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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: Oct 5, 2021

Perimeter Solutions’ PHOS-CHEK® FORTIFY® Now Qualified by USDA Forest Service for Application as a Proactive Wildfire Solution

Uncolored, Ground-Based Retardant able to Help Prevent Wildfire Ignitions and Protect Assets with a Single Annual Application

Clayton, MO 5 October 2021 – Perimeter Solutions, makers of PHOS-CHEK® long-term fire retardant and other high-quality firefighting products, announced today that its ground-based long-term fire retardant PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY® has been added to the USDA Forest Service (USFS) Qualified Products List (QPL), making it the first and only highly-durable fire retardant that has been approved by USDA Forest Service for preventative application on U.S. federal lands.

PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY incorporates breakthrough VISMOTECH technology, a hydrogel platform developed by Stanford University and MIT before Perimeter Solutions acquired the global exclusive rights to the technology.  The PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY formulation builds on PHOS-CHEK’s almost 60 years of proven retardant effectiveness and is formulated with patented polymer technology to provide enhanced durability to weathering as well as adherence to vegetation. It can be applied on flammable vegetation and cellulosic material early in the fire season before a wildfire approaches and provides ongoing protection, remaining effective until a significant rain event of one inch or more. Unlike retardant dropped from aircraft, which is colored to help pilots track where the retardant is dropped during active wildfires, the durable PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY fire retardant is uncolored and precision applied from the ground.

Products included on the QPL are approved after a rigorous testing and evaluation period. These include testing to ensure low levels of mammalian and aquatic toxicity, as well as evaluations of impact on human health and the environment. The retardant is also put through corrosion testing and measured for retardant efficacy. PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY has met all the criteria to be listed on the QPL, and it now can be used on federal and most state forest lands in the United States. The listing should also enable application of FORTIFY globally, as other countries, including Canada and Australia, have previously approved QPL-listed long-term fire retardants to be used.

“Having a product added to the USDA Forest Service QPL is a years-long endeavor, and I appreciate the prior dedication and commitment, as well as the work of the team at Perimeter Solutions to get this across the finish line,” says Edward Goldberg, CEO of Perimeter Solutions. “PHOS-CHEK has achieved many firsts. It was the first phosphate-based, long-term fire retardant included on the QPL in 1963, and I am proud of the fact that PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY is now the first highly-durable, preventative long-term retardant approved for use.”

PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY was developed in 2018, and over the past three years, utilities, railroads, insurance companies, homeowners and other industries have widely adopted it as a solution to prevent wildfire ignitions and proactively protect their property from wildfires.  With a mix ratio of 5.0:1, it is one of the most effective pretreatment products on the QPL, and its listing provides a pathway for environmental and legal approval that is needed for a broad and rapid adoption of the preventative and proactive wildfire solution by government agencies, military, utilities, and state and federal transportation agencies.  

In a single year, there were 37 fire starts along a four-mile stretch on California’s Route 118 in what is known as Rocky Peak. PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY was applied to the same area prior to the following wildfire season, and not one fire was recorded that summer. The retardant was also applied along the roadway and under utility lines in Wildcat Canyon located in San Diego County in California, where a wildfire ignition was recorded. What was projected to be a half-acre to one-acre fire was reduced in size by 99% due to the proactive application of PHOS-CHE

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Posted: Oct 5, 2021

Photos: Jersey City (NJ) Fire Department 150th Anniversary Parade

Fire photographer Tony Greco shared a batch of photos from the 150th anniversary parade for the Jersey City (NJ) Fire Department, which took place on October 3, 2021. The city sits on the waterfront opposite from Manhattan, and the fire department was founded in 1871.

The parade included a number of fire trucks from surrounding fire departments in New Jersey. See the gallery below. Click on a photo to enlarge.

Posted: Oct 5, 2021

Birmingham (AL) Fire and Rescue, Nearby Departments Go Pink

Birmingham (AL) Fire and Rescue and several other departments in the area are teaming up with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama by going pink, as well as selling T-shirts, reports cbs42.com.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue brought out its pink fire engine, Corrine, to raise awareness, according to the report. And, as part of the Pink Ribbon Campaign, the department is selling short- and long-sleeve T-shirts—$15 and $20 each, respectively—with all proceeds going to breast cancer research.

As it has done in recent years, Alabaster Fire Department decided to paint the hydrants in front of all the city’s fire stations pink, the report says. The pink hydrants are an effort to start conversations about and encourage testing for breast cancer.

Related Articles:
Garrison (TX) Volunteer Fire Department Using Pink Truck
CA Firefighters Shuttle Cancer Patients with Pink Pumper
Orange County (FL) Rolls Out Pink Fire Apparatus
Contra Costa County (CA) Fire Rolls Out New Pink Fire Apparatus
Tallahassee (FL) ‘Pink Heals’ Fire Apparatus Caught on Fire
North Charleston (SC) Pink Fire Apparatus Makes Hospital Visit
Wentzville (MO) Pink Fire Apparatus Finds New Home
Pink Heals Tallahassee Chapter Names Fire Apparatus After Child Who Died of Cancer

Posted: Oct 5, 2021

Neighboring Departments Reach Out After Victor (MT) Fire and EMS’ Apparatus Accident

On the heels of what could have been an even worse tragedy, Victor (MT) Fire and EMS has received offers for trucks to use after its was totaled over the weekend, reports nbcmontana.com.

Earlier: Victor (MT) Fire and EMS Truck Hit, Totaled at Emergency Scene

Officials say every department in the valley has reached out and offered apparatus for Victor to use. In addition, neighboring departments have even offered personnel for help.

It all started as a truck traveling through smoke and fog in an emergency scene on Highway 93 Saturday morning hit and totaled the Victor structure engine.

Nobody was killed, though four people—including two firefighters—were taken to the hospital. Two passengers in the truck suffered unknown injuries and a male and female firefighter had minor injuries—all were treated and released.

Officials say the driver was traveling too fast for conditions.

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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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