x635

After many, many years of an outdated, poorly organized website, Wheeled Coach has finally redesigned their site to be relevant: http://wheeledcoach.com/

Joe, I truly appreciate your input. However, I just want to reiterate we have tried strategy after strategy for 8 years now to keep this site civil. It's a fine balance. No matter what we do, it's wrong to some people (not you) and they throw unfair accusations our way. I've probaly been labeled everything in the book. As staff, we basically just enforce policy, and if members were respectful towards one another and kept things positive and constructive, then we wouldn't have problems. And sometimes, I behave like some of the members, and I get called on it by another staff member. We have a really strong team of staff on this forum that basically works 24/7 handling everything that goes on in this forum. Every one of our staff members has a lot of responsiblity and a high workload, and this site wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them. We all work together on everything that goes on with this site, as there is a LOT of behind the scenes phone calls, emails,reported content, etc that goes on. We try to be as accesible as possible to our members and their concerns. And, it really bothers me that more members don't show appreciation towards our staff, regardess, for the above reasons. As for me, yes, I can make the final decisions and overide certain things, but I rarely do (like below). The all-volunteer staff of this site does a good job with operations and policy. If I have an idea, I will present it for discussion. I spend A LOT of time keeping this site funded, and doing the technical work on the forums, maintaining the server, etc. I also handle a lot of other administrative things which keep me quite busy. I also have a busy life beyond this site. That's why having such a great staff on the same level with moderation policy and supports me and this site is crucial. I love a lot of the good that this site has done, and believe we can always improve and be better, and I still spend every free minute that I can thinking about and working on this webite. Keeps me up for hours some nights. Sometimes, I will hire a babysitter so I can get the work on the site I need done, whether it is fixing a bug, helping members with log in problems or name changes, keeping up with advertisers invoices, trying to get new advertisers, some which I have to design ads for. I also just launched a site which I am very proud of that I have a lot of ideas for the concept that allows people who don't or can't use this forum to still be "in the know". Now, I usually discuss this with the staff before making this kind of decision.....but I would like to offer you a spot as a Moderator on these forums. I handpick staff based on what I see would be right for the site, and I think you'd be a great addition, as do the 22 people and probaly more who repped you. That way, you can see what goes on behind the scenes, and help to influence the policy on this forum from your viewpoint. Email me to seth@emtbravo.com if you want to take me up on this and help out this site. It's rare that a member comes along and cares enough about this site to make a resepectful post like yours, and I hope you will step up and accept the offer. You have also been a longtime member of this site and have demonstrated your ability to offer guidances in a productive manner. Seth G. Founder, EMTBravo P.S.: Please, anyone interested in becoming a staff member now or in the past can contact me VIA EMAIL at seth@emtbravo.com . I can't "overstaff" any more right now, but I will build a list for consideration based on what I feel the strengths of the kind of member that I need for a certain roles. It's nothing personal, and many of you I have considered but I can't make every great member a staff member....then we'd have no members! (BTW-wraftery I really liked your post as well!)

That's why a dual response with a Rescue truck would be warranted. Can they properly staff BOTH a Engine and a Rescue at a traffic incident with the minimum amount of trained respnders during the weekdays?? Cribbing's only as good as the people who know how to use it and get the most out of it safely and quickly. Why does every department have to have it's own Rescue truck? How are they supposed to get enough experience if they don't use it or it's equipment often? If the area had less Rescues, and an increased dual response system, then the firefighters would have a chance to actually apply the skills they were trained on. A Rescue-Pumper as a first due should be able to handle a two car collision if spec'd properly. Especially if they save space by putting a PTO pump on it since it's role isn't primarily a structure fire or pumping water (Barry cringes) Here's a Rescue-Pumper that carries plenty of cribbing (not all cribbing pictured):

But does every community need a "mission-specific" apparatus? As I pointed out, Bedford is surrounded by communities with heavy rescues. Why do they need one as well? Wouldn't a Rescue-Pumper and dual response be a more cost effective route? I think Westchester has more Rescue trucks per capita then NYC, and do less work. Yonkers has ONE Rescue company and does more work in a year then most all of the WC Rescues, and has just a big a district and more population, traffic, etc. And what about water? Bedford has little to no hydrants in their district, again, wouldn't a Pumper-Tanker like Tanker 5 be a better choice? I know there is no room in the current firehouse. I'm sure a lot of water upon arrival would be more beneficial to the community, and used more. Bedford Hills has the community support to build a facility to house it's apparatus that is proven to be used often and manpower when needed, why can't Bedford do the same? I understand departments use Rescues to carry other items, but usually it's something that should be labeled "Utility".

Awesome! I'm blown away and very jealous!! GREAT job Eli! Also, don't forget to visit Eli's site at http://www.10-75.net to see even more of his passion for fire apparatus photography! And, congrats on getting married and I hope for a blissful life together for you and your wife!

I'm guessing this will replace the unit that was aqquired by one of the local parks? Spartan/Gowans Knight http://www.gowansknight.com/poundridge%20page100711.htm Justified by the fact that they do a lot of search and rescue and rope rescue in the Ward Pound Ridge reservation. Doesn't look to be anything fancy.

