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10-13 for one of our staff members. Vinny is a very giving, compassionate, and caring person. He's a member of Empress EMS, where he works Yonkers and Hawthorne. He volunteers at Mamaroneck EMS. He is a firefighter with Larchmont FD. He is also a active member and moderator here on EMTBravo.com His enormous heart and enthusiastic spirit has been helping the community almost 24/7. And, when home, he doesn't rest....he had seen his father through his illness ups and downs for many years, passing away recently with Vinny by his side. His mother had also been ill, and now is critically ill. Vinny has been taking care of that, and all of the household burdens including the bills. Please come out and support our awesome colleague!

REMINDER: THIS EVENT IS TONIGHT

Metro-North worker stable after being hit by train in Croton-Harmon yard http://www.lohud.com/article/20110601/NEWS02/106010354/Metro-North-worker-stable-after-being-hit-by-train-Croton-Harmon-yard?odyssey=mod|lateststories First, best wishes for a speedy recovery to the MN employee involved. Since the Croton-Harmon Rail Yard is so sprawling and includes a variety of trains, tracks, and equipment, do members of Croton FD Rescue 20 recieve training above and beyond the standard Metro-North training for FD's? Also, I think they have a fire brigade in house- do they respond as well? And, this was a while ago and I forget his car number, but he was Chief of Metro North Emergency Services and responded to Metro-North related incidents for technical advice? And, if it's on Metro-North property (railroad right of way, etc) is it considered Metro North jurisdiction (beyond PD) I guess same would go for North White Plains FD, Fairview FD, and Stamford FD, which also have large MN facilites.

Off: On:

I don't know yet what the response plan is, Bedford Hills has a structured and defined response. The hosebed is far from tiny, and will carry a variety of different hoses, sizes, and discharge appliances. This includes not only the hosebed, but a front trash line, crosslays, rolls stored in wells at the pump panel on both sides, and a pre-connected Blitzfire portable monitor. Generator is hydraulic, noise is minimal. Deck gun is in the standard spot where it is on hundreds of engines. Some specs, I will get more: -Seating for eight (8) fire fighters -Cummings ISM 500 without DPF or SCR -Waterous 2000 GPM Dual Stage Pump -Harrison 20KW Hydraulic Generator -9000 Watt Wilburt Nightscan Light Tower.

For those members who have asked, I will be setting up a fund via EMTBravo for Vinny for those who can't attend the event.

Another question....if the OEM "rubber ducky" antenna works somewhat inside the car, why wouldn't another antenna?

Awesome photos! I am jealous....I really wish I could have attended! The fact that the Greenburgh Mack was there was just more of an incentive to attend. But thankfully, these photos are just as good as being there. Thanks for taking and posted such great shots!

I am thinking about the back deck just behind the back glass. I really don't want anything that's not OEM outside the car. The wiring will be cleaned up nicey-nice once everything is installed. I do- but with the exceptional drought down here, it will get dusty and dirty very soon again.

They are entitled to an appropriate EMS response, and they get one from Somers FD. At the same time, you can't be taxing resource in the district to the breaking point. You need to make ajustments or additions to your system to handle call volume. In Somers, a typical EMS call takes 2+ hours. If you work EMS long enough, you should know that paid EMS has those places that we hate going to....now, being a volunteer and having to go to this location repeatedly (and let's include the nursing home in Somers too) is not fair, especially when there are other solutions in places. On some of these calls, they require the ALS provider, 45-M-2, to ride in routine ALS or even BLS. That takes the medic away from the district. If they need 45-M-1 or 45-M-3, then that takes ALS away from other communities. But, those areas don't want to pay for proper ALS staffing. You can't let the volume of calls out of one area consume your agency.

OK, so the OEM "rubber ducky" antenna sucks. So, I got a SpectrumForce All Band Mobile antenna. Would this work if I mounted it INSIDE my trunk? I really don't want to mount it on the exterior. I also got a really good deal....the GPS kit for determining which systems are cloe by and automtically tunes into them is coming tommorow.

Greenburgh really does need a new police station, and this property would be perfect. I think it should have become a supermarket or home improvement store a LONG time ago, but it's been sitting not generating any money. The current GPD Headquarers would probaly bring in more money, due to it's prominent positioning on the busy Route 119. This could include a garage for ALL Greenburgh PD vehicles, especially their SOD apparatus. Also, I think the property is big enough, if used right, to include a police and fire training center and EOC. It would have also made a perfect Town Hall site several years ago when they were looking. $3.3 Million should be nothing to Greenburgh, especially considering they spent $30+ Million on a new Library that was outrageously designed. (I wish it had just stayed Flower Time...they had a cool Haunted House!) FULL ARTICLE: http://www.lohud.com/article/20110224/NEWS02/102240340/Greenburgh-considers-uses-abandoned-nursery-property?obref=obinsite

Today, I managed to catch an oppurtunity to photograph a firescene in the City Of Austin. Although it was out and being overhauled by the time I arrived, I still managed to get some shots. I don't usually buff fires, unless they are nearby and I am already out. I don't think I've photographed a fire scene since 2006. Down here they have fires every day, but it's not news unless it's a big fire. Upon arrival of first due Engine 34 and first due truck Quint 38, heavy fire upon arrival from the attic area. CAFS knocked the fire down dead cold in it's tracks. Please note it's almost 100 degrees out during this fire. All photos by me.

