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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: Dec 1, 2025

NY Department Takes Delivery of New Apparatus

The Gallupville (NY) Fire Department recently took delivery of a new apparatus, the department said in a Facebook post.

Here are the details:

“Tonight we officially took delivery of our new 8062,” Chief Michael Boomhower said in the Nov. 24, 2025, post. “This truck has been two years in the planning/build process. It will be used for our EMS first response as well as carrying our portable pump and supplies.

“We can also use it as a command post and rehab.”

The new rig is a Ford F550 diesel that holds five people in the cab and has a custom built 12-foot rescue body. The front compartments on both sides with hold EMS equipment. The rear compartment is a large rollout tray that will hold dirty hose and gear after fire calls.

All compartments are sealed and will not cross contaminate.

“A huge shout out to Marc Mazza at Bulldog Fire Apparatus for guiding us through this process,” Boomhower said. “It will be a few weeks before the truck is in service. This will make a great addition to our apparatus.”

The post NY Department Takes Delivery of New Apparatus appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Posted: Dec 1, 2025

The Value of Remounting: Breathing New Life into the Ambulance You Already Know

When an ambulance starts to show its age, deciding what comes next can feel daunting. Many departments assume that once a chassis wears out, the only option is to buy a new ambulance. But, that’s not always the case.

In fact, remounting—the process of removing an existing patient module and installing it onto a new chassis—can give a well-built ambulance a second life. For many services, it’s a practical, cost-effective, and efficient way to keep trusted vehicles on the road.

That’s the focus of the Remount and Service Center in Elkhart, Indiana, which opened in Spring 2025. Under the leadership of Matt Heflin, a 30-year veteran of the ambulance industry, the center specializes in factory-direct remounts for various ambulances brands.

WHY CONSIDER A REMOUNT?

According to Heflin, the answer starts with how ambulances are built. “The modules are designed to outlast the chassis,” he explains. “When the cab and engine are worn out, the box often still has plenty of life left in it.” By remounting, departments can extend that module’s lifespan—and factory warranty—by another decade or more. Heflin estimates that a quality remount adds 10 to 15 years of usable service. That makes a big difference for departments balancing aging fleets, rising costs, and tight budgets.

The financial savings are only part of the equation. A remount can also be completed in a fraction of the time it takes to build a new ambulance—sometimes in as little as 30 to 45 days. And because the crews already know the layout, there’s no learning curve once the vehicle returns to service. “It’s their same truck,” Heflin says. “Same storage, same setup. Just sitting on a new chassis and ready to be put back into service.”

Posted: Nov 30, 2025

Four FFs Hurt After Fire Apparatus Is Struck by 18-Wheeler

Four firefighters with the Houston (TX) Fire Department were hospitalized after an 18-wheeler struck a department apparatus that was blocking an earlier accident scene Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025.

Here is the department’s recount of the accident:

“Earlier this morning, Engine 104 was blocking traffic on on US 59 North near exit 151 in north Houston for a motor vehicle accident when it was struck by an 18-wheeler,” the department said in a Facebook post.

“All four members were transported to a local hospital with injuries of varying severities. All are expected to fully recover and three remain hospitalized.

“Blocking traffic on the freeway is one of the most dangerous tasks we do,” Chief Thomas Muñoz said. “We’re extremely grateful that every member of Engine 104 is expected to recover, and we ask drivers to slow down and move over when they see emergency crews working.”

HFD will share additional updates as they become available. Houston Police Department is investigating the cause of the accident.

The post Four FFs Hurt After Fire Apparatus Is Struck by 18-Wheeler appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Posted: Nov 30, 2025

ID Residents Mull New Fire District in Canyon

Dean Ferguson
Moscow-Pullman Daily News, Moscow, Idaho
(TNS)

Nov. 27—LENORE — Volunteer firefighters are kicking around the idea of starting a new rural fire district to cover an area north of the Clearwater River from east of Arrow Junction to just west of Lenore.

The notion was inspiration born of a touch of desperation.

This winter, from Dec. 1 to March 1, fire coverage will diminish as two of three fire engines have to be moved out of a county-owned, insulated pole-building that the Big Canyon Fire District (BCFD) leases and shares with Nez Perce County Road and Bridge Department in Lenore.

After a September meeting between three Nez Perce County commissioners and BCFD leaders, the county followed up with an Oct. 16 email telling BCFD to vacate half of the structure. The road department said it needs the space to store a de-icer truck and de-icing chemicals.

“That’s our only option for a shop because of the restrictions on Lenore Bridge,” said NPC Road Director Roy Hill.

Until now, the fire district used the whole building despite an agreement with the county that entitled them to half, Hill said. But in 2023, the Idaho Transportation Department reduced the truck weights allowed on the steel, wood and concrete Lenore Bridge, which was built in 1935. Now that the Sunnyside Bench Road is paved from Orofino to Lenore, the county needs the too-heavy deicer truck parked on the north side of the river. Hill said bags of deicer need to be stored inside or they absorb moisture and become unusable bricks.

BCFD fire leaders have a similar problem: fire engines need to be parked inside. Unfortunately, the volunteers were unable to find alternative space, said BCFD Fire Chief Randy Maas.

So, BCFD is moving two fire trucks out and leaving only one. The Sunnyside Volunteer Fire District will help pick up the slack in coverage over the winter.

In the meantime, Craig Selby, a BCFD volunteer firefighter since 2023, decided it may be time to look into starting a new fire district.

Some people may not be able to get insurance without a fire district, he said. And, a homeowner who helps pay for a fire district may see significant savings with reduced home insurance costs.

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Selby, Maas, and BCFD Commissioner Bruce Lang were all at an informational meeting held Nov. 11 at the Lenore Community Center where they discussed the new fire district idea. Early discussions with community members have been met with general support and resul

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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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