Muhlenberg High School graduate doesn't let sight impairment slow her down
Quinn Wagner remembers trying to answer the questions as an elementary school student, but not really knowing how.
'It was quite confusing growing up legally blind,' she said. 'People are curious about it. Other kids would ask me, 'How do you see?' — which is so hard for a 5-year-old to answer.
'My classmates would ask me why my eyes were closed, why I wasn't looking at them, and I didn't know how to explain it.'
That's still a bit of a challenge for Wagner, even as an 18-year-old high school graduate. But she's dedicated to doing the best she can to help people understand.
Wagner was born with cone-rod dystrophy, a genetic disorder that effects about one in every 30,000 people. The condition renders her color blind — she sees in only black, white and gray — makes her eyes sensitive to light and makes her struggle with depth perception.
Without her glasses, she has 20/400 eyesight.
'That means what you should be able to see at 400 feet I can only see at 20 feet,' she explained.
It would be reasonable to think the disorder would be an impediment for Wagner, a hurdle slowing her from achieving her dreams. But that's never been the case.
'My parents raised me to believe that if I want something to not let anything stand in my way,' she said.
Wagner took that lesson to heart.
Instead of struggling, she has thrived. She became an academic dynamo and recently graduated from Muhlenberg High School as valedictorian of her class.
'It's a big accomplishment because it showed all the work I put in was worth it,' she said of earning the honor. 'But it's not a defining moment. There's still so much to do.'
That kind of mindset is what led Wagner to excel during her time at Muhlenberg. So did being creative and willing to adapt.
She found ways to lessen the impact of her blindness, like using digital textbooks, a closed circuit television system, Braille, a special computer and large-print text books.
'My text books were absolutely giant,' she said with a laugh.
In high school, she was able to use her cellphone in class, taking photos of what her teachers wrote on the board and blowing it up to a larger size that she could see.
Wagner was drawn to math, science and engineering, saying she was always good with her hands and enjoyed solving problems. That led her to pursue a research project — one she would end up presenting at science fairs — aimed at finding viable alternatives for fossil fuels.
Wagner said she was often overlooked when she shared her projects at science fairs, with some people questioning her abilities because of her blindness and being a woman in the traditionally male-dominated world of science and engineering.
'There are always negative people,' she said. 'There's always going to be people who don't think you can do something or don't believe in you, it comes from a lack of understanding.'
Wagner said she is dedicated to overcoming that naivety and showing everyone that a visual impairment doesn't have to be a constraint.
'When you're born visually impaired you have to be very creative, you have to learn to adapt to your surroundings to be able to do everything that everyone else is doing,' she said. 'No one knows you better than yourself, no one knows your limits but yourself. I don't like to set limits at all because then there's a threshold for success.'
Wagner will continue seeking success this fall at Cornell University. She has received a $10,000 scholarship from Lighthouse Guild in New York City to help cover the costs.
She will study environmental engineering and perhaps minor in chemical engineering at Cornell. She said she plans to eventually seek a PhD in sustainable energy, work in research and teach.
'My goal is to pave a path in the STEM fields for anybody with a disability, and women as well,' she said. 'I've not always felt the field is inclusive, and I don't want other people to feel that way.
'I want people to know that they can do it. Just be creative and keep trying and eventually you'll prove people wrong.'
