x635

What about, if no one was injured and inside the vehicle, just pushing the car off the highway, which is the safest place, or at least to the shoulder. No reason to be on the highway for longer then we need to be. If someone is injured, the weather condition and location indicate a rapid extrication. I know I say "Down Here" a lot, but I think it's a different world. ALL police cars are equipped with push bumpers, not for asthetics, but to push the car off the highway. Apparatus follows blocking the scene to a T, but they work as quickly as possible to clear the incident from the highway. In severe cases where their lives are in danger and PD cannot get the vehicle off the roadway and the wrecker is not there, the FD is authorized to pull the vehicle off the roadway using a strap. And cops let the firefighters and paramedics do their job, and then they (PD) does theirs, or in conjunction with (crime scene). Everyone works together, and there is rarely any conflict. The trooper has to document why he closed the road, and can get written up for not keeping it open. This all stems it's way down from your NYS legislators who don't want their consituents complaing about traffic. Also, keep in mind...do you like sitting in trafic? What problems does a traffic jam cause? People rushing to get to work speeding through alternate routes. Secondary collisions caused by rubbernecking. NY Traffic reporters saying the Meadowbrook is shut down. I'm sure there is a little more to this story then is told.....they should have gotten the patient out of the car, into the ambulance, and left the scene for the trooper to deal with. FORGET cutting the battery, throwing down absorb all, stretching a line, etc. Get the patient rapidly and get out of there, and again, leave the scene for the trooper to deal with and wait for a wrecker. Document it, file a complaint, and don't go back onto the roadway until you come to terms with the trooper. Most of the time, the vehicle needs a wrecker and not us.

Staffing is taken quite seriously down here. Most departments in the area are very well staffed, trained, and equipped. There is no state income tax, just property and sales tax. Many communities have master plans, and are well prepared and positioned financially for the future. Before anything big is developed, they make sure that the funding will be there for city resources to support it. Here's some more interesting information on Frisco, all the very cool facilities located within the city, and why they have so much money: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frisco,_Texas As far as Safety town, they recieved a ton of corporate and private grants and sponsorhips. "Safety Town" is much in line with the FD's Mission Statement:

Thanks for the compliments on the photos, guys. I hope to travel back up there in the spring, I'd like to get some more photos of Safety Town. I was supposed to go up there in a week or two to photograph the Pierce Velocity Quint that TWH is making a replica of, but something personal came uip. That's because it is all brand new equipment (as of the 2007 model year) donated by the manufacturers or dealers. It's quite unbelievable to see.

http://www.lohud.com/article/20110106/NEWS02/101060359/Millwood-firehouse-hearing-planned-for-Jan-12

A few weeks ago, I had the oppurtunity to visit Fort Worth Fire Department Station 34. Being from Round Rock, about 3 hours south of Fort Worth, I'm not really too familiar with the Dallas-Fort Worth area "metroplex" and don't get the time/money to visit as often as I'd like. This station is brand new, and houses an Engine company (4-5 firefighters) and a brush truck. It serves a brand new, large subdivision that was recently annexed by the city and will eventually will be bigger then some villages or towns in Westchester in just a few short years. What struck me is how far out this station is. It's about 30 minutes from downtown Fort Worth and you have to drive through nowhere to get there. I never really figured the city to be that big. All the utilities and facilities are already built and ready for a community. Anyways, they recently opened Station 34: And were assigned a 2010 Spartan/Rosenbeaur ("General Fire Apparatus"- they dealt with them for many purchases until the buyout). I know they've spec'd their pumps like this for a while, but it was really cool to see it up close. I didn't get as many detail shots as I would have liked, but it gives me another reason to make a future trip! Weren't we just talking about this in another thread?: They were also assigned this 2010 Ford F-550 4x4/Metro Fire Apparatus Specialists CAFS Equipped (the local Crimson dealer in house build) MedStar, which is a hybrid EMS system, covers the complex. They are a pretty high class operation and keep everything and everyone in top notch shape, even though they run SSM. They even have a mounted EMS team (yes, they provide EMS at special events via horses) http://www.medstar911.org/

http://www.khou.com/home/All-woman-firefighter-cadet-class-out-to-spur-change-114513474.html

This is a Community College prgram. These women are putting themselves through the course hoping for an "express hire" or to volunteer (Texas does not differentiate between volunteer and career when it comes to standards). This program is totally voluntary. If they can do the job and can prove themselves physically, then I have no issue. In my area, it's not so much an issue. Austin Fire Department has over 70 female firefighters, and a female Fire Chief. You've got to admit, it is a male dominated profession and has been for a long time. But times are changing.

While some of your facts are true regardinng many of the problems being attributed to it being built at the end of Baker's era, it was never incorrectly maintained by members of Hartsdale. It was messed up from delivery. No two built by Baker at that time are alike, and the electrical and hydraulic systems leave you scratching your head. Hartsdale's TL is at Seagrave to repair damage sustained in a collision, as well as to fix some other urgent items. This is being done to keep it in service for 3 to 4 more years, when Hartsdale can afford to replace or refurbish/rechasis TL-15. Despite it's many issues, TL-15 is a very strong truck, and has served Hartsdale very well. Hartsdale had dumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into repairing that truck, which was done at Campbell Supply in NJ, which used to be a Seagrave dealer for FDNY. Now that a new Cheif is in office, Hartsdale is once again working with the local Seagrave dealer, Excelsior Fire Apparatus and Hudson Valley Emergency Equipment. This relationship will benefit the current and the future TL-15's. Excelsior is the same dealer that brought you TL-15, the first-ever of it's kind Pelham Manor refurb, and Darien refurb. They will do the right thing for Hartsdale. Seagrave really stands for quality, and now that it's in Wisconsin, and with the salesperson assigned, it WILL NOT leave Seagrave unless it's a quality repair. And now back on topic to Mount Kisco's ladder...

