Menu

Welcome

The Finest Supporting the Bravest!

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: Feb 22, 2023

AZ’s Grand Canyon West Airport Takes Delivery of an Oshkosh Striker 4×4 ARFF Vehicle

The new 4×4 ARFF vehicle represents the first Oshkosh Airport Products apparatus in Grand Canyon West Airport’s fleet


APPLETON, WIS. (February 22, 2023)Oshkosh Airport Products, a division of Pierce Manufacturing Inc., and a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK), announced Grand Canyon West Airport, located northwest of Peach Springs in Mohave County, Arizona, has taken delivery of its first Oshkosh® Airport Products Striker® 4×4 ARFF vehicle. The vehicle will support emergency operations at the airport, which is owned and operated by the Hualapai tribe and situated on the Hualapai Indian Reservation.

“We evaluated three different ARFF apparatus, and the Striker offered the features we liked best, with a strong reputation for quality and longevity,” said Rick Carlson, CEP ARFF airport operations manager with the Grand Canyon Resort Corporation. “The ease of access to the engine compartment for maintenance is also a key attribute which will allow our team to competently maintain the proper service protocols to ensure the vehicle remains a valuable resource for many years to come.”

Features of Grand Canyon West Airport’s Striker 4×4 ARFF vehicle:

• Scania V8 670 hp Tier 4F engine

• Water capacity: 1,500 gallons (5,678 liters)

• Foam capacity: 220 gallons (757 liters)

• Dry chemical capacity: 550 pounds (250 kg)

• Oshkosh TAK-4® independent suspension

• Acceleration of 0-50 mph (0-80 kmh) in under 25 seconds

• Hydrochem roof turret: 375/750 gpm

• Bumper turret: 375/750 gpm

• Dual agent hose reel

• Oshkosh Eco-EFP foam testing system

• On board generator

Carlson added, “I’ve been in the fire service for over 20 years and understand many ARFF vehicles are very different from one another. When you sit in the pilot seat of the Striker 4×4, the cab functionality and operator experience are exceptional. I can confidently say the vehicle is very easy to operate. Our crew also appreciates the Eco EFP foam system so we can facilitate all of our necessary testing without deploying foam on the ground.” Located on the west rim of the Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon West Airport covers 350 acres of land on the Hualapai Indian Reservation and is 60 miles northwest of Peach Springs, Arizona.

With approximately 150,000 commercial passenger boardings annually, a common destination for travelers is Las Vegas – located 120 miles northwest. “We’ve appreciated having the opportunity to work collaboratively with the Grand Canyon West Airport ARFF operations team to analyze their unique needs and help select the most advanced emergency apparatus to best support each critical mission they may encounter,” said Jack Bermingham, Business Unit Director for Oshkosh Airport Products. “Our team looks forward to continuing to build our relationship and providing dedicated training and service support in the years ahead.” To learn more about Oshkosh Airport Products and Grand Canyon West Airport’s new Striker 4×4 ARFF vehicle, visit www.oshkoshairport.com.

About Oshkosh Airport Products
Oshkosh Airport Products, a division of Pierce Manufacturing Inc., a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), is a designer and builder of industry-leading airport firefighting vehicles. Its flagship Striker® Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles are known for their durability and superior performance and are sold throughout the world. For more information, visit www.oshkoshairport.com.
Read more

Posted: Feb 21, 2023

Erickson-Hall Breaks Ground on Public Safety Training Center at Crafton Hills College Near San Bernardino (CA)

General Contractor’s Expertise in Public Safety and Education Facilities Converge with Campus Project

Escondido, CA, February 21, 2023 – On January 20, 2023, Erickson-Hall Construction Co. joined more than 150 members of Crafton Hills College leadership, elected officials, fire chiefs, and other stakeholders to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Public Safety Training Center at Crafton Hills College.  The new specialized fire training structure is located at 1171 San Canyon Road in Yucaipa, CA, about 15 miles east of San Bernardino.  The development was made possible by Measure CC, a bond approved by voters in 2018 to fund upgrades in the San Bernardino Community College District.  The new state-of-the-art Public Safety Training Center leverages Erickson-Hall’s experience building numerous fire stations and educational facilities throughout Southern California.

For renderings, click here.

As one of the premier public safety academies in the nation, the highly-regarded Public Safety Program at Crafton Hills College has been preparing students for employment with fire departments and emergency medical response teams since 1982.  The new facilities were designed specifically to accommodate the fire academy requirements for cadets seeking their certification as fire fighters, and will train students in conditions that replicate real-life emergency situations.  The new Public Safety Training Center is expected to be complete in December 2023.  This facility completes the advanced Public Safety and Allied Health Facilities constructed in 2015 on the campus. 

Mat Gates, CCM, LEED AP, President of Erickson-Hall, states, “We’re thrilled to join our design-build partner, WLC Architects, to enhance Crafton Hills’ top-tier Public Safety Program.  It’s very rewarding to use our expertise to help our future first responders pursue their passion—a career of service.”

