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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: Apr 5, 2017

Chicago (IL) Fire Department Takes Delivery of New Squads

By Alan M. Petrillo

The Chicago (IL) Fire Department has taken delivery of eight custom rescue squads - four walk-through models and four squads carrying Rosenbauer ACP-55 articulating Cobra platforms.

Three of the ACP-55 equipped rescues and three of the walk-through squads are located in Chicago’s north, central, and south divisions, while one ACP-55 rescue and one walk-through squad are located at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

Chicago Squad Concept

Paul T. Foertsch, district chief for the Bureau of Logistics in the Chicago Fire Department, says the two types of rescue squads respond together on all alarms, never separately. “The ACP-55 squad travels with two special operations firefighters, and the walk-through travels with four,” Foertsch says. “The squads are our elite special operations companies and carry all our heavy rescue equipment. Members are selected through a special interview process and then go through special operations certification.”

1 The Chicago (IL) Fire Department has taken delivery of four Rosenbauer custom walk-through rescue squads and four custom rescue squads outfitted with Rosenbauer’s ACP-55 articulating Cobra platform. (Photos courtesy of Rosenbauer unless otherwise noted.)
1 The Chicago (IL) Fire Department has taken delivery of four Rosenbauer custom walk-through rescue squads and four custom rescue squads outfitted with Rosenbauer’s ACP-55 articulating Cobra platform. (Photos courtesy of Rosenbauer unless otherwise noted.)

Roger Parker, northern regional sales manager for Rosenbauer, says the ACP-55 units on the Chicago rescue squads are the first ones deployed in such a fashion by the company. “The ACP-55 uses a single joystick control with Smart Aerial technology that includes auto bedding, collision avoidance, soft touch ramp up and ramp down, and high- and low-range speeds,” Parker points out. “Diagnostic screens are located in the bucket and at the pedestal.”

Foertsch notes that the Chicago Fire Department has had aerial units on its rescue squads since the 1960s. “The new Rosenbauer ACP-55s are replacing 15-year-old 55-foot Snorkel units,” he says. “The ACP-55 units are a little bit bigger physically than what we had, but we gained more compartment space and platform space on the new ones.”

Parker adds that Chicago’s previous Snorkel rescue squads were built by Central States in 2000, a company that was purchased by Rosenbauer.

2 The Rosenbauer walk-through rescues each seat four firefighters in the cab and allow access to the interior of the rear of the body both from the cabs and through a rear door
2 The Rosenbauer walk-through rescues each seat four firefighters in the cab and allow access to the interior of the rear of the body both from the cabs and through a rear door.

The New Squads

All eight of the rescue squads are built on Rosenbauer’s Commander chassis and EXT body, with the ACP-55 units having flat roofs and the walk-through squads having 18-inch raised roofs. They have a wheelbase of 170 inches, are 29 feet 8 inches long, are 10 feet 7 inches high, are on single rear axles, and are powered by Cummins ISX12 425-horsepower (hp) diesel engines and Allison 4000 EVS automatic transmissions.

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Posted: Apr 5, 2017

Chicago (IL) Fire Department Takes Delivery of New Squads

By Alan M. Petrillo

The Chicago (IL) Fire Department has taken delivery of eight custom rescue squads - four walk-through models and four squads carrying Rosenbauer ACP-55 articulating Cobra platforms.

Three of the ACP-55 equipped rescues and three of the walk-through squads are located in Chicago’s north, central, and south divisions, while one ACP-55 rescue and one walk-through squad are located at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

Chicago Squad Concept

Paul T. Foertsch, district chief for the Bureau of Logistics in the Chicago Fire Department, says the two types of rescue squads respond together on all alarms, never separately. “The ACP-55 squad travels with two special operations firefighters, and the walk-through travels with four,” Foertsch says. “The squads are our elite special operations companies and carry all our heavy rescue equipment. Members are selected through a special interview process and then go through special operations certification.”

1 The Chicago (IL) Fire Department has taken delivery of four Rosenbauer custom walk-through rescue squads and four custom rescue squads outfitted with Rosenbauer’s ACP-55 articulating Cobra platform. (Photos courtesy of Rosenbauer unless otherwise noted.)
1 The Chicago (IL) Fire Department has taken delivery of four Rosenbauer custom walk-through rescue squads and four custom rescue squads outfitted with Rosenbauer’s ACP-55 articulating Cobra platform. (Photos courtesy of Rosenbauer unless otherwise noted.)

Roger Parker, northern regional sales manager for Rosenbauer, says the ACP-55 units on the Chicago rescue squads are the first ones deployed in such a fashion by the company. “The ACP-55 uses a single joystick control with Smart Aerial technology that includes auto bedding, collision avoidance, soft touch ramp up and ramp down, and high- and low-range speeds,” Parker points out. “Diagnostic screens are located in the bucket and at the pedestal.”

Foertsch notes that the Chicago Fire Department has had aerial units on its rescue squads since the 1960s. “The new Rosenbauer ACP-55s are replacing 15-year-old 55-foot Snorkel units,” he says. “The ACP-55 units are a little bit bigger physically than what we had, but we gained more compartment space and platform space on the new ones.”

Parker adds that Chicago’s previous Snorkel rescue squads were built by Central States in 2000, a company that was purchased by Rosenbauer.

