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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: Oct 4, 2025

MD Deputy Fire Chief Suspended, Charged with Intentionally Flooding Baseball Field

Brendan Nordstrom
Baltimore Sun
(TNS)

The deputy chief of Reese & Community Volunteer Fire Company in Westminster has been “operationally suspended” after a July incident in Montgomery County that led to criminal charges against him, Chief Michael Robinson of the Carroll County Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services confirmed Thursday.

Alan Barnes, 44, has been charged with intentionally flooding a Silver Spring baseball field along with another firefighter while Barnes was acting in his role as a Montgomery County master firefighter. Police said the two flooded the field in retaliation for a baseball hitting fire department property, according to charging documents.

“The suspension is consistent with his current employment status within Montgomery County Fire & Rescue,” Robinson wrote to The Carroll County Times, adding that he conducted a briefing with the volunteer fire company in Westminster and the company supported his actions.

Barnes can be reinstated to his position with Carroll County after the case is resolved and he is reinstated by Montgomery County, Robinson wrote.

The Reese Volunteer Fire Co. said in an email that they were aware of the situation and declined to comment further due to the sensitivity of the situation.

Barnes and Fire Capt. Christopher Reilly are charged with malicious destruction of property over $1,000, conspiracy and disorderly conduct in connection to the July 17 incident.

Richard Finci, a lawyer representing Barnes in the case, said his client simply parked the fire truck while Reilly sprayed the water. He said Barnes went back to the station and came back out to find Reilly spraying the field —a claim that contradicts the charging documents.

Charging documents state that a video from the Montgomery County Fire Department shows Barnes reversing the fire truck into the parking lot and removing the hose. Reilly then aimed the hose toward the baseball field before Barnes appeared to hook the hose up to an object believed to be a fire hydrant. Reilly activated the hose while Barnes stood beside the truck.

The firefighters allegedly sprayed gallons of water into the outfield at 5:35 p.m., rendering the field unplayable for the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League game scheduled for 7 p.m. that night. The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts were forced to cancel the game due to a “pond in center,” according to a social media post from the team.

In the charging documents, Thunderbolts founder Richard O’Connor told police: “We lost substantial income due to the cancellation of the game and the disruption to our end-of-season league schedule.” The charging documents say patrons who purchased tickets for the game received refunds.

When reached by The Carroll County Times, O’Connor declined to comment due to the pending charges.

The firefighters sprayed the water for about three minutes before O’Connor and a Thunderbolts coach approached them. Reilly then admitted to flooding the field and told O’Connor he did it “to get your attention,” according to charging documents.

The incident follows a yearslong plea by O’Connor for raised nets on the field after balls repeatedly hit fire department property, which is located beyond the left field fence, Finci said.

Reilly admitted to the flooding and said he was driven by frustration, according to charging documents.

Barnes is slated for trial on Nov. four in Montgomery County District Court.

“My client is a family man and he is a volunteer firefighter in his home community,” Finci said. “This is a professional first responder.”

Have a news tip? Contact Brendan Nordstrom&nb

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Posted: Oct 3, 2025

Wristband Technology Wakes Up MO FFs Without the Jolt

Firefighters in Blue Springs are testing a new device designed to make middle-of-the-night emergency calls less stressful on their bodies.

The Ease Alert band vibrates on firefighters’ wrists to wake them for calls, replacing loud alarms and bright lights, KCTV reports.

Experts say the technology helps reduce the sudden cardiovascular strain that can put firefighters at higher risk for heart attacks.

Visit KCTV for more.

The post Wristband Technology Wakes Up MO FFs Without the Jolt appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Posted: Oct 3, 2025

1931 Ahrens-Fox Pumper Responds to a Second Call 83 Years Later

On April 13, 1942, Kewanee, Illinois, a city of 16,000, suffered a disastrous fire in its downtown area. Three business blocks were ablaze.

The Kewanee Fire Department reached out to 11 area fire departments for firefighting assistance. The Peoria (IL) Fire Department, one of the responding fire companies, sent a 1931 Ahrens-Fox 1,000-gallon-per-minute piston pumper and a crew of four to aid in the battle. When all the flames were extinguished, 20 buildings with 50 businesses were destroyed. The loss totaled $3 million ($60 million today).

