PCiRoads uses custom equipment for Minneapolis stormwater project
Minneapolis features a busy and lively downtown area that’s home to nearly 57,000 residents along with 216,000 employees each week, per mplsdowntown.com. The city has consistently topped more than $1 billion in new construction permits over the past 11 years … More from our cover sponsor →
New draws keep municipal golf courses in the green
Picture it: A golf course on a warm spring day, rolling in a sea of restful green on a lovely weekday morning when the day is young and the sun is still burning off the last wisps of fog from … Continue reading →
“Aha moment” leads to a million-dollar invention
William K. “Ken” Blocker of Lexington, S.C., may soon be in the enviable position of having firefighters all over the nation doffing their heavy helmets to him for an invention that makes firefighting easier and safer. Blocker, however, was employed … Continue reading →
Gatlinburg recovering from massive fires
The city of Gatlinburg is “mountain tough” and is fighting its way back from a massive fire that started at the top of a trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and literally blew into the city limits and … Continue reading →
Oldest working fireboat still serves Buffalo, N.Y.
Before Theodore Roosevelt was inaugurated as president the oldest working fireboat had already begun serving the city of Buffalo, N.Y. In November 2016, the Edward M. Cotter fireboat turned 116 years old. Even today it is still used as a … Continue reading →
Preplanning vital to using static water sources
Rural firefighting calls for a different and streamlined approach, including the access to and use of static water sources. Henry Lovett, a veteran volunteer firefighter and product manager for the TurboDraft Fire Eductor, described the lay of the land. “Rural … Continue reading →
Citizens morphing into first care providers
When more and more violent incidents become a common occurrence in communities, it’s imperative for municipalities to take initiative to educate citizens over basic medical and trauma care. Educated EMS agencies, firefighters and police officers are not the first to … Continue reading →
Volunteer fire departments face challenges with recruitment and retention
Volunteers comprise 70 percent of firefighters in America, yet with low recruitment and retention rates, some departments have had to get creative to stay afloat. At Inver Grove Heights Fire Department in the city of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., Fire … Continue reading →
Cities and towns weigh overtime vs new hires in fire service
In a perfect world, staffing decisions — particularly whether to continue with overtime or hire new — would be easily reached; however, in a world with budgetary concerns and only a finite amount of time humans can operate at their … Continue reading →
Abraham Pickering: Pickerington, Ohio
Having your neighbors and friends name a town in your honor shows a lot of respect — especially when they displace the name of a war hero to do so. Abraham Pickering (1776-1833) earned that respect. Pickering was born in … Continue reading →
Le Mars, Iowa – ‘Ice Cream Capital of the World’
When Fred H. Wells opened a milk route in Le Mars, Iowa, in 1913, little did he know the iconic globally renowned landmark his humble enterprise would spawn. Wells bought a horse, delivery wagon and a few cans and jars … Continue reading →
Innovation remains key to Husky’s success
Since its founding in December 2004, Husky Portable Containment has strove to be the best at everything it does, leading to a series of one-of-a-kind innovations that continue to shape the fire industry. Innovation, however, is only one of several … Continue reading →
Simple programs can make a difference
Jon Cohn | Guest columnist Fire Chief Greenfield Fire-Rescue, Greenfield, Wis. As the United States continues to age combined with a health care system that is difficult to navigate and reliant on emergency rooms as primary care providers, agencies that … Continue reading →
The Municipal April 2017 – Firefighting & EMS
ON THE COVER Husky Portable Containment has strove to be the best at everything it does, leading to a series of one-of-a-kind innovations that continue to shape the fire industry. Providing innovative and quality products, strong customer service, fair pricing … Continue reading →
Princeville, N.C., refuses to be swept away
When the floodwaters of Hurricane Matthew came ripping through Princeville, N.C., residents knew it would be bad, but they weren’t expecting what happened. What was once a small but thriving town full of rich history situated along North Carolina’s Tar … Continue reading →
Water infrastructure ceases to be on the backburner
The majority of cities may be singing the blues because their pipes won’t stack up against those of Barbra Streisand or Josh Groban. No, not those pipes. The less-than-tuneful pipes we’re referring to are the underground ones that carry our … Continue reading →
Bike sharing: The newest alternative in public transportation
Bike share programs are sweeping the nation as a more active and healthy way to get around without having to bring a bicycle. These programs allow both residents and visitors to rent a bike for recreation, sightseeing, errands and the … Continue reading →
Benefits of take-home vehicles and keeping the program in its prime
The take-home vehicle program isn’t a new concept to municipalities, but maintaining a good budget with clear policies is a never-ending job. Wilmington, N.C., is one of very few municipalities to have a commendable audit in 2016, which leads to … Continue reading →
‘Carousel Capital of the World’ Binghamton, N.Y.
Noted industrialist and philanthropist George F. Johnson (1857-1948) lived a commitment to both work and recreation. George F., as he was known, was a partner in the highly successful Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company, which established the Triple Cities of Binghamton, Johnson … Continue reading →
