This week, in a first, firefighters are demanding independent testing for cancer-linked chemicals known as PFAS in their gear and that their union drop sponsorships from chemical and equipment makers. Every day at work for 15 years, Sean Mitchell, a captain in the Nantucket Fire Department, has put on the bulky suit that protects him […]
Firefighters Battle an Unseen Hazard: Their Gear Could Be Toxic Read Post »
Palo Alto Mayor Tom DuBois said Friday (Jan. 8) that the police department’s move to encrypting its radio transmissions was a mistake. Palo Alto police began encrypting their radio transmissions Tuesday (Jan. 5) to stop transmitting personally identifiable information over the airwaves because of a policy memo from the state Department of Justice last October.
Mayor Says that Encrypting Police Radio Signals was a Mistake Read Post »
The International Space Station cost more than $100 billion. A ham radio set can be had for a few hundred bucks. Perhaps that explains, in part, the appeal of having one of humankind’s greatest scientific inventions communicate with Earth via technology that’s more than 100 years old. But perhaps there’s a simpler explanation for why
Some Down-to-Earth talk: Ham Radio Can Ease the Isolation of Life in Space Read Post »
As cyber threats continue to grow, so does the reality that digital satellite communications can be degraded and denied either through digital or electromagnetic means. If these capabilities are compromised, however, high frequency radio provides a means to continue communicating even beyond the line of sight by leveraging the ionosphere to refract radio signals back
If Satellite Links Go Down, HF Radios Can Take Up the Slack Read Post »
Many of us scanner users like to listen to the news media, and especially to their helicopters, to find out what is happening when news breaks. You might be interested in this news from Tim Lynn’s Facebook post: In June 1972 I graduated from high school and 18 days later entered the United States Coast
Tim Lynn is Retiring as KTLA Sky 5 Pilot Reporter Read Post »
Sorry. Just had to post this…
New Jersey Squirrel Attack Read Post »
Two Labrador retrievers specially trained to support firefighters with post-traumatic stress or high-level anxiety are set to join the Los Angeles County Fire Department Tuesday as part of a new program. Donated by Thor’s Hope Foundation in partnership with Performance K9 Training, Inc. and the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation, “Milo” and “Echo” were specially selected
Two K9s Trained to Support Firefighters with PTSD, Anxiety Read Post »
Military aerial firefighting units, including the “High Rollers” of the Nevada Air National Guard, have dropped more than 1 million gallons of fire retardant so far this fire season. “It’s very rewarding knowing you are helping so many people,” said Tech. Sgt. Paul Teska, a MAFFS flight engineer with the 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air
Nevada Air Guard Continues Firefighting Mission Read Post »
The Los Angeles City Fire Department debuted the first robotic firefighting vehicle in the United States, putting it to use on its first day in service. The Thermite RS3 (manfactured by Textron: Howe & Howe Technologies) is a compact, low-center of gravity, wide chassis, industrial robotic firefighting vehicle. It is capable of flowing 2,500 gallons
LAFD Debuts the RS3: First Robotic Firefighting Vehicle in the United States Read Post »
By David Akins, N6HHR, SCMA ORC-209 Morro Bay is a beach town in San Luis Obispo County, about 250 miles northwest of Long Beach. It’s best known for Morro Rock, a 576-foot volcanic plug situated in the middle of the bay, sometimes called “California’s Pet Rock.” Morro Rock is one of the Nine Sisters –
Radio Travel Report – Morro Bay Read Post »
