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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 19, 2016

Gonzales Fire Department Celebrates New Fire Apparatus

A crowd of former firefighters, elected leaders, community members and eager children gathered at the Gonzales Fire Station on Thursday evening to welcome a couple of new pieces of firefighting equipment to the family. Mainly, Engine 33 and Tender 32.
The official name of the event is a housing ceremony. It has its beginnings in the 19th century and is meant to transfer the old to the new. The wheels are washed by the firemen, as was custom from the old horse-and-buggy days where the wooden spokes of the wheels had to be kept moist after each fire to prevent cracking.

Schmidt joked that in days past, it was easy to find out where a fire in town was. All one had to do was follow the line of broken down fire trucks leading to it. And as they watched the new, $700,000 Engine 33 be custom built over the last several months, he couldn’t help but reminisce about how they had to build a couple of the trucks they are now retiring, without that kind of money.

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Posted: Apr 19, 2016

Drunk Driver Slams into Green Bay Metro Fire Apparatus Returning from Call

A Green Bay Metro fire truck sustained thousands of dollars in damage after police say a drunken driver crashed into the engine Friday night. It happened at a busy intersection in downtown Green Bay as firefighters were on the way back from a call.
"This siren, as heavy as it is, slammed back in and put the big dent in," says Green Bay Metro Fire Chief David Litton, showing our cameras the damage to the engine's front bumper.

He estimates Engine 3 will be out of service for several weeks while mechanics repair roughly $7,000 in damage from the crash.

"They were coming southbound on Washington Street, and a lady approached from Walnut, heading west and went through a red light," says Litton.

He says around 10:30 Friday night, firefighters were approaching the Meyer Theater at about 20 miles an hour, with a green light, when the engineer spotted the woman.

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Posted: Apr 19, 2016

Honeywell Introduces Four First Responder Products at FDIC 2016

Dayton, Ohio (April 17, 2016) - Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced the launch of four products for first responders and is co-sponsoring a scholarship program for first responders at the Fire Department Instructor’s Conference (FDIC) April 18-23 in Indianapolis. An expanded portfolio of first responder products and firefighter training support are part of the company’s commitment to providing long-term, innovative solutions to the firefighting industry.

“The firefighting industry knows Honeywell for our leadership in fire detection and control systems, and for our popular personal protective equipment such as Morning Pride TAILS turnout gear; but now, we hope they will come to know us more as a complete head-to-toe supplier of personal protective equipment,” said Ken Schmidt, president of Honeywell First Responder.  “Our aim is to improve safety, efficiency and productivity on the fireground through a new generation of smart, simple-to-use cyber-industrial solutions.”

At FDIC, Honeywell First Responder is introducing:

•    TITAN, an intelligent self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) that combines high-performance Honeywell materials, proprietary electronics, wireless communications and unique ergonomic features to offer firefighters a greater degree of maneuverability, safety and efficiency on the fireground.


•    Morning Pride TAILS, the company’s flagship turnout gear used by more than 50 percent of North America’s top 20 municipal fire departments, which has been reengineered using proprietary Honeywell patterning design to include several ergonomic and safety refinements providing a better fit and allow more range of motion and protection.


•    FIRST, a cloud hosted software solution that manages and tracks a fire department’s inventory of personal protective equipment through automation and simplified barcode scanning, enabling fire departments to simplify NFPA 1851 compliance, records-keeping and PPE program management.


•    NightHawk, a firefighter boot that builds on the legacy Pro Warrington line, redesigned with new materials and ergonomic features resulting in greater athletic fit, performance, comfort and protection.




In addition, Honeywell is co-sponsoring a scholarship program that awards 20 firefighters with expenses-paid trips to the industry’s major training and educational event for first responders. The scholarship awards accomplished firefighters who also have demonstrated an intense desire for education and training.

 


“The annual scholarship program helps furthers the professional development of 20 exemplary firefighters who will benefit their communities greatly by applying the knowledge they acquire from their training at FDIC,” said Schmidt.
For more information on Honeywell First Responder products, visit: http://www.honeywellfirstresponder.com

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, and

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Posted: Apr 19, 2016

VIDEO: Jeffrey Moran Talks "Railway Incident Safety Planning and Operations"

By Derek Rosenfeld

FDIC International 2016's pre-conference workshops moved into its second day with this informative look at one of the more rare and unique incidents to which firefighters respond, as Woodbridge (NJ) Fire Department Captain Jeffrey Moran presented Railroad Incident Safety, Planning, and Operations in the Crude Oil Unit Train Era.

According to Moran, he initially became interested in presenting this topic after discussions with other members of the fire service regarding the high-profile derailments, particularly of high-hazard flammability trains. "This lead me to the realization that there is an information gap. The National Transportation Safety Board report on the Paulsboro, New Jersey, freight train derailment and vinyl chloride release highlighted this gap in information on emergency service/railroad interface and planning."

Moran's background includes working in the refining industry safety and fire protection field as well as in the municipal fire service in a city that includes freight rail lines, a freight yard, and petro-chemical facilities. He said, "These positions afforded me experience in dealing with railroads, petro-chemicals, and a combination of the two. I believe that by sharing my knowledge, experiences and the importance of planning I can enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and safety of fire service/railroad interface."

Here, Moran talks about the initial preplanning considerations a department must make when considering train derailment responses:

 

"Currently, freight trains traverse every state and province, and high-hazard flammability trains operate in almost every one of them. Operating on or near rail lines presents some unique challenges and hazards. Fires and hazardous materials spills involving trains are a different fireground than the fire service commonly trains for or is used to, and therefore it requires that strategy and tactics be adjusted to meet the demands of these incidents."

Moran continues, "The fire service needs to attain current knowledge and training, engage in planning, and establish railroad interaction prior to being faced with a significant trainwreck, or it will be playing 'catch-up' while the incident runs its path of damage and destruction."

Next, Moran talks about rail car reporting marks, which helps responders quickly identify the rail cars as they arrive on scene:

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Moran says that this topic also relates to, "The need for a dynamic training and education program as well as the need to continuously keep current while learning from the past. The fireground is constantly changing, but we must also be cognizant of history so we can benefit from the good and not repeat the bad."

Here, Moran talks about tank car class and specification markings:

 

FDIC International 2016 represents Moran's fourth conference visit. He says, "I like the large variety of subjects presented and the various view points of the many instructors, particularly in the classroom sessions."

The one thing Moran hopes student's take away from his presentation is, "That planning and interaction with responsible parties prior to an incident is critical to a safe, efficient, and effective operation.

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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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