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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

Paducah Fire Chief Releases Statement on Fire Truck Collision

Posted: Sep 9, 2016

Paducah Fire Chief Releases Statement on Fire Truck Collision

Paducah Fire Chief Steve Kyle released a statement Thursday after a fire truck was involved in a collision with a car in the intersection of Hinkleville Road and James Sanders Boulevard the day before.

"Yesterday, the Paducah Fire Department had a fire apparatus involved in a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Hinkleville Road and James Sanders Boulevard. With this unfortunate circumstance, we are thankful that the passengers in the car did not sustain life-threatening injuries and that our crew was not injured. We are also thankful that the crew involved in the collision was able to immediately start rendering care to the passengers in the other vehicle.

Since that time, we have reviewed the statements and crash footage and determined that the driver of the fire apparatus acted with “due regard” as outlined in KRS 189.940 and consistent with state training standards. The apparatus’ emergency lights were illuminated, the siren was being continuously sounded during the response, and it slowed down as necessary for the safety of traffic allowing the fire truck to proceed with due regard through the intersection. We regret this unfortunate incident occurred as we hold the safety of all citizens as our highest priority."

Lincoln County Fire Station No. 1 Ups Rescue Response with New Truck

STANFORD – When the Lincoln County Fire Department recently evaluated it’s rescue performance, Lincoln Fire Station No. 1 found there was a need for more space when it came to technical rescue operations and transporting the large equipment needed for it – a problem solved by the station’s new Rescue 1 truck.

One scenario in which a technical rescue operation might be needed would be if a building collapsed and victims were trapped inside of a weakened structure, according to Capt. John Hasty.

“It’s not safe for us to just go into a residence that’s weakened at some point to pull somebody out,” he said.

That’s a main reason behind the station’s focus on building collapse response and with the new truck, Hasty said they can accomplish a lot more when it comes to technical rescue.

“Our concern is that in the county there is no type of trench rescue, no type of building collapse. We do small-scale stuff but we don’t do any type of high-angle and that’s stuff we need to focus on,” Hasty said.

“Now we can pursue that now that we have the bigger truck and we’re able to carry double the amount of equipment so we can better advance our rescue operations.

Hasty said the station plans to beef up equipment for building collapse, trench rescue and rope rescue.

“We currently do low-angle rope rescue but we’d like to take that a little further and start doing high-angle rescue in the county,” he said.

Technical rope rescue is broken down into three parts – low, steep and high angle rescue – all determined by the degree of slope in rescue situations.

Station No. 1 firefighters got a chance to practice their building collapse skills for the first time this year during a recent mock tornado drill at the fairgrounds.

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Byron Township Fire Department Purchases First Ladder Truck

Posted: Sep 9, 2016

Byron Township Fire Department Purchases First Ladder Truck

BYRON TOWNSHIP - The Byron Township Fire Department now has a ladder truck to help fight fires in the larger homes and buildings that have been going up in the area. Todd Szakacs, the township's fire administrator and public safety director, said the department recently spent $72,000 on the used truck with a 75-foot ladder.

He said the 2003 American LaFrance ladder truck replaces a 16-year-old engine truck that was sold to a local fire truck sales business for $80,000.

Szakacs said he was able to find the 2003 ladder truck, without a pump or generator, for sale at a semi-truck sales lot in Indiana. He was able to purchase the truck and add a new pump and generator for $72,000, below the budgeted $80,000 the department had from the sale of the old engine truck.

Szakacs said, if purchased brand new, the price tag for a ladder truck is at least $500,000.

He said the department had an increasing need for a ladder truck because of the boom in construction of larger homes as well as commercial and industrial buildings that are being constructed in the area.

Grant Will Buy Breathing Masks for Firefighters

The Mt. Pleasant Fire Department has been awarded an $85,500 Assistance to Firefighters Grant, which will be used to supply the department with 12 self-contained breathing apparatuses, or SCBA units.

Commonly referred to as “air packs,” Mt. Pleasant’s firefighters will use the devices as they enter burning structures, respond to situations involving hazardous materials, investigate gas leaks and more.

“These SCBA units are going to give us a step up in the respiratory protection of our firefighters,” Mt. Pleasant Fire Chief Tim Smith said. “Anytime we can get a grant to improve the health and safety of our firefighters, that is a good thing. The Mt. Pleasant Fire Department and the city of Mt. Pleasant is grateful to get these air packs.”

The arrival of the new devices will allow the department to standardize all of its SCBA teams and streamline training efforts to boost the proficiency of their firefighting and the devices themselves.

He said the new air systems will be made from lightweight carbon fiber materials mounted on equally handy backpacks designed to be more maneuverable and comfortable for firefighters, allowing them to work longer, wasting less energy on wearing the devices.

New masks will also be ordered with built-in displays, allowing firefighters to see how much oxygen they have left without having to waste time looking down to check a traditional gauge.