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Associated Press
12 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Safeguarding Cities: The Evolution of Fire Suppression Systems in New York City and South Florida
From Manhattan to South Florida, every restaurant kitchen, museum gallery and server room has a fire suppression system designed to save lives . BROOKLYN, NY, UNITED STATES, June 30, 2025 / / -- The modern skyline may dazzle, but beneath the glass and steel, cutting-edge fire suppression systems stand guard. From New York's earliest fire tragedies to today's ultra-modern data centers, advances in suppression technology and strict regulations have saved lives and property. In the densely packed streets of Manhattan and the sprawling urban centers of South Florida, every restaurant kitchen, museum gallery and server room is linked to a network of pipes, nozzles, detectors and agents designed to snuff out flames instantly. These fire suppression companies and their certified technicians work quietly behind the scenes to give building owners and occupants peace of mind. As one veteran installer from Done Right Hood and Fire Safety puts it, 'When that kitchen goes up, you want the system to be spot-on – it's a lifesaver.' New York City's fire safety rules were born of hard experience. The 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire – 146 lives lost – galvanized reforms. By October 1911 the Sullivan–Hoey Fire Prevention Law was enacted, requiring factory owners to install sprinkler systems and establishing the NYC Fire Prevention Bureau. In the decades that followed, fatal fires in new high-rises (like the 1912 Equitable Building fire) spurred stricter codes: by the 1930s, even 'fireproof' skyscrapers were built with heavy steel cores and obligatory emergency systems. After dramatic fires in the 1960s and '70s (One New York Plaza, 919 Third Ave., etc.), NYC passed Local Law 5 (1970), forcing ultratall buildings to have sprinkler systems or smoke-pressurized stairways. As retired fire chief Vincent Dunn noted, in a high-rise 'water needs to get up there with them… the higher a building is, the more vulnerable it is to… the stack effect, in which the structure becomes a chimney, drawing… smoke up to the top floors'. In other words, urban density and soaring heights made automatic suppression – sprinklers, standpipes, gas systems – absolutely essential. South Florida's fire-safety story is similar in spirit if not exact details. Rapid growth in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and beyond brought a mix of wood-frame homes, high-rise condos and tourist hotels. Florida statutes and local fire codes soon mirrored national standards: a state Fire Prevention Code (based on NFPA standards) is adopted every three years, with county or city amendments. To work on suppression systems here, technicians must hold a state-issued 'Certified Fire Protection Contractor' license. For example, Florida law requires that any contractor installing or servicing fire protection systems pass NFPA-based exams and register with the State Fire Marshal. In practice, a local building permit often mandates that only state-certified fire contractors can bid on fire-suppression work. (In Miami–Dade, Broward and elsewhere, permits for sprinklers, standpipes or hood systems are issued only to licensed firms.) These regulations ensure that every system, from a simple extinguisher to a complex gaseous system, is properly designed and maintained by qualified pros. Today's fire suppression systems come in many flavors, matched to the hazard. The most familiar is the automatic sprinkler: water-filled pipes with heat-sensitive heads that unleash a deluge when a flame is detected. Variations include wet-pipe (pressurized with water), dry-pipe (air pressurized until a spray head opens), and deluge systems (all heads open at once for rapid floods). In chemical-hazard areas or special-occupancies, fixed foam systems inject foam concentrate into water streams to smother flammable-liquid fires. For grease fires in restaurant kitchens, wet-chemical systems (like Ansul's R-102) spray a caustic liquid that cools and chemically bonds with hot oils, creating a vapor barrier. Exhaust hoods over grills and fryers typically hide fusible links and nozzles: when a fire heats the hood, the system triggers automatically to blankett flames. In data centers, museums and other sensitive sites, water is often a problem in itself. Here clean-agent and inert-gas systems dominate. For example, FM-200™ (HFC-227ea) or Novec 1230® are colorless gases stored in cylinders. On fire detection, they flood the space and disrupt combustion without water or residue. (One industry website notes that FM-200 'is a clean agent fire suppressant… safe in occupied spaces, and do[es] not leave a residue' after use.) Similarly, mixtures of nitrogen and argon (branded as Inergen®) displace enough oxygen to halt fire but remain breathable for people. Carbon dioxide systems are older tech, now mainly used in unoccupied rooms (server rooms or electrical vaults) because CO₂ can asphyxiate. Water mist is another innovation: ultrafine droplets sprayed at high velocity remove heat with far less water, minimizing damage in places like libraries or art galleries. 'I been installin' these systems for more years than I can count,' says Mike, a technician at Done Right Hood and Fire Safety. 