Exactly. That's where they got it from and I meant to say.

Again, this is still going on. I am recieving numerous emails hourly from @aol.com users that I know use the same AOL address regularly. Please take the above advise, as I have put many of these addresses into my Spam folders, or "blacklisted". If you cannot reach me from an AOL account, that may be why.

Thanks, Sean, for the factual information. It's sad what gets passed onto the public, via distorted sources, and what the real deal is.

Wasn't New Rochelle spec'ing a Foam Unit for this type of emergency a while back, mostly to use as a regional resource for this type of thing? Or am I old and they got it already?

Waxahachie FD Battles Chemical Plant Fire, Loses Ladder Truck, 1,00 evacuated http://www.texas-fire.com/2011/10/waxahachie-fd-battles-chemical-plant-fire-loses-ladder-truck-100-evacuated-3/

It is. They don't have to require seperate PM. You don't need to fill up with diesel and gas. No noise in the box. I get the concept at the time. It takes a lot of work off the chasis, and you get better A/C and an easier to remount module. But I have a feeling the MEPS will be the next generation. This new generator technology is great, provides steady AC current and uses almost no space under the hood and frees up a whole compartment and you can go from 90 degress inside the box to 55 degrees within minutes. I think it will really take off when agencies see it at the Texas EMS Conference in Austin next month.

Why doesn't FDNY try redesigning it's module? (side note: Putting EMS instead of "Ambulance") I've heard it's basically stayed the same for numerous years. I've also seen other agencies modules adapt the the growing tools that the Paramedics carry without neccesarily changing the size. I don't know how things work as far as ambulance design, but maybe this is something that needs to be studied with input from the people who use them everyday. There are a lot of new concepts out there, and Wheeled Coach, despites it's reputation, builds expensive ambulances as well, especially when they are custom. Since they are now owned by the same company as Horton, there's going to be some mergers in the next few years. And the Horton modules were strong, I bet they could have refurb'd and remounted onto a new chasis every two years. Newark, NJ runs justs as much and just as hard as FDNY, and when I was there, they used Excellance modules that had been remounted three or four times. That's a brand I wish I saw more of. There is even a negative pressure concept I know one manufacturer is working on. It's not even about making it easier to access the needed supplies and room to carry more supplies, it's about crews lives. Have a compartment dedicated to that. And I don't think FDNY*EMS is turnout gear, per say. I think it is protective clothing, like is standard now with many agencies at fire scenes, traffic incidents, etc I know of busy EMS agencies, that carry a lot more equipment then FDNY, that have compartments like this. Some cities even inlcude lockers for personal items. Given, this is a firefighter staffed ambulance, but I have seen this in other ambulances as well. .

Sadly, I would highly doubt FDNY would spec that. That's like saying shift change points are "Stations". LOL. And it's not good to have your turnout gear in the cab in such a confined space. But I guess firefighters do it.

Just curious, what is interesting about the staffing?

He was an brilliant human being. Also, he lived an extraordinarily long life for someone with pancreatic cancer. It's coincidental that he died during one of Apple's major announcement perioed. I had heard the iPhone 5 announcement was delayed yesterday because he was in hospice, with his demise imminent. RIP.

I can't believe these people let themselves be televised! You would think they would be ashamed in some form. I remember a fire in Rye a few years ago. They could not get to the victims due to the extensive floor to ceiling, wall to wall, and the entire yard filled with trash. Despite recieving citations for City Code violations, they did nothing about it. Often, I don't think it is safe for firefighters to go inside these kinds of structures. The IC has to decide risk vs. benefit, even if there are people trapped.

