FireVISION
4th Quarter, 2011
FireVISION is a quarterly publication from ACS Government Systems with fire-industry news, FIREHOUSE Software tips, and other helpful information. We hope you find this and future issues to be both informative and useful.
Previous newsletters are available in the Newsletters section of the FH web site. If you have any questions or concerns related to the newsletter distribution, please email: FHdocumentation@acs-inc.com. If you would like to be removed from our mailing list, see the instructions at the bottom of this email.
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Yes, we did it in 2011!
2011 had so many things going on for the FIREHOUSE Software team. New products saw their debut. Updates for current applications were released. New partnerships took shape. Wow, no wonder the year went by so quickly. Let's do a quick recap.
·         FHinspector for iPad became our fastest selling application to date. In its first twelve months, FHinspector is already licensed to over 500 users.
·         The FH Cost Recovery Service began generating revenue for fire departments.
·         The FH 7.8 maintenance update was released on a limited distribution cycle, providing state specific NEMSIS and module resolutions. The FH 7.9 release provided enhancements to the Accounts Receivable module. FH 7.11 introduced Google Maps integration. And the FH 7.12 release was completed just as the year ended and will be distributed in 2012 to clients with active support contracts for their NFIRS 2012 specification cycle changes.
·         The FH Mobile 1.7.276 maintenance update was released, updating the SQL database to 2008 and provided a Windows 7 install resolution.
·         Our FH web site underwent a complete redesign and the FH Forums opened for users to share ideas and resolutions.
·         We took the 2011 FIREHOUSE Software Education & Training Seminar to the city of "cowboys and culture," Fort Worth, Texas. Almost 500 attendees came in for a great four days of learning, sharing, and planning for their FH future.
·         FH Analytics debuted during the summer at Fire-Rescue International in Atlanta, and quickly became a data intelligence solution clients knew they should invest in.
As always, we want to thank you for choosing FIREHOUSE Software for your records management needs. We appreciate your trust in us to provide you the products, services, support, and innovation today and in years to come.
Now let's get excited about 2012...
With 2011 closed, it's time to look forward to the things to come in 2012. The FH crystal ball is showing us what to expect for products and services coming this year.
  • FH Bar Coding - get your inventory associated to units counted and checked in quickly with FH Barcoding and the Motorola MC3100 scanner.
  • FH Mobile Response - bringing to you the power of mobile mapping, dispatch and communications coordination all into one package.
  • FH CMS (Compliance Management System) - allow the details of the training completed within the Kaplan LMS to be automatically reported into your FH Training Module.
  • FH Cloud Hosting Services - the FIREHOUSE Software application you're accustomed to with all of the module features you rely on day to day, hosted by us...for you...on the FH Cloud.
  • FH Medic - Using cloud technology to move data, FH Medic will make patient data collection faster and easier than ever before.
  • FH.net - the software... that leads to the conversion... taking your legacy FH system to the .Net era.
Plus, don't be surprised if you see other new options to add to your suite of FH tools in 2012. There's plenty of reasons to be excited about 2012 and your FIREHOUSE Software.
 
"Do you have Georgia on your mind?"
We certainly do... as we prepare for the 2012 FIREHOUSE Software Education and Training Seminar, located in the "Brave and Beautiful city" of Atlanta, Georgia. The Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta will be our host Tuesday, September 18 through Friday September 21 for a FHETS everyone will want to attend.
This year, the seminar price will be $845 for the conference, including: breakfast, lunch, and both receptions. Hotel accommodations are available for $132/night, with this special rate available to our attendees three days prior to and following the seminar, based on guestroom availability. Online registration will open in February.
For travel planning, we'll have the registration, FH user's group meeting, and an opening night reception to be held on the 18th, followed by three intensive days of classes and interaction with FH staff and clients. Anticipated classes are being planned now. Look for more details when registration opens.
Thank you to everyone who filled out the 2011 FHETS customer satisfaction survey. Attendees who returned their survey by October 14 were entered in a drawing for a free 2012 FHETS registration. The winner is Preston Harris from White Sands Missile Range Fire Department, in White Sands, NM. Congratulations, Preston!
Additional information will be available soon. If you have any questions, please contact our training coordinator at FHtraining@acs-inc.com. Come be a part of an event that will always be on your mind. See you in Atlanta!
Apply the NFIRS 2012 specification changes now! 
 
