FIRE Panel recently announced the Oklahoma Highway Patrol's purchase of 740 FIRE Panels for their fleet of Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors (CVPIs).

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has decided to better protect their officers by adding supplemental protection against fires resulting from high-speed, rear-impact collisions to the CVPI fleet. Last summer alone there were at least eight incidents nationwide where similar vehicles caught fire and the occupants were either burned or killed. Most recently on February 28 a CVPI in Colorado burst into flames after being hit.

FIRE Panel is currently in use by the New York, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Idaho State Police, along with cities such as Dallas, Phoenix, Portland, and more than 100 other police organizations.

"We are proud to be serving the law enforcement community, helping to better protect those who protect our communities," said William Eckholm, President of FIRE Panel. "We have seen many well- respected agencies, such as the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, recognizing the potential danger of rear- impact fires and we are pleased to be able to offer a cost-effective solution to enhance the safety of their CVPIs."

FIRE Panel is available to police organizations for under $400 per vehicle. Installation is easily performed, requiring no disassembly of the CVPI's components. Local technicians or fleet maintenance staff can typically complete installations in less than 20 minutes.