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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: Aug 8, 2025

Accounting Error Axes New Fire Apparatus Purchase

Chris Gaige
The Press-Republican, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
(TNS)

TUPPER LAKE — At the Tupper Lake Village Board’s regular July meetings, things appeared to be moving toward a new fire truck purchase.

Now, that appears to be out the window. That realization came on Thursday when village Mayor Mary Fontana, village Trustee and Deputy Mayor Eric Shaheen and village Treasurer Kyle Fuller were meeting to review potential purchase options for the new truck.

“We’re shifting our focus now from a brand-new truck to possibly a used truck,” Fontana said. “We need to make sure that we’re still protecting this community, but we need to do so in a financially responsible way.”

The village is in the midst of trying to replace the Tupper Lake Volunteer Fire Department’s Unit 165 — a pumper truck that was built in 1995 and was purchased second-hand from the Peru Volunteer Fire Department for $30,000 in 2015. The truck remains in service, but is starting to show signs of deterioration, according to a letter from TLVFD that was presented to the village board on May 19.

On Thursday, Fontana, Shaheen and Fuller were trying to figure out how much money the village could put down at signing, then determine how to finance the remainder and what interest rates the village would likely be facing before taking any possible board action to enter into a purchasing contract.

However, the “fire truck fund” — a specific fund meant to provide a reserve for the future purchases of new fire trucks. That’s when Fontana said the three of them realized the $330,000 number was incorrect, and furthermore, that the truck fund had never been formally established in its own account.

Instead, that money was left as part of the village’s general fund. During that time, they were used for a slew of purposes that, while legitimate expenditures in accordance with the general fund’s purpose, resulted in less money being available for truck purchases — as some of it is currently being used to fund other projects.

Instead of the $330,000, Fontana said there’s currently $193,000 that could be used toward the purchase of a new truck. She added that’s not enough to purchase a new one in a financially responsible way. The E-ONE proposal was for $889,287 — the cheapest of the three proposals that the truck committee recommended, and moving forward with that would result in too much being financed and subject to interest payments over time than would be responsible for the village to subject its taxpayers to.

As a result, the village board will not commit to buying a new truck at this time. Instead, Fontana said the village will look to replace Unit 165 with another second-hand purchase, while taking steps to formally create the restricted fund and continue to add to it.

The difference in fund balances stems from previous withdrawals. The full $330,000 is a figure that would have been the fund’s balance if there were no previous withdrawals since its inception in 2016. But there were — $100,000 for a down payment on TLVFD’s Unit 163 pumper truck in 2017, $45,000 for purchasing a used fire truck for TLVFD’s Santa Clara substation in 2019 from the Keene Volunteer Fire Department and $32,000 or a Jaws of Life unit in 2021.

While those withdrawals add up to $177,000, the truck fund deduction isn’t quite that much, as a portion of Unit 163 was paid for from the sale of the old fire station on High Street, and the town of Santa Clara has been paying $5,000 back per year for the substation truck. They will continue to do so until the full $45,000 has been repaid.

Part of the confusion stems from these appropriations being taken from the general fund, since there was no restricted truck fund. However, since they pertain to trucks and equipment, that’s what brought the current truck fund’s inaccurate o

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Posted: Aug 8, 2025

MD Pumper Returns to Service Nearly 15 Months After Crash

After 453 long days, Engine 481 is officially back in service and ready to serve the Kingsville community, the Kingsville (MD) Volunteer Fire Company said in a Facebook post Wednesday, Aug. 6.

“Today marks a huge milestone as E481 officially returns to service and once again serves the Kingsville community,” the post said.

Here is the rest of the post:

On May 10, 2024, E481, Squad 483, and Medic 485 responded to I-95 South at Mile Marker 68 for a reported medical emergency. Shortly after arriving on scene, both the engine and squad were struck by a vehicle, sustaining significant damage. The impact also resulted in two patients trapped in the striking vehicle.

Kingsville Engine 481 returned to service Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, 15 months after getting hit at an accident scene. (Source: Kingsville VFC)

Without hesitation, Kingsville members immediately began extrication efforts, working alongside surrounding companies to safely remove both patients. Eight of our own were transported to Shock Trauma with minor injuries. Thankfully, all have since recovered and are doing well.

We are extremely grateful that no lives were lost and that our apparatus did what it was built to do—protect those inside. While we were disappointed to lose two frontline units that night, we never lost sight of what matters most: everyone went home.

We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Patriot Fire for the outstanding repair work and to the Baltimore County Fire Department for providing us with a reserve engine during this long process.

The post MD Pumper Returns to Service Nearly 15 Months After Crash appeared first on Read more

Posted: Aug 7, 2025

Third Apparatus Wreck in 24 Days for SC Fire Department

The Columbia-Richland (SC) Fire Department is having a rough few weeks as it was reported Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, that another fire truck was in a collision, wltx.com reported. It is the third wreck in 24 days for the department’s fire apparatus.

The most recent accident happened Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the intersection of Garners Ferry Road and Atlas Road, when a Columbia fire truck, responding to a call, collided with a tractor trailer, the report said.

No one was injured in the crash, according to the report. There was no mention of how much damage the fire truck or the tractor trailer received.

On July 17, a crash between a Columbia-Richland fire truck resulted in the two occupants of the other vehicle being sent to a nearby hospital by EMS. They were sent “just as a precaution to be checked out,” the Columbia-Richland Fire Department said. No one in the fire truck was injured. The rig was not responding to a call at the time of the wreck.

Another collision involving a Columbia-Richland apparatus occurred July 12. In that wreck Columbia resident Carolyn V. Collins was killed when a fire truck collided with her sedan traveling north on Two Notch Road. The fire truck was responding to a call.

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The post Third Apparatus Wreck in 24 Days for SC Fire Department appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Posted: Aug 7, 2025

Darley Named One of Crain’s 2025 Fast 50

ITASCA, IL – August 7, 2025 – Darley, a leading provider of defense, fire, and emergency services equipment, is proud to announce it has been named one of Crain’s 2025 Fast 50 by Crain’s Chicago Business.

This honor recognizes Darley as one of the 50 fastest-growing companies in the Chicago area based on year-over-year revenue growth.

“Darley is deeply honored to be recognized among Crain’s 2025 Fast 50,said Paul Darley, CEO and President of Darley. “This recognition is a testament to the relentless innovation, dedication, and passion of our incredible team and reflects our commitment to growth with purpose and delivering exceptional service to those we serve.”

About Darley: You serve others. We serve you. Darley provides the highest quality pump, technology, and equipment solutions for first responders around the world. With origins in Midwest manufacturing, Darley offers a complete line of unmanned systems, immersive training technology, equipment and pumps. Learn more on our websites: www.darley.com and shop.darley.com.

For more information, please contact:  
Amanda Whitlaw 

Creative & Brand Director 

amandawhitlaw@darley.com

The post Darley Named One of Crain’s 2025 Fast 50 appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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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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