offer similar facilities to the opportunistic data thief who stumbles across a confidential printed document. Or he could simply make a photocopy of a document and put it in the post. However, using any of these methods to steal large quantities of data is simply not practical because of the time required. Controlling the use of USB devices is of far greater importance.

While the disgruntled employee is a prime suspect in many data thefts, actions by former employees should also be considered in your data protection plans. Do all of your users accounts and passwords get deleted as soon as the person leaves the company or changes department? Failure to delete such information isnt just dangerous, but might also mean that you fall foul of the Data Protection Act by storing personal information that you do not need to retain.

To reduce the problem of data leakage in your company there are three effective strategies. First, ensure that you have a policy which clearly states who is allowed to take data off-site, and how the data must be protected when its away from your premises.

Second, ensure that data doesn't leave the building without your knowledge. Finally, ensure that data which needs to be removed from the building is protected so that it cant fall into the wrong hands.

To control which data files leave your premises in the first place, set up user accounts on servers and workstations so that employees can't access information which they have no need to see. Those in sales and marketing, for example, probably don't need access to the product development department's files on the server, so set the access permissions accordingly.

Over-use of rules and regulations can lead to low morale, however, if the workforce feels that it clearly can't be trusted. Beware of becoming seen as Big Brother. It won't drive the data thieves away, but simply make them more determined.

It's also well worth investing in a port control product such as my company's Pointsec Protector, which can automatically block USB devices from being connected to your systems without authorization. The software also includes transparent encryption, so that information copied to USB devices is automatically rendered inaccessible to thieves.

Normally you will want to prevent confidential files leaving your premises, but this won't always be the case. Sometimes, allowing staff to take files away is necessary and beneficial. Salespeople need access to product information when they're away from the office, and marketing people often prepare PowerPoint presentations for delivery at conferences and seminars. Staff need to take work home at the weekend if they're particularly busy, and preventing them from doing so will deprive the company of some useful effort (not to mention all that unpaid overtime).

It's absolutely vital that you protect information which is taken off the premises. If a sales manager's laptop is stolen from the boot of her car, you need to be sure that the customer information on its hard disk can't be accessed by the thief. If your marketing manager's PDA goes missing while he's at a conference, can you be confident that the document containing details of next year's product launches wont be accessible to whoever buys the stolen hardware?

The solution to this problem is encrypting data. There are many products on the market, but ensure that the solution you choose is proven, transparent and automatic, eliminating user interaction and creating a fully enforceable solution that holds up to the most stringent compliance requirements.

Deploying an encryption solution will improve the level of trust and loyalty of clients and employees who recognise that every effort is being made to protect their sensitive data and ensure that a lost or stolen device never results in a data breach.

ARMOR HOLDINGS PURCHASED BY BAE SYSTEMS LAND AND ARMAMENT FOR $4.5 BILLION; MAKES SAFETY AND SURVIVAL PRODUCTS
Originally Posted: August 3, 2007 10:07 AM
Last Updated: August 3, 2007 10:07 AM

BAE Systems Land and Armament (Arlington VA) has acquired Armor Holdings Inc, after receiving all required shareholder and regulatory approvals. Cost? U.S. $4.532 billion (£2.275 billion).

Armor Holdings Aerospace & Defense Group is a top supplier of human safety and survival systems to all branches of the U.S. military and major aerospace and defense prime contractors.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, Armor Holdings shareholders will receive $88.00 for each share of Armor Holdings common stock held at closing, without interest.

Armor Holdings had sales in 2006 of U.S. $2.361 billion.

Mike Turner, BAE Systems Chief Executive Officer : Armor Holdings is a welcome addition to BAE Systems. Armor Holdings is a strong business with an excellent track record and a heritage of innovation and technology. The integration with BAE Systems existing land systems business will strengthen our ability to provide our military customers with innovative capabilities, products and services.

The combined business is well-positioned to serve significant new tactical vehicle requirements, such as the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, and future prospects such as the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.

Walt Havenstein, president and CEO of BAE Systems, Inc. BAE Systems and Armor Holdings share a common commitment to the men and women of the armed forces. Armor Holdings expertise in automotive design and lean, high-volume manufacturing technologies in combination with BAE Systems expertise in combat vehicle design, rapid prototyping and survivability systems, will strengthen our ability to provide the armed forces with tactical wheeled vehicles with increased survivability.

