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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: May 1, 2025

Atlanta (GA) Police and Firefighters Will Train Together for First Time in Decades

Riley Bunch
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(TNS)

When Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens first took office in 2022, he walked into the middle of a heated fight over the city’s recently proposed public safety training center.

But after years of roaring public outcry, multiple lawsuits and violent attacks on the site by protesters, Dickens stood on stage at the sprawling complex Tuesday to celebrate the facility’s grand opening.

The mayor acknowledged the long road, fraught with challenges, in getting to Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting event, which also featured Gov. Brian Kemp.

“Getting here has not been an easy journey,” he said. “We did not expect it would be, but a number of factors made it more difficult than it should have been.”

The training center — pitched as a response to nationwide calls for police reform — was the source of 30-plus hours of negative public comment from engaged residents, multiple lawsuits, a wounded state trooper, the death of a protester, and dozens more facing criminal charges related to attempts at disrupting construction.

“I will not relive nor recount or breathe any life into that past,” he said. “We are here now.”

The city argued that a state-of-the-art complex would satisfy both the dire need for updated training facilities and demands for more community-based policing.

All while a grassroots movement known as “Stop Cop City” coalesced a diverse group of opponents: environmental advocates fearing irrevocable damage to the South River Forest, and people who worried about militarization of police.

Officials have estimated damage to construction equipment and police vehicles totaled more than $10 million. They also said the need for more security at the site is a big reason construction costs spiraled upward to $117 million.

Kemp, Georgia’s Republican governor who has emerged as a surprising ally of Atlanta’s Democratic mayor, praised the city’s elected officials and law enforcement leaders for seeing the project through to the end.

“They did the right thing, even when it was not easy,” he said. “Even though they faced incredible pressure to bend to the demands of extremist voices who do not represent this community, our capital city or our state.”

The 85-acre campus sits in the heart of the South River Forest in unincorporated DeKalb County and boasts state-of-the-art training facilities for both the city’s police and firefighters. Recruits will train on one of the country’s most advanced burn buildings and practice responding to emergency scenarios at a mock village.

Officials have said Atlanta’s new fire and police officers were previously training in outdated buildings and practiced driving the city’s massive fire engines in empty mall parking lots in the middle of the night.

Atlanta Fire and Rescue Chief Roderick Smith said the site is “more than just a new building” but a “historic step” for law enforcement collaboration.

“For more

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Posted: Apr 30, 2025

Bath (ME) FD Seeks to Restore Historic Hand Tub From 1800s

The Bath (ME) Fire and Rescue Department wants to raise $10,000 to restore the city’s first piece of firefighting equipment—the Kennebec Hand Tub, wmtw.com reported. It was purchased in 1847.

The restoration work will include disassembling, repairing, repainting, polishing, and replacing missing pieces. The work will be done and overseen by John Nighburger of Woolwich, Maine, who has extensive experience in hand tub restoration, the department said.

Once restored, the Kennebec Hand Tub will be placed in the entry to the new fire Ssation at 840 High Street in Bath.

The Kennebec Hand Pump was purchased by the Bath Fire Department in 1847. (Source: Bath Fire and Rescue Department)

The post Bath (ME) FD Seeks to Restore Historic Hand Tub From 1800s appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Posted: Apr 30, 2025

TIC Talk: Technical Rescue Applications

Thermal imagers (TIs) are for more than firefighting applications. On the fireground, they have allowed firefighters to perform various tasks more efficiently. But, the same can be said for the technical rescue scene, where TIs are used for a variety of technical rescue disciplines. Learn all about them in this episode of TIC Talk.




The post TIC Talk: Technical Rescue Applications appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Posted: Apr 30, 2025

Johnston-Grimes (IA) FD Holds Push-In for New Tower Ladder Truck

The Johnston-Grimes Metropolitan Fire District, along with community members and elected leaders, gathered recently for a push-in ceremony of its new tower ladder truck, the department said in a Facebook post.

The event, which took place at Fire Station 39, included a tower parade featuring the McKenzie Highlanders, a wash-down ceremony, a blessing of the new truck, remarks from city officials, drying down the truck, and the official push-in of the apparatus.

“Thank you to Johnston River of Life‘s Pastor Craig Ferguson for the blessing, the Mackenzie Highlanders Pipes and Drums of Iowa for their performance, and to the elected leaders and community members who participated,” the department said in the post.

Source: Johnston-Grimes Metropolitan Fire District.

Specifications

ChassisVelocity®
BodyAscendant® 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower
Actual Overall Height10′ 11″
EngineCummins X15
Horsepower605 hp
Front SuspensionTAK-4® Independent Front Suspension
Rear SuspensionAir
Electrical SystemCommand Zone™
PumpWaterous Midship
Pump GPM2000 gpm
Tank Read more
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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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