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This one hit the regional medical center head on. Already 89 dead and rising. These natural disasters are becoming quite frequent lately. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110523/ap_on_re_us/us_midwest_storms

Best of luck to Chief McGrath! Stamford fire chief plans to step down after 41 years on the line Read more: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/default/article/Stamford-fire-chief-plans-to-step-down-after-41-1360454.php#ixzz1NTpnRu25

I like everything about it! Looks like it was designed with the firefighter and apparatus operator in mind, and to be extremly functional. The pump panel. Nice, simple, clean. Low hosebeds. Plenty of space. Very accesible pump maintaience doors. Great wheelbase. Full depth compartments on both sides. I don't know what the suprise it on the top of the roof...light tower? Can't wait to see more. Great job Barry and team!

Here' some interesting reading: http://www.sfcyonkers.com/feis/pdfs/05-ChapterV-Appendices/A-FireDepartmentLetter/IAFFLocal628CommentstoSFC09182008.pdf

I want to send my utmost condolences, thoughts, and prayers to EMTBravo staff member, dedicated Mamaroneck Village and Empress EMS (where he also works Hawthorne) EMT, and Larchmont firefighter Vincent Nienstedt AKA "ems-buff", and his family, on the loss of his father yesterday. Vinny's father struggled with a long term illness, and Vinny was extremely dedicated to taking care of him, kept a very positive attitude, and was there by his fathers side every moment he could be. I'm sure Vinny's dad will be proud over the years looking down on him.

It's so much different down here. The city or developer has to develop the infastructure (roads, fire hydrants, police cars, fire stations, ambulances, sewers, water lines, etc) before anything is built. How long is it going to take an YPD unit to get backup if they need it? How long is it going to take Yonkers Fire to get there for the first alarm, and for second and above alarms? With the distance away, will this cost response times in other areas of the city while these units are at RH? There's sure to be a ton of automatic fire alarms as the kinks get worked out. And EMS- it's going to add to Empress's burden. Some Greenburgh districts are much closer to this development then Yonkers units, but they should stay out since they are not going to see any financial benefit, only increased trafic. These communities don't think things out. White Plains is about to sell a $60 million dollar property to a school-of which they will see no needed tax benefit ever. Greenburgh wants to use the Frank's nursery property for town use. I think it's the prefect location for a new police station, EMS/Spec Ops facilty, and courthouse, but that's another taxable property off the roles in Fairview, where I believe 50% of the district is no-taxable, which is why they are sitting in obsolete, outdated firehouses. New Rochelle allowed these developments, but I know nothing about how those are funded. These guys are going to make millions of dollars off these development, and it's being paid for by the taxpayers! There's no guarentee there is going to be shot into the economy, therefore departments need to demand that these developments pay for infastructure costs before they get tax breaks. They would have built on that land anyway without tax breaks anyway, just another shady way to make money.

The Dashcam video from Texas DPS Highway Patrol has been released. As you can hear towards the end of the video, the officers states "10-50", "He hit a Round Rock Unit", and "Roll EMS:......the officer(s) thought the officer was in the vehicle. He wasn't, thank god. Dashcame video: http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/blotter/entries/2011/05/24/officials_have_released_dashbo.html

Which truck is this? FULL ARTICLE: http://www.lohud.com/article/20110519/NEWS03/105190426/West-Haverstraw-fire-co-celebrate-fire-truck-s-golden-anniversary?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|s

Just saw footage of two of their firehouses, both destroyed and the apparatus crushed underneath. Firefighters were digging to get as many tools as they can. Also, besides their two hospitals, their Medical helicopter was destroyed as well. (AP PHOTO)

The scary thing is, that that's not to far away from reality! In some places it already exists!

FULL ARTICLE: http://www.lohud.com/article/20110524/NEWS02/105240315/Eastchester-firefighters-police-help-deliver-baby?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Westchester County, New York

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/TOB/S/2011SB-01099-R01-SB.htm

So, what is this NYS Tax cap I'm hearing about? Will it affect emergency services?

FULL PRESS RELEASE: http://www.americanlafrance.com/interior.asp?n=22&p=4&s=22&a=195 Think it's a very good idea...there are some departments that love the LTI product, but not the ALF chasis.

I just don't understand why cities let the developers build without having the infastructure to support the development in place already.

Gowans-Knight will be hosting an open house at their facility in Watertown,CT from 11AM-4PM. See the event flyer linked below: http://www.gowansknight.com/IMAGES/Open_House_Flyer%5B1%5D042511.pdf

The larger bay is definetly for the Crimson Ladder. However, the other two bays still look tight. I know I read in the Scarsdale Enterprise that one of the requirements of the building is that it "fit in" with the community, liw Sacarsdale VAC, adding thousands to the project. I wonder if keeping the old building was a requirment, because it seems it would have been better to just tear it down. Also to note this is the police station as well. It will defintely be an improvement, but for a community like Scarsdale you would have thunk it to be bigger and better. Most new construction firehouses have plenty of room inside the bays to do apparatus checks, maintainence, etc.

Liberty Lines did need the system. Before, they had horrible communications, and even if they worked with the EOC, a lot of drivers were using their own cell phones because the bus radios didn't work. One example I have is here in Austin, we have a combined communication center. Our bus system is dispatched from that location as well. There have been numerous times where having the bus dispatchers in the facility have helped, and having the ability to interface during situations like evacuations is crucial.

The problem is, when an MCI does occur, everyone is going to want to go, and it's going to strip communities of EMS coverage, which is already strained in some places. There needs to be a task force concept. An MCI would be useless without strong leadership, and that's where the training should start. Doesn't matter what agency, if everyone has the same training, especially the IC's, then it should flow normally. Also, a large incident is NOT an MCI. An MCI is an incident that overwhelms your resources. Agencies like Empress and Transcare can pull other ambulances from their systems and completly handle the EMS portions. Same goes for Westchester EMS if there is a small MVA in Mount Kisco, especially with the hospital nearby. In the late 90's, there was a string of large school bus crashes in Yonkers, and Empress handled every one of them in house. Empress has also handled multiple other MCI's without needed mutual aid. Also, a Bee Line bus can be a simple solution for transportiing patients, and I believe that's why Bee Line was included in the new radio system. Of course it should be practiced, but I don't believe the mega drills do anything for anyone.

Scarsdale FD building is looking nice, fit's into the NIMBY neighborhood. However, I thought they were going to have all new larger apparatus bays. Bedford Hills, wow. When they do something, they do it right! It's good to see the progress!

Did John bring any of his rotators?

That's a cool shot of how that appears from an angle.

I like it! Looks like it was converted from a contractors body. I'm just suprised their are no chevrons on the sides and there's no light tower. But looks very affordable!

Excellent photos, Joe! Is the new Rescue 5 in service yet?

Just curious, how do they determine which areas a tiller would work best in over a convential rear mount? And has FDNY replaced any tiller companies apparatus with a tower ladder or rear mount? And Ferrara hasn't done a lot of things before.....but if they needed to I bet they would build a tiller. I'm almost positive they'll throw their hat in the ring for the Squads and the next round of Engines.