Armor Holdings customers will benefit from enhanced logistics and support through integration with BAE Systems reset, upgrade and support capability. In addition, BAE Systems global marketing presence will enhance Armor Holdings ability to offer tactical wheeled vehicle replacement in overseas markets.

In connection with the completion of the acquisition, Armor Holdings announced that $150 million in aggregate principal amount, or 100%, of its outstanding 8.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 (the 8.25% Notes) were tendered pursuant to its previously announced cash tender offer and consent solicitation. Armor Holdings will promptly pay for all such 8.25% Notes.

TPI Composites, Inc., a leading manufacturer of large-scale composite structures, and Armor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AH), a leading manufacturer and distributor of military vehicles, vehicle armor systems, and life safety and survivability systems, have produced a prototype light-weight, all-composite HMMWV. The new vehicle, which is part of the U.S. Armys All Composite Military Vehicle program, will be the first of its kind. Congressman David Hobson (7th District-Ohio) attended the unveiling of the vehicle.
The prototype vehicle was designed to demonstrate weight savings and durability in a tactical truck for the U.S. Army that can provide soldiers with maximum protection and performance. The vehicle is the result of an 18-month research and development program with the U.S. Army TARDEC and AM General. The vehicle will serve as a demonstration of how TPI can apply its composites technology to other military vehicles or vehicle components produced by Armor Holdings.

The All Composite Military Vehicle Program was a congressional initiative supported by US Representative Hobson. TPIs all-composite HMMWV saves approximately 900 pounds when compared to a current steel and aluminum HMMWV that is required to carry the same heavy armor. This weigh savings allows for the carriage of additional armor and other life-saving or important equipment.

TPI President and CEO Steven C. Lockard: TPI is committed to applying its structural composite technology to support our soldiers. The light-weight, all-composite HMMWV is an example of how advanced composite material and process technology can be applied to leapfrog our current vehicle platforms.

In addition to unveiling the composite HMMWV, TPI and Armor Holdings also have a long term teaming agreement that will allow TPIs process technology to be used on vehicles or vehicle components supplied by Armor Holdings.
John J. Gatti, senior vice president and chief technology officer of Armor Holdings: Our strategic teaming with TPI represents our strong and consistent commitment to identify technological advancements and attain technological capabilities to provide our customers with lighter, stronger and/or more producible vehicles and survivability systems.

TPI Composites, Inc., (Warren, Rhode Island), is a manufacturer of large-scale composite structures for the wind energy, transportation, and military vehicle markets. TPI operates factories in Warren, Rhode Island; Springfield, Ohio; Juarez, Mexico; and Taicang, China Inc.

Armor Holdings, Inc. listed number three on FORTUNE Magazine's 2006 "100 Fastest-Growing Companies List" and a member of the S&P Smallcap 600 Index, is a diversified manufacturer of branded products for the military, law enforcement and personnel safety markets.

Armor Holdings Products Group is a leading manufacturer of security products for law enforcement personnel around the world. Armor Holdings Mobile Security Division is the world's largest and most experienced passenger vehicle armoring manufacturers.

BAE Systems is a global defense and aerospace company, delivering a full range of products and services for air, land, and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions, and customer support services. With 88,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems sales were US $25.4 billion in 2006.

MORE INFO? BAE Systems(Lisa Hillary-Tee, +44 1252 384934(Mobile: +44 7801 718994
lisa.hillary-tee@baesystems.com(
Susan Lenover, +1 703 907 8259(Mobile: +1 703 850 1621
susan.lenover@baesystems.com(
www.baesystems.com
www.tpicomposites.com

SPARTAN CHASSIS BUILDS MINE RESISTANT AMBUSH PROTECTED VEHICLES FOR $28 MILLION
Originally Posted: August 3, 2007 8:47 AM
Last Updated: August 3, 2007 9:34 AM

Spartan Chassis,Inc., a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. has received a $28 million subcontract order from General Dynamics Land Systems to supply and integrate key chassis components in the production of advanced tactical vehicles under the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected, orMRAP, program.

The vehicles under this order are scheduled to be completed by the end of November 2007 and will be utilized by all branches of the U.S. military.

MRAPs are prized by the military for their V-shaped hulls, raised chassis and improved armor, which help protect servicemen and women from improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, mines and other hazards of war.

