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The purpose of the Fire Mechanics Section is to promote standardization of fire apparatus and equipment preventative maintenance, improve safety standards and practices, promote workshops, conferences, and seminars related to the purposes of this Section, and to promote cost savings through standardization of building and equipment purchasing and maintenance.

RECENT FIRE MECHANIC NEWS

Posted: Aug 29, 2025

New FD Headquarters Reflects Historic Downtown Architecture

The Taylors (SC) Fire Department needed to replace a headquarters station built in 1960 that had been renovated over the years yet still needed major repairs and updating. The department thought it was important to have administrative and firefighting staff under one roof in a new station instead of the two separate buildings at its old headquarters, and also have a separate maintenance facility.

Ultimately, Taylors Fire got what it needed in a new 23,050-square-foot headquarters fire station designed by DP3 Architects.

The new station has three drive-through, double-deep apparatus bays, and one back-in, single-deep apparatus bay.

Chief Bobby Baker says, “We looked at staying at our existing station; however, we received several quotes to renovate, and the quotes were several millions of dollars, almost as expensive as building a new station, prompting us to proceed with new construction. In addition, Taylors is the fifth largest city within Greenville County, making a growing population another need for our new headquarters.”

Baker notes that Taylors Fire serves a population of approximately 31,228 in a coverage area of approximately 16 square miles, which includes a combination of industrial, business, church, school, and residential development. The department has three stations, eight administrative personnel, and 46 full-time paid firefighters running five engines, a platform, a rescue, and a service truck, with an aerial ladder on order.

DP3 also designed a separate two-bay drive-through maintenance building that can accommodate repairs to the largest fire vehicles.

Baker points out, “We also wanted to make the new living quarters spectacular for our firefighters, making them feel at home so that they can do their best and be their best when responding to our community. In addition, we host training classes a good bit and wanted ample room inside for those, and also more parking.”

The resulting new fire headquarters station, says Jared Sang, DP3 Architects design team leader and project manager, has three drive-through, double-deep apparat

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Posted: Aug 29, 2025

Cantankerous Wisdom: Ya Gotta Smell the Smoke!

When I stopped for coffee the other morning, the Raisin Squad had just finished solving the day’s major problems – out of control school taxes, biased TV news commentators, too many pot holes in the streets, and no more senior citizen discounts at local restaurants.

Seeking a new target, one asked me why I always criticize old people in the fire service. I replied, I can because I am one and besides just mentioning old age isn’t criticizing. Age is a contentious fact of life that many volunteer departments cannot or will not address. I made a mental note to write a piece later about old people serving as firefighters. Squad members are hypocrites. Most of us are white-haired raisins ranging from our mid-60s to almost 80. Included are former chiefs and even some semiactive (noninterior qualified) members. I always say old timers tell tall tales, stretch the truth, or outright lie so we have to prove half the stuff we’re saying. The proof can be found in photographs, newspaper clippings, or verbal substantiation by at least two people not yet collecting social security. Photographs work best.

Skinnyisms

One morning we were refighting some of the fires we’d been to. As usual, refought fires are quickly extinguished right at the table without anyone breaking a sweat, getting wet, dirty, or overly tired. It happens every time the stories are retold – especially when enhancing, stretching, or trying to remember the facts. I talked about one fire where the white coat at a large deuce-and-a-half wood frame said at the department critique afterwards that, “It was a small fire in the attic that damn near blossomed before the roof got opened.” One geezer said that chief sounded like Skinny. It was.

Ten years ago, I wrote about Skinny and his unique methods of communication: (https://www.fireapparatusmagazine.com/fire-apparatus/cantankerous-wisdom-skinnyisms-and-quahoggers/). A couple days later I found two photographs from the fire and showed them to the Squad holding court at morning coffee. When one geezer asked when the fire was, I said, I thought it was in the mid to late 70s. Another said, “Hell, that was 50 years ago. You can’t remember what you had for supper two nights ago.”

The Fire

You can tell a lot from sequential photographs, however, knowing the “rest of the story” helps prove what you’ve tried to remember. The weekday morning call came in as a structure fire. It was during the era when the department was flush with staff.

Skinny got there first, broke down the front door, ran upstairs, peeked in the attic, slammed the door shut, and bailed out. The best I can recall is that his radio size-up wasn’t much more than, “It’s an attic fire; open the roof!”

The first engine and the quint, both with full crews, pulled in together when Skinny was coming outside. The engine was already laying in per standard operating procedure (SOP). He told them to stretch an inch-and-a-half to the attic but not to open the attic door until it’s vented. Simultaneously, the quint raised the aerial. We brought up a roof ladder, tools, and K-12 saw and started cutting. The rest of the crew started pulling ground ladders.

Photo 1

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Posted: Aug 29, 2025

Fire Apparatus Showcase: August 2025

Delivery of the Month

Seagrave

US FIRE APPARATUS— Yonkers (NY) Fire Department six pumpers. US Fire Apparatus custom cabs and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engines; Waterous CMU 1,500-gpm pumps; 500-gallon L-shaped polypropylene water tanks; 3⁄16-inch extruded aluminum bodies. Dealer: US Fire Pump Company, Holden, LA.


