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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

Ambulances can alert drivers of their approach by interrupting loud music

Posted: Jan 17, 2017

Ambulances can alert drivers of their approach by interrupting loud music

f, like many drivers, you like to have tunes pumping out of your music system to a level that causes your hair to vibrate, then there may be occasions when you're not fully aware that an ambulance is coming up the rear, or perhaps approaching from another street. Of course, this increases the chance of you hindering the progress of the emergency vehicle as it tries to reach some poor fella suffering a cardiac arrest or some other life-threatening condition. At worst, it may mean you don’t notice the ambulance passing through a stop sign, putting it on a collision course with your motor as you enjoy a couple of tracks from one of your lovingly curated playlists. The issue has come to the attention of students in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, prompting them to develop a system that interrupts a car’s music player to alert a driver of an approaching emergency vehicle. Trials for the system, called EVAM, start soon and if successful the team hope to commercialize it. Working at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, the student’s system involves a radio transmission from the ambulance to nearby FM tuners equipped with Radio Data System (RDS). The signal is sent over the FM band along with the transmission of a text message that appears in the tuner display. It can also lower the music’s volume and put out an audible voice message via the speakers, warning the driver to take extra care. “Often drivers have only a few seconds to react and give way to emergency vehicles,” says industrial engineering student Mikael Erneberg, one of EVAM’s designers. “The optimal warning time is at least 10 to 15 seconds.”

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Buchanan Dam Volunteer Fire Department burglarized

Posted: Jan 17, 2017

Buchanan Dam Volunteer Fire Department burglarized

BUCHANAN DAM - The Buchanan Dam Volunteer Fire Department is facing major challenges after their fire station was burglarized early Friday morning. The fire chief said the materials stolen or damaged add up to about $40,000. The department now has fewer resources to serve the community.

So, some who live in Buchanan Dam are stepping up.

"If my house catches on fire, I want the fire department to show up,” said Lionel Roach, who lives in Llano County.

He donated a $100 Monday to the Buchanan Dam Volunteer Fire Dept.

The 20-year local resident found out the department had several items stolen and damaged early Friday morning.

Tommy Phillips is a volunteer firefighter who was one of the first to find out about the crime around 8 a.m Friday.

"They literally took everything: coats, bags, jackets,” said Phillips.

He said the criminals also got away with a brand new dash camera they were testing.

"They disconnected the camera and took the camera,” Phillips said.

Fire chief Mark Hutson said their air compressor system was damaged beyond repair.

This means firefighters' air packs can't be refilled at the station.

Both the chief and Phillips do not know who is responsible or why they would break in like this.

Fire Truck Photo of the Day-Midwest Fire Pumper-Tanker

Massie Township Fire Department, Harveysburg, OH, pumper-tanker. Freightliner M2 cab and chassis; Cummins ISL 350-hp engine; Hale Qflo Plus 1,250-gpm pump; APR polypropylene 3,500-gallon tank.

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Pullman (WA) Purchase Fire Equipment with FEMA Grant

Posted: Jan 16, 2017

Pullman (WA) Purchase Fire Equipment with FEMA Grant

Pullman firefighters received 54 new air packs, which is six more than they previously had.

The air packs they've been using are more than a decade old. Officials with the department say these new ones are similar to the old packs so the transition should be easy. However, technology helps them communicate better with each other during emergencies.

"When we put the pack on their rated to a certain time that we can use them," said Captain Mark Johnson, Pullman Fire Dept. "The previous ones were rated for 30 minutes these will be 45 minutes. We can Bluetooth our breathing masks to our new radios which improves our communication dramatically."

The department got these new air packs from FEMA through the assistance of a $420,000 firefighters grant.
Crews will start training with the new SCBA's in the coming weeks and the department hopes to have them all in service by sometime in February.