History
The story of the Whirl-E-Bird begins with the original spinning warning light introduced in the early 1930s by Buckeye Iron and Brass Works. Designed to improve visibility on fire apparatus and ambulances, this three-lamp spinning beacon used mechanical motion and front-mounted placement to cut through visual clutter at intersections. At the time, it represented a meaningful advancement over static and early flashing warning lights and quickly became a recognizable feature on fire engines across North America.
That early Buckeye-era design established the foundation for spinning warning light concepts that persisted for decades. While materials, electronics, and manufacturing methods evolved over time, the core idea remained the same. A spinning visual signal that conveyed urgency and presence in a way few other warning devices could replicate. As a result, the spinning beacon became a trusted and often specified component on apparatus builds, valued for both tradition and operational familiarity.
As apparatus manufacturing modernized, many legacy components gradually gave way to newer technologies. Spinning warning lights remained in use longer than most, continuing to appear on apparatus well into the modern era. In recent years, growing demand, evolving supply dynamics, and changing production priorities created a need for additional options to support apparatus builders and departments who continue to specify this style of warning device.
HiViz Lighting is a firefighter-founded emergency lighting manufacturer based in North Carolina, specializing in high-performance LED warning and scene lighting. With deep roots in the fire service and firsthand experience on the apparatus floor, the HiViz team recognized an opportunity to offer a modern solution that respected the earliest origins of the spinning warning light while aligning with today’s manufacturing, reliability, and performance standards.
The result is Whirl-E-Bird.
Engineered as a direct, bolt-on spinning warning light, Whirl-E-Bird is a modern interpretation of the original spinning beacon concept. It preserves the iconic spinning visual signature while incorporating contemporary technology, including high-output LEDs, a brushless DC servo motor with bidirectional soft-start control, stainless steel gearing, sealed construction, and simplified installation aligned with traditional mounting patterns. Each unit is assembled in the United States and backed by a three-year advanced exchange warranty.
By expanding the range of available spinning warning light options, Whirl-E-Bird helps preserve a long-standing fire service tradition while supporting OEMs and departments with a reliable, modern solution designed to integrate seamlessly into today’s apparatus builds.
In 1971, retired Fairfax County firefighter Richard Slepetz acquired the patent rights for $500 at Grether's estate auction. He revived the Roto-Ray in 1978 with his first prototype, initially modifying a Seagrave pumper for Fairfax County Fire/Rescue by flush-mounting it on the cab face. This innovation sparked demand, leading to the founding of Roto Rays Inc. in Herndon, Virginia. Slepetz hand-built the lights, introducing updates like front-mount options for various apparatus builders (e.g., Seagrave, Pierce, E-One), LED integrations (models 1000 and 4000 with PAR 36/46 LEDs), a "stop and flash" feature, and consistent 180 RPM rotation speeds. A classic Roto-Ray installation looked like this:
Slepetz sadly passed away in June 2018, but the business continued under family or successors for several years. Production eventually halted around 2024-2025 due to supply chain issues and operational challenges, creating a market gap for fire apparatus manufacturers reliant on the Roto-Ray for bid compliance and traditional setups.
HiViz Lighting's Role and the Birth of Whirl-E-Bird
HiViz Lighting, founded in 2011 by firefighter and entrepreneur Sam Massa in North Carolina, specializes in LED emergency vehicle lighting. Massa, inspired by childhood memories of Roto-Rays in Virginia, reached out to Slepetz in 2018 (unaware of his health struggles) and again in 2021 to discuss acquiring or partnering on the business, emphasizing shared values as first-responder-focused companies. These attempts were unsuccessful.
When Roto-Ray production stopped, leaving OEMs with incomplete builds, open bolt holes, and compliance headaches amid post-COVID demand surges, HiViz sought to answer the call of the market and developed the Whirl-E-Bird as a direct bolt-on replacement. Launched in late 2025, in Hendersonville, North Carolina, the Whirl-E-Bird modernizes the legacy design with features like high-output LEDs, a brushless DC servo motor with variable speed and soft-start circuitry, stainless steel gears, a slip-ring power system, sealed housing, and easy installation matching Roto-Ray patterns and wiring and backed by a 3-year advanced exchange warranty and U.S. assembly.