FULL ARTICLE: http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20110605/NEWS01/106050379/Fairview-firefighters-raise-concerns-over-staff-shortage?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|PoughkeepsieJournal.com

I added some more E-One photos to my original post. That sucks about the E-One plant. Did they say why? Liability or "product development" issues?

San Antonio,TX FD Spare Ladder Cedar Park, TX Engine 1 City Of Poughkeepsie, NY Ladder 2 Boston FD Tower 3: Scarsdale, NY Ex-Engine 55 Newark, NJ Spare Jersey City, NJ FD Ladder 2 Worcester, MA Ladder 1: East Fishkill, NY New Hackensack NY LaGrange FD: On Mahopac Engine 2:

Thank you for your service to our country! Also, an excellent piece you wrote.

At least from what I've witnessed, a fire call will most always trump a EMS call.

Well, they can find the funding for a 70+ million dollar library that's already falling apart, but as far as a Police station: (Source: LoHud.com) I understand it will bring in tax revenue, but so will their current headquarters on the busy Route 119 corridor that has more visibility. http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011106080317

I'm not sure, but they fund security and other things....maybe like an HOA fee. Heritage Hills has, in my opinion, a negative effect on Somers volunteers. Think about those places you always go to and how annoying it can be when you're paid......now would you do it on a volunteer basis? Maybe IBM or Pepsi could fund a grant?

Excellent post, Bill! Having been Bill's partner at Empress, having worked 45-M-2, and having dispatched Somers, I've got an opinion (dated though). One of the things that kills/burns out Somers EMS is Heritage Hills. They have EMT's who work Security, can't they also staff a bus? Or maybe contract with WEMS? And I strongly agree with going to 60 Control, something that has been suggested by numerous Cheifs of Somers FD over the years, and the commisoners always knock it down, with the fear of "losing control". With the money they pay WEMS for 2 dispatchers, they could use that to staff two (more) EMT's. Somers has tried numerous things over the years to improve EMS. My personal opinion is that Somers run two career EMS ALS buses 24/7 out of Lincolndale and Somers houses, and work with Heritage Hills to contract with WEMS, which could be very lucrative (but it takes away from other Somers residents).

OFFICER WAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE SETTING SPIKE STRIPS AND WAS NOT HURT. This was the result of a pursuit of a triple homicide suspect that just occured. I believe the vehicle that struck the cruiser was a Ford Mustang newer model. The perp didn't make it. STORY: http://www.statesman.com/news/local/police-triple-homicide-suspect-may-have-swerved-to-1467153.html?cxtype=rss_ece_frontpage

Excellent photos, Kurt!

Thanks, Pete. Austin FD used to love the Quantums because the tilt of the cab made maintenece easy, it was easy to get in and out of the very spacious cab lots of room for firefighters and equipment, the A/C was strong,and great visibilty for the driver.Plus the engine and cramp angle only worked in the Quantum at the time. After last year's Contender's that were delivered (4) you will see Pierce Impels for Engines, Pierce Velocity PUC's for Quints, and a Pierce Velocity Heavy Rescue. Pierce is also reportedly going to try and phase out the Quantums, and are pricing them VERY HIGH. Also, you may see aluminum aerials.I will post photos later. As far as Jollyville,from what I am told, their "paid firefighters" are atually paid volunteers, who man the station in shifts.Most go on to be career firefighters in other departments. It technically is in a grey area between Travis County and Williamson County. They do have very mixed first due but with the area exploding in population, I strongly see both Cedar Park and Austin annexing the currently unincorporated area in the next few years. (In fact, their two assitant Chiefs work for Austin FD and Lake Travis FD, both adjacent career departments) Austin just built a large new station right down the road, which opened last year. Austin-Travis County EMS and Williamson County EMS also covers this area Austin PD also covers this area in Adam sector.. Also, calls are dispatched by the communication center it comes in to (Williamson County or Austin Travis County CTECC). Austin FD dispatches for ALL dpeartments in Travis county Listening to the radio and seeing them on scene, it is my suspicion that they "buffed" the fire. Austin still beat them to the fire. Their ISO rating is only in theory, they have a strong hydranted district plus stuff on paper. Confused? There was a foot between the fence and exposure side B. It caused the fence to become involved. Firefighters also pulled off the planks of a nearby fence to gain safe access to the exposure. The part they knock down they repaired easily on scene, and the part they burnt up is the neighbors problem.

Tornado 'watch' issued for metro area till 8 p.m http://www.lohud.com/article/20110601/NEWS/110601003/Tornado-watch-issued-metro-area-till-8-p-m-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage