Menu

Welcome

The Finest Supporting the Bravest!

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: Apr 28, 2025

Vancouver (BC) Fire Hall Earns LEED Gold, Passive House, and ZCB – Design Certification

Fire Hall No. 17, of Vancouver (BC) Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS), designed by HCMA Architecture + Design, is the first fire hall in Canada to earn CaGBC’s Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) – Design certification and Passive House certification, as well as being LEED Gold certified.

Jay Lin, senior director and project architect at HCMA Architecture + Design, says the building has reduced operational carbon emissions by 99% compared with its predecessor.

Fire Hall No. 17 has four double-deep, drive-through apparatus bays.

The low-carbon, all-electric station is the second-largest training facility for VFRS, and aims to cater to modern firefighting needs and training for the next 80 years, Lin points out. He adds that the fire hall also serves as a post-disaster citywide emergency hub in the event of an information technology (IT) network breakdown. As a post-disaster facility, it is fitted with IT, radio, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), and traffic control equipment.

“It’s designed so that any firefighter in the building can get to a fire truck in 60 seconds,” Lin notes. The new facility has four double-deep, drive-through apparatus bays, a full-size hose/training tower, a training yard, and accommodation for two full crews.

The new station includes a training tower, which includes a hose tower, and a training yard.

The first level of the three-level structure holds the apparatus bays, an extractor room, a decontamination bathroom, turnout gear storage room, a training area, a captain’s office, training offices, a study, the hose tower, training storage, and an electric meter closet.

There are two sets of fire poles; one set at each end of the station.

The second level has fire poles, a communications room, mechanical room, IT room, electrical room, kitchen and dining area, day room, a patio, generator, and training roof. Level three has fire poles, 10 firefighter dorm rooms, three officer dorm rooms, five unisex toilet/shower rooms, a sauna, fitness room, and both a flat roof and sloped roof training area.

Read more
Posted: Apr 28, 2025

Sarasota County (FL) FD Gets State Grant for Video Laryngoscopes

The Sarasota County Fire Department (SCFD) received cutting-edge technology through a state of Florida EMS grant to place video laryngoscopes on every ambulance, the department said in a Facebook post recently.

The video laryngoscope allows the medic to see the patient’s trachea through a video feed on a screen instead of looking directly in their mouth during a difficult patient airway situation, the post said.

SCFD’s Assistant Chief of EMS Brian Nadler demonstrates the use of this innovative technology in the video above.

Out of 23,000 licensed EMS agencies in the country, SCFD is one of 238 agencies utilizing this technology.

The post Sarasota County (FL) FD Gets State Grant for Video Laryngoscopes appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

Read more
Posted: Apr 28, 2025

Monett (MO) RFD Takes Delivery of New Pumper-Tanker

The Monett Rural Fire District announced recently that it has added a new apparatus to its fleet.

“In September 2024, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of a new tanker-pumper from Firemaster,” the department said in a Facebook post. “This April, the district took delivery of the new truck, a 2025 Freightliner/Firemaster tanker-pumper.”

Equipped with a 1,250-gallon-per-minute (gpm) pump and a 3,000-gallon water tank, this vehicle will be stationed at Station 1, designated as T-1213, and will replace a 1992 tanker that has provided long-standing service to the district, the post said.

“We are thankful to the Board of Directors and, above all, the citizens who have made this possible,” the department said in the post.

The post Monett (MO) RFD Takes Delivery of New Pumper-Tanker appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

Read more
Posted: Apr 27, 2025

Kansas City (MO) Firefighter/Paramedic Dies After Being Stabbed by Patient in Ambulance

Noelle Alviz-Gransee – The Kansas City Star

A Kansas City firefighter-paramedic has died after he was stabbed in an ambulance by a patient he was transporting Sunday morning, city officials announced.

The suspect is in police custody.

Graham Hoffman, 29, was sent on a routine call to the area of North Oak Traffickway and MO-152 around 1 a.m.

Hoffman was on the way to the hospital when he was stabbed in the heart by the person he was transporting, according to Michael Hopkins, Kansas City Fire Department Battalion Chief. His partner then called for police and extra medical help.

Crews worked to save his life on the way to North Kansas City Hospital and continued in the emergency room before he was taken into surgery, according to officials. He succumbed to his injuries in the intensive care unit.

Hoffman had been a member of the fire department since 2022, city officials said in a release.

“His courage, compassion, and commitment to our community will never be forgotten. On behalf of the City of Kansas City, I extend our deepest condolences to Graham’s family, loved ones, and all members of the Kansas City Fire Department. We stand with you in this time of unimaginable loss,” said Interim City Manager Kimiko Gilmore.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a press conference Sunday afternoon that the suspect is in custody as the police department works with the Clay County prosecutor towards charges.

The city plans to demand accountability be applied not just to this suspect, but also for any steps in the process that fell short, Lucas said.

“This senseless act reminds us of the dangers our first responders face each day,” he said.

©2025 The Kansas City Star. Visit kansascity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Prior reporting:

Noelle Alviz-Gransee – The Kansas City Star

A Kansas City firefighter was stabbed Sunday morning by a patient being transported for aid in Kansas City’s Northland.

First responders were sent to the area of North Oak Traffickway and MO-152 around 1 a.m. for a routine call, according Michael Hopkins, Battalion Chief of the Kansas City Fire Department.

While on the way to the hospital, a firefighter paramedic was stabbed in the chest by the patient they were transporting. Emergency crew and additional firefighters were called, along with police, according to Hopkins.

The firefighter is in critical condition at North Kansas City Hospital and the suspect was taken into police custody.

©2025 The Kansas City Star. Visit kansascity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
© Copyright 2025 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved

The post Kansas City (MO) Firefighter/Paramedic Dies After Being Stabbed by Patient in Ambulance appeared first on Read more

RSS
First186187188189191193194195Last

Theme picker

Upcoming Events

Theme picker

Sponsors

Fire Mechanics Section Board

Chair

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Chair

Elliot Courage
North Whatcom Fire & Rescue
Read more

Vice Chair

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Vice Chair

Mike Smith 
Pierce County Fire District #5
Read more

Secretary

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Secretary

Greg Bach
South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue
Read more

Director #1

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #1

Doug Jones
South Kitsap Fire & Rescue
Read more

Director #2

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #2

Paul Spencer 
Fire Fleet Maintenance LLC
Read more

Director #3

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #3

Jim Morris
Mountain View Fire Department
Read more

Director #4

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #4

Arnie Kuchta

Clark County Fire District 6

Read more

Director #6

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #6

Brett Annear
Kitsap County Fire District 18
Read more

Director #5

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #5

Jay Jacks
Camano Island Fire & Rescue
Read more

Legislative Representative

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Legislative Representative

TBD
TBD
Read more

Immediate Past Chair

Posted: Oct 20, 2015

Immediate Past Chair

Brian Fortner
Graham Fire & Rescue

Read more
RSS

Theme picker

2020 CAR SHOW