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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: Jan 18, 2023

Ghana International Airports Receive Two Oshkosh Striker 6×6 ARFF Vehicles

APPLETON, WIS. (January 18, 2023) – Oshkosh Airport Products, a division of Pierce Manufacturing Inc., and a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK), announced Ghana Airports Company Limited has taken delivery of two Oshkosh® Airport Products Striker® 6×6 ARFF vehicles. The vehicles will support emergency operations at two of the region’s largest airfields, including Kumasi International Airport and Tamale International Airport, which serve over 600,000 travelers annually. Adding to a full Oshkosh Airport Products fleet, the new ARFF vehicles were delivered in 2022 and offer enhanced features and fleet continuity for ease of operation and efficiency.

“What makes the new Striker ARFF vehicles for Ghana Airports Company’s Kumasi and Tamale International Airports unique is the incredible water, foam, and dry chemical capacities,” said Salim Hawi, Vice President of international sales for Oshkosh Airport Products.

Features of Ghana’s Striker 6×6 ARFF vehicles:

  • Deutz 500 Kw (670 BHP) Tier 3 engine
  • Water capacity: 12,500 liters (3,302 gallons)
  • Foam capacity: 1,750 liters (460 gallons)
  • Dry chemical capacity: 250 kg (550 pounds)
  • Roof turret: High flow–minimum of 6,000 lpm (1,585 gpm) and low flow of 3,000 lpm (792 gpm)
  • Bumper turret: Low flow rate of 2,365 lpm (625 gpm) and high flow of 4,731 lpm (1,250 gpm)

Hawi added, “We are confident the new apparatus will meet Ghana’s international airports’ performance expectations for many years to come. We look forward to continuing to build on the long-standing relationship to provide this dedicated team of emergency responders with dependable apparatus and dedicated training and service support.”

Ghana is a country in West Africa, situated on the coast of the Gulf of New Guinea. The Ghana Airports Company is comprised of six airports: Kotoka International Airport, Kumasi International Airport, Tamale International Airport, Sunyani Airport, Wa Airport, and Ho Airport. The company manages and maintains all airports and airfields in Ghana and is an implementing agency under the Ministry of Transport.

To learn more about Oshkosh Airport Products and Ghana International Airports’ new Striker 6×6 ARFF vehicles, visit www.oshkoshairport.com.

About Oshkosh Airport Products
Oshkosh Airport Products, a division of Pierce Manufacturing Inc., a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), is a designer and builder of industry-leading airport firefighting vehicles. Its flagship Striker® Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles are known for their durability and superior performance and sol

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Posted: Jan 18, 2023

Calgary (Canada) Fire Department Gets $4.2M for Vehicles, Equipment for Underground Tunnel Emergencies

Construction hasn’t begun on the Green Line LRT tunnel under downtown but the Calgary Fire Department is already preparing for future emergencies, cbc.ca reported.

In last November’s budget debate, city council approved $4.2 million for the fire department to acquire vehicles and equipment that its crews would need to tackle any incidents during Green Line construction, the report said.

Calgary has several existing LRT tunnels. But a fire official said none of them are as long or as deep underground as the downtown tunnel that’s planned for the Green Line, according to the report.

The two-kilometre long tunnel will run from Victoria Park to Eau Claire under the city’s downtown and feature four stations below the surface, the report said.

Fire crews must be ready not only for the construction phase but also any incidents once the LRT line is operational, a fire official said.

The fire department wants to acquire specialized equipment, including a road-rail vehicle. That’s a type of truck which has both rubber wheels and rail wheels so it can be used to carry firefighting equipment into a tunnel, the report said.

Crews will need to prepare in the event of any communications challenges underground. The department will invest in training so crews are ready to go underground in the event of any incidents, according to the report.

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Posted: Jan 18, 2023

REV Fire Group Partners with Daytona International Speedway in Providing Custom Pumpers and All-Electric Vector Fire Truck

OCALA, FL – Jan. 18, 2023 – REV Fire Group, which includes REV GroupInc. manufacturers of E-ONE®, KME®, Ferrara, Spartan Fire Chassis, Spartan Emergency Response®, Smeal, and Ladder Towerfire apparatus brands, is proud to announce its all-electric Vector fire truck is one of four REV Fire pumpers that will be part of the firefighting fleet used at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) in 2023. The exclusive partnership is now in its second year.

The zero emission and zero greenhouse gas Vector fire apparatus aligns with Daytona International Speedway sustainability initiatives, including a project to plant more than 100 trees within view of the track’s grandstands in April 2022. Similar initiatives championed by NASCAR and its partners include a blended biofuel, in-venue recycling efforts, and the recycling of racing oils and race-used tires.