A banner in downtown Kewanee. (Photo by Ron Heal)

Fast forward to Labor Day weekend 2025 and the Kewanee Hog Capital of the World Festival Parade. In the fall of 2024, Mark Mikenas, executive director of the Kewanee Illinois Chamber of Commerce, contacted me to arrange to have a fire truck in the 2025 parade. That parade would mark 50 years since the Chamber’s Ambassador Club had taken on running the annual parade to assist the Hog Capital Committee. For several years, the Ambassadors would use my 1931 International-Boyer pumper as their parade entry. Ambassadors would also travel to nearby parades to encourage participation in the Kewanee parade.

Coming up with a fire truck was not a problem as I am involved in the Wheels O’ Time Museum in Peoria. The museum has several pieces of fire apparatus on display, including a 1968 Pirsch pumper that is its parade rig. For sure, there would be a fire truck for the 2025 parade. As the museum started operations this spring, it was time to make formal arrangements to reserve a truck for the Kewanee event. Two rigs were offered: the 1968 Pirsch that was capable of driving the 50 miles to Kewanee or the 1931 Ahrens-Fox that would have to be trailered. The costs involved to trailer the Ahrens-Fox suggested the parade-ready Pirsch would be the best fit.

The 1931 Ahrens-Fox pumper at the 2025 Kewanee Hog Capital of the World Festival Parade. (Photo by Ron Heal)
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Posted: Oct 3, 2025

Terre Haute (IN) FD Adds Fourth Ambulance to Fleet

David Kronke
The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
(TNS)

As Terre Haute Fire Department Chief Darrick Scott was thanking the city for providing the department with a new fourth ambulance on Wednesday, another city ambulance raced by Fire Station 9, its siren blaring.

Scott drolly noted that the EMS vehicle’s propitious timing underscored the need of the ambulance fleet.

The fourth ambulance, which nonetheless goes by the name MEDIC 5, was introduced and placed into service Wednesday at Station 9, 561 W. Margaret Ave., after a news conference.

Mayor Brandon Sakbun noted that the city has had only three ambulances over the past 34 years, a 28% jump in run calls in the past five years.

Deputy Chief of EMS Operations for the Terre Haute Fire Department Diana Luther said, “This investment is not just in equipment — it’s an investment in our people. It means our paramedics and EMTs will have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively, without being overextended.”

She promised the citizens of Terre Haute, “When you or your loved ones face an emergency, our EMS professionals will be there — faster, stronger and better equipped than ever before.”

After the press conference, Luther said, “This has been a long time coming. Our run volume has continued to increase over the last 30 years, but most definitely in the last five years, with a 4,000-run increase over the last five years. We’ve had the same amount of ambulances for 30 years. This is a huge asset.”

She added, “It’s going to decrease the run volume between our crews, splitting it up from three crews to four crews. Some of our ambulances were running 15, 16 runs a day. Hopefully, this takes it down to a more manageable number.

Luther continued, “Some of these runs take roughly an hour at a time to complete, and if they’re doing 15 or 16 runs a day, they are exhausted. This hopefully will keep them sharper and be able to provide a great service to our community.”

The new ambulance cost approximately $400,000 and was paid for with funds collected from those who have used EMS services. It joins the other three ambulances, which are dispersed throughout the city.

“Originally, with MEDIC 7, 8 and 9, they were at the outskirts of town so that everybody would have to come in,” Luther said. “With MEDIC 5, we decided to bring it [to Station 9 on Margaret Avenue] because it’s closer to 3rd Street or coming up on 63, but ideally it would be downtown, so it could disperse across [town].”

Though adding a fourth ambulance should have been done sooner, Luther is glad it has finally been accomplished.

“It’s a fantastic feeling to know that we are able to fund a fourth ambulance and help the community,” she said.

© 2025 The Tribune-Star (Terre Haute, Ind.). Visit tribstar.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The post Terre Haute (IN) FD Adds Fourth Ambulance to Fleet 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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