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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: Jul 28, 2025

Officials Say CT FF Died After Piece of Fire Truck Broke Free

Jessica Bravo
Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
(TNS)

Jul. 27—PLAINVILLE — A volunteer firefighter, fatally injured while battling a fire on Maria Road on Sunday morning, is being hailed as a hero who died “answering the call.”

Plainville Firefighter Raymond Moreau, 60, was killed after a piece of fire truck broke free of the apparatus and struck him, Connecticut State Police Trooper Kate Coney said at a news conference late Sunday afternoon.

Coney said the impact caused catastrophic injuries to Moreau’s leg, and he was rushed to the hospital where he died during surgery.

Coney said firefighters had responded to Maria Road at 6:20 a.m. Sunday for a report of a fire. She said multiple units arrived at the scene and Moreau was one of those responders outside the structure when the incident happened.

Coney, speaking in front of a room of Moreau’s fellow firefighters, some of whom become emotional during the event, said he was a 35-year veteran of the fire department, having started there in July 1990.

“Ray has volunteered tens of thousands of hours to the community,” Coney said. “In addition to his service to the Plainville community, Ray was a loving husband and veteran of the United States Marine Corp. Firefighter Moreau was a consummate professional, dedicated servant, and will be missed dearly by his friends, family, and community.”

Coney said Connecticut State Police’s Central District Major Crime Unit is the primary investigating agency, adding they will be supported by the Connecticut State Police Fire Explosion Investigation Unit and the Collision Analyst and Reconstruction Squad.

“We are collaborating with OSHA and the State Attorney Christian Watson at New Britain Superior Court for this investigation,” she said, adding the investigation is still very much in its infancy.

The Plainville Fire Department said in a Facebook post to “please keep the family in your thoughts and we thank you all for the outpouring of support during our difficult time.”

Ronnell Higgins, the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, said Moreau’s death “cuts like a knife.”

“This isn’t a job or a hobby,” Higgins said. “Being a volunteer firefighter, it is a calling — and Ray answered the call.”

Plainville Town Manager Michael Paulhus said Moreau gave countless hours to the community and was a good person, calling him a “fallen hero.”

“This is a tremendous loss for the community,” he said.

Gov. Ned Lamont in a news release directed all state and U.S. flags lowered to half-staff effective immediately until sunset on the date of interment, which has not yet been determined.

“It is with extreme sadness today that we mourn the life of Plainville Firefighter Raymond Moreau, who selflessly put his life on the line to serve and protect his community,” Lamont said in the release.

In a post on X, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said his heart breaks at the tragic loss of Moreau, adding “a courageous, committed life cut short.”

“Firefighter Mor

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Posted: Jul 28, 2025

Recent Fire Apparatus Orders: July 2025

ARKANSAS

MIDWEST FIRE—Brookland Fire Protection District pumper-tanker. Freightliner 108SD cab and chassis; Cummins L9 400-hp engine; Darley PSP 1,500-gpm pump; APR polypropylene 1,800-gallon water tank; Storz 5-inch direct tank fill; Newton swivel dump valve; All-Poly™ construction; “Sweep Out” style compartments. Sold by Scott Boll, Midwest Fire, Luverne, MN. Delivery in December 2026.

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CALIFORNIA

DANKO—Happy Valley Fire Department, Anderson, two quick-attack units. Ford F-550 crew cabs and chassis; Power Stroke 6.7L 4V OHV V8 400-hp engines; Darley 2-1/2 AGE 24K Kubota 24HP 275-gpm @ 75-psi pumps; UPF Poly 400-gallon water tanks; 12-gallon foam cells; Scotty 4171 single-agent foam systems. Sold by Fire Apparatus Solutions, Rialto, CA. Delivery in May 2026.

FLORIDA

SVI TRUCKS—Deltona Fire Department rescue-pumper. Sutphen Monarch with 20-inch raised roof and four-door cab and chassis; Cummins X10 HHD 450-hp engine; Hale Qmax XS 1,500-gpm pump; 500-gallon polypropylene water tank; in-cab custom EMS storage cabinet; pneumatic hosebed cover. Sold by Mark Oakes, South Florida Emergency Vehicles, Fort Myers, FL. Delivery in September 2026.

SUTPHEN—Winter Haven Fire Department two pumpers. Monarch cabs and chassis with 10-inch raised roofs; Cummins L9 450-hp engines; Hale Qmax 1,500-gpm pumps; 1,000-gallon polypropylene water tanks; G9 bodies with hatch compartments; Spectra scene lights; Whelen warning lights. Sold by Guy Lombardo, South Florida Emergency Vehicles, Fort Myers, FL. Delivery in December 2025.

ILLINOIS

PIERCE—Freeport Fire Department PUC pumper. Enforcer cab and chassis; Cummins X10 450-hp engine; Pierce PUC-NG 1,500-gpm pump; UPF Poly 750-gallon water tank; 30-gallon foam cell; Pierce Husky 3 Class A foam system; Will-Burt Chief NS2.3-300 WHL light tower; Duo-Safety ground ladders; Harrison 3.6-kW generator. Sold by Dan Rudnicki, MacQueen Emergency, Aurora, IL. Delivery in January 2029.

