Menu

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 19, 2017

Ambulance Overturned in Valencia (CA) Crash

An ambulance overturned in the intersection of McBean Parkway and Valencia Boulevard after colliding with an SUV Wednesday afternoon. The crash, which was reported at 12:48 p.m., resulted in an American Medical Response ambulance overturning and coming to a rest on its driver side. The rig's passenger side also sustained heavy damage.

A wide variety of medical materials and instruments were dislodged inside the heavy-duty vehicle and spread across the intersection.

A black Toyota 4-Runner SUV involved in the crash sustained heavy front-end damage.

Read more
Posted: Jan 19, 2017

Hose Falls Off Jackson (MS) Fire Apparatus, Causes Accidents

Authorities say a hose fell off of a Jackson firetruck, causing at least 10 cars to crash in the eastbound lanes of I-20 in Jackson. "Rescue 14 crew was responding to a reported vehicle accident with injuries, when 400 feet of five inch large diameter hose fell off of Rescue 14," said Division Fire Chief Cleotha Sanders.

One driver, Patrick Edmond, said he ran over the fire hose and it tore up the bottom of his vehicle. Several other cars also had damage. No injuries were reported.

"We are asking everyone affected by this accident to contact the Jackson Police Department for an accident report for the incident and to contact Risk Management for the City of Jackson tomorrow for their next course of action, regarding this incident," Sanders said.

City leaders said anyone whose vehicle was damaged in the accident needs to file a report with the Jackson Police Department.

 

Read more
Posted: Jan 19, 2017

Trident Announces UL Listing of GP160 Foam

Trident Titan GP160

Trident Emergency Products recently announced the UL™ listing of their Titan GP160 series foam pumps for fixed foam system applications under UL 448C--UL™ File #EX27082. The GP160 Foam Pump is the first of seven models in a complete line of positive displacement rotary gear foam pumps that will be UL™ listed. The GP series of foam pumps have been specifically design for the rugged firefighting industry with design features found nowhere else--designed for the 21st century. In firefighting, there are no second chances, so don’t rely on inferior or outdated designs, specify and buy the best--lives and property are depending upon your foam pump choice.

The GP160 Foam Pump is a full 3" ported pump for maximum flow efficiency rated for full time operation up to 300 PSI [20.7 Bar] at 1800 RPM.  The GP160 series encompasses eight models, including upper or lower shaft positions for electric motor, diesel engine, or PTO drives, cast iron mount for hydraulic drives, or cast iron bell housing mount for direct engine mounting.  All pumps are available in right-hand (CW) rotation of left-hand (CCW) rotation.

Superior design features and benefits of the Titan GP Series Foam Pumps:

  • Timing gears are used to synchronize the two pumping rotors.  This design provides no rotor-to-rotor contact allowing for run dry conditions without damage, pumping of foam concentrate or water – water can be used for calibration, testing, and training, in lieu of foam concentrate. Timing gears are lubricated in an oil bath splash system – no regular greasing maintenance is required.
  • Brass pump body and heads with bronze alloy rotors.
  • 17-4PH (Precipitation Hardening) stainless steel pump shafts. Shafts have the strength of 416 stainless steel and corrosion resistance of 316 stainless steel.
  • Each pump shaft/rotor assembly is supported by two double row, spherical roller bearings, sealed for life – no regular greasing maintenance required.
  • Each pump shaft/rotor assembly is sealed into the pump body using two silicon carbide mechanical seals. This design prevents foam concentrate contact with the pump shafts to prevent corrosion. No Leaky Lip Seals!
  • EPDM square sealing rings seal the pump body and heads – no paper gaskets used.
  • Inlet and outlet ports are pipe groove (Victaulic™) for ease of installation.

The UL™ listing of the GP160 will be soon followed by their GP120 and GP200 models, which have been successfully tested, according to a press release.

Read more
Posted: Jan 19, 2017

Search and Rescue... And Drones

White City, Ore. -- The Jackson County Search and Rescue team is taking rescue techniques to the 21st century, with a drone. Jackson county Search and Rescue was looking for a way to improve search efforts and make things easier for rescuers. That's exactly what they got when a drone was brought to the table.

During any search and rescue mission, experts say you often wish you had an extra set of hands, sometimes even an extra set of eyes – and now Jackson County does, thanks to a drone.

“Often times, you have open country where you can get a great visual with a camera on the drone of your search area,” said Sgt. Shawn Richards, Jackson County Search and Rescue.

Drones can do much more than provide aerial views as search and rescue’s learned over the years. It can drop off items to victims like radios or water bottles, it can also go where some rescuers can’t.

“We’ve had it to where we’re using cameras in a river – underwater cameras,” he said.

The drone, alone, isn’t just the technology working to help search crews. Members, themselves are working towards inventing attachments and utilizing certain features of the drone.

“He has a whistle that he puts on the drone that it’s a really loud screeching type noise, like a fire alarm. To where if somebody was down in the canopy or wherever, and hopefully they would hear that to come out and look up,” he said.

And search and rescue hopes to continue to add other capabilities as well.

“It’s endless what we’re going to be able to do to utilize them into the search and rescue field,” he said.

Read more
RSS
First37573758375937603762376437653766Last

Theme picker

Upcoming Events

Theme picker

Sponsors

Fire Mechanics Section Board

Chair

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Chair

Elliot Courage
North Whatcom Fire & Rescue
Read more

Vice Chair

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Vice Chair

Mike Smith 
Pierce County Fire District #5
Read more

Secretary

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Secretary

Greg Bach
South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue
Read more

Director #1

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #1

Doug Jones
South Kitsap Fire & Rescue
Read more

Director #2

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #2

Paul Spencer 
Fire Fleet Maintenance LLC
Read more

Director #3

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #3

Jim Morris
Mountain View Fire Department
Read more

Director #4

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #4

Arnie Kuchta

Clark County Fire District 6

Read more

Director #6

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #6

Brett Annear
Kitsap County Fire District 18
Read more

Director #5

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #5

Jay Jacks
Camano Island Fire & Rescue
Read more

Legislative Representative

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Legislative Representative

TBD
TBD
Read more

Immediate Past Chair

Posted: Oct 20, 2015

Immediate Past Chair

Brian Fortner
Graham Fire & Rescue

Read more
RSS

Theme picker

2020 CAR SHOW