Richard Schalter, president of Spartan Chassis: "This award is validation of Spartan's expertise in automotive integration and our ability to deliver a quality product on time. These vehicles have been called the highest priority for the U.S. military because of the unmatched level of troop safety they provide, and we are honored to be among the suppliers committed to providing products that safeguard the lives of our servicemen and women."

General Dynamics Land Systems, headquartered in Sterling Heights, Michigan, is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE: GD). The company designs and builds armored vehicles and subsystems for the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and international customers, and is the defense industry's largest supplier of armored military vehicles.

Spartan Chassis, Inc., a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of custom chassis for recreational vehicles, fire trucks and specialty vehicles. Spartan Motors, which also manufactures emergency rescue vehicles under the brand names of Crimson Fire, Crimson Fire Aerials and Road Rescue, reported sales of $445 million in 2006 and is focused on becoming the premier manufacturer of specialty vehicles and chassis in North America.

OSHKOSH TRUCK 3RD QUARTER: UP 68 PERCENT . . . PROJECTS $7 BILLION IN 2008 ESTIMATED SALES
Originally Posted: August 2, 2007 4:16 PM
Last Updated: August 2, 2007 4:16 PM

Oshkosh Truck Corporation (Oshkosh, WI), a manufacturer of specialty vehicles and vehicle bodies, reported third quarter of fiscal 2007 earnings per share (EPS) of $1.21 on sales of $1.85 billion and net income of $90.6 million. These results compare with sales of $887.9 million and net income of $53.4 million for last years third quarter.

Fire and emergency Fire and emergency segment sales increased 13.7 percent to $290.2 million for the quarter compared to the prior year quarter. Operating income decreased 2.7 percent to $29.0 million, or 10.0 percent of sales, compared to the prior year quarter operating income of $29.7 million, or 11.7 percent of sales. The recent acquisition of Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles (OSV) contributed sales and operating income totaling $31.9 million and $3.4 million, respectively, in the quarter. Sales of other businesses in the segment increased 1.2 percent reflecting higher domestic fire apparatus and towing product sales, offset in part by lower airport product sales. The low organic growth rate in the quarter also reflected both the delay of $13.6 million of sales from the second quarter of fiscal 2006 to the third quarter of fiscal 2006 due to supplier issues and the expected concentration of approximately 40.0 percent of the annual sales of airport products in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. Operating income from these same businesses decreased 14.2 percent during the quarter as a result of a decrease in higher-margin airport product sales and weak European fire apparatus sales.

NEEDA last reported on news from Oshkosh on July 12, 2007 in NEEDA NEWSLETTER.

Sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 more than doubled, increasing 108.1 percent as compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2006. The recent acquisition of JLG Industries, Inc. (JLG) contributed sales of $873.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2007.

Sales also grew in the Companys defense and fire and emergency segments, while the Companys commercial segment sales declined primarily due to an anticipated decrease in demand following the January 1, 2007 diesel engine emission standards changes.

Operating income increased 133.2 percent to $192.7 million, or 10.4 percent of sales. The Companys most recent acquisition, JLG, contributed operating income of $98.3 million. Operating income grew at a double-digit percentage in the defense segment, while the fire and emergency and commercial segments each experienced decreases in operating income.

Robert G. Bohn, chairman, Oshkosh president and chief executive officer: The team at JLG really delivered this quarter as they continue to integrate into the Oshkosh Truck family. Global demand for aerial work platforms has been outstanding and we believe these conditions will continue in fiscal 2008, particularly in our overseas markets.

Bohn : Strong orders for our medium and heavy tactical vehicles provided the fuel necessary for our defense business to grow at a high rate during the third quarter. Looking forward, we expect requirements for new and remanufactured trucks to grow in fiscal 2008, and we remain optimistic about opportunities for Oshkosh Truck to produce Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles for our U.S. military. Were especially pleased with our opportunity to participate in the offering of the very capable Bull" armored vehicle to the U.S. military and other friendly, foreign militaries through our recently announced teaming agreement with Ceradyne, Inc. and Ideal Innovations, Inc. We believe the Bull substantially improves the protection for our troops and expect to further prove that in the coming months to the U.S. military.

