FAMA Forum: the 2026 Fire Apparatus Design Symposium

Moving Water: Maximizing Flow at Dump & Fill Sites

This episode of Moving Water covers the nuts and bolts of optimizing fill and dump site efficiency. One takeaway: don’t wait for ideal conditions or perfect resources to get started. Begin with small, workable components—perhaps a single dump tank paired with one pumper—and add backup and redundancy progressively. This approach keeps your operation agile, prevents overwhelming personnel and apparatus, and ensures steady water flow early in the incident. Second: know the capabilities of your equipment and your mutual aid resources before the call. A hydrant delivering 250 gallons per minute is a vastly different asset than one flowing 1,000 GPM, and mismatched apparatus at fill sites can throttle flow and delay suppression efforts. Third, deploying two suction lines to draft simultaneously can dramatically increase flow rates while reducing pump RPM and extending apparatus life. From methodical system building to practical hardware choices and staffing strategies, this episode offers actionable knowledge extending beyond theory into real-world application.

The Apparatus Workshop: Apparatus Inspections

This month's episode of The Apparatus Workshop covers apparatus inspections. Given the length of time fire apparatus remain in service today, documented inspections of the rigs are critical. Establishing robust policies backed by consistent documentation, demanding thorough final inspections and realistic pump and hose testing, and investing in specialized aerial device inspections are not merely procedural—they save lives and dollars. Departments willing to commit to these disciplined inspection regimens today will position themselves for safer and more effective operations in the years to come.

FAMA Forum: the 2026 Fire Apparatus Design Symposium

What sets the Fire Apparatus Design Symposium apart from other fire service conferences and trade shows is its focus on deep education and open dialogue with industry experts. Unlike typical trade shows that primarily emphasize product sales, the Fire Apparatus Design Symposium dives into technical and practical aspects of apparatus design, helping attendees navigate complexities like engine changes, suspension systems, and updated NFPA standards without vendor sales pitches.

More Than Pumps: The US Fire Pump Difference

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Ferrara, founder of US Fire Pump, to discuss how the company has evolved far beyond manufacturing fire pumps into becoming a global leader in industrial firefighting solutions. From engineering some of the world’s largest mobile fire pumps to deploying industrial firefighting teams capable of flowing tens of thousands of gallons per minute, US Fire Pump is redefining emergency response for industrial facilities and municipalities alike. We’ll explore breakthrough foam technologies, rapid-response capabilities, custom apparatus manufacturing, and what’s next for the future of industrial firefighting.

Global Lighting Market Insights

Chris Mc Loone and Halen Kirby, Whelen's European regional sales manager, discuss the nuanced differences between North American and European fire apparatus, how certification standards and operational requirements influence vehicle lighting designs across continents, and how things like V2V and DVI are influencing the European market.