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By Alan M. Petrillo

The Ak-Chin (AZ) Indian Community in Maricopa, Arizona, needed a new station and fire administrative center to replace a 1986 structure that the fire department had outgrown, especially because of a three-level addition to the Ak-Chin Indian Community's casino, as well as a new multiple-floor high-rise hotel.

But, the Ak-Chin Indian Community has very specific requirements for the look and design of its buildings and landscaping, which meant that the new station needed very careful design consideration. Allen Allcott, fire marshal and division chief for the Ak-Chin Indian Community Fire Department, says, "The community wants to keep a uniform and traditional look, especially in our public buildings. Our fire chief sat down with the tribal council and reviewed the apparatus and equipment we had, and what we needed for the future."

Allcott says that the council agreed on the need for a new fire station and administrative center. "We are putting up a 12-story hotel that will finish at the end of 2018," he notes, "along with a five-story parking garage and three-story conference center. We're also renovating our casino, which will be done in June. So, it was decided to increase our paid firefighters from eight to 12 per shift and purchase a new aerial device and another engine."

Arrington Watkins Architects won the contract to design the new fire station and administrative center, says Matt Gorman, principal architect at Arrington Watkins. "We were selected out of about 10 architects that submitted designs," Gorman points out. "We designed an 18,340-square-foot masonry building where the exterior skin of the structure is a color and pattern developed with the Tribe. "Culturally, they are basket weavers, so the building uses earthy colors and has a giant basket weave pattern on the side to give the structure more texture and interest to the viewer." The Arrington Watkins-designed Ak-Chin station won a Design Excellence Award from the Arizona Masonry Guild.

Gorman says the fire station has four drive-through, double-deep apparatus bays, with an exercise room, laundry with industrial washers, and mechanical room adjacent to the bays. Turnout gear is stored on rolling racks within the apparatus bays, and a decon room is outside the bays, ringed in tile and with shower heads, accessible from both the interior and exterior.

The administrative side of the fire station is in the front section of the building and features a medical examination room for the public where paramedics provide an initial level of care for the community. "Until the mid 2000s, we ran the EMS first response for the entire area—even outside our community," Allcott points out. "So, community members are comfortable coming to the fire station for medical assistance."
The Ak-Chin station also has a day room that can be set up for meetings and training, a kitchen and eating area, and 12 individual dorm rooms, each consisting of one bed, three lockers, and three drawers under the bed for linens. Nearby are four individual bathrooms, each with a sink, toilet and shower.

Allcott notes that the station serves 34 square miles with 30 paid full-time firefighters and a re

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Midwest Fire Equipment & Repair Company (Midwest Fire) is celebrating 30 years of manufacturing top quality fire apparatus. Midwest Fire is a direct dealer of tankers, tanker-pumpers, brush trucks, and fire rescue vehicles. More than 900 trucks have been manufactured and delivered upon this pearl anniversary.

In 2013, the company was acquired by Midwest Fire CEO Sarah Atchison, who has since been named one of the Top 25 Women in Business by Prairie Business magazine. Her leadership of Midwest Fire is characterized by a passion for the firefighting and manufacturing industries and unwavering commitment to her employees. The company has experienced record sales growth in recent years under Atchison’s leadership and has been a finalist for numerous manufacturing and small business awards.

“It has been an honor to lead Midwest Fire the last four years,” said Atchison. “Our employees and customers are among the best, and I’m thankful to be a part of this great industry. We are enthusiastic and looking forward to the next 30 years.”

Many departments are so satisfied with their experience with Midwest Fire and their apparatus that they have purchased multiple units. Clearview Fire and Emergency Services in Ontario, Canada has purchased three apparatus since 2014 and have plans to purchase more in the future.  

“Since purchasing our first trucks in 2014, we have gone out of our way to recommend Midwest Fire to neighboring departments,” says Deputy Fire Chief Roree Payment. “No one else compares to the value and service they provide.”

Unable to make the trip for their first delivery, Payment visited the facility in October of this year to pick up the department’s third truck. “We felt like family from the time we walked in the door. We weren’t just a number to them, there was relationship with the associates and they knew us by name,” added Payment.

Dante Fire Department of Dante, South Dakota, received their first new apparatus in 70 years in November 2017 from Midwest Fire. Fire Chief Mike Kotab appreciated that while they were in the decision-making process, Account Representative Jeff Bowen took the time to answer their questions thoroughly and even drive an apparatus to their department for demo purposes.

“On delivery day, I brought six of my volunteer firefighters, and they made us experts on our new PTO (power take-off) pump by the time we headed home,” said Kotab.  “It’s incredible to see a company put such effort, quality, and customer service into their work. We couldn’t be happier with our experience from the first call to delivery.”

Midwest Fire will be at the annual Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) at booth 3810 on April 26-28 and looks forward to thanking customers in person.

“We want to thank all the customers that have trusted us for 30 years.  It is an honor knowing that they have a choice and they continue to choose Midwest Fire.  That is why we strive to produce cost efficient, and effective apparatus that helps men and women all over North America perform their jobs safely. Firefighters are among some of the most noble people I have met and we are proud to serve them,” said Atchison.

Midwest Fire Equipment & Repair Company h

Thousands of Austin buildings -- including high-rises and retail stores -- are expected to receive security upgrades after a man somehow got his hands on a master key to their lock boxes and broke into at least two medical facilities. The lock boxes are attached to the outside of buildings that have fire protection systems.
- PUB DATE: 1/12/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KVUE-TV ABC Austin

Boston Firefighter Daniel MacAuley and four of his colleagues drove eight hours — some making the lengthy road trip after completing an overnight shift — to pay their respects to fallen Philadelphia Fire Lt. Matthew LeTourneau at a viewing Thursday evening at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.
- PUB DATE: 1/12/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Philly.com