Today, we are also announcing our initial estimates for fiscal 2008. Based on strong demand in our access equipment and defense segments and the scope of our cost reduction activities, we believe we can grow our revenues above $7 billion, improve our operating margins by over 50 basis points and grow our EPS to between $4.15 and $4.35. We are very excited about our prospects for fiscal 2008.

Factors affecting third quarter results for the Companys business segments included:

Access equipment Access equipment segment sales were $873.8 million for the quarter, while operating income was $98.3 million, or 11.3 percent of sales. These results included purchase accounting charges totaling 2.2 percent of sales, consisting of $2.0 million related to the revaluation of inventory at the acquisition date of JLG and $16.8 million related to recurring amortization of intangible and tangible assets established in the preliminary purchase accounting for the JLG acquisition. Compared to JLGs pre-acquisition results for the same period in 2006, sales reflected higher worldwide demand for aerial work platforms and the addition of the sales of Caterpillar® branded telehandlers, offset in part by lower demand for traditional telehandlers in North America. Sales for the segment were 30.8 percent higher in the quarter than sales for JLG as a stand-alone company for the same period last year.

JLG was accretive to EPS for the third quarter by $0.35 per share. The Company had previously estimated that JLG would be accretive to third quarter EPS by $0.20 - $0.25 per share. The improvement from previous estimates resulted from better performance in all of JLGs regions globally.

Defense Defense segment sales increased 29.1 percent to $376.3 million for the quarter compared to the prior years third quarter due to a significant increase in new and remanufactured trucks sales offset in part by sharply lower parts and service sales. The higher sales of new and remanufactured trucks reflected higher federal funding for such vehicles, while parts and service sales declined sharply on lower armor-related sales and limited available service work in recent months.

Operating income in the third quarter was up 33.1 percent to $65.3 million, or 17.3 percent of sales, compared to the prior year quarter operating income of $49.0 million, or 16.8 percent of sales. The segment operating margin increased as revenues increased faster than relatively fixed operating expenses.

Commercial Commercial segment sales decreased 9.3 percent to $317.8 million in the third quarter compared to the prior year quarter. Operating income decreased 29.7 percent to $17.8 million, or 5.6 percent of sales, compared to $25.4 million, or 7.2 percent of sales, in the prior year quarter. The recent acquisition of Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. (IMT) contributed sales and operating income totaling $25.4 million and $3.5 million, respectively, in the quarter. Sales and operating income from other businesses in the segment decreased 16.6 percent and 43.3 percent, respectively. These decreases were largely driven by lower domestic concrete mixer volume subsequent to the January 1, 2007 changes to diesel engine emissions standards. Lower sales and higher warranty costs at the Companys European refuse business also contributed to the decrease in operating income for the segment.

Corporate and other Corporate operating expenses and inter-segment profit elimination decreased $3.8 million to $17.7 million for the third quarter. The decrease was largely due to lower acquisition investigation and related costs offset in part by higher personnel costs and professional service fees. Interest expense net of interest income for the quarter increased $56.7 million to $56.4 million compared to the prior year quarter. Higher interest costs were due to debt incurred primarily in connection with the acquisition of JLG.

The provision for income taxes in the third quarter decreased to 36.0 percent of pre-tax income compared to 36.4 percent of pre-tax income in the prior year quarter. The lower effective tax rate reflected the impacts of the JLG acquisition and the reinstatement of the federal research and development tax credit.

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates increased to $2.1 million during the third quarter compared to $0.9 million in the prior year quarter due to improved performance of an affiliate in Mexico and the addition of a joint venture in Europe which was acquired in the acquisition of JLG.

Total debt decreased $23.3 million during the third quarter to $3.09 billion at June 30, 2007 as compared to $3.11 billion at March 31, 2007 due to cash provided from operating activities.

The Company reported that EPS increased 16.2 percent to $2.44 per share for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 on sales of $4.51 billion and net income of $182.7 million compared to $2.10 per share for the first nine months of fiscal 2006 on sales of $2.52 billion and net income of $156.3 million. The JLG acquisition contributed significantly to the increase in both sales and net income compared to the prior year. The acquisition of JLG has been accretive to EPS for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 by $0.20 per share despite the impact of certain purchase accounting adjustments and the closing of the JLG acquisition during a seasonally slow holiday period.

