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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: Jul 25, 2016

Minneapolis Firefighters Want Quick Arrest After Fire Apparatus Hit by Bullets

Minneapolis firefighters who were nearly hit by bullets Friday night say they are hoping for a quick arrest.

The shooting happened in the area of 28th Street and Bloomington Avenue. Three firefighters were in a fire truck at the time, returning from a call. The truck was struck by the bullets, however, the firefighters were not injured.

"They jumped out of the vehicle and made sure everybody was OK and made sure a stray bullet didn't hit anyone," witness Tom Tucker said.

Authorities said the fire truck was not the intended target and that a suspect in one vehicle was aiming at another.

While the firefighters are at home recovering, the department's chief spoke with concern over the close call.

"We live in the middle of the neighborhood, so if the neighborhood is in upheaval, our station is in the middle of what's going on," Deputy Chief Todd White said.

The Minneapolis Police Department is continuing to review video from security cameras near the scene. Additionally, crime lab investigators have collected the casings and are checking to see if the bullets are connected to other shootings.

Anthony Jackson said he had just arrived home from work when he heard the shots fired. "What kind of world am I living in? I am living in a war zone it seems," Jackson said.

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Posted: Jul 25, 2016

First Motorized Fire Apparatus Returns to Hays (KS)

At one time, Richard Shubert thought he would never find a piece of the Hays Fire Department history. A fireman in Hays for 30 years, he also is a historian of the department. What he was looking for was the fire department's first motorized truck, a 1921 REO Speedwagon.
Then one day, he got a call.

On the other end of the call was Brad Corley, a captain in the Wichita Falls, Texas, fire department, who also operates the Wichita Falls Fire and Police Museum. Corley just so happened to have a bit of information for Shubert on the fire truck.

"I didn't figure I could ever find it," Shubert said. "I figured it was scrapped somewhere."

What information Corley did have for Shubert was that he indeed just happened to be the owner of the 1921 fire engine. Not long after the call, Shubert and his wife were on a flight to Dallas, then drove to Wichita Falls to see the antique in person for the first time.

The truck had been purchased by Hays after firefighters Stephen Tourtillot and Nicholas Arnold died in a fire at Ninth and Oak in 1919.

"It was just like a relief that I had found it," Shubert said.

As it just so happened to work out for Corley, who officially retired from the Wichita Falls Fire Department on Friday, he was able to bring the classic fire truck to Hays this weekend. On Saturday, it was displayed in the first Thunder on the Bricks car show in Municipal Park. On Friday evening at the city fire station on Main Street, Corley pulled the truck out of the station and drove it through the department parking lot. He then answered questions for a number of Hays firefighters who came to see the city's first fire engine.

After purchasing the truck, Corley did some fixing and restoration, including rewiring it.

Through a line of historical checking after he purchased the truck from an electrician's family in Lawton, Okla., who had the REO Speedwagon, Corley found the truck had been in Hays. By chance, Corley called Ellis County Rural Fire Chief Darin Myers and told him he had the fire engine.

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Posted: Jul 25, 2016

Fire Truck Photo of the Day-Rsenbauer Pumper-Tanker

Dakota Gasification Company, Beulah, ND, pumper-tanker. Rosenbauer Commander 4000 cab and chassis; Cummins ISX 500-hp engine; Hale 8FGR 2,000-gpm pump.

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Posted: Jul 24, 2016

Summer Is the Time to Enjoy Your Vintage Rig

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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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