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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

Posted: Jan 30, 2017

Colt Fire Protective Curtains Receive UL Approval

Bilco Colt Fire Protective Curtains

The BILCO Company, a subsidiary of AmesburyTruth™, recently announced that its line of Colt Fire Protective curtains has received UL10D approval for the containment of fire in commercial buildings. Products are now available with 60-minute and 180-minute fire protective ratings.

Colt Type FA electrically operated fire curtains seal off an area which is on fire to prevent it from spreading throughout a building. The curtains are held in the up position by means of a low-voltage 48VDC motor and deploy automatically to seal off an opening upon a loss of power or by receiving a signal from a fire detection system. Battery back-ups and control panels can be supplied with the curtains and a simple switch raises the curtain back fully to the ready position.

UL 10D is a relatively new standard that covers the evaluation of fire protective curtain assemblies intended to provide supplemental, passive fire protection as part of an engineered fire protection system. The standard allows fire protective curtains to be used for nonstructural separation and are not intended to be substituted for structural hourly rated partitions or opening protectives that have been tested for fire endurance and hose stream performance.

In addition to the UL 10D standard, U.S. fire protection authorities have also recognized the need for fire protective curtains in commercial building applications. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently updated the NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, to reflect the growing popularity of fire curtains as a means of fire containment.

Since 2014, BILCO has been the exclusive distributor for Colt’s commercial building products throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In addition to the fire and smoke curtains, Colt manufactures a line of natural ventilation and passive smoke control products. The Coltlite, a natural louvered ventilator, and the Firelight, a glazed skylight ventilator are two of Colt’s many products that provide highly energy-efficient solutions for environmentally friendly building designs.

For more information on the Colt smoke and fire curtains or BILCO’s other commercial products, call (800) 366-6530 or visit www.bilco.com.

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Five New Fire Trucks Joining Fleet in Monroe

Posted: Jan 30, 2017

Five New Fire Trucks Joining Fleet in Monroe

MONROE, CT - Five new fire trucks will be added to the fleet for the Stepney Fire Department, Stevenson Volunteer Fire Company and Monroe Volunteer Fire Department thanks to the approval of $3.8 million in funds at a town meeting earlier this week.

The new trucks, which include a tower-ladder, engine-rescue, engine-tanker, engine, and tanker continue on the significant progress the town made in 2009 when six new fire trucks were purchased, according to fire officials.

“The five trucks replace six older trucks that have served the town well over the last two to three decades; however, increasing maintenance and repair costs along with technological advancements in firefighting equipment and techniques called for change,” the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department said in a post on Facebook. “The Departments would like to thank the hardworking individuals on our volunteer truck planning committees, Town Council, Board of Finance, and most importantly the voters for working with us and approving these funds.

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.