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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

Posted: Jul 20, 2016

Fire Service Industry News: Froggy's Fog Supports Robert Garner Firefighter Foundation with Training Smoke Donation

Froggy's Fog supported the Robert Garner Firefighter Foundation in April by donating one drum of their Extreme Density training smoke fluid. The foundation has benefited from this donation by using the smoke at their quarterly training events, Beyond Basics Training, which provide advanced lifesaving training to firefighters that they can bring back to their stations.

The Extreme Density formula of training smoke fluid enables the foundation to simulate white out conditions when a live fire would be impractical.

Director of Giving, Elizabeth Seymour says, "I can't tell you how much we have appreciated the donation from Froggy's Fog. We are truly grateful for the support that we receive from the fire service community and those committed to the safety and training of our first responders, like Froggy's Fog."

Froggy's Fog is a premier fog fluid manufacturer based in Columbia, Tennessee. Our fog, haze, snow and bubble fluids are made in the United States from lab-grade, UV-Filtered, de-ionized water and the highest quality chemicals. (more)

The Robert Garner Firefighter Foundation is a Houston, Texas based educational firefighter foundation that supports, inspires and educates future and current firefighters. If you are interested in donations, sponsorships or participating in RGFF's Beyond Basics Training, please visit www.garnerfoundation.com.

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Posted: Jul 20, 2016

Fire Truck Photo of the Day-Rosenbauer Pumper

The rig is built on a Rosenbauer Commander cab and chassis withi an eight-inch raised roof, 450-hp Cummins engine.

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Posted: Jul 19, 2016

An Investigation into Jacksonville (FL) Aging Fire Apparatus Fleet

An Action News Jax investigation found some local agencies are having to use older equipment, in some cases, decades old. 
"A firefighter cannot assist anyone if they can't get to where you're at," said Randy Wyse, president of the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters.

Wyse said in the last few years, the city has invested in a new fleet for the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, a major difference from the ’90s when the department was using outdated trucks.

"Trucks breaking down on the side of the road, wouldn't go into pump gear, wouldn't pump the proper pressures and some of that was occurring on scenes," Wyse said.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends that any apparatus older than 15 years old should be removed from front line service because they may not have modern safety upgrades. But we found several trucks on our local roads are not following that guideline.

Records with JFRD show there are three fire trucks that are 25 now years old and two that are 19 years old, but Powers said those older trucks are not used on the front lines and are not used often, so they are not held to the same standard when it comes to age.

In Clay County, the Department of Public Safety said the county adopted an apparatus replacement plan in 2005 but because of budget limitations, several front line engines were overdue for replacement. We found three trucks over the age of 15 are now in the process of being replaced but there is still one truck that is 25 years old that is still operating on the front lines.

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Posted: Jul 19, 2016

Kansas City (MO) Gets New Fire Apparatus

Three shiny, new fire trucks are hitting the streets in Kansas City today. The entire fleet is being replaced -- 28 pumpers, 12 ladder trucks, seven rescue trucks and a hazmat truck.
Assistant Fire Chief Donna Maize says they've spent the past year and a half, through a labor management process, building the fleet.

"We've had inputs from the firefighters in the field: captains, drivers, and firefighters that work on the units," Maize said.

By the end of the year, the new fire apparatus will be delivered to every Kansas City fire station. The fire department will have all 48 fire apparatus in service. The department is also remounting 41 ambulances in-house.

"The patient compartment we can get about 10 years out of that, so we can actually re-mount it about three times. The cabin chassis, they're high mileage units so we get about three, three and a half years out of those," says Maize.

Maize says most pumper trucks can operate around 7 1/2 years before needing replacement. The current pumpers were bought in 2005. The pumpers come with an important new feature.

"The height of the hose bed in the back, same with the hand lines...we call them cross lays, the ones that go right behind the cab on either side of the truck. Those are things they took in to consideration, to help reduce injury, and also speed and efficiency, being able to deploy hose," says Maize.

The cost to replace the fleet, $34 million. Another $2.8 million is being spent on the ambulances.

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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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