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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: Sep 14, 2017

MagneGrip Exhaust Removal Systems Installed for Connersville (IN) Fire Department

Magnegrip exhaust removal system in Indiana fire house

The Connersville (IN) Fire Department had an old, no longer effective exhaust removal system that needed to be replaced. In addition, the fire stations have low ceilings and tight aisles between apparatus. These situations are ideally suited to MagneGrip Sliding Flexhose Track (SFT) System that features less hanging hose.

Using a grant from Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), three stations were outfitted with the Sliding Flexhose Track (SFT) System, the compact-system designed for firehouses with back-in bays, low ceilings, and narrow spaces. The patented, 100-percent sealed system includes an ambient air intake for cooler operation.

“The SFT System is great because the hose gets out of the way,” Battalion Chief Tim McFarland said. “The hoses in other systems would knock things over and interfere with our runs.”

Before the MagneGrip installation, the air quality was poor; fumes hung in the air and soot covered the walls of the firehouses. “The health of our firefighters is critical to us,“ McFarland continued. “With living quarters upstairs and firefighters working 24-on/48-off we needed a system to reduce the risk of breathing contaminants. The air quality is a 100-percent improvement from before. We can feel the difference.”

About the installation process, McFarland added, “The MagneGrip team is top-notch. They are very knowledgeable and there was no question they couldn’t answer. The workers cared about what they were doing and worked together well during installation. It was a pleasure to work with them.”

MagneGrip Exhaust Removal Systems remove diesel exhaust emissions in firehouses to reduce firefighter risk for cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The patented magnetic nozzle provides an airtight seal and is 100-percent effective in removing exhaust emissions. Systems have wireless auto-start activation. MagneGrip’s 1,000° F rated hose is now standard equipment.

MagneGrip Group also manufactures AirHAWK Air Purification Systems with ceiling-mounted air filtration units positioned to remove hazardous airborne contaminants.

MagneGrip Group offers a free Grant Assistance program through FireGrantsHelp.com. Grant experts provide personalized assistance until a grant is found. The program includes local, state, and national grant alerts, online grant-writing training, narrative review, and optional grant writing at 50-percent discount.

For information, call 800-875-5440 or visit www.magnegrip.com.

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Posted: Sep 14, 2017

Bullhead City (AZ) Fire Department Opts for Refurbished Engine

BULLHEAD CITY - The Bullhead City Fire Department simply does not have the latter option, when it comes to fire engines. But with the cost of a new engine at about $600,000 and the fund from which such apparatus would be paid for looking meager, department leaders had to search for another way to meet that need.
The Mohave Daily News reported on the fire apparatus situation for Bullhead City (AZ) firefighters.

With the cost of a new engine at about $600,000 and the fund from which such apparatus would be paid for looking meager, department leaders opted to have a pumper truck, Engine 711, refurbished by Firetrucks Unlimited of Henderson, Nevada, according to the report.

The fire pump was replaced; the drivetrain components were rebuilt by their manufacturers, Detroit Diesel (engine) and Allison Transmission; and the interior cabin was upgraded and lighting on the truck replaced with LEDs.
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Posted: Sep 14, 2017

Odessa (TX) Unveils New Fire Trucks

The Odessa Fire and Rescue Department is getting a whole new equipment base with new firetrucks. We're told the trucks come with new pumps along with increased safety features for the firefighters.
The city of Odessa (TX) is expecting new apparatus for its firefighters by October 1.

Interim Fire Chief John Alvarez told KWES: “We’re just trying to change it up a little bit and give the community something they could be proud of because the tax payers are ultimately responsible for it.”

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Posted: Sep 13, 2017

Antarctica Looking for a Few Good Firefighters

So how do you fight fires in Antarctica, the coldest, driest, and windiest place on Earth? Despite the temperatures, Fleurette says they still use water pumped through hoses. The key is to keep the water constantly moving inside the pumper truck so it doesn’t freeze. They also don't turn the water on until they are ready to spray the fire; any liquid left inside the hose will freeze in just a few minutes. The custom Antarctic fire trucks come with stainless steel valves. That's because the reverse osmosis process that turns seawater into water for the base also leaches minerals from other types of metal pipes, Fleurette says.
Out at the McMurdo ice runway, firefighters stand by for every incoming flight with special deicing foam made with ethylene glycol and "purple K" or potassium bicarbonate--that are smother engine fires or dripping oil. Firefighters use similar sprays and foams up north, but these variants used at McMurdo are rated for 40 degrees below zero.

Firefighters also have to be dressed and ready to work in any condition, Fleurette says. "Wind is king," he says. "When we are approaching an emergency we prepare for some serious constant winds." Frostbite is a constant threat, even in sunny weather. That's because of the adiabatic winds that can blow for days at a time from the South Pole toward McMurdo, creating perfect conditions to whip up flames.

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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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