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: Oct 2, 2024

Jacksonville (FL) Fire and Rescue Tests New Hybrid Fire Truck

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department tested a new diesel-electric hybrid fire truck recently that could be added to its fleet, news4jax.com reported.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said the city is working toward electrifying the city’s fleet. It is part of the city’s climate action plan, which also includes first responders getting the best equipment, being healthier all while also saving the city money, the report said.

The new diesel-electric hybrid truck is from Oshkosh Airport Products in Wisconsin. Both the mayor and Fire Chief Keith Powers said it could save money and help the environment.

“Council President White, Mayor Donna Deegan, and Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department Chief Powers demoed an exciting new hybrid fire truck today,” the city said on Facebook. “This new vehicle will support our firefighters, preserve our environment, and save taxpayer dollars.”

Powers said the department is still in the testing phase for the hybrid truck. The negotiations have not started.

Submit Video, Audio, and Articles HERE

Read more
Posted: Oct 2, 2024

New Baltimore (MI) City Council Seeking Options for Fire Station, City Hall

Katelyn Larese
Voice News, New Baltimore, Mich.
(TNS)

Oct. 1—New Baltimore officials are considering future possibilities for the city’s fire station and municipal building on Green Street.

The city council voted on Sept. 23 to move forward with an evaluation of the building that could potentially lead to future renovations or a new facility. The study will be completed by Partners in Architecture PLC in the amount of $36,400.

“The current fire station and city hall building was constructed over 50 years ago,” said John Monte, president of Project Control Engineering Inc., in a Sept. 5 letter to Mayor Tom Semaan. “Since that time, both the city administrative staff and fire department have outgrown the facilities. The building lacks ADA accessibility and needs upgrades and/or expansion.”

Needs for the building have been a topic of discussion among city officials for several years.

“We have a plan from 2007 that has that this building is outdated and it doesn’t fit the standards from 2007,” council member Jason Harvey said, at the recent meeting.

“This problem was addressed 17 years ago and we didn’t do anything about it then. … Now, this building is — I mean, there’s so many problems we don’t know where to start,” he added.

A committee was formed to help evaluate the fire department needs for building repairs and possible expansion, according to Monte’s letter.

“We were quickly made aware of some current code violations, safety hazards, ADA compliance issues, gender accommodation requirements and facility shortfalls,” he wrote.

The committee recommended city council approval of the proposal from Partners in Architecture at a workshop meeting on Aug. 3. The firm will conduct a site and building analysis, evaluate needs and space requirements for both the fire department and city administration, develop design options and provide cost estimates.

“This information will be beneficial for making an informed decision on how to proceed with future facilities,” Monte said.

Prior to the council’s vote, members discussed how a future project would be funded.

“Everyone’s going to be excited about the new fire hall and the new city hall … and we have no funding that I know of to do it,” council member David Duffy said. “So I think we need to have a discussion.”

Funding options could potentially include a bond or millage, officials said.

“That is going to have to become a vote of the residents because no way are we empowered to approve that kind of debt on the backs of the residents,” Semaan said. “It has to go before the residents. It’s just a matter of how.”

Harvey stressed the need to take action on the building.

“I don’t want to spend the money either, but when you have a building that is not sufficient for the fire department and for your city hall, it’s going to become an issue whether we like it or not,” he said. “So it’s at some point going to have to be addressed, and we can’t wait another 17 years. We’re up here to make the hard decisions. … We have to start somewhere.”

Mayor Pro-Tem Flo Hayman agreed, noting firefighters had resorted to sleeping on recliners in the kitchen, although Semaan said they have beds now.

“This study is urgent,” Hayman said.

In 2021, voters approved a new millage to fund fire department staffing and other operational costs. The millage was estimated to raise roughly $445,000 the first year.

“At that time that would’ve been an amp

Read more
Posted: Oct 2, 2024

Fire Apparatus of the Day: Oct. 2, 2024

FORT GARRY FIRE TRUCKS—Terrace Bay (Ontario, Canada) Fire & Emergency Services rescue-pumper. Freightliner M2 112 cab and chassis; Detroit DD13 450-hp engine; Hale RSD 1,250-gpm pump; 1,200 polypropylene water tank; 30-gallon foam cell; FoamPro 2001 Class A foam system; 5083 salt water marine grade aluminum body, Dealer: Bob Lock, Fort Garry Fire Trucks, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

PREVIOUS PHOTO OF THE DAY >>

MORE FIRE APPARATUS ARTICLES >>

Submit Video, Audio, and Articles HERE

Read more
Posted: Oct 1, 2024

Driver Strikes and Kills Flagger on Route 1 in Orland (ME)

Bill Trotter
Bangor Daily News, Maine
(TNS)

Oct. 1—A vehicle struck and killed a flagger controlling traffic on Route 1 in Orland on Tuesday morning, according to officials.

The Orland Fire Department posted a statement on Facebook offering condolences “to the family, friends and coworkers of the deceased individual, and those who responded and worked the scene.”

A dispatcher with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that the worker was struck, but did not provide any other details. The sheriff’s department did not immediately respond Tuesday morning to a request for comment.

Paul Merrill, spokesperson for Maine Department of Transportation, said Tuesday that a flagger had been struck but that he did not have additional information about what happened. The person struck was a contracted flagger working for Project Flagging, he said.

The company, based in Brunswick, provides traffic control services in Maine and New Hampshire, according to its website. A company official didn’t immediately respond to a request for information.

The company confirmed Tuesday one of its employees died in the accident. It did not release the name of the employee.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our valued employees, who passed away following an incident at the jobsite,” Project Flagging said in a statement. “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to our employee’s family, friends, and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time.”

The highway was closed Tuesday morning for about two and a half hours while sheriff’s deputies and other first responders were on the scene. It was reopened again at around 9:30 a.m., according to the Orland Fire Department.

LifeFlight, which provides emergency helicopter transportation for medical patients, was unavailable to respond, the department said.

Department officials thanked passing motorists who were cooperative with firefighters as they came upon the scene.

“To those who reacted with anger, frustration, various hand gestures or simply tried to proceed through the cones and barricades around us, take a breath,” they posted on Facebook. “Your day will go on despite the slight delay of a detour. Nobody wanted to be doing this today.”

___

(c)2024 the Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine)

Visit the Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine) at www.bangordailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Read more
RSS
First227228229230232234235236Last

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