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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 10, 2021

Oklahoma City Fire Department Medics Authorized to Transport Patients

Josh Dulaney

The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City

(MCT)

Citing a severe staffing shortage amid a surge in COVID-19 cases and the typical increase in service calls during summer, the Emergency Medical Services Authority announced Monday that Oklahoma City Fire Department medics will be authorized temporarily to transport patients suffering heart attacks and other related symptoms.

“We obviously are going to prioritize the life and death cases,” EMSA Medical Director Jeffrey Goodloe said. “We want to get that fire crew back in service as soon as possible so they can be available for the next call, because we never know when the next call to 911 is going to be.”

Under the authorization, when a fire department medic diagnoses a patient with acute coronary syndrome and an EMSA unit has not been assigned, the medic must call an EMSA supervisor to determine if a unit will arrive within 20 minutes.

If an EMSA unit cannot be guaranteed to arrive in 20 minutes, the medic must call the Office of the Medical Director and give a complete patient report. The Office of the Medical Director will determine if a fire department vehicle can transport the patient and to which hospital.

During a news conference at the downtown fire station, emergency response authorities said Oklahoma City is among cities around the nation enduring a shortage of qualified emergency medical technicians and paramedics who provide pre-hospital treatment, care and transportation.

Goodloe said the emergency response system here is under stress as the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified at a time when paramedics are responding to increased summer calls related to car accidents, boating and water emergencies, and the regular load of heat strokes and chronic illnesses.

“When we look at the confluence of a busy summer in Oklahoma City, we are in the midst of not just a pandemic, but by all scientific evidence, the fourth wave of this pandemic in the United States,” Goodloe said. “And the fact that EMS is a tough career and frankly it is hard to recruit qualified EMTs and paramedics to this profession when you look at those things together, our EMS system today is under significant demand.”

EMSA President and CEO Jim Winham said the ambulance service typically administers 1,500 tests annually to potential paramedics and EMTs. That number fell to about 250 last year, and some schools are shutting down because there are not enough students, he said.

A rookie who has graduated the 14-month paramedic program makes around $55,000 a year, Winham said. With the shortage of paramedics, EMSA is offering a $20,000 sign-on bonus and is considering paying off student loans, covering relocation expenses and even providing the cost of daycare, he said.

EMSA’s Western Division has 31 open positions for full-time paramedics and nine openings for full-time EMTs.

“Everything is predicated on the staffing,” Winham said.

At the same time, hospitals are filling up with COVID-19 patients, which is causing a delay for emergency responders who have transported their patients and are waiting for a bed.

Some bed delays can last an hour or longer, authorities said. But as emergency responders wait at the hospital, another 911 call might come in.

Winham said EMSA usually conducts 300 responses a day, with about 275 turning into transports to area hospitals. That number has jumped to 400 responses a day, with more than 300 transports, he said.

While EMSA historically handles between 75 and 80 priority-one calls each day, Winham said that number nearly doubled on June 27, to 158.

Meanwhile, response times for Oklahoma’s largest ambulatory care provider have not met compliance standards in

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Posted: Aug 10, 2021

Farmington (MO) Fire Department to Get New Aerial Ladder

Farmington (MO) Fire Department officials are back in town after spending time in Wisconsin doing a final inspection on the department’s new aerial ladder it purchased, reports mymoinfo.com.

Officials say they hope to have the new apparatus in September.

The ladder will be housed at the station, located at 222 East Columbia St.

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Posted: Aug 10, 2021

Photo of the Day: August 10, 2021

Toyne—Rochelle (IL) Fire Department rescue pumper. Spartan Metro Star ELFD cab and chassis; Cummins L9 380-hp engine; Hale Qmax 1,250-gpm pump; UPF Poly 500-gallon water tank; two 30-gallon foam cells; Waterous Aquis 6.0 dual-agent foam system; Elkhart Cobra monitor with 8598 extender. Dealer: Orin Snodgrass, Dinges Fire Company, Amboy, IL.

MORE FIRE APPARATUS ARTICLES>>

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Posted: Aug 10, 2021

What You Should Know About Your Station Wear: Myths and Misconceptions

We receive a lot of questions from firefighters about station wear, and in this Webcast we’ll answer some of the more common questions. Led by Workrite’s Technical Training Manager, Derek Sang, we’ll explore what to look for when selecting station wear, how it should be used, and how to properly care for and maintain it.

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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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