'Listen, you walk into a restaurant kitchen in this town, one spark and it all goes up. Those Ansul hood systems – they kick in so fast it's like havin' 10 firefighters on the spot. Keep everybody safe, no mess. That's why we do it right.' No matter the agent, modern systems are controlled by sensitive detectors (smoke, flame, heat or gas detectors) and tied into building alarms. Microprocessors monitor pressure and valves constantly, and regular inspections (by licensed fire companies) make sure that a clogged nozzle or depleted cylinder never leaves a hazard unchecked. In short, fire suppression has evolved from buckets and pumps to intelligent, code-mandated networks – and the payoff is huge in densely populated a world run on data, even a small fire can spell disaster. Data centers – sprawling rooms of servers, climate control, and cabling – need 24/7 protection. Sprinklers can be used here, but more often clean agents are chosen. FM-200, Novec and inert gases extinguish flame without shorting electronics or leaving cleanup behind. These systems are 'fast and effective,' reaching extinguishing concentration in seconds, and they're safe for people and equipment. (As one manufacturer touts, after an FM-200 discharge 'no residue is left behind… safe for equipment, electronics, and machinery'.) When a smoke detector senses trouble, the fire suppression system floods the room and instantly cuts power to server racks. Urban data centers are built to code: NFPA 75 (or local fire code) typically requires pre-engineered suppression for computer rooms. In New York City, a master-pipe contractor license is still needed to install the piping, and the owner's rep must hold an FDNY Certificate of Fitness for special hazards. In Miami or West Palm Beach, installers need the Florida Certified Fire Protection Contractor certificate plus any county licenses. The bottom line is that only qualified fire suppression companies can touch data center safeguards – an important check in cities where data is as critical as electricity. Veteran techs understand the gravity. Joey from Done Right Hood and Fire Safety, who installs systems in high-tech facilities, explains with a grin: 'I tell ya, out in these server rooms we're like medics. A datacenter's worth millions and can't afford downtime. We put in FM-200 or Inergen, and the moment a firebreather sneaks in, boom – the room fills with gas and chokes it out. No water, no damage. Ya gotta get it right.' His accent is thick, but his meaning is clear: modern agents protect the kit and keep the business running. Artifacts and artworks are often irreplaceable. For museums, an errant sprinkler droplet can ruin centuries of history almost as surely as a flame can. Museums in NYC and Miami invest in special fire control: many use pre-action sprinkler systems (requiring two triggers before water flows) or switch to total-flooding gas or fine-water-mist systems. In fact, the National Park Service advises that 'sprinklers and/or fire hoses extinguish the fire, but may cause significant damage to collections… house objects in closed cabinets and raise cabinets 4–6 inches off the floor' to mitigate water harm. In practice, that often means clean agents (FM-200, Inergen, etc.) or water mist (such as HI-FOG®) that meet museum standards. Local regulations catch up, too. A century after a blaze destroyed the South Florida Museum in St. Augustine (1919) and the tragic loss of Brazil's National Museum spurred code changes worldwide, both states now require historic and high-occupancy cultural sites to have automatic fire systems per NFPA and state law. For instance, Florida's fire code amendment might demand early-detection smoke control or flame-suppression gas systems in archive vaults. In NYC, the Landmarks Preservation Commission often conditions permits on state-of-the-art fire protection. Leading suppression manufacturers cater to this niche: water-mist specialists and inert-gas makers tout installations at places like the New York Public Library or Miami's art museums, giving curators confidence. No place burns faster than a busy commercial kitchen. Here, fire suppression companies rely on proven wet-chemical hood systems. Above every grill and fryer, a network of stainless-steel pipes and nozzles is waiting. When a grease fire flares, heat melts a fusible link and the Ansul (or similar) system dumps a foamy liquid that saponifies hot oil – essentially turning it into safe soap and water. Dry chemical 'K-class' cylinders are also used for deep-fryers. Meanwhile, overhead ductwork carries fire straight to the sprinklers in the ceiling, giving firefighters time to arrive. Service and maintenance are strictly regulated. In NYC, the owner or principal of every kitchen suppression service company must hold FDNY Certificate of Fitness S-71 (for wet-chemical systems). The business itself must have a Dept. of Buildings Master Fire Suppression Contractor license (Type C or A) to legally install or modify the systems. In Florida, the technician must be a state-certified sprinkler contractor (if altering hood pipes) or have a kitchen-suppression endorsement. These requirements ensure that everyone from the local deli to a five-star restaurant uses fully inspected systems. As Mike at Done Right Hood notes with a chuckle, 'You wouldn't cook your steak on a hotplate without supervision, right? Same goes for fire. When I'm on a job in Manhattan or Miami, I double-check every nozzle. I tell