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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: Oct 10, 2022

Corteva Agriscience Fire Department Orders First Ferrara Inferno Industrial Pumper

HOLDEN, LA – Oct. 10, 2022   Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc., a subsidiary of REV Group Inc., and a leading manufacturer of custom built, heavy-duty fire apparatus, is pleased to announce the Corteva Agriscience Fire Department has selected Ferrara to provide the company with a Ferrara Inferno Industrial Pumper.

Top features of the Ferrara Inferno Industrial Pumper include:

  • Inferno Chassis
  • Cummins® X12 500 HP engine
  • 2,000 GPM Hale 8FG Single Stage Pump
  • 500-gallon water tank
  • 250-gallon foam tank
  • 90 GPM Accumaz Fusion Foam system
  • 48’ feet of ladders
  • Clean cab technology
  • Air Purification System

Corteva Agriscience is an agricultural chemical and seed company, active in the research and production of seeds, seed traits and treatments, crop protection, digital services, and inoculants.

This multipurpose response pumper will be used for industrial urban interface and petrochemical mutual aid responses. It will be outfitted to respond to such emergencies as petroleum fires, vapor mitigation, Hazmat, medical, technical, and confined space rescue responses.

“Safety was of the utmost importance in selecting this fire truck,” said Robbie Morris, Fire Chief of Corteva’s Fire Department. “Protecting our employees, our community and the environment were our top priorities. The increased pump capacity will allow us to flow more water for increased vapor mitigation and fire suppression. The engine will be equipped with cameras all around to increase engineer visibility when maneuvering around incident scenes.”

“The employees at Ferrara are honored to have the opportunity to build this industrial pumper,” said Chris McClung, Director of Sales for Ferrara. “We worked closely with Corteva’s Fire Department in designing a thoroughly researched, multipurpose industrial pumper that will meet the specific needs of this company.”   

This Ferrara™ pumper is a replacement truck for the department, their first new apparatus in almost 20 years.

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About Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc.

Ferrara, a subsidiary of REV Group, builds custom, heavy-duty fire apparatus for municipal and industrial fire departments. Located in Holden, Louisiana, Ferrara is focused on protecting firefighting personnel with a custom chassis line and extruded aluminum body that exceeds NFPA and industry safety requirements. For over 30 years, Ferrara has led performance standards by delivering custom-engineered fire trucks that provide maximum response capabilities.

About REV Group, Inc.

REV Group companies are leading designers and manufacturers of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts and services, which serve a diversified customer base, primarily in the United States, through three segments: Fire & Emergency, Commercial, and Recreation. They provide customized vehicle solutions for applications, including essential needs for public services (ambulances, fire apparatus, school buses, and transit buses), commercial infrastructure (terminal trucks and industrial sweepers), and consumer leisure (recreational vehicles). REV Group’s diverse portfolio is made up of well-established principal vehicle brands, including many of the most recognizable names within their industry. Several of REV Group’s brands pioneered their specialty vehicle product categories and date back more than 50 years. REV Group trades on the NYSE under the symbol REVG. Investors-REVG

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Posted: Oct 10, 2022

Cumberland (MD) Fire Department Seeking $1.3M for New Engine, Squad Truck

Cumberland Fire Department says a new engine and an equipment transport vehicle at an estimated cost of more than $1.3 million is needed by the department, Times-News.com reported.

A fire official said at a city council meeting recently that many of the vehicles in the fleet have aged beyond recommended guidelines, the report said.

The fire official said the department keeps two primary standard fire pump engines, with two typically older engines in reserve. The two primary engines are a 2003 and 2008 with the reserve vehicles much older, the report said.

The department would like to buy an engine and a separate rescue squad truck, which carries special equipment needed for car accidents, swift water rescue and confined space incidents, according to the report.

A new engine and rescue truck are likely to cost between $650,000 and $700,000 each, the report said. The department preferred a separate engine and rescue truck to a much larger combined engine/rescue vehicle because the smaller, separate vehicles navigate tight city streets and alleys easier.

The fire official said engines and support vehicles are in demand and hard to find and take 30 months or more to acquire, the report said.

City officials indicated at the meeting that the city must move forward on the fire department’s proposal.

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Posted: Oct 10, 2022

Lawrenceville (PA) Fire Department Celebrates New Firehouse

The Lawrenceville Fire Department celebrated moving into its new home Sunday with an open house for the community to enjoy, WENY.com reported.  

On the evening of July 27, 2019, a rescue truck in the station caught fire. The fire quickly spread and turned into a massive blaze that destroyed the Lawrenceville firehouse and most of its gear. Twenty-seven departments from NY and PA responded to help put out the blaze, the report said. 

Over the last three years, the department has gotten new apparatus and moved into its new firehouse September 1. On Sunday, Lawrenceville Fire was able to share its upgrades with hundreds of community members. 

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Posted: Oct 10, 2022

Case Study: Hydroplane in KY Results in Firefighter Fatality

Drive to Survive: Case Studies

A 30-year-old firefighter was responding in his personal vehicle to a report of a high-water emergency. The firefighter was responding to the fire station on June 16, 2003, to pick up a fire apparatus when he drove over a large pool of water on the roadway.

The firefighter lost control of his personal vehicle, traveled off the road, and struck the signpost of a large billboard. During the course of the crash, the victim firefighter sustained fatal injuries.

Driver Considerations

A crash investigation by the state police revealed that no speed estimate could be made based on the lack of roadway evidence. However, a witness stated that the victim firefighter had passed her on the roadway while she was traveling at approximately 40 miles per hour (mph). This witness later discovered the crash when she continued farther down the road. Based on this witness statement, there is evidence that the victim firefighter was traveling in excess of 40 mph on a wet road.

Fire apparatus operators must understand the dangers of driving in inclement weather. Although there are many issues to consider, this case study will focus on hydroplaning. As a tire rotates on the axle, the tire tread is designed to push water and moisture out of the way so that the rubber tire face can come in contact with the road (photo 1). If the vehicle is traveling too quickly and the tire is spinning too fast, the tire tread will not have enough time to effectively move the water out of the way. As a result, a wedge of water could build up in front of the tire. Eventually, the tire may ride up on this wedge of water and lose contact with the road. This is a hydroplane.

 The purpose of tire tread is to “push” or channel water out of the way so that the rubber tire face can come in contact with the road surface. (Photos by author.)

Driving a vehicle at a high speed on a wet roadway can lead to a hydroplane situation. The speed at which a tire will hydroplane depends on three major factors: the depth of the tire tread, the air pressure in the tire, and the depth of the water that the vehicle is driving through. A shallower tire tread will not be able to move as much water as a deeper tire tread. An underinflated tire will not be able to push the water out of the way as effectively as a properly inflated tire. And last, deeper water will be able to more easily overwhelm the tire tread.

Fire apparatus operators must understand the importance of slowing down in wet weather to give the tire enough time to properly push the water out of the way. Drivers must also understand the importance of avoiding large standing pools of water and instead try to stay in the tracks of the vehicles tra

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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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