About Erickson-Hall Construction Co.

Erickson-Hall is a recognized industry leader and has completed over $2 billion in successful construction projects, of which $1.5 billion has been for K-12 and higher education developments.  The employee-owned company has been serving the Southern California markets of San Diego, Imperial, Orange, South LA, and Riverside Counties since 1998.  Services include preconstruction, general contracting, construction management, design-build, design assist-build, lease-leaseback and program management for educational, fire, essential services, civic, parks, recreation, faith-based, office and healthcare facilities.  The company has an award-winning portfolio of completed projects and has received numerous awards for safety.  For more information, visit www.ericksonhall.com and find us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/erickson-hall-construction-company.

Read more
Posted: Feb 21, 2023

Ricochet Wins $40M U.S. Air Force Contract as Sole Manufacturer of Firefighting Structural Turnout Gear Through 2027

Ricochet, Along with Partner ADS, Awarded Second Contract for Fire Emergency Services Personal Protective Equipment (FES PPE) Both Inside and Outside the Contiguous U.S.

ricochet

PHILADELPHIA, PA, February 21, 2023 Ricochet, a leading manufacturer of Fire, Rescue and EMS personal protective equipment, announced that it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force to serve as the sole manufacturer for firefighting structural turnout gear. This contract, valued at $40 million, is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Fire Emergency Services Personal Protective Equipment (FES PPE). Ricochet partners with ADS Inc., the prime vendor for this contract. The period of performance for the contract runs through Q4 of 2027.

“This award underscores Ricochet’s strong commitment to serving the military and our ability to scale up to meet the growing demand for best-in-class firefighting gear,” said Peter Askey, President, Ricochet. “We are proud and honored to continue to support the U.S. Air Force as the sole provider of structural/turnout gear since 2017, and remain deeply dedicated to serving firefighters.”

Ricochet, along with partner ADS Inc., was initially awarded a contract with the U.S. Air Force in 2017 to serve as the sole manufacturer for firefighting structural/turnout gear ($45 million) and firefighting proximity gear ($23 million) for all Air Force agencies worldwide. That contract successfully closed in Q3 of 2022. 

Ricochet has a strong history in providing PPE to the U.S. Military. In addition to serving the U.S. Air Force, Ricochet has manufactured specialized PPE for the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marines, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Secret Service, and other Federal Agencies.

About Ricochet

Ricochet is an industry leading manufacturer of sophisticated, high-tech Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that is focused on protection, performance, and comfort. Ricochet has been headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for over 20 years, with all manufacturing and operations located in a single master facility.

In addition to serving the United States Military, Ricochet serves customers in multiple sectors of public safety by providing custom engineered PPE including EMS gear for the Philadelphia and Honolulu Fire Departments, Technical Rescue gear to all FDNY Rescue and Squad companies, and structural/turnout gear to multiple Fire Departments throughout the United States and beyond. Ricochet is a long-standing member of FEMSA. For more information, visit ricochet-gear.com.

###

Read more
Posted: Feb 21, 2023

WATCH: Car Rams Off-Duty Warren Township (OH) Firefighter’s Truck in Front of Fire Station

Warren Township Fire Department – Trumbull County, Ohio released this video and this post on its Facebook page Sunday:

“Today at 8:38, an off duty firefighter/paramedic, was pulling into the parking lot of our West Market Street fire station to finish an administrative task. While he was slowing down, had his turn signal on, another vehicle rear ended the off duty firefighter/Paramedics vehicle as they were making the turn into the parking lot. This is the 3rd motor vehicle crash recently in front of, or on the property of, our West Market Street Fire Station. This is the 2nd crash involving our firefighting personnel. Off duty personnel were called in to assist. The driver of the other vehicle and the off duty firefighter/paramedic were transported to a local hospital for minor to moderate injuries. Ohio State Highway Patrol is handling the investigation.”

Read more
RSS
First91929394969899100Last

Theme picker

Upcoming Events

Theme picker

Sponsors

Fire Mechanics Section Board

Chair

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Chair

Elliot Courage
North Whatcom Fire & Rescue
Read more

Vice Chair

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Vice Chair

Mike Smith 
Pierce County Fire District #5
Read more

Secretary

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Secretary

Greg Bach
South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue
Read more

Director #1

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #1

Doug Jones
South Kitsap Fire & Rescue
Read more

Director #2

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #2

Paul Spencer 
Fire Fleet Maintenance LLC
Read more

Director #3

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #3

Jim Morris
Mountain View Fire Department
Read more

Director #4

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #4

Arnie Kuchta

Clark County Fire District 6

Read more

Director #6

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #6

Brett Annear
Kitsap County Fire District 18
Read more

Director #5

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #5

Jay Jacks
Camano Island Fire & Rescue
Read more

Legislative Representative

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Legislative Representative

TBD
TBD
Read more

Immediate Past Chair

Posted: Oct 20, 2015

Immediate Past Chair

Brian Fortner
Graham Fire & Rescue

Read more
RSS

Theme picker

2020 CAR SHOW