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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

Fire Truck Collides with Mini-Van

Posted: Sep 26, 2016

Fire Truck Collides with Mini-Van

A Christiana Fire Company fire truck collided with white minivan Saturday morning, a dispatcher for the New Castle County Fire Board confirmed. The collision happened about 8 a.m. at West Eighth and Adams streets in Wilmington as the fire truck was en route to an emergency incident, officials said.

The collision happened about 8 a.m. at West Eighth and Adams streets in Wilmington as the fire truck was en route to an emergency incident, officials said. Two people were believed to be taken to Christiana Hospital.

The crew was operating in the city as fill-in replacement for Wilmington crews on the scene of the fire where two firefighters died earlier in the morning.

Lanesborough's First New Firetruck in 20 Years Has Arrived

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. - The Fire Department's first new truck in 20 years has arrived. The brand-new 2016 Emergency-One Typhoon was delivered to headquarters on Friday and will serve as the new frontline vehicle for the volunteer Fire Department. The engine replaces a 29-year-old E-One, which will be sold.

The brand-new 2016 E-ONE Typhoon was delivered to headquarters on Friday and will serve as the new frontline vehicle for the volunteer Fire Department.

The engine replaces a 29-year-old E-ONE, which will be sold. The town had stashed some of its free cash aside for the last three years to make a large down payment and financed the remainder. The truck cost $475,500.

"The town has been putting money away, putting money away, putting money away to come up with three-quarters of the money to buy it and they financed only $128,000," Fire Chief Charles Durfee said. "We tried for a grant but got rejected."

With approval to move forward from town meeting, Deputy Chief Jeff DeChaine crafted the specifications with Greenwood Fire Apparatus, the vendor out of North Attleboro. The new engine has significant upgrades in safety features, compartment space, and is more user-friendly.

"One thing we did want was the top-mounted pump. A lot of engines you see the handle is on the side. We've always had the top mount. We like it because the pump operator has a better view of the scene from up there," DeChaine said. "We were trying to get an engine that was as short as possible but still had the top mount pump. The other was compartment space. In the design, there is 10 times the compartment space and they carry pretty much the same amount of water."

DeChaine said the department loves the 1987 E-One it currently uses as a secondary engine but the time has come to replace it — so they went with the same model, just newer.

"We have a very stringent preventive maintenance procedure but as time goes on, I don't care what it is, if you have a 30-year-old car it doesn't matter how well you take care of it you are going to have to work on it. It is important for what we do. If somebody is on the other end of that hose i

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Reno Fire Trains Fire Engine Operators

Posted: Sep 26, 2016

Reno Fire Trains Fire Engine Operators

The Reno Fire Department began a two-week training course for drivers and operators of Reno Fire Engines on Friday, September 23. The Fire Equipment Operator Academy is intended for firefighters who have met their time and training requirements to start wo

The Fire Equipment Operator Academy is intended for firefighters who have met their time and training requirements to start working as Fire Equipment Operators. In order to drive and operate an engine, all personnel must pass the two-week training course.

An additional one-week training course concentrated on truck operations qualifies personnel to drive and operate tiller ladder trucks for specialized fire duties and rescue.

Basil Fire District Requests Funds for New Equipment

BALTIMORE - The Basil Joint Fire District's oldest engine is 32 years old. That's part of the reason that the Basil Joint Fire District has a 2.9 mill permanent levy on the ballot this November. It's not even the traditional fire engine red, but a bright safety green, thought to be more visible when it was purchased.

Though it is noticeable, it's hard to tell at first that it's actually a fire truck. Beyond that, the truck no longer complies with National Fire Protection Association standards.

The main focus of the permanent levy is to replace old engines and medics, as well as updating other equipment, Assistant Chief Kasey Farmer said. It should raise property taxes about $101 per $100,000 in home value. Farmer said that breaks down to about 29 cents a day.

"We're doing this because we have to," Farmer said.

That safety green engine is in reserve as required by NFPA standards. Trucks must be placed in reserve after 25 years. Plus, that 32-year-old engine has an open cab, which is no longer accepted.

Farmer said the reserve engine is put back into service any time the other engines need maintenance.

"It takes one maintenance issue and it's on the front line," Farmer said. "It's not made to be on the front line anymore."

The oldest medic in the fire district's fleet is on reserve and is 18 years old. Farmer said the medics have a much higher mileage than the engines, because they're used more.

"Those are the busiest trucks we have," Farmer said, meaning they don't last as long. A new engine can cost as much as $500,000 to $600,000 and a medic can cost around $240,000. Those are just the base prices for the most basic models, Farmer said.