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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: Apr 7, 2016

Updated: Firefighters battle to contain wildfires dotting the state

WOODWARD, Okla. - Gov. Mary Fallin declared a state of emergency for 10 counties Wednesday due to wildfires and critical weather conditions. Meanwhile, in Woodward County four separate fires merged into one large blaze, dubbed the 350 Complex, that had burned more than 55,000 acres and at one point led authorities to issue voluntary evacuation orders for residents of Freedom and other people in the area.

 An unknown number of structures have been destroyed, but no injuries or deaths have been reported. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.

More than 200 firefighters were battling the fire, according to Oklahoma Forestry Services. OFS' incident management team worked in unified command with Woodward Fire Department to fight the fire, firefighting task forces, heavy equipment and large air tankers.

High winds and low humidity hampered firefighters throughout the day Wednesday.

The 350 Complex fire started Tuesday by power lines downed and arced by winds that were sustained at 30 mph, with gusts more than 50 mph. 

Wednesday afternoon, officials lifted voluntary evacuation orders, The Associated Press reported. Woodward County Emergency Management Director Matt Lehenbauer said regional orders to evacuate about 100 square miles of Woodward County were allowed to expire Tuesday night, according to The AP.

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Posted: Apr 7, 2016

Giant Firefighting Jets Prepped for Wildfire Season

The biggest firefighting planes in the United States are preparing to take off from Albuquerque as wildfire season begins. The company known as 10 Tanker calls the Duke City home, but its pilots and jets travel across the country to fight fires.

n the past decade, it has made about 1,850 flights while working on about 400 fires from Nebraska to the west coast. The company even made missions to Canada and Australia.

"We think we can bring a better tool to the effort, because we boil it down to four words: More, sooner, safer, cheaper," President and Chief Executive Officer Rick Hatton said. "More because we carry more, sooner because we have jet speed to and from, safer because the less flying you do to get the job done the safer you are and, last but not least, cheaper because there are those economies of scale."

10 Tanker has a fleet of three DC-10 planes, which Hatton said fly four times faster than most firefighting planes, and the tanks carry nearly 12,000 gallons of fire retardant.

Hatton said Laguna Pueblo is a perfect place to practice and for the pilots to work on their annual certification because of wide open spaces with vegetation and terrain and varying elevation. He said it's very similar to areas they'll encounter while facing fires this spring and summer. It's also just 20 miles from Albuquerque.

The company is receiving interest from pilots and firefighters in South America. A pilot from Buenos Aires, Ezequiel Sicardi, flew to Albuquerque this week to learn more about the approach after recent large fires in the Andes Mountains.

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Posted: Apr 7, 2016

New Fire Engine in Garage at Lockwood (MT)

The Lockwood Fire Department is now the owner of a new $421,000 fire engine. The department received the Pierce Arrow XT pumper, and the crew will train on it before it's placed into service, Fire Chief John Staley said Wednesday.

The new engine replaces a 21-year-old unit that has been the department's front-line response vehicle. Staley said in a release that parts for repair have become increasingly difficult to obtain on the old engine.

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Posted: Apr 7, 2016

Tractor Trailer, Ambulance Collide in Tinton Falls (NJ)

TINTON FALLS - A tractor trailer collided with a MONOC ambulance on Wednesday afternoon at the circle of Routes 66 and 33. The impact tore a hole into the rear driver's side of the ambulance and pulled apart the nose of the truck's cab.
Three emergency services personnel were on board the ambulance, said Andrew Caruso, director of operations for MONOC. Two suffered minor injures and were taken by ambulance to Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch. A third, who was sitting in the back of the ambulance at the time of the crash, suffered more serious injuries and was taken to the trauma center at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune., Caruso said.

All three men were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, he said.

Caruso said there were no patients on the ambulance, which was heading toward a call.

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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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