By Sam Massa

Sam is the president and chief technologist for HiViz LED Lighting, a manufacturer of specialty scene lighting equipment with a primary focus on the fire and emergency services market. He is a North Carolina firefighter, an emergency medical technician, and serves as a representative of FAMA on the NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, technical committee.

Fire Apparatus are some of the most complicated, mission-critical vehicles manufactured today. The work mechanics and apparatus spec writers do in their shops or at their desks has the capacity to make a profound impact on the ability of the nation’s first responders to effectively do their jobs.

For 31 years, the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) has been working tirelessly to give apparatus committees and other firefighters a nonbrand-specific forum to ask questions. The goal is to allow the attendees to learn from multiple subject matter experts in one location. Attendees have an opportunity to delve deep into the topics that often are difficult to answer without an expert on hand. In partnership with the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA), the FDSOA will be hosting fire departments from all over North America for the 2019 FDSOA Annual Apparatus Specification & Maintenance Symposium, which takes place from on January 21-23, 2019. The event will be held at the Wyndham Orlando Resort on International Drive, Orlando, Florida.

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