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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: Nov 1, 2022

Cascade Township (MI)’s New $10.9M Fire Station to Break Ground This Week

Construction on Cascade Township (MI)’s new fire station is set to begin this week, GRBJ.com reported.

Cascade Township is scheduled to host a ground breaking ceremony at 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 2, to kick off the renovation project for its new Fire Station 1 at 2865 Thornhills Avenue SE, the report said.

The $10.9 million renovation has been in the works since 2018 and is the largest capital investment project in Cascade’s history, according to the township. The new station is expected to open in fall 2023, the report said.

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Posted: Nov 1, 2022

FA Viewpoints | Mandating Ancillary Fire Equipment Is Overreaching

This month, we asked Advisory Board Members Bill Adams and Ricky Riley: “Should National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, mandate the amount and type of ancillary equipment fire apparatus should carry?”

Bill Adams

My answer is NO. NFPA 1901, Chapter 1 Administration, sentence 1.1* states: “Scope. This standard defines the requirements for new automotive fire apparatus and trailers designed to be used under emergency conditions to transport personnel and equipment and to support the suppression of fires and mitigation of other hazardous situations.”

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines scope as an intention and a range of operation. Sans the descriptive and moderating adjectives, I interpret NFPA 1901 defining its scope solely as the requirements for a vehicle (or trailer) to transport personnel and equipment. That’s it. It says nothing about ancillary equipment that must or should be carried. It is my opinion that requirements beyond describing the actual vehicle to move people and/or equipment exceed the boundaries of NFPA 1901’s own definition and the intent of the document.

There is no disparaging the objective of any NFPA standard in providing safe environments for firefighters when performing their duties. NFPA 1901 has self-described that environment as the vehicle “to get them there.” What they’ve brought with them and what they do after they get there are not 1901’s responsibility. Over the years, it appears 1901 has self-adopted criteria that is beyond its scope—including ancillary equipment—without any appreciable pushback from the fire service.

Liability

NFPA 1901 is a nationwide voluntary consensus standard that is not legally binding unless formally adopted by a political subdivision. There are statements within it that, if not followed, might put the fire department or its authority having jurisdiction in legal jeopardy.

Could fire departments be liable if “something bad happens” that can be attributed to not carrying a piece of ancillary equipment that NFPA 1901 mandates, suggests, recommends, or says a purchaser “ought to” consider carrying? Ask your attorney if contributory negligence is applicable.

American Fire Service

The NFPA’s Web site1 points out that 82% (24,220) of the 29,537 fire departments in the United States in 2019 were volunteer. Career departments maintain their own individualities, albeit within the constraints of political overseers. Volunteers’ autonomy can be and usually is much more liberal.

A standardized fire truck may not be suitable to fit the needs of every career and volunteer department in the country. It’s equally so for a single list of even minimum ancillary equipment NFPA 1901 wants each rig to carry. I venture many departments would like to say, “Let NFPA 1901 describe a rig to get us there safely, and we’ll decide what to bring and how to use it.”

America’s fire service is not nationalized, meaning the federal government does not own, control, or pay for it. It is federalized, meaning control rests with the local jurisdictions that own and pay for it. The local jurisdictions should decide what to purchase.

Important: Some apparatus and ancillary equipment may be voluntarily subject to the requirements of regionalized entities including governmental agencies and local organizations. An example: “If you want to participate in our mutual-aid group, here are the rules you must comply with, which include minimum apparatus and ancillary equipment requirements.” That is 100% justifiable.

Civil Defense

In the 1950s, both the American

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Posted: Nov 1, 2022

Photo Apparatus of the Day: November 1, 2022

HME Ahrens-Fox—Dewey Fire Company No. 1, Hellertown, PA, aerial ladder quint. AF1 cab and chassis; Cummins X12 605-hp engine; 111-foot rear-mount aerial ladder; Waterous CSU 2,000-gpm pump; 500-gallon polypropylene water tank; 30-gallon foam cell; FoamPro 2001 single-agent foam system; Harrison 6-kW generator. Dealer: Sean Desjardins, Emergency Equipment Sales & Service, Ewing, NJ.


PREVIOUS PHOTO OF THE DAY >>

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Posted: Nov 1, 2022

Woman Killed, Four Firefighters Hurt in Springfield Township (OH) Fire Truck/Car Wreck

A 27-year-old Cincinnati woman died in a car crash with a Springfield Township fire truck Monday.

The crash happened around 10:13 a.m. on West North Bend Road near Greenfield Drive, WXIX reports.

Kyana Lenon, 27, was driving east on West North Bend when she crossed center and hit the fire truck head-on, police say.

Firefighters at the scene extricated Lenon, and she was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center where she died. Four firefighters were also transported to the hospital after the accident.

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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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