Operating income increased 64.9 percent to $411.1 million, or 9.1 percent of sales, in the first nine months of fiscal 2007 compared to $249.3 million, or 9.9 percent of sales, in the first nine months of fiscal 2006. The increase in operating income compared to the prior year was driven primarily by the JLG acquisition.

The Company increased its estimated EPS range for fiscal 2007 to between $3.35 and $3.40 per share, including $0.40 - $0.45 per share accretion for JLG, compared to $2.76 per share in fiscal 2006. This estimated range reflects the Companys better than anticipated financial performance during the third quarter of fiscal 2007 offset in part by additional costs the Company expects to incur to compete in the MRAP vehicle programs and weaker anticipated defense parts and service sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007.

The Company announced its estimated range of fiscal 2008 EPS to be between $4.15 and $4.35 per share on projected sales of $7.0 - $7.2 billion. The Company expects sales in its access equipment and defense segments to grow by double digit percentages in fiscal 2008. The Company expects such sales increases and cost reduction plans across all segments to be the primary drivers of its estimated EPS growth in fiscal 2008.

Oshkosh Truck Corporations Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share of Common Stock. The dividend, unchanged from the immediately preceding quarter, will be payable August 23, 2007, to shareholders of record as of August 15, 2007.

Oshkosh Truck Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, military, fire and emergency and commercial vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkoshs products are valued worldwide by rental and construction companies, defense forces, fire and emergency units, municipal and airport support services, and concrete placement and refuse businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount.

MORE INFO? www.oshkoshtruckcorporation.com

QUEST PROVIDES VOICE, DATE AND VIDEO SUPPORT TO FIREFIGHTERS IN THE US WESTERN STATES
Originally Posted: August 2, 2007 3:55 PM
Last Updated: August 2, 2007 3:55 PM

Qwest provides communications support to the U.S. Forest Service firefighters and local and regional firefighting personnel.

Firefighters from federal and local agencies were fighting the Salt Creek fire, which started July 19, 2007 near Nephi, Utah. The blaze burned more than 25,000 acres. Qwest provided communications infrastructure, including voice and data services used to help coordinate the firefighting effort.

I called Qwest on Sunday morning and told them I had an emergency, said Mike Shipley, U.S. Forest Service communications unit leader. By that evening, I had 24 phone lines installed. Qwest reacted very quickly. The lines are also used for critical data transmission to keep firefighters, media and the public updated on the progress of the firefights.

Also on Sunday, July 29,2007 700 miles away in Rapid City, SD, Qwest deployed a command center with 25 lines at a local high school to support the Forest Service as it led firefighting efforts in Box Elder Canyon.

In Montana, where several fast-moving wildfires including one which covered 31,000 acres -- Qwest established command centers for the Forest Service in West Yellowstone, East Glacier and Wolf Creek. Qwest crews in Idaho, Oregon and Washington have deployed communications infrastructure to fire camps to support ongoing firefighting.

Bob Tregemba, executive vice president of network operations for Qwest: Wildfires are something we have to deal with throughout the West. Qwest has extensive experience helping in the response to natural disasters and emergency situations across the country, such as fires, floods, blizzards and hurricanes. We help not only with emergencies spurred by Mother Nature, but we also have extensive services available to businesses in the event they are ever stricken with an emergency. Qwests Spirit of Service means we can react quickly and help customers of any kind get their communications infrastructure up and running.

In addition to providing rapid response to support firefighters and other emergency service providers, Qwest also takes action to protect network equipment and communications services against the threat of wildfires:

Crews remove all brush and combustible materials from around crucial outside plant equipment, central offices and other Qwest facilities.

Back-up generators, batteries and ventilation systems are checked to verify that in the event that commercial power is lost, Qwest is prepared to switch to back-up power.

In the event of a direct wildfire threat, Qwest builds temporary structures and uses emergency fire blankets, fiberglass wraps and fire protection foam to protect Qwest pedestals and cabinets against fire damage. Crews also secure buildings against fire, smoke and heat, all in an effort to provide uninterrupted communications services to customers.

Qwest offers a combination of managed voice and data solutions for businesses, government agencies and consumers locally and throughout the country. Customers turn to Qwest's national fiber optic network and its Spirit of Service for products and customer experience. Qwest is a participant in Networx, a communications services contract, to provide voice, data and video services.

