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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: Jan 24, 2023

Loveland-Symmes (OH) Fire Department’s Refurbished Heavy Rescue

Apparatus ideas

As the price of new fire apparatus has begun to skyrocket across the United States no matter what manufacturer you purchase from, a large number of fire departments have looked into refurbishing existing apparatus.
BOB VACCARO

 

Depending on your budget, the fire apparatus refurbishment process may involve removing the compartment body of the fire apparatus from the chassis after inspecting for rust and then mounting it to a new cab and chassis. In the case of the Loveland-Symmes (OH) Fire Department (LSFD), it also involved removing a rescue crane from the chassis. The body is fitted to a new chassis and upgrades are made to the wiring, lighting, and almost all other components of the fire apparatus.

Before the whole process begins, departments need to investigate the costs to determine if all the necessary work is feasible and how much time will be gain in longevity by refurbishing an existing piece of apparatus.

The LSFD currently operates as a private fire company, governed by the LSFD board of directors that contracts fire and EMS services to Loveland and Symmes Township as well as Miami Township. It operates four fire stations (two in Loveland and two in Symmes Township) that are staffed with firefighters and paramedics 24/7 year-round. It provides protection for 28,000 residents in all three areas mentioned. The area is 15 miles north of the city of Cincinnati and has several major highways, numerous schools, strip shopping areas, and a downtown historic district in its response area.

LSFD Captain Mitch Caito was given the task of designing a new rescue apparatus. “The price of designing a brand-new rescue apparatus was just too overwhelming for our department as far as the cost involved at the time we looked into the process,” Caito says. “We really thought we could get more for our money by choosing to go with a refurb of our existing vehicle, which was still in relatively good condition.”

 

 The Loveland-Symmes (OH) Fire Department’s heavy rescue is built on a Sutphen cab and chassis with an SVI body. (Photos courtesy of SVI.)

 

 

 The officer’s side large compartments with light tower raised.

 

 

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Posted: Jan 24, 2023

Fire Apparatus of the Day: January 24, 2023

KME—Macomb Township (MI) Fire Department mini pumper. Ford F-550 4×4 crew cab XL cab and chassis; Ford Power Stroke 330-hp engine; Hale DSD 1,250-gpm pump; 240-gallon polypropylene water tank; 10-gallon foam cell; FoamPro 1600 single-agent foam system. Dealer: Chris Payette, Payette Sales & Service, Grosse Isle Township, MI.


PREVIOUS PHOTO OF THE DAY >>

MORE FIRE APPARATUS ARTICLES >>

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Posted: Jan 24, 2023

OK Fire Department Making Changes After Someone Drove Off in Truck

An Oklahoma fire department is making changes after someone drove off in a fire truck and led police on a chase, koco.com reported.

Friday night in Mustang (OK), firefighters had just completed their medical call and were ready to head back to the station. That’s when the suspect jumped into the fire truck and led police on a chase, the report said.

The suspect, Daniel Justin Snyder, is in jail on a $71,000 bond on charges of larceny of a motor vehicle, endangering others while eluding police, possession of controlled dangerous substances and interfering with firemen on duty, according to the report.

The fire chief said the truck holds advanced life support equipment and would be detrimental to the community if anything were to happen to the vehicle, the report said.

In response, the department is installing kill switches in all department vehicles, the report said.

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Posted: Jan 24, 2023

Second Augusta (GA) Fire Truck Rolls Over in One Week; Same Cause as First

An Augusta Fire Department tender rolled over Saturday, making it the second truck in the department to have a rollover accident in a week.

In both cases, the department said ‘locked up’ brakes were the reason for the crash, WRDW reports.

Saturday’s accident happened around 9:30 p.m. on Old Waynesboro Road at Neely Road.

Tender 12 was responding to a call along with an engine when it went off the left side of the road and overturned. The driver was taken to the hospital where he was treated and released.

The first crash happened on Monday when a ladder truck was responding to a call. The truck failed to negotiate the turn onto Interstate 20 from Washington Road.

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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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