ya, these chefs make magic with oil – but one spark, and our systems better be on point to save the day.' His pride in that work shows why kitchen fires kill far fewer people now than they did decades ago. In both New York City and Florida, legal compliance is a gatekeeper for safety. In NYC, as noted, the combination of FDNY Certificates of Fitness and DOB Master Licenses creates a high bar. For example, any firm doing fire-piping work must be a licensed Master Fire Suppression Piping Contractor under NYC Building Code §28-401.3, and key personnel must carry COFs. Local Code also requires periodic inspections – FDNY inspectors or licensed inspectors (per NFPA 25) verify every sprinkler and system annually. Florida's oversight is statewide: Chapter 633 of the Florida Statutes spells out credentials. An aspiring Fire Protection Contractor must apply for a certificate, proving experience or education, and pass an NFPA-based exam. Once certified, the contractor can install and service systems (sprinklers, extinguishers, alarms) up to certain classes. Individual technicians must often have local licenses (e.g. Miami-Dade certification for underground fire mains). When a Florida county or city issues a fire-protection permit, it typically checks that the applicant is on the state certified list. This layered system – national standards (NFPA), state statutes and local enforcement – helps maintain uniform quality. Behind every sprinkler head or suppression cylinder is often a major manufacturer whose brand is trusted in the ecosystem. Ansul (now part of Tyco SimplexGrinnell) is a century-old name in fire suppression: it began in 1915 making specialty chemicals and grew into 'one of the largest fire protection companies in the world,' producing kitchen systems and special hazard agents Kidde (founded 1917) is famous for household and industrial detectors and extinguishers; it pioneered the first integrated smoke-detection/CO₂-suppression system, and today is North America's #1 home fire safety brand. Amerex (since 1971) boasts that it has become 'the world's leading… manufacturer of hand portable and wheeled fire extinguishers', and it also offers vehicle and industrial suppression gear. In short, Ansul, Kidde, Amerex and others supply the tried-and-true hardware – from cylinders to nozzles – that certified installers then assemble. The manufacturers also train and support fire suppression companies, ensuring that down-to-earth techs like Joey and Mike have reliable parts and agent formulations. The synergy is clear: engineers design the suppression laws and systems, big companies build the equipment, city and state agencies enforce the rules, and trained crews put it all together. The result is a tightly woven safety net. In South Florida condos or Manhattan lofts, in data towers or back-of-house kitchens, this network of regulations, technology and expertise means fire hazards are addressed well before an ember can grow. As one Miami museum conservator summarized it, 'We invest in these systems not because we expect disaster, but because we refuse to lose irreplaceable treasures or lives. When everyone does their part – from the guy in the back room maintaining the cylinders to the system designer calculating flows – we sleep easier at night.' Gabriel Jean Done Right Hood & Fire Safety +1 212-660-3232 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook YouTube Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Oak Ridge Fire near the Navajo Nation capital in northern Arizona burns nearly 2K acres
Shawn Bia sat with his family inside the Window Rock Fighting Scouts Events Center in Fort Defiance, sharing a meal they were given as they worried about their home, located just five miles from the Oak Ridge Fire. Bia, along with his wife and their six children, managed to evacuate to the events center, where volunteers and staff from the Navajo Nation's executive and legislative branches were setting up cots for other evacuees. The fire, when it began June 28, was located roughly 4 miles south of Summit Road in the community of St. Michaels—about 10 minutes west of Window Rock. "I was going to haul some water, and I saw a plume of smoke. Just a small plume, I didn't think anything about it, but when I came back it stopped so I thought it was a small brush fire," said Bia, who lives 4 to 5 miles west of the fire. "I went back down a second time, and coming back up it was a lot started getting larger and then it became a big black puff of smoke. I couldn't see the sun at all. The haze and red light was all around us." As of the early afternoon on June 29, the seemingly small fire had burned at least 1,800 acres with 0 percent containment, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs Wildland Fire Management. Sergeant Erwin Toddy, of the Navajo Nation Police Department, had initially reported the fire and said there were no reports of injuries or damages Lt. Tyler Lynch of the Navajo Nation Police Department reported that wood haulers were believed to be responsible for starting the blaze. Toddy said authorities had identified two persons of interest but did not provide details on how the fire was ignited, and the BIA Wildland Fire Management said they were investigating how it was started. "Somehow fire erupted and they immediately packed up their stuff," said Toddy. "When we got there, it was approximately half an acre but when the wind came in it just started to take off." In the midafternoon of June 29, as smoke blanketed communities near the fire, the Navajo Nation Commission on Emergency Management voted to declare a state of emergency for areas impacted by the Oak Ridge Fire. The declaration called for the deployment of Navajo Nation resources to address both current and future wildfire impacts. The commission also approved measures to tighten restrictions on fireworks use, officially elevating fire restrictions from stage 1 to stage 2. