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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: Jul 21, 2021

REV Group Partners with Consus Global to Drive Supply Chain Efficiencies

REV Group® (NYSE: REVG), a leading provider of industry-leading specialty vehicles, announced today its multi-year agreement with Consus Global, the global procurement solutions integrator and services provider, to further drive supply base optimization, automation, productivity, and working capital value from the REV Supply Chain.

REV Group embarked on its sourcing and procurement transformation earlier this year, which included four appointments to REV’s global sourcing and supply chain team, representing the Fire & Emergency, Commercial and Recreation segments. As part of the partnership with Consus, REV has implemented Ivalua, a leading provider of global Spend Management Cloud solutions, to achieve a more focused and faster source-to-contract cycle.

“Partnering with Consus Global and our successful deployment of Ivalua will accelerate our progress in supply chain optimization at REV Group by applying a powerful toolset of data, supplier management, and competitive bidding capabilities to our team,” says Rob Vislosky, Chief Supply Officer of REV Group. “We are excited about the sizable improvements in productivity, customer delivery, and efficiency that will occur as a result of this strategy.”

Benefits include:

  • Shortened sourcing cycle times
  • 100% visibility of sourcing processes
  • Adoption of best-in-class strategic sourcing practices
  • Competitive bidding to drive cost savings
  • Enforcement of procurement compliances

“Recent supply chain disruptions have highlighted the need for high-performing organizations such as REV Group to implement a world-class strategic sourcing program,” said Shantanu Bhowmick, Chairman & CEO of Consus Global. “With this engagement, we are bringing together our two organizations with the explicit goal of achieving automation and spend visibility which will lead to multi-year cost savings for REV Group and its shareholders.”

“REV Group is renowned for connecting and protecting communities across the country. We’re excited to support REV Group on their digital transformation journey and accelerate their end-to-end sourcing for all spend types. Enhancing collaboration by providing increased visibility and insight is critical to achieving a more focused and faster source-to-contract cycle,” said Dan Amzallag, Chief Operating Officer at Ivalua.

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ABOUT CONSUS GLOBAL

Consus is a recognized and trusted global supply chain solutions provider. Consus collaborates with customers to advise on supply chain transformations, “Source to pay” system selection and implementation, strategic sourcing services and analytics services. Having worked across industry verticals globally, Consus is appropriately positioned to collaborate with customers using their deep domain knowledge, access to a global supplier base, expertise around maximizing technology adoption, to deliver measurable ROI in the supply chain domain. For more information, visit www.consus-global.com.

ABOUT IVALUA

Ivalua is a leading provider of cloud-based Spend Management solutions. Our complete, unified platform empowers organizations to effectively manage all categories of spend and all suppliers, increasing profitability, lowering risk and improving employee productivity. Trusted by hundreds of the world’s most admired brands, and recognized as a leader by Gartner and other analysts, Ivalua maintains the industry’s leading 98%+ customer retention rate. Learn more at www.ivalua.com.

ABOUT REV GROUP, INC.

REV Group® companies are leading designe

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Posted: Jul 21, 2021

Toyne Is Headed To FDIC International, Bringing A Powerful Apparatus Lineup With Them

Breda, IA (July 20, 2021) – After a pause in events due to COVID-19, FDIC International is back, and Toyne will be exhibiting at the event once again. FDIC International is one of the largest fire industry expos in the world and is hosted in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Iowa-based fire apparatus manufacturer will have a booth at the Indiana Convention Center from August 5-7. At the booth, attendees will be greeted with two customized Toyne demo apparatus, an aerial, and a PRV (Priority Response Vehicle) XL.

“We’re eager to return to FDIC and demonstrate our customization capabilities and connect with the thousands of industry professionals that attend this event,” said Michael Schwabe, President of Toyne, Inc. “Being present at this large industry stage–with our custom-built PRV and aerial apparatus–allows us to show what Toyne stands for and how our apparatus help others perform at their highest level while taking the call.”

The first apparatus Toyne is displaying at FDIC is a fully customized PRV XL. This PRV was built around a Spartan Metro Star EMFD chassis with a 10” raised roof. Powering this highly capable apparatus is a 450-horsepower Cummins engine and an Allison 3000 EVS transmission. The demo apparatus has a 1,000-gallon UPF tank, an enclosed 1,750 GPM side-mount Hale Qmax XS pump, and an Akron Deckmaster 2440 monitor for fire suppression. The PRV XL also boasts Toyne’s customized storage solutions.

