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: Oct 17, 2016

Group Gets Together to Fix Hutchinson (KS) Fire Apparatus

A local auto shop decides to help out after someone vandalized three fire trucks. The vandalism happened on Sept. 11. Hutchinson Fire Capt. Gerald Wiens found his truck and two others keyed, front to back. "Kind of a strange day for something like to happen, I thought," Wiens said.
But then, Auto Paint Repair decided to help out.

"Just payback for the community," said Scott Raymond, manager of Auto Paint Repair. "You know, these guys will run into a burning building for us, so we owe them a little bit to help out and make sure they get undamaged and look right."

Workers got to sanding, priming, sealing, painting, polishing and finally detailing the three trucks. It was all done for free.

Auto Paint Repair's paint supplier donated the paint, too.

The crews say it was an easy decision because the firefighters deserve it.

Read more
Posted: Oct 17, 2016

Mechanical Issues Put Petersburg (VA) Fire Apparatus Out of Commission

Mechanical issues have once again put several Petersburg fire trucks out of commission. Now the city does not even have enough of their own equipment to operate, so they are relying on a loner from a neighboring jurisdiction. "Right now, the situation is in dire straits," Gene Beemer, with the Petersburg Firefighters Association said.
Some crews are now responding to fires using a pick-up truck. They have been storing air tanks in the back seat, an action Beemer says is against regulations.

"It's not equipped to carry air packs, it doesn't have the safety brackets on it that it needs to secure the air packs in case there is an accident," Beemer said.

Thankfully, neighbors to the north had an extra truck that they have made available to Petersburg crews.

"We're borrowing an engine from Colonial Heights Fire Department, which was borrowed from them yesterday, in order to keep fire protection going in the city," Beemer said.

So their reserve units are broken down, but what about their main ladder truck? It is still locked up at the repair shop.

While repairs are complete, the city has yet to pay their bill in full.

"Our main truck has been at AES for at least two and a half months," Beemer said.

Read more
Posted: Oct 17, 2016

Shreveport (LA) Fire Apparatus Flips Near LSU Hospital

More than 20 first responders were on the scene of an accident on Kings Highway in Shreveport.
Witnesses say a fire truck turned over near University Hospital.

It is unknown if there are any injuries.

Read more
Posted: Oct 17, 2016

Lewisville (TX) Fire Department 2015 Pierce Impel Pumper

CLICK ABOVE FOR THE FULL GALLERY >>

Photos and description courtesy of Lindsay Dye

Engine 165 was placed in service with the Lewisville (TX) Fire Department on April 25, 2016. The cab/chassis is a Pierce Impel model (medium block) with seating for four and two forward-facing EMS cabinets—one installed on the left wall of the cab and one on the right cab wall. A Coleman Mach 3 A/C unit (13,500 Btu) mounted over the center of the cab area provides auxiliary temperature control when the apparatus is not in use. The apparatus is constructed of standard aluminum with full-depth compartments and Gortite roll-up doors. Spare SCBA storage is located adjacent to the rear wheel wells. 

Power is provided by a Cummins ISL9 450-hp engine and an Allison 5th Generation 3000 EVS five-speed transmission with pushbutton controls. The TAK-4 independent front suspension system is featured as is the Pierce Command Zone advanced electronic and control system with WiFi. An Onan 6-kW hydraulic generator (Hotshift PTO) and electronic control is located in a cargo area over the pump on the left side. 

The fire apparatus has a Hale Qmax-200 single-stage, midship 2,000-gpm pump with top-mount controls. The tank is a 750-gallon poly tank. 

The hosebed carries 1,000 feet of five-inch LDH, and two 300-foot lays of 1¾-inch hose. The front bumper tray carries 150 feet of 1¾-inch hose connected to a 1.5-inch discharge on the left center of the bumper. Speedlays (two with 200 feet each of 1¾-inch hose) are located in a semienclosed compartment beneath the pump panel. Two sections of suction hose (10 feet each) are mounted on the upper left of the hose body, and a deck gun is mounted on top of the panel. This unit features a hydraulic ladder rack on the right rear side of the apparatus that carries Duo-Safety ladders (24-foot two-section, 14-foot roof, and 10-foot folding). A Little Giant® ladder is stored in the right rear compartment.

Warning lights include a Whelen Freedom LED lightbar (88 inch), a Roto-Ray on the cab nose, two Whelen FN24 mini light bars on the upper rear corners, and Whelen M6 LED lights on the apparatus body. Scene lighting is provided by Whelen Pioneer PFP1 lights mounted behind the crew doors and HiViz LED lights mounted on each side of the protective wall for the roof mounted auxiliary A/C unit. Audio warning devices include a pedestal mounted Federal Q2B siren mounted on the left bumper area and a Whelen Model 295HFSC9 (Dual Tone) electronic siren module connected to two Whelen SA314A 100-watt speakers mounted through the front bumper. The traditional fire bell is mounted on the right front bumper area.

This unit and its twin, Engine 164, are the first in the fleet with Lewisville’s new gray over red color scheme.

Dealer: Siddons-Martin Emergency Group-Houston, TX

Representative: Travis Ownby

Read more
RSS
First38043805380638073809381138123813Last

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