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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: Dec 5, 2016

Hatfield Township (PA) Board Approves Colmar Fire Station Funding

Hatfield Township commissioners have voted unanimously to commit $1.5 million during the next 15 years to the fire company, a move officials said is meant to trigger the process of constructing a new fire station.
"We are able to provide this funding, for the next 15 years, without jeopardizing at all the needs of the Hatfield Fire Company, or the contribution to the day to day needs of both fire companies," said commissioners' President Tom Zipfel.

Over the past several years, Hatfield has set up a fire commission dedicated to identifying short- and long-term needs for both the Hatfield and Colmar fire companies, and allocating funds to do so. The township's fire tax millage currently generates roughly $520,000 of revenue each year, and of that total $320,000 is split between the two companies for operational needs and the remaining $200,000 each year is put into a capital reserve fund.

Last year, the company and township began talks in earnest about a future Colmar fire station, to be built on the same site as the current station on Walnut Street. Zipfel and fire company President Brian Seward said that station was largely built in the 1940s with the most recent renovations in the 1960s.

In their initial talks, the company had developed an estimate of roughly $3 million to construct a new station. Since then, Zipfel and Sward told the commissioners Nov. 16, that estimated price tag has been whittled down to roughly $2.8 million, and the company is already starting to plan how to offset its part of those costs.

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Posted: Dec 5, 2016

13-Year-Old Struck, Killed by Fire Department Vehicle

GREECE, NY (TWC News Rochester/CNN) - A fire department vehicle struck a 13-year-old boy in Greece, NY, around noon Sunday. The boy, identified as Dominic Cook, was pronounced dead after being taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance.

The Hilton Central School District, where Cook attended middle school, released a statement saying the teen was “a wonderful student with a heart of gold.”

Neighbors say they often see people walking, running or biking along the road where Cook was killed. They say the sidewalk ends before the accident happened and the posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour is often ignored.

"Just the thought of people crossing and how fast the cars can be going, people can really get moving,” Kevin Dailor said.

Police have not yet said what Cook may have been doing at the time of the accident or if speed was considered a factor.

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Posted: Dec 5, 2016

New Fire Trucks and Ambulances Come to St. Louis Fire Dept.

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Earlier this year St. Louis voters passed Proposition F. They'll soon begin seeing the promises of that measure come to fruition, according to St. Louis City Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson. About 10 new fire trucks and a dozen ambulances are still on their way to St.

About 10 new fire trucks and a dozen ambulances are still on their way to St. Louis.

Jenkerson just got back from Denver Colorado where he was consulting with the designers of the two rescue squads they’ve ordered.

“One of the unique situations at the St. Louis City Fire Department’s in is, all of our firehouses are fairly old,” Jenkerson says. “So, the average fire truck doesn’t always fit in the openings that we have…there’s a little modification that’s required.”

He says it takes roughly 300 days to build a fire truck from scratch, so they should show up next year, along with several new ambulances.

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Posted: Dec 5, 2016

New WFD Fire Truck Enters Service

WAXAHACHIE (TX) - After a year of planning, design and cultivating input from firefighters, Waxahachie's newest fire engine was ushered into service earlier this month. While the total cost of new apparatus and equipment is about $750,000, the engine's features are designed not just to incorporate the latest technology but also to be practical and easy to operate.

“We requested money in the budget for a new engine last year. We formed an apparatus committee each time. This apparatus committee is comprised of three fire personnel on shift, which is usually engineers because they are often involved more in the operation of the apparatus, and then myself and the chief,” Waxahachie Assistant Fire Chief Randall Potter said. “This engine that we are about to put into service is a pretty radical departure from the norm of what we have been operating. In the old style of engine, if pump maintenance had to be done, they had to take side panels off or crawl underneath or worm their way down through there. This engine you tilt the cab and the engine is exposed. That means less downtown and less maintenance costs. It is easier to work on.”

Waxahachie Fire Department Engineer Scott Safford, who served on the apparatus committee, shared Potter’s thoughts having everyone's input in the design before it was built. Safford said all opinions were invaluable because they could see what ideas would work in the design, which idea did not fit and what new items they wanted to incorporate.

Potter said the new engine also features more storages space for tools and equipment and gives about 50 percent more storage capacity than previous models operated by the department.

“We have got tall roll up doors where it is easier access in and out of the compartments. It has saved compartment space. It is easier to get equipment in and out of the compartments,” Potter said. “We looked at it and went and visited a couple of other departments that are using them and looked at theirs. We talked to the guys that use them and asked them what they think. We got a good review on the equipment.”

Potter said work on the design started in October of 2015 and was completed in April. During this time, firefighters worked with a sales representative from Pierce Manufacturing.

In April, a trip was made to the Pierce factory in Wisconsin for the pre-construction meeting. During the two-day trip, additional changes were carried out before the design was finalized and signed off by Fire Chief Ricky Boyd. The truck was placed on the line to build, and construction of the vehicle started in August.

The new fire engine replaces one that has served on the frontline for the past 11 years. The former front line engine replaced a 22-y
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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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