I was just pointing out the cycle of life for some apparatus, and it's interesting how it happens sometimes. I think NFVFD got a heck of a deal with that MKFD Truck! And NKVFD's truck was so well maintained, it is able to serve as a temporary ladder truck in Hartsdale. I wasn't saying anything bad or negative, just found it cool.

.The number sounds like a lot. According to the lawyer, Hopkins suffered brain damage and requires lifetime care. I'd imagine that if he is going to be in a long term care facilty for the rest of his life at 25, it's going to cost quite a bit of money. It also doesn't say if he has a family or any dependents. The person chasing him and the Town are cleary liable for his injuries. And to note, it says he was a passenger in the vehicle that struck a tree. I think the litigation is warranted.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/27/nyregion/27nassau.html?src=mv&ref=nyregion

Excellent point!

Cool, thanks! I don't know why the funding question just occured to me, I just wondered how different companies were funded since a Village does things differently in NYS. Sorry to ask so many questions, but will it have a pump, tank, or hose? I think MKFD made an excellent investment, and can't wait to see photos! And New Fairfield's old truck is now serving as the frontline ladder truck in Hartsdale.

I thought Greenwich FD had a house on King Street that they shared with a Greenwich EMS unit? It's awesome that residents care, but it will cost less in the long run to do it the right way first. Temporary band aid solutions always cost more and delay things. These people living in this section of Greenwich have enough money....can't someone provide a "grant" to construct this new firehouse?

FULL ARTICLE: http://www.lohud.com/article/20110126/NEWS02/101260316/New-Millwood-firehouse-finally-moves-forward

Thanks for the correction, I appreciate it. But doesn't tax money pay for the trucks? How is that distributed per company? It's good you're in a good financial place, but there are some talented members of that company and a lot of reasons for MKFD to have two trucks, being the "hub" or Northern Westchester. Too bad you couldn't get some sort of grant to keep the Smeal. That's only my opinion though.

The calltakers and dispatchers in my area are strongly taught NOT to encourage or in any way tell the caller to follow the vehicle. They are actually taught to try and convince the person to stop. If the person refuses to stop following, it becomes a "Disturbance Vehicle Urgent" and that gets officers to try and intercept, as well as Aviation to try and locate the vehicles. Most of the times this occurs it's Road Rage, which is a crime. This sounds like a case of road rage, and he should face several criminal charges as well, like impersenation of an officer, etc. Get the plate and vehicles description, make a police report, and if your vehicle is damaged, notify your insurance company. What was he planning to do if he "caught" the vehicle?

Hudson Valley Fire Equipment http://www.hudsonvalleyfire.com/ (Commercial website posting approved by x635)

Also to add, Hartford CT (like Syracuse and some other cities) uses Sutphen TL's exclusively. No straight sticks at all in their fleet. TL-14 is the primary truck. They also had the rear mount, for other areas of the village and to supplement operations. Despite having some very high density and important buildings in their district (like Northern Westchester Hospital, Medical Complexes,Retail and Indsutrial facilities, and Senior Citizen multi story buidlings amongst others), and the manpower to man both trucks, the Village forced them to sell the rear mount if they wanted a new TL. When they had the old RM staight stick, I witnessed them put both into operation immediately upon arrival at a working fire. It was a benefit.

It's a all new mold, but personally, from the photo, it doesn't look very nice. I don't know if it's the photgraphy of the model, but it makes Engine 63 look cheap and gawdy when it is really nicely detailed and customized. It looks like Code 3 has slashed their quality by going with a cheaper manufacturing process while raising prices. I wouldn't mind paying for the model if it was well detailed, if I could afford it. I'd rather save for a TWH release. FDNY Engine 63 http://www.code3.net/product/detail.asp?item=13063 Actual Engine 63 (FDNYTrucks.com) http://www.fdnytrucks.com/files/html/bronx/e63.htm

However, in many rural and poorer areas of this country, there are departments that would KILL to have that ladder! It's served Mount Kisco well, and I'm sure with some TLC, she has some life left in her. JohhnyOV- the SPH100 has improved on many of those problems, as you can see in these photos: http://www.emtbravo.com/apparatusprofiles/georgetownquint1.php It fits the needs of some departments very well, like Syracuse that has used them exlusively for years, and for other departments, it doesn't work for. But I think the SPH100 is a big leap ahead for Sutphen.

The error with the voting in the poll has been fixed. I apologize for the inconvienence, and please cast your vote if you weren't able to before.

Great shots! I love the candid!

Thanks for the info. The SPH 100 is an awesome setup. I'm really getting to like Sutphen, seems they have improved in quality in the past couple of years and offer a wide variety of midmount aerial options (I like Somers and Millwood's setup). A department near me has an SPH 100, and I photo profiled it a while back (note Quint 1 is now running a Truck 1 and an Engine company has been added to the house): http://www.emtbravo.com/apparatusprofiles/georgetownquint1.php And Mount Kisco's TL-14 is in great condition, the members have kept it really well maintained. It will make for a great addition for another department that needs a TL but doesn't have funds for a new one.

You are right, just why let a Paramedic's valuable training and skills go to waste, especially if it is a "fire service based" EMS agency? Why did the 12 hour shift trial go so badly? Do the EMS personel prefer the 8's?