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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 29, 2017

St. Tammany (LA) Fire Apparatus Flips in Single-Vehicle Accident

A St. Tammany Fire Protection District 7 engine was involved in a single-vehicle rollover accident Monday night (Aug. 28) in Talisheek. The engine rolled over several times and came to rest upside down in the front yard of a residence, the fire district said in a news release.
The lone occupant, a 30-year-old driver/operator who was not identified, was able to get out of the vehicle without assistance and was not injured. The vehicle was not responding to an emergency when the accident occurred, according to the news release.

The engine was in the northbound lane of Louisiana 435 near Bob Levy Road near the eastern edge of St. Tammany parish when it ran off the road and rolled over several times at around 8:30 p.m. The accident is under investigation by the fire district and the Louisiana State Police.

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Posted: Aug 29, 2017

Thousands More Needed to Restore Blackman Township (MI) Fire Apparatus

For 40 years, Blackman Township's 1946 Chevrolet fire truck sat in storage in Onsted. And the truck likely will sit for another year before being shown off at local parades and events, as fundraising continues.
The truck was purchased for $7,700 by Mike Jester, Blackman-Leoni Township Department of Public Safety director, and David Elwell, former township police officer and firefighter and current Jackson County commissioner and Columbia Township Police chief.

Because buying and restoring the township's former pumper truck wasn't an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars, public donations have been sought to reimburse Jester and Elwell and handle restoration costs. The truck is the property of Blackman Township.

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Posted: Aug 29, 2017

Ashland (OR) Fire Apparatus a Legend

Old fire trucks hate to die. The big old things have a lot of romance and memories attached to them - and have helped save many a home and life. Ashland's long-abandoned 1946 Ford fire truck is no exception.
Among its legends is that it fell into Ashland Creek during the big flood of 1948 when the bridge it was on collapsed, but its red warning light continued burning for hours, earning it the nickname of “the amphibious fire engine.”

The rugged but worn-looking beast, bristling with chrome handholds so fire fighters could just jump on bumpers and running boards and go for it, served Ashland for three decades and was auctioned off about 1976, says Ben Truwe, a member of the Southern Oregon Historical Society Board of Trustees.

The 1-1/2 ton fire truck, powered by a Ford flathead V-8 engine, was last used for a 1992 wedding in Jacksonville. It passed through many hands and was put out to pasture for 10 years in Shady Cove, where it seriously degenerated.

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Posted: Aug 29, 2017

Verizon to Build Dedicated Network Core for Public Safety

Verizon recently announced that it will make substantial investments in new network capabilities, as well as expanded products and services, to enhance theirindustry-leading 4G LTE network for public safety.

Verizon is responding to requests from public safety agencies and will:

  • Build and operate their own private network core dedicated to public safety communications. The network core manages and directs all communications functions, like network access and call routing. The dedicated public safety core will operate separately from Verizon's commercial core and provide first responders with access to the company’s 2.4 million square mile 4G LTE network.
  • Make priority access and preemption services available to public safety when necessary and at no charge.
  • Invest in new mission-critical 4G LTE voice communications to complement existing services such as Push-to-Talk Plus. PTT Plus already includes interoperability with existing Land Mobile Radio networks.

“We’re making an investment in the public safety officials that keep our cities, communities and neighbors safe,” said John Stratton, Verizon executive vice president and president of global operations. “Support for public safety is in our company’s DNA and our commitment to them never waivers.”

Verizon’s public safety network solution does not require that states opt-out of FirstNet, does not require access to any federal funding provided to FirstNet, and does not require any financial commitment from states to support network deployment. The creation of this dedicated public safety network core will be fully funded by Verizon. The company will also make available multi-band devices that will provide access to Band 14 spectrum and enable full interoperability with any Band 14 radio access networks (RANs) deployed by FirstNet.

“We’re making the investments necessary to give public safety access to the best possible network coverage, reliability and capability, when and where they need it,” said Michael Maiorana, senior vice president, Public Sector for Verizon. “Our public safety network will provide a comprehensive and cost-effective solution for public safety, and we’ll continue working to offer first responders the network reliability and access to innovative services they need to keep our communities safe.”

For more information about Verizon’s support of public safety, visit http://www.verizonenterprise.com/industry/public_sector/public_safety/.

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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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