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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 12, 2023

Medix Specialty Vehicles Attain New Certification for Type II Ambulance

Medix Specialty Vehicles is proud to announce the recent achievement of ISO 9001:2015 certification for its Type II ambulance product line. Globally recognized, ISO certification demonstrates a company’s commitment to quality performance and inspires customer satisfaction by improving product quality and consistency.

“Excellence is a core value in our organization, and this certification is technically a validation of the high-quality build processes we’ve been providing for years for our customers,” says Greg Rusk, President of Medix Specialty Vehicles. “The exercises helped us enhance greater controls over the Type II business processes. Because we run large volumes of similar units, we see this as a springboard for Medix to take this ISO process throughout our company to enhance customer satisfaction across the board.”

To earn ISO 9001 certification, Medix Specialty Vehicles was required to build and implement a quality management system in accordance with the principles of the latest ISO 9001 standard.  Medix created a repeatable framework that ensures consistent quality in its products. The journey began with a systematic approach aligned with ISO’s quality management systems (QMS), which included documenting processes and controls while also upholding an ongoing commitment to the systems. Medix Specialty Vehicles focused on enhancing consistency in the ambulance by improving communication and improving inputs (both manufacturing process & raw material inputs) to continuously improve the overall quality of the ambulance and customer experience.

Adopting QMS processes and attaining ISO certification brings a range of meaningful benefits, including higher customer satisfaction, reduced product or service problems, and lower costs, to name a few. Perhaps the most impactful benefit includes heightened employee morale and enhanced performance.

“Our employees are the heartbeat of our company, and it is no surprise that our team demonstrates continuous interest, pride, and commitment to improving both themselves and the product,” continued Rusk. “It also provides the opportunity to identify continuous improvement projects which, ultimately, ensures Medix continues to deliver ambulances that our employees, dealers, and customers are proud to represent.”

To learn more about Medix Specialty Vehicles, visit medixambulance.com.

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ABOUT MEDIX SPECIALTY VEHICLES

Medix Specialty Vehicles, Inc. is an industry leader in the manufacturing of Type I, Type II, and Type III ambulances.  Located in Elkhart, Indiana, Medix Specialty Vehicles, Inc. has produced one of the highest quality and best-valued ambulances in the industry since 2001.  Learn more about Medix Specialty Vehicles at medixambulance.com or by contacting (866) 971-4915.

ABOUT DEMERS BRAUN AMBULANCE MANUFACTURER

Through its strong family of brands – Demers, Braun, Crestline, Medix – the Company operates six production/service sites across North America and employs over 1000 team members. The Company is the second-largest ambulance manufacturer in North America. Its offering of ambulance products range from the price-conscious value ambulance to the highly-customized specialty vehicle. To learn more about how Demers, Braun, Crestline, and Medix can help you save more lives, visit Demers-Ambulances.com, BraunAmbulances.com, Read more

Posted: Jan 12, 2023

Contra Costa County (CA)’s Three New Fire Stations Cover Wide Swath

By Alan M. Petrillo

Contra Costa County (CA) Fire Department has built and put in service three new fire stations in the past five years with Fire Station 86 being built to accommodate future growth, Fire Station 70 constructed to replace a temporary station, and Fire Station 16 to replace an older structure covering a wildland urban interface (WUI) environment.

Aaron McAlister, Contra Costa County’s deputy chief, says the former Station 86 was a single, back-in bay station built in 1946 that housed three firefighters in very tight quarters. The new Station 86, located in Bay Point, an unincorporated community, has three double-deep, drive-through apparatus bays, McAlister says. “The station protects an area with a lot of single family homes and apartment buildings, and firefighters also respond to a significant number of motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) on nearby Highway 4,” he points out.

Contra Costa County (CA) Fire Protection District built a new Fire Station 86 with three double-deep, drive-through apparatus bays and seven individual dorm rooms for the crews. (Photos courtesy of Contra Costa County Fire Protection District)

New Station 86 is set up with the far side of the apparatus bays holding a decon room with a turnout gear extractor and dryer, a laundry room for rags and apparatus cleaning equipment, a turnout gear storage room, a gross decon shower room, and an infrared heat sauna with an exercise bike for those staff members who want to remove additional particulate contamination from their bodies, McAlister says. The apparatus bays and decon areas have their own exhaust systems.

The living side of Station 86 has seven individual dorm rooms with single beds, three unisex toilet/shower rooms, a captain’s dorm, a station office, training room, exercise room, laundry room, kitchen, dining room, and day room. McAlister notes that the living area floors are polished concrete with some tile in the bathrooms for easier cleaning maintenance and contaminant control. Here is Station 86’s site plan (PDF).

Read more
Posted: Jan 12, 2023

Contra Costa County (CA)’s Three New Fire Stations Cover Wide Swath

By Alan M. Petrillo

Contra Costa County (CA) Fire Department has built and put in service three new fire stations in the past five years with Fire Station 86 being built to accommodate future growth, Fire Station 70 constructed to replace a temporary station, and Fire Station 16 to replace an older structure covering a wildland urban interface (WUI) environment.

Aaron McAlister, Contra Costa County’s deputy chief, says the former Station 86 was a single, back-in bay station built in 1946 that housed three firefighters in very tight quarters. The new Station 86, located in Bay Point, an unincorporated community, has three double-deep, drive-through apparatus bays, McAlister says. “The station protects an area with a lot of single family homes and apartment buildings, and firefighters also respond to a significant number of motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) on nearby Highway 4,” he points out.

Contra Costa County (CA) Fire Protection District built a new Fire Station 86 with three double-deep, drive-through apparatus bays and seven individual dorm rooms for the crews. (Photos courtesy of Contra Costa County Fire Protection District)

New Station 86 is set up with the far side of the apparatus bays holding a decon room with a turnout gear extractor and dryer, a laundry room for rags and apparatus cleaning equipment, a turnout gear storage room, a gross decon shower room, and an infrared heat sauna with an exercise bike for those staff members who want to remove additional particulate contamination from their bodies, McAlister says. The apparatus bays and decon areas have their own exhaust systems.

The living side of Station 86 has seven individual dorm rooms with single beds, three unisex toilet/shower rooms, a captain’s dorm, a station office, training room, exercise room, laundry room, kitchen, dining room, and day room. McAlister notes that the living area floors are polished concrete with some tile in the bathrooms for easier cleaning maintenance and contaminant control. Here is Station 86’s site plan (PDF).

Read more
Posted: Jan 12, 2023

Leaking Roofs, Rats and Raw Sewage: Firefighters Describe ‘Deplorable’ Conditions at Aging Fire Stations in Melrose (MA)

After getting a tip, NBC10 Investigators looked into the conditions at the aging fire stations in Melrose. Emails obtained via a public records request revealed no shortage of problems, including no heat in the winter, rodents, water leaks and raw sewage, the report said.

After receiving a “Small Town Secrets” tip from a viewer, the NBC10 Investigators submitted a public records request for documents related to the city’s three fire stations, according to the report.

The 300-plus pages of emails and other records we received from the past two years did not paint a pretty picture, the report said.

Problems included: leaks from the dilapidated roof and gutters; rodent infestation and mouse dropping on kitchen counters; dead animals and “horrible” odors coming from the boarded-up hose tower; and leaking urinals discharging raw sewage into the basement, the report said.

On Wednesday, the city launched the Public Safety Building Committee website, which includes information about plans to renovate city buildings, the report said.

The solution will undoubtedly require a significant investment from taxpayers. A similar committee under a previous administration stalled after failing to reach a consensus on the best approach, the report said.

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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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