NORTHEAST FIRENEWS
2020 PRESS RELEASE AND OTHER NEWS ARCHIVE




2020 OFFSITE ARTICLES/PRESS RELEASES

Retired Middletown, CT and WWII Vet turns 102. CLICK FOR ARTICLE.

New regional training facility opens in Auburn, Mass. CLICK FOR ARTICLE.

New Bedford, MA Firefighter writes a children's book to insprire young girls. CLICK FOR ARTICLE. Posted in November.

Historic FDNY fireboat departs New London, CT for maintenance. CLICK FOR ARTICLE. Posted in October.

An inside look at the fireboats protecting Boston- CLICK FOR ARTICLE.

U.S. Coast Guard selects Newport, RI to be homeport of two future off-shore patrol cutters. CLICK FOR ARTICLE.

Coast Guard Press release for commissioning of new cutter:
HOUSTON — The Coast Guard held a commissioning ceremony for the Coast Guard Cutter Harold Miller, the service's 38th fast response cutter, at Sector Field Office Galveston, Texas, Wednesday.
Rear Adm. John Nadeau, Eighth Coast Guard District commander, presided over the ceremony, along with Lt. Michael Salerno, Coast Guard Cutter Harold Miller’s commanding officer.
Harold Miller, the cutter’s namesake, was a Coast Guard boatswain’s mate 2nd class and a Silver Star recipient for his heroic actions that led to the victory at Tulagi Island during World War II.
On Aug. 7, 1942, while stationed aboard the U.S.S. McKean, Miller piloted the first wave of landing craft on Tulagi Island in the Pacific Theater against a Japanese force on Guadalcanal Island. Miller then made repeated trips in spite of heavy enemy fire to affect the landing of his embarked troops, equipment ammunition, and supplies.
The Coast Guard Cutter Harold Miller’s patrol area will encompass 900 miles of coastline for the Coast Guard’s Eighth District, from Carrabelle, Florida, to Brownsville, Texas. Fast response cutters are named after Coast Guard enlisted heroes and will replace the service's 110-foot patrol boats. These vessels feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance equipment. Posted in July.

Press Release: Ferrara Fire Apparatus Adds Bulldog Fire & Emergency Apparatus To Dealer Network. CLICK FOR OFFICIAL RELEASE.

U.S. Coast Guard commissions new cutter: Courtesy of the U.S.C.G. public relations:
HOUSTON — The Coast Guard held a commissioning ceremony for the Coast Guard Cutter Edgar Culbertson, the service's 37th fast response cutter, at Sector Field Office Galveston, Texas, Friday. Rear Adm. John Nadeau, Eighth Coast Guard District commander, presided over the ceremony, along with Lt. Katie Shveda, Coast Guard Cutter Edgar Culbertson commanding officer.
Edgar Culbertson, the cutter’s namesake, was a Coast Guard petty officer 1st class and Coast Guard Medal recipient who died April 30, 1967, while attempting the rescue of three brothers during a storm in Duluth, Minnesota. Culbertson and two other Coast Guardsmen, Petty Officer 3rd Class Richard Callahan and Fireman Ronald Prei, volunteered to attempt the rescue. After arriving at the pier they tethered themselves together and searched the pier with lanterns in an attempt to locate the missing Halverson brothers. As the heroes searched for the boys, a large wave crashed over the wall, knocking Culberston over the side.
Culbertson was a 31-year-old native of Ferndale, Michigan, a veteran of the Korean War and had served in the Coast Guard since 1952.
The Coast Guard Cutter Edgar Culbertson’s patrol area will encompass 900 miles of coastline for the Coast Guard’s Eighth District, from Carrabelle, Florida, to Brownsville, Texas. Fast response cutters are named after Coast Guard enlisted heroes and will replace the service's 110-foot patrol boats. These vessels feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance equipment.

The NESVFL has cancelled all hand tub musters for 2020.
From Jim Hoffman, president of the NESVL:
It is with a heavy heart we announce that the New England State Fireman’s League 2020 muster season has been cancelled due to the Covid 19 Pandemic. This is not the first time the NESVFL has been forced to cancel the season. The last time was during World War 2. It is unfortunate that this word wide pandemic has had the same effect on this year’s season. However as in the past the league will rise to the challenge. As always, the Vice Presidents are standing by to assist any organizations or members. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

Press release from Specialty Vehicles followed by a press release from Rosenbauer of America:
Effective April 6, 2020 Specialty Vehicles, Inc. will no longer represent Ferrara Fire Apparatus. After 8 years, we wish Ferrara well with their next business partner.
Specialty Vehicles, Inc. is pleased to announce that effective April 13, 2020 we have joined forces with Rosenbauer America to handle all sales, service and parts within the (6) New England States (ME / NH / VT / MA / RI / CT). See attached Rosenbauer announcement.
Also, we have re-launched our website at www.svine.com and will to make efforts to keep it updated with current news and other business matters.