Truck

 

KME—Macomb Township Fire Department, Macomb, MI, two Severe Service pumpers. Severe Service LFD cabs and chassis with 10-inch raised roofs; Cummins X12 500-hp engines; Hale Qmax-XS 1,500-gpm pumps; UPF Poly 750-gallon water tanks; 30-gallon foam cells; Hale SmartFOAM 2.1A Class A foam systems; Smart Power 6-kW generators; TFT deck guns. Dealer: Chris Payette, Payette Sales & Service, Grosse Ile, MI.


Truck

 

ROSENBAUER—Jefferson City (MO) Fire Department 100-foot aerial ladder quint. Commander cab and chassis; Cummins X15 600-hp engine; Rosenbauer N110 2,250-gpm pump; UPF Poly 500-gallon water tank; Duo-Safety ground ladders; Rosenbauer EXT HD aluminum body; hot-dipped galvanized painted frame rails. Dealer: Brian Franz, Sentinel Emergency Solutions, St. Louis, MO.


Truck

 

E-ONE—South Williamsport (PA) Fire Department rescue-pumper. Spartan Metro Star cab and chassis with 10-inch raised roof; Cummins X12 500-hp engine; Hale Qmax-XS 1,500-gpm pump; 1,030-gallon polypropylene water tank; extruded aluminum body; Whelen warning and scene light packages. Dealer: Todd Smith, Fire Line Equipment, New Holland, PA.


Truck

 

PIERCE—Peoria (IL) Fire Department 100-foot aerial platform. Velocity 7010 cab and chassis; Cummins X12 500-hp engine; TAK-4 independent front suspension; Duo-Safety ground ladders; red, white, and blue ladder rung lighting. Dealer: Brenden Hurd, MacQueen Emergency, Aurora, IL. (Photo by author.)


Truck

 

SPARTAN EMERGENCY RESPONSE—Austin (TX) Fire Department Star Series pumper. Spartan Gladiator EMFD cab and chassis with 10-inch raised roof; Cummins X15 500-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm pump; 750-gallon polypropylene water tank; 30-gallon foam cell; FoamPro 2002 single-agent foam system. Dealer: Metro Fire Apparatus Specialists, Houston, TX.


Truck

 

SUTPHEN—Ashland (OH) Fire Department 100-foot aerial ladder quint. Monarch cab and chassis; Cummins X12 500-hp engine; Hale Qmax 2,000-gpm pump; UPF Poly 300-gallon water tank; Smart Power 10-kW generator; FRC Spectra and FireTech scene lights. Dealer: Andy Herb, Herb

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Posted: Aug 28, 2025

Five New Fire Apparatus ‘A Major Investment’ for MN Fire Department

The Eden Prairie Fire Department officially called five new fire trucks into service during a “push-in” ceremony Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, at Fire Station 1, the department said in a press release.

The new equipment replaces engines that have served the community for 20 years or more, and include three pumpers and two “skeeter” or rescue trucks — all featuring cutting-edge technology and safety enhancements to support the department’s all-hazard emergency response.

The push-in ceremony, which dates to the era of horse-drawn fire wagons, involves firefighters manually pushing the trucks into the vehicle bay — a symbolic act of readiness. The department performed three ceremonial pushes: one to honor the past, one to serve the present, and one to represent the future of fire service in the community.

“These new fire trucks represent a major investment in public safety, and the health and well-being of our firefighters,” said Fire Chief Scott Gerber. “We are proud to welcome them into service in the same tradition that has united firefighters for generations.”

The new engines include several key enhancements:

  • Modern safety features such as rollover protection and airbags
  • Advanced driving and pumping systems for improved operational efficiency
  • Redesigned cabinetry to better store and access emergency medical supplies
  • A lower hosebed to reduce physical strain on firefighters
  • 360-degree visibility through exterior camera systems

The skeeter trucks are a new addition to the department’s fleet and introduce a more versatile approach to emergency response:

  • Designed to enhance response to wildfires and aircraft incidents
  • Equipped with pump-and-roll capabilities, allowing water flow to be managed from inside the cab
  • Outfitted with a full complement of emergency medical equipment and the latest firefighter safety technology

Originally ordered in 2022, all five trucks were delivered simultaneously due to manufacturer timelines. An additional engine, which was ordered in 2023, will arrive in 2026, and a new ladder truck ordered in 2024 is expected to arrive in 2027.

The decommissioned vehicles will either be traded into the dealer or sold to other fire departments through the city’s asset management process.

“We are grateful to our community for its continued support, which ensures we have the tools we need to protect lives and serve Eden Prairie safely and effectively,” said Gerber.

The post Five New Fire Apparatus ‘A Major Investment’ for MN Fire Department appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Fire Mechanics Section Board

Chair

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Chair

Elliot Courage
North Whatcom Fire & Rescue
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Vice Chair

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Vice Chair

Mike Smith 
Pierce County Fire District #5
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Secretary

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Secretary

Greg Bach
South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue
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Director #1

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #1

Doug Jones
South Kitsap Fire & Rescue
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Director #2

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #2

Paul Spencer 
Fire Fleet Maintenance LLC
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Director #3

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #3

Jim Morris
Mountain View Fire Department
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Director #4

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #4

Arnie Kuchta

Clark County Fire District 6

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Director #6

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #6

Brett Annear
Kitsap County Fire District 18
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Director #5

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #5

Jay Jacks
Camano Island Fire & Rescue
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Legislative Representative

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Legislative Representative

TBD
TBD
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Immediate Past Chair

Posted: Oct 20, 2015

Immediate Past Chair

Brian Fortner
Graham Fire & Rescue

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