2 The Rosenbauer walk-through rescues each seat four firefighters in the cab and allow access to the interior of the rear of the body both from the cabs and through a rear door
2 The Rosenbauer walk-through rescues each seat four firefighters in the cab and allow access to the interior of the rear of the body both from the cabs and through a rear door.

The New Squads

All eight of the rescue squads are built on Rosenbauer’s Commander chassis and EXT body, with the ACP-55 units having flat roofs and the walk-through squads having 18-inch raised roofs. They have a wheelbase of 170 inches, are 29 feet 8 inches long, are 10 feet 7 inches high, are on single rear axles, and are powered by Cummins ISX12 425-horsepower (hp) diesel engines and Allison 4000 EVS automatic transmissions.

Read more

Posted: Apr 5, 2017

Chicago (IL) Fire Department Takes Delivery of New Squads

By Alan M. Petrillo

The Chicago (IL) Fire Department has taken delivery of eight custom rescue squads - four walk-through models and four squads carrying Rosenbauer ACP-55 articulating Cobra platforms.

Three of the ACP-55 equipped rescues and three of the walk-through squads are located in Chicago’s north, central, and south divisions, while one ACP-55 rescue and one walk-through squad are located at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

Chicago Squad Concept

Paul T. Foertsch, district chief for the Bureau of Logistics in the Chicago Fire Department, says the two types of rescue squads respond together on all alarms, never separately. “The ACP-55 squad travels with two special operations firefighters, and the walk-through travels with four,” Foertsch says. “The squads are our elite special operations companies and carry all our heavy rescue equipment. Members are selected through a special interview process and then go through special operations certification.”

1 The Chicago (IL) Fire Department has taken delivery of four Rosenbauer custom walk-through rescue squads and four custom rescue squads outfitted with Rosenbauer’s ACP-55 articulating Cobra platform. (Photos courtesy of Rosenbauer unless otherwise noted.)
1 The Chicago (IL) Fire Department has taken delivery of four Rosenbauer custom walk-through rescue squads and four custom rescue squads outfitted with Rosenbauer’s ACP-55 articulating Cobra platform. (Photos courtesy of Rosenbauer unless otherwise noted.)

Roger Parker, northern regional sales manager for Rosenbauer, says the ACP-55 units on the Chicago rescue squads are the first ones deployed in such a fashion by the company. “The ACP-55 uses a single joystick control with Smart Aerial technology that includes auto bedding, collision avoidance, soft touch ramp up and ramp down, and high- and low-range speeds,” Parker points out. “Diagnostic screens are located in the bucket and at the pedestal.”

Foertsch notes that the Chicago Fire Department has had aerial units on its rescue squads since the 1960s. “The new Rosenbauer ACP-55s are replacing 15-year-old 55-foot Snorkel units,” he says. “The ACP-55 units are a little bit bigger physically than what we had, but we gained more compartment space and platform space on the new ones.”

Parker adds that Chicago’s previous Snorkel rescue squads were built by Central States in 2000, a company that was purchased by Rosenbauer.

2 The Rosenbauer walk-through rescues each seat four firefighters in the cab and allow access to the interior of the rear of the body both from the cabs and through a rear door
2 The Rosenbauer walk-through rescues each seat four firefighters in the cab and allow access to the interior of the rear of the body both from the cabs and through a rear door.

The New Squads

All eight of the rescue squads are built on Rosenbauer’s Commander chassis and EXT body, with the ACP-55 units having flat roofs and the walk-through squads having 18-inch raised roofs. They have a wheelbase of 170 inches, are 29 feet 8 inches long, are 10 feet 7 inches high, are on single rear axles, and are powered by Cummins ISX12 425-horsepower (hp) diesel engines and Allison 4000 EVS automatic transmissions.

Read more

Posted: Apr 5, 2017

3M to Acquire Scott Safety from Johnson Controls

ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--3M (NYSE: MMM) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Scott Safety from Johnson Controls for a total enterprise value of $2.0 billion. Scott Safety is a premier manufacturer of innovative products, including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) systems, gas and flame detection instruments, and other safety devices that complement 3M's personal safety portfolio.

“Personal safety is a core growth business within the 3M portfolio,” said Inge G. Thulin, 3M chairman, president and chief executive officer. “This acquisition leverages our fundamental strengths in technology, manufacturing, global capabilities and brand, and builds upon recent portfolio actions within our Safety and Graphics business to position it for long-term success.”

Scott Safety’s products help protect firefighters, industrial workers, police, military, homeland security forces, and rescue teams around the world from environmental hazards. The business had annual revenues in 2016 of approximately $570 million.

“Scott Safety is a recognized leader in the safety industry with a portfolio of strong products, brands, and a talented team of dedicated employees,” added Frank Little, executive vice president, 3M Safety and Graphics Business Group. “Combining 3M’s products, brands and global capabilities in personal protective equipment with Scott Safety’s well-regarded safety products will provide a broader array of safety products and solutions, enhancing our relevance to customers worldwide.”

3M’s Personal Safety Division provides respiratory, hearing, and fall protection solutions that help improve the safety and health of workers. The business also supplies products and solutions in other safety categories such as reflective materials for high-visibility apparel, protective clothing and head, eye, and face protection.

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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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