MORE INFO? www.qwest.com or www.gsanetworx.com.
or Jon Lentz, 303-382-0077 or jon.lentz@qwest.com

NEW HAVEN, MI GENERAL PURPOSE VEHICLES INTRODUCES NEW LINE OF FIRE AND RESCUE VEHICLES
Originally Posted: August 2, 2007 3:19 PM
Last Updated: August 2, 2007 3:38 PM

General Purpose Vehicles, Inc. (GPV), A CMI-Schneible Group Company, headquartered in New Haven, Michigan introduced the commercial production of a new line of fire truck and rescue vehicles.

The new products are built with patented technologies including state-of-the art electronic controls, all- wheel drive, all-wheel steering and ride height active suspension controls.

GPV designs and manufactures advanced technology vehicles for various national security applications. GPV's customer base includes Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Fire and Rescue, Disaster Response, Border Patrol and a variety of Military Mission Roles.

William Goetz, Chairman, President, and CEO, CMI-Schneible Group: "The vehicles incorporating these new technologies allow the first responders to reach areas previously inaccessible. The ability to arrive at the scene quickly will result in more timely responsiveness with improved outcomes in forest fires, floods, earthquakes and other national disasters. We are particularly pleased to launch this new product line and the resultant new sales in our Michigan operations, creating jobs for the local community and state, and the exporting of Michigan manufactured product to overseas customers."

GPV designs and manufactures advanced technology vehicles for various national security applications. GPV's customer base includes Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Fire and Rescue, Disaster Response, Border Patrol, and various Military applications internationally.

The CMI-Schneible Group offers machining, research and development, parts cleaning, inspection and testing, warehousing and logistics services, cleaning and maintenance programs, and equipment and automation builds through the CMI-Schneible Company. CMI-Detroit Muscle offers award winning custom high performance car and engine builds, a full line of car care products and the latest branded apparel for men, women and children.

CMI-Specialty Systems supplies customized chemical solutions and packaging to a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, racing, paint booth maintenance and the food service industry.

The CMI-Schneible Group, headquartered in Holly, Michigan, announced today it has acquired the assets of General Purpose Vehicles (GPV), located in New Haven, Michigan. The new organization will be named GPV, Inc.

GPV designs and manufactures advanced technology vehicles for various national security applications. GPV's customer base includes Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Fire and Rescue, Disaster Response, Border Patrol and a variety of Military Mission Roles.

This transaction reflects the CMI-Schneible Group's fourth acquisition within four years. This successful track record with acquisitions and integration has allowed CMI to maximize its value to improve performance standards, as well as implement their quality initiative in manufacturing
and engineering capabilities to all business practices areas.

"This new acquisition expands CMI's market presence and capability in the force protection and wheeled vehicle markets," says William Goetz, Chairman, President and CEO, CMI-Schneible Group. "This business opportunity is expected to expand rapidly as requirements for wheeled vehicles and new military equipment that withstand insurgent attacks increase."

MORE INFO? 800-627-6508) or 586-749-0600 or www.thecmischneiblegroup.com or www.gpv.com

HURRICANE IN 07 COULD REDUCE SUPPLY OF FUEL FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES
Originally Posted: August 2, 2007 11:46 AM
Last Updated: August 2, 2007 11:46 AM

One well-aimed Category 5 storm in the Gulf of Mexico -- certainly possible in the active season being forecast for this year -- could cripple oil and gasoline production, and the economy.

Remember the jump in gasoline prices after hurricanes Katrina and Rita dealt a one-two punch to the Gulf coast in 2005? If a storm of similar or greater strength should ever land a direct hit on Houston, drivers might find themselves looking back wistfully. So much of the oil and gas industry is located in the region that the economic consequences -- let alone the potentially devastating human costs -- of such a hit could be disastrous.

The insurance company rating firm A.M. Best recently issued its forecast for the 2007 hurricane season and included an assessment of such a strike. Fittingly, it's entitled its report calculating the effect of such strike 'One Blow Away from $6 Gas.' "A Category 5 storm moving on the Houston area ... would dwarf energy industry disruptions seen from Katrina and Rita," says the report, relying on scientific modeling done by two catastrophe-modeling firms. "Forty percent of U.S. refinery production could be shut, as well as nearly all offshore production facilities."