“We are excited to provide the all-electric Vector for our Florida neighbor, Daytona International Speedway, to protect its employees, NASCAR drivers and the many fans and spectators who attend “The Great American Race” and other events,” said Mike Virnig, Vice President of the REV Fire Group, which is headquartered in Ocala, Fla. “Vector also protects the environment, making this a perfect collaboration with DIS and NASCAR and their many green initiatives designed to reduce the track and sport’s carbon footprint and promote sustainability.”

With its 327 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of proven automotive-grade batteries, the Vectordelivers the longest electric pumping duration in the fire industry, accomplishing all driving and pumping tasks exclusively on electrically generated power. The design also features low battery cell placement, offering a safer, lower center of gravity for enhanced stability while operating at the Speedway.

Vector and the other REV Fire apparatus will be used at the Daytona 500, the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Coke Zero Sugar 400. 

This past December Daytona International Speedway hosted a two-day test session for the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class, new hybrid-powered race cars set to debut in the Rolex 24 At Daytona which kicks off the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on Jan. 28-29.

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About REV Group, Inc.

REV Group companies are leading designers and manufacturers of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts and services, which serve a diversified customer base, primarily in the United States, through three segments: Fire & Emergency, Commercial, and Recreation. They provide customized vehicle solutions for applications, including essential needs for public services (ambulances, fire apparatus, school buses, and transit buses), commercial infrastructure (terminal trucks and industrial sweepers), and consume

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Posted: Jan 18, 2023

Owensboro (KY) Approves $35M Bond for Projects, Including New Fire Training Center

James Mayse
Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.
(TNS)

Jan. 18—Owensboro city commissioners are moving ahead with several major projects, including construction of a fire training center and a downtown indoor sports complex.

Tuesday night, commissioners approved bonds to finance construction of the complex. In December, city officials approved purchasing two lots in the 500 block of West Fifth Street and the 500 block of West Fourth Street to build an 88,000-square-foot sportsplex.

The $35.350 million bond ordinance also includes funds for construction of a fire training center, renovation and redesign of Fire Station 3 and new light poles at Jack C. Fisher Park. The bond also includes $3 million for design work and to accommodate for possible increases in construction costs.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the bonds.

“We are very excited” about the sports complex, Mayor Tom Watson said after Tuesday’s meeting. “It makes us competitive with other communities.”

Officials said previously the sportsplex will be open during the week for use by city residents. On weekends, the goal is to book the sportsplex with tournaments that will bring visitors to town.

A consultant who has worked on multiple similar facilities told commissioners in July a “sportsplex” would generate about $1.3 million a year in hotel room rentals and $3.1 million annually in other sales, if the facility was booked for tournaments 50% of weekends.

Watson said Owensboro will have a competitive advantage in attracting tournaments compared to other cities with indoor sports complexes.

“Our community is so much better than other communities to be in,” Watson said.

Commissioner Pam Smith-Wright, who was elected after discussions about the various projects had taken place, said she supports the OFD fire training center and the renovations to Fire Station 3.

“We need that fire department stuff, so that’s how I voted,” Smith-Wright said.

The property selected for the sportsplex is valuable in helping develop downtown, Smith-Wright said.

“We need that piece of property where the sportsplex will be. That’s a vital piece of property downtown,” she said. “If it’s a sportsplex (on the site), so be it.”

Commissioner Larry Maglinger said the sportsplex could be an asset, but noted the Owensboro Convention Center is already attracting sports tournaments with its sports floors.

“I hope that (the sportsplex) will produce over 12,000 room nights like the consultant says,” Maglinger said. “That’s a lot of room nights and a lot of tournaments.”

Maglinger said he supported funding the OFD projects and replacing the light poles at Fisher Park.

“The way it was packaged, you have to vote for them all,” Maglinger said.

Mayor Pro Tem Mark Castlen said of the bonds, “I feel a little more comfortable since it has been trimmed down a little bit.”

Plans to build a transient boat dock on the riverfront were removed from the bond ordinance, after the previous commission, which ended in December, didn’t have the votes to approve the bonds with the boat dock project included.

“The consensus from our constituents is they wanted the sportsplex,” Castlen said. “I’m looking forward to getting it up and running and working with the convention center to fill (hotel) beds and restaurants.”

Castlen said the sportsplex and convention center could work together to bring large indoor tournaments to town.

“It’s going to be a couple years, but seeing the progress m

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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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