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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 12, 2022

Photo of the Day: May 12, 2022

Rosenbauer—NBC Fire Protection District, Benton, MO, MP3 pumper. Commander 6011 cab and chassis; Cummins L9 380-hp engine; Waterous CXVC20 1,500-gpm pump; ProPoly 1,000-gallon water tank; FX 3⁄16-inch aluminum body; Lo Pro ground ladder storage; Rosenbauer sealed lever bank pump controls; Hendrickson SteerTek™ suspension. Dealer: Brian Franz, Sentinel Emergency Solutions, St. Louis, MO.

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Posted: May 12, 2022

Nancy Run (PA) Fire Company Goes to Seagrave for New Rescue-Pumper

By Alan M. Petrillo

Nancy Run Fire Company covers a population of 28,000 residents in 40 square miles with 30 active volunteer firefighters responding out of one station, and its district includes a lot of mileage along the Interstate 78 and State Route 22 highways, making the potential, and actuality, of a lot of motor vehicle accidents (MVA) that the department has to handle.

Nolan Rampulla, Nancy Run’s chief, notes that the department reviewed the fire apparatus it had in its fleet and came to the conclusion that it needed to purchase a new pumper that had adequate storage for the department’s rescue equipment, yet still be able to allow firefighters to fight fires well as a first attack rig. “Besides wanting a lot of space to carry all our rescue equipment, we also wanted a moderately low hose bed so our firefighters would have an easier time either pulling or reloading hose,” Rampulla says.

Robert Ross, salesman for 10-8 Emergency Vehicles, who sold the rescue-pumper to Nancy Run, says that the department looked at several vendors, and had knowledge of Seagrave pumpers because of their visits to the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), and the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department. “They told us they were impressed with the strength and safety of the Seagrave’s cab, and the durability of the entire rig. Ross says that Nancy Run purchased a Seagrave pumper on a Marauder stainless steel tilting cab and chassis, powered by a Cummins 500-horsepower (hp) X12 diesel engine, and an Allison 4000 EVS automatic transmission.

Todd Fell, regional sales manager for Seagrave, says the Marauder’s cab has a 10” raised roof and seats six firefighters, five in H.O. Bostrom self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) seats. Fell adds that the rescue-pumper has a Waterous CMU 1,500-gallon-per-minute (gpm) two-stage pump, and a 500-gallon polypropylene water tank. Wheelbase is 207 inches, overall length is 31 feet 11 inches, and overall height is 9 feet 10-3/4-inches.

The Seagrave rescue-pumper has a Waterous CMU 1,500-gallon per minute (gpm) two-stage pump, and a 500-gallon polypropylene water tank. (Photos 3-6 courtesy of Robert Ross/10-8 Emergency Vehicles.)

Above the pump panel are two 1-3/4-inch hose cross lays, and one dead lay, Fell says, while there are 6-inch master intakes on the left and right sides, and a left side 2-1/2-inch auxiliary intake. There’s a 2-1/2-inch discharge in the 24-inch extended front bumper, which also has a 5-inch intake and trough for 5-inch hose, two left side 2-1/2-inch discharges, one right side 2-1/2-inch and one 4-inch discharge, two rear 2-1/2-inch discharges, a Task Force Tips Crossfire deck gun on a 12-inch riser, and an electric rewind Hannay booster reel on the officer’s side with 200-feet of one inch booster hose.

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Posted: May 12, 2022

Cancer Protection for Federal Fire Fighters on Track to Become Law

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Federal Firefighter Fairness Act (HR 2499), which provides workers’ compensation benefits for federal fire fighters who develop cancer.

Currently, federal fire fighters battling cancer face extreme difficulty obtaining the benefits they deserve. All too often, federal fighters face an insurmountable hurdle in identifying the  specific exposure in their career that caused their cancer.

“Our mission to support our sick and injured brothers and sisters drives everything this IAFF does,” said General President Edward Kelly. “Let me be clear – this legislation is much more than a presumptive bill; it is a guaranteed benefit for our federal members who contract cancer.”

Added General President Kelly: “This legislation has been a long time coming and I applaud and thank the House for their vote. The next stop is the U.S. Senate. I urge the Senate to pass this bill as quickly as possible and send it to President Biden’s desk. Our members have earned it.”

The House’s actions to pass HR 2499 are the most significant step Congress has taken to address this issue in more than 25 years. Once passed by the Senate, the bill will allow federal fire fighters with at least five years of service to automatically receive workers’ compensation benefits if they are diagnosed with one of several types of cancer listed in the bill. Additionally, the bill creates a process whereby the Secretary of Labor can add other medical conditions to the list of covered illnesses in the future.

The bill passed easily in a final vote of 288-131. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced the bill and have led the fight in Congress to secure these benefits. “Representatives Bacon and Carbajal have earned the friendship of the IAFF and we are appreciative of their work,” said General President Kelly. “Let’s celebrate for a minute and then get back to work to get this law on the books.”

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Posted: May 11, 2022

Downey (CA) Getting New $1.8M Ladder

Downey city council Tuesday voted to replace its 2005 ladder truck with a new $1.8 million one.

The apparatus will take almost two years for delivery and will be purchased from South Coast Fire Equipment Inc. for $1,851,095.

Related: Downey (CA) Fire Department’s Station 4 Set for Repair

The predecessor will move to reserve status once the new ladder arrives.

The entire council meeting can be seen here, and the agenda memo can be found here.

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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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