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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 at Teays Valley (WV) FD Station Damages Utility Truck, Gear, and Equipment

Posted: Apr 20, 2025

Fire at Teays Valley (WV) FD Station Damages Utility Truck, Gear, and Equipment

A fire at the Teays Valley Fire Department station April 10, 2025, started in the engine compartment of one the department’s utility trucks that was parked in the bay, officials say, wsaz.com reported.

The fire destroyed the utility truck, firefighter gear, and EMS equipment.

Fire officials said they don’t know what caused the fire, the report said. It will take at least three months to get everything cleaned and repaired.

The Teays Valley Fire Department made the following Facebook post:

“Early this morning, a fire broke out inside our station—our home base, our safe haven,” said Chief Cody Smooth. “What was damaged can be replaced, but what remains untouched is our dedication to serve this community.

“We’re heartbroken by the loss, but we are not broken. Teays Valley Fire remains fully operational and ready to respond. Our commitment hasn’t changed—it’s only grown stronger.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Nitro FD, Winfield VFD, Hurricane VFD, and Putnam County Emergency Management for their immediate response and support.”

“This fire could have taken more from us. Thanks to our mutual aid partners, it didn’t,” said Deputy Chief Joey Puterbaugh. “We’re grateful for their partnership.”

The post Fire at Teays Valley (WV) FD Station Damages Utility Truck, Gear, and Equipment appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Town of Hancock (ME) to Build Bigger $1.7M Fire Station

Posted: Apr 19, 2025

Town of Hancock (ME) to Build Bigger $1.7M Fire Station

Apr. 18—With the help of a federal grant, the town of Hancock is hoping to have a new fire station built this year.

The proposed 6,500 square-foot building on Cemetery Road, near the local town office and elementary school, will replace a two-bay garage on the other side of the road that was built in 1957. Unlike the existing building, the new one will have ample indoor space for the department’s vehicles and equipment. It also will have plumbing, administrative offices, space for meetings and trainings, storage, locker rooms and bathrooms.

The current fire station building is so small, the department has had to keep its forestry truck, squad car and rescue boat stored outdoors, said Christopher Holmes, the town’s fire chief. The building will be given back to the previous owner after the new station is built, which was a requirement spelled out in a written agreement when the town acquired the garage years ago, Holmes said.

“Our volunteer fire crew will be able to work much more efficiently,” the fire chief said. “The new station will accommodate modern equipment and provide the space the crew needs to get their work done. And when emergency responders can work quickly using modern equipment, that makes for a safer community for everyone.”

The town has been considering plans for a significant fire station upgrade since 2008, Holmes said. An initial proposal a few years back was rejected, but since then the department has raised several hundred thousand dollars to put toward a new building. A USDA Rural Development grant that the town applied for and received last year is expected to fund roughly 75 percent of the construction costs, Holmes said.

Holmes said the town has grown a little over the years, but the driving need for the upgrade is more about having a modern building that meets current standards than it is about local development or population growth. The town’s population grew from 2,394 residents in 2010 to 2,466 residents in 2020, according to U.S. Census data

The department will continue to use another small garage located further west on Route 1, near the Ellsworth city line, to prevent increases in local fire insurance premiums due to inadequate coverage, he said.

“This is an exciting step forward for our community,” said Jack Bridges, chair of the town’s Board of Selectmen. “We’re incredibly proud of our fire department, and we’re especially grateful to Fire Chief Holmes for his outstanding work in securing the grant.”

Holmes said that ground work has been done and, once the concrete slab is poured, it shouldn’t take long to build the new station. He said the town is hoping to have it finished by Christmas this year.

“It is going to be a huge morale booster for our emergency responders to finally have a functional space,” the fire chief said. “We hope it may even help us recruit some new volunteers.”

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Davenport (IA) Celebrates New Apparatus With Push Ceremony

Posted: Apr 19, 2025

Davenport (IA) Celebrates New Apparatus With Push Ceremony

Davenport has a new fire engine in service.

