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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: Mar 18, 2016

15 Accidents Involving Ambulances in Guilford County Since Last July

GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. - Guilford County Operations Manager Billy Livingston says since July of 2015 there have been 15 accidents involving their ambulances. The most recent one was Wednesday when police say a taxi collided with an ambulance. Greensboro police have determined that the taxi driver was at fault.

At the time of the crash, the ambulance was transporting a patient to the hospital.

The patient did not sustain any injuries as a result of that crash, but one of the first responders inside the ambulance was taken to the hospital and is recovering from his injuries.

At the time of the crash, the ambulance was not operating on an emergency route—meaning the vehicle did not have its lights or sirens on—which Livingston says is normal.

In fact, the majority of Guilford County’s ambulance transports don’t require the use of lights and sirens. That’s why Livingston says drivers should use the assumption that any time they see an ambulance that there’s someone likely in there getting treatment while in route to a hospital facility.

Of the 15 crashes involving ambulances over the last eight months—seven of them the ambulances were parked and struck by a vehicle, while eight of them were moving on the road (two of which were using their lights and sirens).

“The most dangerous place we operate is on the roadways,” Livingston said. He says when you see the lights and sirens move to the right side of the road. And if you see an ambulance on the road in general, be mindful and careful around it. “Be aware that the ambulance behind you may likely have somebody in the back that needs medical care and if it's involved in an accident then it delays their assessment at a treatment facility.”

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Posted: Mar 17, 2016

Dispute Occurs at St. Joseph Fire Station Meeting

Tempers flared during Wednesday's public meeting to discuss the relocation of Fire Station No. 9 with St. Joseph Fire Department officials. Fire Department and public works department staff were present to give a brief overview of the project.
"The location was proposed by a public works person, and I thought he was crazy at the time," said Chief Mike Dalsing of the St. Joseph Fire Department. "... We measured the space and put one of our old stations on top of it and it fits and it's got good access in and out and we are pretty excited about it."

The process of building the fire station began July 24, 2014, when Dalsing presented a station relocation study to the City Council. The original proposed location was next to Bode Middle School, but residents were opposed to the site, so six other locations were discussed. City Council decided on the current Faraon Street location in a work session last month.

Officials have said relocating Fire Station No. 9 would improve response times for residents on the East Side of St. Joseph.

During Wednesday's meeting, Councilwoman Pat Jones said she and Councilwoman Barbara LaBass walked west from the 3100 block of Faraon Street to get feedback from residents. She said most of the residents were concerned about flooding and traffic. After hearing Jones share her feedback, tempers began to flare.

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Posted: Mar 17, 2016

Nevada County Fire Station on Schedule to Open

A Washoe County-run fire station in the south Truckee Meadows is on schedule to be built by Thanksgiving of 2017, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Charles Moore said. Moore gave an update Tuesday to the Board of Fire Commissioners about plans to move Station 14 from near the intersection of Damonte Parkway and South Virginia Street 2 miles north to Foothill Road and South Virginia Street.
The current location, on Old Virginia Road, was in the unincorporated area when it was built 30 years ago, but the city of Reno has since expanded around it, Moore said in an interview. The new location will be closer to unincorporated land.

More importantly, the current station is falling apart, Moore said. The firetruck bays frequently flood when it rains.

In the Truckee Meadows, there is also Station 36 at Arrowcreek and Station 39 at Galena. There are two stations in Washoe Valley and the rest are north and west of Reno.

The fire protection district has an agreement to respond to fires within Reno city limits but Moore said moving this station would not affect Reno coverage because that area is not included in the agreement.

The fire protection district has no ladder trucks and the new station would be home to one of the district's two new ladder trucks, the other being posted north of Reno. If it is built to hold four vehicles it might also have a regular fire engine, an engine built for fighting brush fires in rugged terrain and a truck to haul water for fire engines.

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Posted: Mar 17, 2016

Madison (AL) Ambulance Manufacturer Debuts Vehicles for Children

An Alabama vehicle manufacturer recently developed two ambulances to help kids in need in south Florida. Excellance, which launched in Madison in 1975, has finished production on two custom rides for Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami. The emergency vehicles serve the area's only licensed specialty hospital for children with more than 650 physicians and 130 pediatric sub-specialists.
The bright blue ambulances are among Excellance's most custom to date, with a CritiCool-Therapeutic Hypothermia System, Olympic blanket warmer, LED lighting and a Stryker Power load system capable of lifting up to 700 pounds.

The vehicles, which have heart and teddy bear graphics to match the hospital's medical helicopter, can transport up to two cots, have four air-conditioning systems, feature a DVD player and screen for long-distance traveling, and are equipped with two hydraulic oxygen/medical air lifts.

Excellance said they also have a FireCom Intercom System, which facilitates communication between medics and the driver during transport. An Engel Medical refrigerator is on board to keep IV fluids and medications at the right temperatures during storage.

There is an electric step at the side entry door for easy entry, an Air Ride System, cab radio with GPS and an on-board Wi-Fi router inside the vehicles.

The company makes rescue trucks, command/communications units, bomb squad units, roll-off P.O.D. modules, hazardous materials vehicles, and special test vehicles for the U.S. Department of Defense. Excellance's Mobile Stroke Unit is one of only a couple existing in the world with technology to help victims receive the fastest, highest-quality care during a stroke.

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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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