SOLON, Ohio — Solon Fire Battalion Chief Steve Nash and his business partner John Moore have developed a new compass for firefighters that is the first product to go thru the entire Department of Homeland Security’s TechSolutions process — and now be ready for sale to fire departments everywhere. Northeast Ohio Congressman Steve LaTourette helped them work thru the difficult DHS process.

The FireGround Compass can help firefighters find their way out of a smoky or burning building if they become lost inside. It is a compass with a building bezel around it which has the sides labeled. When a firefighter heads into a fire — he orients himself as to which side he is on with the compass and then can easily find his way out.

Steve Nash came up with the idea a couple years ago after personal experiences and talking with other firefighters who had become lost during a fire. He and business partner John Moore, who now run Halcyon Products, got a MAGNET grant to get started – but then needed more funding for research and development – so they applied for the TechSolutions grant.

Full story: Local firefighter invents special compass for use in fighting fires