News release from Rosenbauer America regarding new contrct with Specialty Vehicles:
LYONS, SD (April 13, 2020) ‒ Rosenbauer America is excited to announce its new partnership with Specialty Vehicles, Inc. (SVI) in Plainville, Massachusetts, which will be leading the way as the authorized sales and service dealer for Rosenbauer fire apparatus for the entire New England region – Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

After having spent 25 years as a firefighter, EMT, and mechanic for the Town of Wrentham, MA, Al Hooper founded SVI in 1987. Al wanted to put his years of research and analysis of emergency vehicles to good use and provide his customers with vehicles of the quality they deserved. Al led the way as President of SVI until August of 2003. Then, his son, Mark Hooper, stepped into the leadership role and has served as President for the previous 17 years, while Al took on his current role as Vice President.

“We are ecstatic to offer Rosenbauer fire apparatus within our organization,” said Specialty Vehicles, Inc. President, Mark Hooper. “With their vast product line, Rosenbauer will be a major asset to our business growth. We have always held the highest respect for Rosenbauer’s products, so to now be a part of their family is truly a privilege. There is an abundance of Rosenbauer customers located within New England, and we look forward to working with current Rosenbauer clients and developing new relationships in addition to providing outstanding service and satisfying parts requirements.”

SVI recently moved into a new state-of-the-art facility, further enhancing their top-notch service capabilities. With five drive-thru service bays, a dedicated detail bay, and an in-ground 20,000-gallon concrete test pit, this new facility is more than ready to serve any customer’s needs for Rosenbauer.

“From a world class facility to a great sales and service team, Specialty Vehicles, Inc. has everything we are looking for in a dealer. The Hooper family also share our values, and I am thrilled to welcome them into our Rosenbauer family,” said Dave Reichman, Rosenbauer America’s National Sales Manager.

Scott Oyen, CEO of the Rosenbauer South Dakota campus, added, “The Rosenbauer team is excited to add SVI to our roster. The key to our success is the quality of our dealer network. SVI has a great reputation and a great facility; together, we will serve the New England firefighters, EMTs, and first responders with top notch product and service.”

Please, visit the SVI website at www.svine.com to find out more about this great dealership and their dedication to the industry!

Rosenbauer America is a leading manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. The company offers a full line of custom and commercial pumpers, rescue pumpers, mini and rescue pumpers, tankers, aerial ladders and platforms featuring Smart Aerial Technology. For more information, please visit rosenbaueramerica.com, Facebook, and Twitter.




Specialty Vehicles of Plainville, Mass has partnered with Rosenbauer of America. CLICK FOR PRESS RELEASE. Posted in April.

Posted in January: U.S. Coast Guard commissions new fast response cutter. Press release courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard:
The Coast Guard held a commissioning ceremony for the Coast Guard Cutter Daniel Tarr, the service's 36th fast response cutter, at Sector Field Office Galveston, Texas, Friday January 10th.
Daniel Tarr, the cutter’s namesake, was one of four Coast Guard coxswains who served with the Marines during the amphibious invasion of Tulagi, Solomon Islands, in August 1942. Tarr enlisted as a surfman and later became coxswain of USS McKean’s Boat Number 1 prior to the invasion. On Aug. 7, 1942, Tarr, along with the other three coxswains, landed the first wave of the Marine Corps’ Raider Battalion on the beaches of Tulagi; in the following three days, they also delivered vitally needed equipment, ammunition and supplies. For their role in the landing of the Marines’ first wave, and capture of Tulagi, the four coxswains were awarded the Silver Star Medal. They were the first enlisted men in the Coast Guard to receive the Silver Star Medal.
The Coast Guard Cutter Daniel Tarr’s patrol area will encompass 900 miles of coastline for the Coast Guard’s Eighth District, from Carrabelle, Florida, to Brownsville, Texas. Fast response cutters are named after Coast Guard enlisted heroes and will replace the service's 110-foot patrol boats. These vessels feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment.




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