PIERCE—Pilot Township Fire Protection District, Herscher, pumper-tanker. Kenworth T880 cab and chassis; Paccar MX13 510-hp engine; Waterous CXPA 1,250-gpm pump; UPF Poly 3,000-gallon water tank; Duo-Safety ground ladders. Sold by Larry Graves, MacQueen Emergency, Aurora, IL. Delivery in August 2027.

ROSENBAUER—Northwest Homer Fire Protection District, Lockport, mini pumper. Ford F-550 four-door cab and chassis; Ford 6.7L 330-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,250-gpm pump; Pro Poly 300-gallon polypropylene water tank; Rosenbauer FX 1⁄8-inch aluminum body; HiViz emergency lighting; Akron 3433 monitor. Sold by Bill Schrieber, Sentinel Emergency Solutions, St. Louis, MO. Delivery in April 202

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Posted: Jul 28, 2025

Montana Truck Works Keeps Dire Departments Rolling

Jack Underhill
Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell, Mont.
(TNS)

Jul. 27—After retiring from the Kalispell Fire Department over a decade ago, KC Cox continues to serve not just the Flathead Valley’s fire departments, but fire crews across the West.

Cox owns Montana Truck Works LLC, an Evergreen-based company specializing in fire truck and emergency vehicle repair.

“I jokingly tell people I am 911 for 911. When chiefs have a bad day because their stuff’s not working, they call me,” Cox said.

Montana Truck Works serves Flathead Valley’s various firefighting agencies daily as well as apparatuses owned by state and federal agencies like Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service.

Montana Truck Works’ resume includes servicing fire engines, ladder trucks, brush trucks, tenders, command vehicles and special rescue trucks, and even a hovercraft at one point.

“If it says ‘fire’ on it, it usually finds its way here,” Cox said. The company also services ambulances and police cars.

Montana Truck Works holds 20 to 30 vehicles at a time, with the garage able to house up to eight vehicles. The company also buys old trucks, refurbishes them, and sells them to other fire departments.

Cox started the business in November 2015 after a back injury forced him to retire as a firefighter paramedic at the Kalispell Fire Department.

“I planned on retiring out of Kalispell, but not that soon,” he said.

Before graduating from high school, Cox got his start fighting fires in Yakima, Washington. Surrounded by mechanics growing up, Cox would also pick up technician skills here and there.

“[The fire department] would pull me off shift to go help in the shop and do work on that kind of stuff, like trucks and ambulances,” Cox said.

But after having to leave firefighting behind, Cox found a way to continue serving fire crews in a new capacity. “There’s a lot of gratification,” he said about his work.

Breaking through in such a niche business took years of attaining the specific certifications to operate on such complex and robust vehicles. Fire trucks are the most complicated vehicles on the road, he says.

“I’ve been all over the country working on fire trucks. I’m one of the six people in the world that have all certifications,” Cox said. “To my knowledge I am the only master [Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting] mechanic in the state of Montana.”

Cox isn’t wielding the wrench as much as he used to. The years of firefighting and hands-on work put a toll on his body.

Nowadays, he finds himself teaching and training employees and conversing with fire chiefs.

“Same thing as a firefighter. I run around and put out fires,” Cox laughed.

Cox’s team of 12 staff members has a combined 150 years of mechanical experience, many of them firefighters as well. He hopes to hire new staff to eventually open up a second shop elsewhere after relocating to a bigger space just last June.

“I figured I would fill this place up in five years, I’ve already outgrown this place. The growth is explosive,” he said.

When trucks can’t be brought to the shop, Montana Truck Works also offers on-the-road assistance through two service trucks that go to the fire departments.

Also skilled in fleet management, Cox works with fire chiefs on how they can get the best bang for their buck.

He recalled saving the Big Sky Fire Department millions of dollars. The department was eyeing a new ladder truck for $1.7 million that wouldn’t be

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Posted: Jul 27, 2025

Seven People Taken to Hospital After Fire Apparatus Collision in Wilkinsburg (PA)

Haley Daugherty
The Tribune-Review, Greensburg
(TNS)

Jul. 26—Several people were taken to the hospital after a collision between a vehicle and a fire engine in Wilkinsburg on Saturday morning.

According to Pittsburgh Public Safety, the crash occurred at the intersection of Graham Boulevard and William Penn Highway around 10:30 a.m.

The fire truck was responding to an emergency call in Wilkinsburg when the incident occurred, officials said.

Officials said four firefighters from Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Engine 19 were taken from to the hospital in stable condition and three people from the vehicle also were transported.

Haley Daugherty is a TribLive reporter covering local politics, feature stories and Allegheny County news. A native of Pittsburgh, she lived in Alabama for six years. She joined the Trib in 2022 after graduating from Chatham University. She can be reached at hdaugherty@triblive.com.

© 2025 The Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.). Visit www.triblive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The post Seven People Taken to Hospital After Fire Apparatus Collision in Wilkinsburg (PA) 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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