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren was expected to sign these new restrictions. During a midnight briefing, Nygren implored the public to follow fire restrictions. 'I encourage all our Navajo people to respect and honor our fire restrictions,' said Nygren. 'I also encourage you all not to haul firewood, drag chains, or even light fireworks during this ongoing drought, which creates the perfect scenario for preventable fires.' BIA Wildland Fire Management official Johnson Benally reported there were about 55 firefighters out on the scene. It was listed that BIA had one type 3 incident commander; one taskforce leader; four type 6 fire engines; one 20-person type 2 hand crew; two wildfire suppression modules; one type 2 helicopter; multiple air tankers and one air attack fighting the fire. There were other resources ordered to assist. The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority announced it was closely monitoring the fire and was prepared to minimize the impact of any potential power outages. While NTUA successfully rerouted power the day before, there was still a risk of system overload that could lead to an outage. NTUA urged residents to reduce electricity usage in their homes and conserve as much power as possible to help keep the system stable. El Paso Natural Gas Company reported that residents are also under a 'ready state' evacuation alert. Navajo Route 12 near El Paso Gas was being monitored as the fire's eastern boundary. If the fire crossed the 1-mile buffer zone, families in the area will need to evacuate immediately. 'Fire is not only a destructive force—it is also an essential part of our ecosystem,' said Navajo Nation Speaker Crystalyne Curley. 'We must engage with fire respectfully to support the efforts of our first responders, who are putting their lives on the line to protect us. We ask residents to work with local public safety agencies, be prepared to evacuate if needed, and take all necessary precautions. The safety and wellbeing of our people must remain our top priority.' The Navajo Nation Council continued to urge residents to follow all fire restrictions and to avoid travel near affected areas, including State Route 264 and Route 12, to allow emergency personnel full access. The public was reminded that drone flights were strictly prohibited in and around the fire area. Unauthorized drone activity endangered firefighting aircraft and ground crews. Bia said that as they were evacuating, the family loaded as many pets as they could into their van. However, some—like their dogs—jumped out during the process. The remaining pets had to stay outside the events center in the van. "We couldn't catch all of them," said Bia about his family's pets and animals. "Hopefully they will be OK. We have Ferraris, rabbits, guinea pigs and inside cats and dogs." With animal control in Fort Defiance at full capacity, the need for kennels quickly became apparent. Lt. Lynch said officials were looking to the nearby border town of Gallup to see if its humane shelter could accommodate evacuees' pets. Nygren's office reported that Navajo Forestry, Fish and Wildlife; park rangers and resource enforcement were all on site assisting evacuees with livestock. The Department of Agriculture continued to evacuate animals and provide water and feed. Livestock were being relocated to the Window Rock Fairgrounds, which were open and available as a staging area if needed. Donations were being accepted at the Bee Hółdzil Fighting Scouts Events Center in Fort Defiance. The Window Rock Fighting Scouts Events Center was now the primary emergency evacuation shelter for residents evacuating due to the fire. The facility was equipped with showers and locker rooms. The Navajo Nation Office of the President staff, executive branch and Window Rock Unified School District Staff were all on site to provide resources and support. Donations needed: Blankets, cots. Diapers/formula/wipes. Plates, forks, utensils, bowls, spoons, forks, napkins/cups/gloves. Prepared food. Shampoo/toothbrushes/towels/lotion/soap, toilet paper. Snacks (cookies, fruit cups). Nygren also cautioned the public to be wary of GoFundMe accounts claiming to raise funds on behalf of the Navajo Nation. He clarified that the Navajo Nation has not established an official GoFundMe for this fire. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Navajo Nation wildfire burns 1.8K acres, 0% contained
Wall Street Journal
32 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
Is Your Brain Aging Faster Than You? New Science Offers Clues
Dan Jones liked his job as a quality-control inspector and loved his hobby even more: playing in a local bagpipe band. Then he started making mistakes in the pieces he played. He found himself having to write tasks down if he wanted to remember them. In 2021, at age 56, he was diagnosed with dementia. The future he had plotted with his wife, Darla, suddenly seemed to evaporate.