In my Probie Class 03-05, we had a few members of this forum, led by another member who is a firefighter in an urban lower Westchester city, and an ARFF Firefighter at Stewart Air Force Base. We were taught how to handle small aircraft incidents, as well as large. If it were to crash into water, I know Yorktown Heights has a water rescue unit, and Somers a SCUBA team. I'm not sure of any other water rescue resources that could arrive in time to make rescues except for WCPD Aviation, if their Bell 407 is available immediately. I think an incident like this varies greatly, since there are so many scenarios for aircract crashes. For instance, on a quiet March morning two years ago, here in Austin, a guy who for two decades was after the IRS and didn't think he had to pay his taxes, so what does he do when he is completly fed up? He sets his house on fire, drives to the local airstrip, puts a barrel of gasoline in the cabin, takes off, and then, manuvering the plane through wires, signs, highway, etc crashes smack into the first floor of an office building that housed an IRS Resolution Center office around 10AM. Only one man was killed, not including the pilot. Primary search was completed at 5PM when the structure was deemed suitable to go into by engineers. The building had an evacuation plan in place that was practiced twice a year by city code, and everyone was able to evacuate without any fatalities. When firefighters arrived, they immediately sized up the scene and went into defensive mode, given the size of the fire. Personel were assigned to account for everybody in the building, and everyone was accounted for except for one. They extinguished the fire, and the building stands today. The steel structure recieved minimal damage, and required only a couple of minor repairs and replacements. The building is being rebuilt in the same steel structure, as a LEED certified building. But who woulda thunk something like that would happen here? And, there weren't even a lot of FD personel or apparatus on scene as most were not needed. Nobody knew of this guy's psychotic past. However, not only did he kill himself, he burned down their house.....and left his wife and child penniless and in the spotlight for his actions. I've found that a great IC can make or break the incident. If this were to happen at Westchester County Airport, it would be a cluster. You'd have a response from multiple agencies, all with their own IC's and protocols. I know there have been drills, but still with the large frame aircraft flying in and out as well as corporate jets and international flights, I wonder how it would be staffed during the daytime? I know if it were nights and weekeneds, every available person would respond or buff the call. Sources mentioned above are from the book, "Images Of America-Westchester County PD Protect And Serve" by Michael Lavin and Frank J. Donovan. If you don't have it and are interested in the very cool history of WCPD/Sheriff/Parkway Patrol and photos their equipment and incidents from their formation to prosent day, I highly reccomend it. Really amazing and very interesting photos from times gone by! http://www.amazon.com/Westchester-County-Protect-Images-America/dp/0738509515/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317851456&sr=8-1 Amongst "numerous aircraft crashes WCPD responded to", one photo of each is in the book: August 30th, 1954: "Navigator" plane crashes on the Grasslands Reservation October 21st, 1951: Military Plane crash at Westcheser County Airport

With all the recent coach bus crashes, I'm wondering why seat belts aren't available on these buses? Why are they exempt? Same goes for trains. I remember my school bus even didn't used to have seatbelts. I remember when they mandated them, with those giant metal buckles.

Here's the deal: http://www.statesman.com/news/local/current-drought-could-become-worst-ever-state-climatologist-1887398.html In modern times, this is a potential disaster. Actually, it's currently a disaster, and many disasters waiting to happen. With all the flooding in the midwest, would it be too wacky to build a water pipeline to Texas? What about a desalinization plant on the Gulf Coast (why are they so expensive, and could the cost be reduced) and water sent to various parts of Texas. I mean, NY built the Aqeducts from the Catskill's into the City underground in the early 1900's. They built the Alaskan pipeline. We do have active water conservation iniatives, but those will only go so far.... I hope this lady is wrong.

Everybody is trying to conserve water in a variety of ways. Sadly, with this drought, you can only conserve so much water. Everything, everywhere, is drying up. The City Of Austin will buy you new low flow toilets, and if you pull up your grass and put down decroative gravel, they'll also pay you. And their are other incentive plans as well......greywater, etc. Brian, can was borrow that Neptune system, lol?

What type of helicopter was it? I think I remember seeing photos at WCPD in their files of a either small plane or helicopter crash on the Bronx River Parkway in Hartsdale. I saw the photos in 2000'ish, I think the incident was in the 60's or 70's.

If you'll notice, in the back there are mounts for hanger for the helmet. They have one of those up front too, underneath the Lt's gear. I posed the helmet for that shot.

It's a Knox Box. It's mounted there so the officer doesn't have to climb up for the keys, or take up space in the front. Thanks! Up front, that is an MDT, with an arm to make it flexibile. It's in front of the officer so it doesn't obstruct visibily. The MDT in the back is mainly so that freifghters can write EMS reports. I will have details shots of the beautiful Engine 1 you posted soon.... There are some pretty tight streets in Bryan, especially downtown. Some of the structures and roads were built started in the 1850's. A lot of the industrial facilites were built in the early to mid 1900's, and have very tight driveways and roads. There are also some very tight residential areas. The Ladder runs only truck company and rescue runs. Since it's replacement cycle is longer, it is very well maintained and runs are limited (but don't mistake that-it is a busy department). The chasis and components are pretty much overbuilt. Except for the railroad areas, there streets are pretty well maintained and not like streets in the northeast, since they really don't suffer from the seasonal weather. From what I am told, it does handle like the beast that it is. On the slideout, there are some more ground ladders. I think the heavier ones are mounted on that, so it's easier then having to manually pull it out from the truck. You just pull the slideout out, and put the ladder on your shoulders evenly.

I've been told by a very reliable source that Somers FD is looking at ways to cut down on their response times. ONE of the options they are exploring are hiring firefighters. These wouldn't be "Janitors" or any fake title to get around hiring properly. They want to do it right and proper. Somers would hire off a Civil Service list, and follow the proper procedures to hire Career Firefighters that are equivalent to any other career firefighter in the county. Most likely, these firefighters would work during the daytime hours, to get a 3-4 man crew out the door with an engine. With Somers current response times, the volunteer members wouldn't be far behind with a ladder or engine. I have also heard they will turn their dispatching over to 60 Control, and use that funding for Career firefighters. I emphasize, right now, this is just an idea that is being passed around and/or studiedas I am told. If it is true, I applaud Somers FD and their commisioners for making multiple progressive moves over the past few years to making Somers FD one of the premiere FD's in the County.