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Welcome

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

Howe Springs Gets Three New Fire-Rescue Trucks

Posted: Jan 30, 2017

Howe Springs Gets Three New Fire-Rescue Trucks

FLORENCE, S.C. - The Howe Springs Fire Department received three new fire rescue engines on Thursday to replace three trucks the department has been using for 30 years. The new E-One Typhoon engines cost approximately $550,000 each. The engines were bought with money from a bond issue that also provided for other fire rescue equipment.

Fire Chief Billy Dillon said two of the old trucks will be used as reserve engines when the new engines start running calls for the department.

“We’re excited about getting them in service in the next couple of weeks,” Dillon said. “February 13 is my goal to have all three of them in service.”

One truck will be in service at stations three, four and five. Station five is under construction so Dillon said until its completion, one of the new engines will run calls out of Station One. The new engines provide many benefits to both the firefighters and the residents in the Howe Springs Fire jurisdiction, the first being an improved ISO rating.

Dillon said he hopes the station can drop a point on the ISO rating. He expects the next grading to come sometime this year. With a lower ISO rating, residents could see the cost of their residential fire insurance decrease in the new fiscal year.

The new trucks are also a bit smaller than the older engines, providing an advantage to fighters responding in more rural areas. Dillon said with the old engines being 40 feet long, turning into small driveways was proving difficult.

“We can’t make the turn off of the main highway into their driveways because their driveways ain’t but ten foot,” Dillon said. “Our new trucks are 34-foot with a shorter wheel base so they’re a lot more maneuverable.”

Along with better mobility, the new engines have a bigger pump capacity so they can hold more water in response to a large fire. The trucks are also equipped with more technology, which makes controlling the large vehicles safer

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LFD to Begin Construction of Stations

Posted: Jan 30, 2017

LFD to Begin Construction of Stations

While the two largest projects with the Lewisville Fire Department won't be complete until 2018, this year it will see the addition of some key new equipment. "If we can stay on schedule, it will still be August or September 2018 before stations 3 and 8 are finished," said Fire Chief Tim Tittle.

“Getting an architect will be a big thing for keeping us on schedule.”

The LFD is busy planning for the construction and relocation of Station 3, which will be built on the southeast corner of Meadowglen Drive and FM 3040. It is part of the Convergence property. Station 8 will be built in east Lewisville off Josey Lane. Both stations are being built to better serve the city of Lewisville and will have an engine and medic.

“Station 8 will help serve the far eastern part of our community and Castle Hills residents,” Tittle said. “All of that is growing and about to take off. The need for us to be there is going to be about the time we have the station built.”

Once complete, the LFD will have two stations out east – Stations 6 and 8.

By relocating Station 3, Tittle said it will better serve the southwestern part of the city. He said there are apartments and an assisted living facility being built, as well as industrial buildings and the Bed Bath and Beyond warehouse. The area also already includes a high school and the city’s biggest mobile home park – Creekside.

“We will have better coverage with our stations and overall better coverage for the community we serve,” Tittle said. “Also, our response times will fall more in line with what they should be.”

The problem the department is facing is rising costs of construction. Both stations estimated costs are right around $1 million over the original funding amount. The city staff recommended funding the budget shortfall for both stations through the 2017-18 fire control budget. According to officials, the 2016-17 tax revenue exceeded the budgeted amount by $311,000.

New equipment

New stations are not the only addition to the LFD. Beginning in May, the new ladder truck will begin construction. Tittle said they hope to take delivery of it at the end of the year or the beginning of 2018. The new truck will be housed at Station 6.

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Firefighters Mull Finance Options for New Ladder Truck

Posted: Jan 30, 2017

Firefighters Mull Finance Options for New Ladder Truck

The Waynesboro volunteer firemen continue to inch closer to signing a contract with a manufacturer to build a new aerial truck. "We hammered out the last of the specification details and narrowed it down to two manufacturers that we would like to go through," said John Beck, Waynesboro assistant fire chief and chairman of the capital replacement committee which originated for the purpose of purchasing a new aerial truck.

Finding a way to pay for a truck which Beck estimates will be around $900,000 is the bigger issue. The special committee and volunteers continue to explore a slew of options.

One small piece to solving the financial burden of a new purchase took place earlier this month when Engine Tanker 2 was sold for $30,000 which will be put toward the sale of a new ladder new truck.

Tower 2, the Waynesboro Volunteer Fire Department's current ladder truck, is also up for sale with a price tag of between $325,000-400,000.

The firemen want to replace Tower 2 which is a 2005 model, because they feel it is limited with its ladder reach.

"We are limited due to the setback of businesses around our community," said Beck, who used Trinity House, Waynesboro Area Senior High School and the Landis Complex as examples.

According to Beck, a potential buyer interested in purchasing Tower 2 was recently lost. With a sense of urgency building, the capital replacement committee has sought out a sales company that works specifically with used fire apparatus to help sell Tower 2.

"They have a broad reach out to departments across the country. They have the inside info on who is looking for fire apparatus," said Beck. "Even though there is a commission rate involved, we feel that they will give us the best chance to make the most money on Tower 2."

Hallowell & Farmingdale to Build Joint Fire Station Near Town Line

The Hallowell Fire Station is a historic part of the city's downtown. But it's considered by many to be unsuitable for modern firefighting. The public's overwhelming support for the building led City Council to vote to preserve it. Councilors also voted to keep the city's fire department instead of contracting with Augusta to provide that service.

But the building’s small size and location on 2nd Street remain problems.

So Hallowell City Councilors opted to move the local fire department by leasing space in a yet-to-be built fire station in neighboring Farmingdale.

“We are going to jointly build a new fire station. It’ll be close to the Hallowell/Farmingdale line. From that fire station, the five mile radius literally will hit every point in Hallowell, so we meet that ISO standard for fire safety and we will maintain our independence,” said Mark Walker, the Mayor of Hallowell.

Construction on the new fire station could start by this summer.