It’s a 2024 Suphen fire engine, named Engine 2, powered by a 9-liter, 450 horsepower engine. The engine has a 500-gallon tank for water supply, can more than 1,500 gallons of water per minute and carries more than 1,000 feet of hose, according to a news release from the city.

“The design of the new apparatus gives us better mobility through town, greater reliability and versatility during responses and focuses on safety and firefighter capability for our responders,” Davenport Fire Chief Mike Carlsten said in a news release.

The apparatus cost $740,000, according to Davenport Chief Communications Officer Denise Hnytka.

“We realize this is a large investment into our organization. This new apparatus will provide the most up-to-date technology for our firefighters to answer the needs of our community in a safe and efficient manner,” Carlsten said.

Engine 2

Davenport Fire Department’s new Engine 2 sits outside the fire station on Thursday, April 17, 2025.

The fire department held a “push ceremony” where firefighters literally pushed the apparatus into the Central Fire Station this week. The tradition dates back to the mid-1800s when horses still pulled fire wagons to structure fires, according to the city. When a company would return from the fire, the horses were unhitched and the wagon was manually pushed back into the firehouse.

Engine 2

The new Engine 2 is shown on Thursday, April 17, 2025.

Davenport Fire Chief Mike Carlsten comments on the fire at Midwest Recyclers

Davenport Fire Chief Mike Carlsten comments on the fire at Midwest Recyclers that happened on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024.

Photos: MercyOne Genesis honors 75th anniversary of the St. Elizabeth Hospital fire

MercyOne Genesis held a memorial service for the 41 people who lost their lives 75 years ago in the St. Elizabeth Hospital Fire at MercyOne Gensis Davenport West Medical Center on Tuesday, January 7.

The post Davenport (IA) Celebrates New Apparatus With Push Ceremony appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Marion (NC) FD Gets Two New Fire Apparatus for $1.5M

Posted: Apr 19, 2025

Marion (NC) FD Gets Two New Fire Apparatus for $1.5M

The McDowell News, Marion, N.C.
(TNS)

On Monday, April 14, the Marion Fire Department added two new fire trucks to its fleet with a push-in ceremony.

The trucks have the latest technology, safety features and up-to-date life-saving equipment, said Acting Fire Chief Corey Presnell.

The ceremony was held at the fire station with Marion Mayor Steve Little, McDowell County Board of Commissioners Chairman Tony Brown and Presnell speaking. After the speeches, members of the fire department, city council, the county commission and city and county staff joined together to push the new fire trucks into the station.

The tradition of pushing a new fire truck into the station is a symbolic gesture that dates back to the era of horse-drawn fire apparatus when firefighters would manually push the apparatus back into the station after each call, according to a news release from the Marion Fire Department.

The delivery of the fire trucks was delayed by COVID-19 and material availability challenges. The project originated in 2021, with Marion firefighters collaborating with Safe Industries to develop trucks tailored to the Marion Fire Department’s needs, according to the department. After finalizing the specifications, the proposal was presented to both the Marion City Council and the McDowell County Commissioners in the fall of 2022, both of which approved the purchase.

In 2022, the city said the total estimated cost of the fully equipped trucks was $1,585,000, including equipment.

The city of Marion received $500,000 in state-appropriated funds to help with the purchase. The remaining project costs were secured through financing.

During the ceremony, Presnell said, “This is a special moment for us at the fire department. New fire trucks don’t come often, as most have a life span of 20-plus years, and to be able to receive two new ones at once is a huge deal. These men and women who ride these trucks work hard every day to serve and protect our citizens and having the right equipment to do their job is so important. We are very thankful for the support we receive, and it means a lot to these firefighters knowing they have your full support.”

After the ceremony, both trucks were officially placed in service and began responding to emergency calls, according to the news release.

In March, the city council approved the purchase of a new tanker truck for the Marion Fire Department. It will cost more than $450,000, according to the city. The first payment will be in 2027.

The post Marion (NC) FD Gets Two New Fire Apparatus for $1.5M appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.