The main attraction at the company’s booth, however, will be a Toyne Tailored Aerial apparatus. Mounted on a Spartan Metro Star MFD Chassis, this aerial has seating for up to six firefighters and also boasts a 10” raised roof. The powertrain consists of a Cummins ISL 450-horsepower engine and an Allison 3000 EVS transmission. Other customizations include a 75-foot rear mount LTC steel ladder with an Akron remote-controlled monitor. The aerial has two independently controlled out and down type outrigger systems. Water is stored in a 500-gallon UPF tank and pumped at 2,000 gallons per minute with its Hale Qmax pump.

Toyne will have their demo units on display at booth #2039 in the Indiana Convention Center. Representatives of Toyne will be at the booth, ready to answer any questions about the demo apparatus, Toyne’s capabilities, and how the company can meet the needs of fire departments.

Keep tabs on all things Toyne and FDIC by following the fire apparatus manufacturer on their social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Posted: Jul 21, 2021

Cantankerous Wisdom: Censorship, Hypocrisy, & Second-Guessing

By Bill Adams

The other day I was looking at an online video taken inside the cab of a rig responding “lights and siren” to a working building fire. It was interesting, informative, and really got the juices flowing. I wanted to change the date on my driver’s license, dye my hair, practice walking upright without assistance, and submit a membership application to the local fire department. But common sense prevailed.

I believe photographs and videos of fireground action are invaluable learning tools; even raisins can learn something from them. Publishers and editors are forever in a quandary when their postings show “questionable” fireground procedures, tactics, and actions. The top of my list is showing firefighters not wearing full rubber goods. The older generation calls them rubber goods; the middle generation says turnout gear; and the new breed says personal protective clothing or PPE—it’s all the same stuff.

Censorship?

The topic of showing “questionable” photographs was kicked around by the raisin squad at morning coffee. Mr. Miserable said, “Call it what you want. If you ain’t wearing the gear and you get hurt, you ain’t getting any sympathy.” Sympathy was not the question, showing “questionable” photos was. One geezer agreed that fire scene videos and photographs were learning tools. Another said each posting should be labelled “How to do it” or “How NOT to do it.” One member of the bleeding hearts club said it wasn’t right to embarrass a fire department.

We argued and agreed it is a major dilemma for publishers. Should they show an engine company slow-walking and monkey-diddling around for five minutes before getting water on a fire? Do they show two firefighters starting to throw an extension ladder before realizing it is upside down? Is it “proper” to publish a photo of a crew using hydraulic rescue tools without eye or hand protection? Mistakes happen. Perhaps they shouldn’t be advertised.

Should the fire service media only publish the good stuff—you know, just photos and videos showing the “proper” ways of firefighting? Who decides what is proper? Is that censorship? One geezer said they ought to show everything just the way it happened and let people decide for themselves. Another said they shouldn’t allow any negative commentary and publishers should not publish letters to the editor that are critical of particular fireground tactics and procedures. That might be the best solution, but it also could be a type of censorship. I recall one of my high school teachers saying we are taught history because we can learn from our mistakes. I agree—you can’t learn it if you don’t see it. Anyhow, it is the publishers’ problem.

Hypocrisy?

Getting back to the video shot from inside the responding apparatus. It was taken from a forward-facing seat in the crew cab. It appeared to be a well-functioning crew. The firefighters facing rearward on each side of the motor were buckling up their coats and strapping on air packs including the belt buckles. Flashlights were being clipped on and portable radios were pocketed with the microphones attached to the SCBA straps. The officer kept repeating updates heard on the radio. The liberal use of the siren and airhorns met my approval! Yep, you could be proud of that crew—they were getting ready to work.

Then I reread the caption; it said the video was taken by a helmet camera. What? Wearing a helmet inside the cab? That’s a no-no. When reviewing it again, there was a loose helmet sitting up front on the motor’s tunnel. That’s another no-no. And the two firefighters gearing-up and packing-up weren’t wearing seat belts. How could they? A qu

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Posted: Jul 21, 2021

Photo of the Day: July 21, 2021

Spartan ER—Wake Forest (NC) Fire Department 105-foot TDA quint. Spartan Gladiator tractor cab and chassis; Cummins X15 600-hp engine; Waterous CXS 1,500-gpm pump; Pro Poly 200-gallon polypropylene water tank; Harrison 8-kW generator; 4-section 105-foot aerial ladder with waterway; Spartan Advanced Occupant Protection System. Dealer: Atlantic Coast Fire Trucks, Denver, NC.

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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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