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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: Jun 6, 2019

Retired Des Plaines Cop Recalls Fire Apparatus Crash

 
 

Des Plaines motorcycle police officer Mike Banner was stationed at Lee Street and Fargo Avenue across from Lake Park on Friday afternoon, May 25, 1979. He was using a police radar gun to clock the speed of passing cars. Anyone over the 25 mph limit could be ticketed. Banner was facing directly west.  

“I saw the black smoke go up,” said Banner referring to a scene he thought unusual because it was not coming from the normal spot where O’Hare firefighting drills were staged. He immediately radioed police headquarters to report a possible plane crash.

“I was kind of the first responder on the scene,” explained Banner, mainly because he was stationed only about a mile from the crash site. A Des Plaines fire truck, on a call near Lake Park at the time, raced past Lee Street and Banner in a westbound direction heading for the plume of thick, black smoke.

“I got there seconds before they did,” Banner remembered explaining that he overtook the fire rig. “They were the first fire crew on the scene, but they never got the credit."

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Posted: Jun 6, 2019

Motorcyclist Seriously Injured After Colliding With Orange (CA) Fire Apparatus

 
 
 
The Orange Police Department responded to reports of a traffic collision involving a motorist and an Orange Fire Department vehicle just after 4:40 p.m.  

The motorcyclist was transported to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries and two firefighters were transported with non-life threatening injuries.  

The crash closed eastbound Collins Avenue at Wanda Road and northbound Prospect Street at Bond Avenue.

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Posted: Jun 6, 2019

PL Custom Adds Brad Turk As Regional Sales Manager

P.L. Custom Body and Equipment Co., Inc. (PLCB) is pleased to announce the addition of Brad Turk as the first remotely based regional sales manager in the company’s history. He comes to PLCB with an extensive wealth of experience in this industry, having started his career in emergency vehicles back in 1983.

Chad Newsome, National Sales Manager for PLCB, is extremely excited to welcome Brad to the team.  “After a six-month search process, it became clear to us that Brad was a great fit for PLCB and will be a wonderful resource to our customers and dealers alike.” Turk started with PLCB on May 20, 2019 and is rapidly getting to know everyone  at PLCB. While he will be involved with all aspects of the company’s products, Turk's primary responsibility will be to the Rescue 1 division.

Based out of Florida, Turk has been in the fire and emergency vehicle industry for decades, creating and forging strong relationships with vendors, manufacturers, and customers alike. He is eager to start his next chapter here at PLCB, stating, “After a long search for my next employment opportunity, one of my primary goals was to find an independent, stable, and family-owned company where I could play an integral role in that company’s success.  PLCB’s culture of high quality emergency vehicles and their consistent approach to business strongly appealed to me, especially given the volatility within the emergency vehicle marketplace today”.

Deborah Smock Thomson, president of PLCB, is thrilled about this new position and looks forward to working with Turk. “We looked at how best we can serve our dealer community and the greater customer community as a whole. Knowing we needed to offer more extensive support to both groups formed the basis for our search. We look forward to announcing more additions in the near future and we know our stakeholders—our customers, dealers, and vendors—will see the value these moves bring to our company.”

The addition of a regional sales manager is something new to PLCB, and it sees this as a tremendous support to its growing dealer market. With coverage in 29 states and Canada, PLCB continues to grow at a steady and consistent pace. Currently in its 73rd year of business, PLCB’s independence and family ownership stands out in stark contrast to the changing industry. 

For more information, visit www.plcustom.com.

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Posted: Jun 6, 2019

KME Fire Apparatus Delivers Six Custom Pumpers to the City of Atlanta, Georgia

NESQUEHONING, PA—KME Fire Apparatus announces the delivery of six KME custom pumpers to the City of Atlanta, Georgia. These six pumpers will join the existing fleet of 45 KMEs within the city. 

These six new pumpers are built on KME’s Severe Service™ cab and will serve the Atlanta (GA) Fire Rescue Department’s 35 fire stations, including five stations at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. With a staff of more than 1,000 employees, the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department serves an area of 132 square miles within the city limits. 

Features of the six custom pumpers include: 

  • KME 96” Severe Service XMFD cab
  • Cummins ISL 450-hp engine
  • Allison 3000 EVS transmission
  • Hale Q2 1,500-gpm pump
  • Elkhart 240-125P foam eductor
  • 500-gallon water tank with 30-gallon foam tank

“KME appreciates the opportunity to serve the City of Atlanta with these pumpers and we value the trust they have placed in our apparatus and our dealer, FireLine,” said Stephen Carleton, Director of Sales for KME. 

“Fireline’s longstanding relationship with Atlanta is built on trust and loyalty. We are pleased to continue working with the City of Atlanta to provide equipment, parts and service,” said Bob McDonel, President of FireLine.

For more information, visit www.kmefire.com.

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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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