Unfortunately, the prospect of such a strike -- and such a price reaction -- is not far-fetched. An active hurricane season is expected, with four to five storms expected to be Category 3 hurricanes or higher. Driven up by other factors, gas prices are already rivaling the highs seen after Katrina struck two years ago. "In the current environment ... even the suggestion of a developing hurricane headed in that direction has the potential to push energy prices significantly higher, producing economic disruptions," the report says.

Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is a full-service credit rating organization that serves the financial services industries, including the banking and insurance sectors. It is the largest and longest-established company devoted to issuing in-depth reports and financial-strength ratings about insurance organizations.

NEEDA MEMBER: TOM PIZIO, ABSOLUTE FIRE PROTECTION COMPANY, NEW JERSEY . . . TUESDAY, JULY 31, 07
Originally Posted: August 2, 2007 11:29 AM
Last Updated: August 2, 2007 11:34 AM

NEEDA loses one of its first and most supportive memers, Tom Pizio, who saw the value of a strong dealer's association and provided the support to make NEEDA and effective voice for all dealers.

Thomas Pizio Jr., formerly of Piscataway . . .

MANASQUAN -- Thomas Pizio Jr., 69, of Manasquan, passed away at home Tuesday (July 31, 2007). Born in Plainfield, NJ Tom grew up in Green Brook and raised his family in Piscataway before retiring and moving permanently to Manasquan.

Tom is a graduate of Dunellen High School and Juniata College. He worked for more than 40 years at Absolute Fire Protection Co. Inc., in South Plainfield, retiring as president in 2005, and was involved in many organizations: the American Society of Safety Engineers, the Association of Industrial Fire Chiefs, the National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association, and the New Jersey Career Chiefs Association.

After purchasing a summer home in Manasquan in 1991, he became very involved in the community as a trustee of the Manasquan Beach Improvement Association; and a member of the Manasquan Fishing Club, the Squan Village Historical Society, the Manasquan First Night Committee, and Manasquan Seniors.

Tom's favorite things were golfing, gardening, photography, and watching his grandchildren play on the beach.

He is survived by his loving wife, Joan Stephenson Pizio; his son, Thomas III; his daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Brad Whiting; his grandsons, Stephen and Joseph; his brother, Mike; his mother-in-law, Mary Stephenson; sisters-in-law, Elaine and Joel Schnitter, Mary Ann and Maury Connors, and Jamie Stephenson; and 13 wonderful nieces and nephews and their families, as well as many good friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Denis Catholic Church, Manasquan. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Neary-Quinn Funeral Home, 39 South St., Manasquan.

In lieu of flowers, kindly make donations to Manasquan First Aid Squad, 65 Broad St., Manasquan, NJ 08735 or the Squan Village Historical Society, P.O. Box 262, Manasquan, NJ 08736.

FIRE & SAFETY EQUIPMENT SALES & SERVICE
Questions reguarding the following:
Apparatus Sales: Mike Pizio
Call us at: (908) 757-3600
Fax us at: (908) 757-3616
Mail us at: 2800 Hamilton Blvd.
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
Equipment Sales: Tony Amoroso
Apparatus Service: Sal Giannotta
General Information: Alicia Thau

NEW YORK DEALERSHIP
Absolute Emergency Vehicles & Equipment, LLC
2717 Jonas Lane
Endicott, NY 13760
absoluteny@stny.rr.com
Vice President: Shaun Hanzalik

DEADLINE: AUGUST 31, 2007: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY OPENS APPLICATION PERIOD FOR STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES (SAFER) GRANTS
Originally Posted: August 1, 2007 4:58 PM
Last Updated: August 1, 2007 5:03 PM

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted
the Program Guidance document for the FY2007 SAFER Grants at the website for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program - www.firegrantsupport.com. Under the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007, Congress appropriated $115 million for SAFER
Grants. DHS has also made available today an online applicant tutorial, Frequently Asked Questions and other materials to assist applicants in their preparation of competitive applications for these grants.

Beginning July 30, 2007, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began accepting applications for SAFER Grants. The deadline for receipt of the SAFER Grant applications will be 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on August 31, 2007.

The applications will be automated and will be accessible from the website for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program at www.firegrantsupport.com. The website also provides useful information on the SAFER Grants' priorities and processes that are discussed in the Program Guidance. A list of Frequently Asked Questions is available, and will be updated, as the program staff learns about the areas of inquiry.

