Who is IFAMA
The group was founded in 1985 by fire and
ambulance technicians, based on the need for reliable factory training. Fire
apparatus are so unique that local vocational training was not available.
Progress in training and cooperation between departments has greatly improved
our technician's knowledge over the past decades. We can say this with pride as
our 25th anniversary approaches this year. As we have grown, so has
the industry. With the advent of the EVT Certification (Emergency Vehicle
Technician) and NFPA Standards, the need for quality training is paramount.
Thus, our main goal has been to meet these needs thru annual and quarterly
training along with testing thru the EVT Certification Commission. IFAMA
technicians will continue to focus on training and safety as it relates to the
everyday maintenance/repair of emergency apparatus, ambulances, support vehicles
and equipment.
IFAMA technicians are proud to have members who
have been instrumental in legislation of training, NFPA, ASE and EVT
Certification committees, which certify technicians by use of a national testing
procedure.
As our organization grew and developed we added
our first Expo. in 2003 at our annual seminar. This first year involved fifteen
vendors and was located at Jumers in Bloomington, Illinois. The next year as the
Expo expanded, it was moved to the hanger at Bloomington Municipal Airport with
over twenty vendors. This seminar was so successful that the following year it
was moved to the Interstate Center. By this time there were over thirty vendors
and the membership in attendance covered a five state area. Vendors in
attendance were Detroit Diesel, Pierce, E-One, Caterpillar, UL, Whelen, Federal
Signal, Fleet Safety Supply, Alexis Fire Equipment, Seagrave and Ford to name a
few. We spent a couple years at the Interstate Center till the next major change
took place.
We were approached by the Illinois Fire Chiefs
Association to merge our seminar with theirs. Since there was such a direct
relationship between both groups and goals, it only made all the sense in the
world for both groups to do so. In 2008 we had our first combined seminar in
Peoria, Illinois in October. This turned out to be a great success for both
groups. We were able to cut seminar costs which increased the benefits to all
members.
The training seminar and workshops scheduled
throughout the year provide in-depth education that our technicians want and
that are needed to become EVT and ASE certified. We strive to maintain a
dependable fleet in order for others to provide the reliable service our
citizens have come to expect in a cost effective manner.
Who can
join IFAMA?
Membership is designed to meet the needs of
persons involved in areas related to the fire service and the care/maintenance
of fire apparatus and equipment. This includes; firefighters/mechanics, fire
department and city mechanics, service center mechanics, fleet managers, fire
department administrators and fire apparatus/equipment sales representatives.
Any member in good standing is a voting member.
What is the
term of a membership?
The term of membership is for one (1) year
beginning October 1st and ending September 30th of the
following year.
What are
the membership dues?
One (1) year membership is $40.00. This provides
for mailings, free quarterly training and lunch.
How to join
IFAMA
Click here to download the
IFAMA application.
Fill out the membership application from the web
site and mail it with remittance to:
IFAMA
P.O. Box 505
Lemont,Il. 60439