The U.S. Fire Administration NFIRS 2012 specification changes are available now to install in two independent ways for your FIREHOUSE Software. Both options are available for departments with active FH technical support contracts.
The FIREHOUSE Software version 7.12 is available now. This full product update has the specification changes included, along with other revisions and enhancements for FH. Take a moment to review the FH 7.12 Release Notes for all the details.
Departments running FH version 7.5.30 up to version 7.11.15 have the option to install the NFIRS_Updates_2012.FHz file. This file loads the rules changes into the current FH system without performing a full FH update.
Emails are being sent to each department's primary contacts with instructions for downloading and applying the FHz file to your current system. If you have not received the email yet, please email the FH technical support team at support@firehousesoftware.com to request the instructions be sent to you.
FH_Mobile_Symbol FH Mobile 1.7 update for Windows 7 computers
FH Mobile users ready to install on their Windows 7 computers have a new release just for you. The FH Mobile 1.7.276 update is now available. And it's not just for those needing to install on Windows 7. SQL changes and other software resolutions were introduced with this release. Check out the FH Mobile Release Notes for more information.
This latest release will be emailed to departments with active support contracts in a structured rollout. Emails are being sent to each department's primary contact with instructions for downloading and installing FH Mobile. If you have not received the email yet, please email the FH technical support team at support@firehousesoftware.com to request the instructions be sent to you. This update does requires your FH system to be updated to version 7.10.10 or higher.
Status of NEMSIS 3 Development in FH
FIREHOUSE Software is committed to the collection of quality pre-hospital data and supporting our customers in meeting their local and state data reporting requirements. We are actively involved in NEMSIS 3 development and discussions over the past two years providing insight, feedback and participation in all of the NEMSIS TAC Version 3 developer meetings.
We have started the process to incorporate the NEMSIS V3.1 standard into our products and we look forward to becoming NEMSIS Version 3 compliant over the coming year. As we get closer to completion and certification we will release an implementation plan and schedule along with specific state version releases.
Stop By and See Us
Look for us at these upcoming events in the coming months!

01/27/12 to 01/28/12: LSU FETI 36th Annual Equipment Exhibit,
                                Baton Rouge, LA.
02/10/12 to 02/10/12: 31st Annual MU FRTI Winter Fire School,
                                Columbia, MO.
02/24/12 to 02/25/12: Virginia Fire Chiefs Association 2012 Mid-Atlantic Expo,
                                Virginia Beach, VA.
03/01/12 to 03/03/12: 2012 EMS Today - JEMS Conference & Expo, Baltimore, MD.
03/22/12 to 03/24/12: Pennsylvania EMS Update 2012, Seven Springs, PA.
04/16/12 to 04/21/12: FDIC 2012, Indianapolis, IN.
 
Department Profile
In each newsletter, we profile a different department using FIREHOUSE Software. If you would like your department profiled, please send information about your department to:
FHdocumentation@acs-inc.com.

Fire Department: Sand Springs Fire Department
Location: Sand Springs, Oklahoma
Fire Chief: Mike G. Wood
Personnel: 33 full time sworn, 4 civilian
Stations: 2
Pop. Served: 19,000 city residents and 35,000 in neighboring communities
Calls: 3,735 for 2011
Apparatus: 1 Ladder, 2 Engines, 1 Heavy Rescue, 3 Brush Trucks, 1 Reserve Engine, 1 HazMat
Software: FIREHOUSE Software Enterprise edition 7.11, FH CAD Monitor, FH Mobile Inspections. Implementing FH Mobile Prepland and Incident Command in 1st quarter 2012.

Comments:  The Sand Springs Fire Department serves the City of Sand Springs and several small communities within Tulsa and Osage Counties in Northeastern Oklahoma. The City is a progressive suburb of Tulsa, OK. and is roughly situated five miles west of downtown Tulsa. The fire department protects approximately 54,000 people living in 64 square miles.
The City of Sand Springs was founded in 1912 and is currently undergoing significant growth in new geographic areas, and redevelopment in the existing downtown corridor. The Sand Springs Fire Department, founded in 1913, operates out of two fire stations, located on each side of the Arkansas River. Both stations are equipped to handle all kinds of emergencies. In addition to both fire stations, the fire department also maintains a separate physical fitness building and an administrative headquarters.  The fire department is a full-time unionized department and has four civilian positions in the code enforcement / building inspection division. Each shift is staffed with firefighters trained in all facets of emergency response including firefighting, emergency medical care, hazardous materials response, and technical rescue. At a minimum each shift is scheduled to have at least seven Haz-Mat Technicians, three Rescue Specialist members of the State Urban Search and Rescue Team, and six EMT-Intermediates. The Sand Springs Fire Department provides ILS First Response for the regional ambulance service "Emergency Medical Service Authority" (EMSA), which posts an ambulance in the City of Sand Springs. If you would like to know more about the Sand Springs Fire Department please visit: www.sandspringsfire.org.