An applicant tutorial on the SAFER Grant, designed to instruct users regarding the preparation and submittal of competitive applications, is also now available at www.firegrantsupport.com. Applicants who have questions regarding the SAFER Grant opportunities should contact the help desk at 1-866-274-0960 or at firegrants@dhs.gov. During the SAFER application period, the help desk will operate Monday to Friday, from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (EDT), but is prepared to revise hours of operation
based on volume and demand.

Eligible applicants for SAFER Grants include fire departments (for the hiring of firefighters) and state or local organizations as well as volunteer and combination fire departments (for volunteer recruitment and retention grants). Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the
SAFER Program Guidance, and utilize all other assistance materials available on the AFG Website.

The SAFER Grants are administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency.

HUNTINGTON STATION NY FIRE DEPARTMENT SELLS 96 FIRE TRUCK, 92 RESCUE TRUCK, AND 74 LADDER TRUCK TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2007
Originally Posted: August 1, 2007 4:27 PM
Last Updated: August 1, 2007 4:27 PM

Huntington, NY is selling fire apparatus owned by the fire district: August 7, 2007 between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. (prevailing time) at the same location."

The Special Election of the Huntington Manor Fire District to obtain approval to sell several pieces of fire apparatus shall be held on August 7, 2007 from 6:00 p.m. prevailing time until 9:00 p.m. prevailing time at the Huntington Manor Fire Headquarters Building located at 1650 New York Avenue, Huntington Station, New York, according to Barbara Springsteen, Fire District Secretary, Huntington Manor Fire District. To be sold:

ONE (1) 1996 SIMON LTI QUINT FIRE TRUCK,
ONE (1) 1992 SIMON DUPLEX/ SAULSBURY RESCUE FIRE TRUCK,
ONE (1) 1974 MACK/ BAKER TOWER LADDER FIRE TRUCK EACH VALUED AT MORE THAN FIFTY THOUSAND ($50,000.00) DOLLARS, WITH THE ACTUAL PRICE OF SALE TO BE DETERMINED BY MARKET FORCES

RURAL METRO WINS CONTRACT TO SERVE AURORA, COLORADO
Originally Posted: August 1, 2007 3:53 PM
Last Updated: August 1, 2007 4:01 PM

The Rural Metro contract is expected to generate net revenue of approximately $31.0 million over its initial five-year term, or annual net revenue of $6.2 million. The contract begins September 1, 2007 and contains two, two-year earned renewal periods for a total possible length of nine years.

Rural/Metro's EMS professionals provide 16,000 patient transports within the City of Aurora each year.

Jack Brucker, President and Chief Executive Officer: "Our
commitment to the City of Aurora and the surrounding communities remains strong as we look toward meeting the future medical transportation needs of this area. We have worked to establish a strong and successful base of operations in Aurora and look forward to future market expansion opportunities."

Boo Heffner, Rural/Metro's Western Group President: "We are very pleased to once again be awarded the Aurora 911 contract and to work in partnership with the Aurora Fire Department to deliver the highest-quality ambulance services available. Our employees share a longstanding commitment to the community and patients we serve and look forward to many more years of service excellence."

Rural/Metro provides medical transportation services throughout Aurora and the Denver metropolitan area, including contracts with the Medical Center of Aurora, University of Colorado Hospital, Rose Medical Center,
Centennial Medical Plaza, Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital, Parker Adventist Hospital, Buckley Air Force Base, PacifiCare, AirLife, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, and Dick's Sporting Goods/Kroenke Sports Park Enterprises. Rural/Metro also provides back-up services to several area ambulance providers, including the city of Denver.

Rural/Metro Corporation provides emergency and non-emergency medical transportation, fire protection, and other safety services in 24 states and more than 400 communities throughout the United States.

Based on the Company's preliminary, unaudited results for its fourth quarter, which ended June 30, 2007, uncompensated care as a percentage of gross revenue improved to 15.1 percent compared to 15.2 percent for the
third quarter, which ended March 31, 2007. Net EMS Average Patient Charge (APC(1)) for the Company's fourth quarter improved to $336 per transport, from $326 per transport in the preceding quarter. Additionally, days' sales outstanding (DSO(2)) improved to 65 days in the fourth quarter, compared to 67 days in the preceding quarter.

MORE INFO? www.ruralmetro.com