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Here's a photographic example of excatly what I'm talking about. Austin-Travis County EMS, TX has these on their District Commander vehicles (their EMS version of a Battalion Chief) These are activated at MCI's by the District Command Vehicle that has Medical Command. It's a simple green light on a pole that can be raised up in the air.

I'm just curious. It's 3AM in the morning, and you have a person down. You need to make forcible entry, so you request the FD. Do you use caution or any method to make sure your victim is not behind the door you're trying to enter? Now, do you also request the PD, and for what reasons? To witness the need to force entry, to secure the apartment afterwards? You are technically breaking and entering under implied consent when using forcible entry. What role does PD play in this, and what liabilities does the FD have?

If I'm not mistaken, White Plains was supposed to be recieving an ALF RM aerial similar to New Rochelle's this summer. I'm aware of the whole ALF shutdown, but production on existing orders seems to be in full swing again... Does anyone have an update on that? I know it's needed in White Plains, they've been running that spare since, last I heard, the aerial on 74 was no longer fit for service. Someone here must know....

Next photo set from Yonkers that I have will take you inside the new Mobile Command Center.......stay tuned!

It's a Hazmat Support Unit. Carries a whole bunch of high tech hazmat detection equipment and supplies.

Generator compartment, with electrical controls and reel in the compartment to the left...

Cab/Trailer interface...

USAR parked....

As far as the PD goes, they're often the first unit to arrive on scene, since they're mostly always on the road. PD, FD, and EMS are allies. As far as PD parking in front of hydrants, not all cops do. If it's a problem in your municipality, do something about it. Talk to the PD, maybe the officers don't even realize it in the heat of the moment. If PD can knock down a small fire with a extinguisher rather then wait 5 minutes for an engine company, and therefore save property, what's the problem? Provide Fire Extinguisher classes to the PD so they know what they can and can't handle safely. Better yet, a PD/FD interface course so we can learn from each other. If PD can use an AED to for a shockable rythm instead of waiting for EMS, shouldn't they go ahead and do that? What I'm getting at here is TIME. It is crucial, especially in rural areas and daytime where manpower in some departments is scarce. Instead of beating our chests, we should be looking at ways we can all work together to "stop the clock".

From the Los Angeles City FD Blog. Thought this was very well written. http://lafd.blogspot.com/

The Empress EMS family has had more then it's share of tragedy with their employees. I'm wondering if it's a good idea to create a memorial garden with plaques or something for those affected to go and remember and quietly reflect, and for those who didn't know these people, to show their respect and learn about them. Maybe I've been out of the loop and something like this already exists. If not, I'm sure there is some place in some park overlooking the Hudson that would be perfect. Empress has been a significant part of Yonkers and Westchester history for over 30 years now, and deserves something of the such.

I don't know why it affected me this year so much, but I'm truly upset about it. Tommy was a great guy, and it's completly unfair what happened to him. I also know someone else, who is one of the best people (albeit stubborn!) I have met in my life, who suffers from Lupus, and many complications. I think about her a lot as well. Her husband is also one of the most terrific people I have ever met, and it's devastating to him as well, but he holds up strong. Lupus is an autoimmune disease of unknown origin that primarily affects women. Basically, the body attacks itself until the job is done. There is no cure. Read more about Lupus here: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systemic_lupus_erythematosus" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systemic_lupus_erythematosus</a> , and please keep prayers that a cure will be found soon. Don't only Remember 301, understand what happened and put an end to it for future generations!!

They are, and where I work, they are 90% an actual incident. In fact, my past two LifeAlert calls turned out to be a stroke and the other one a respiratory arrest. The latter required forcible entry resources. Also, I've seen some EMS agencies carry forcible entry equipment and give training in it. I also feel PD should be given some training and equipment in places where they don't have ESU and do welfare checks.

Maybe I'm imagining things, but in the pre-Home Depot era, my father and I used to go to Llyods Lumber on Route 9A in Hawthorne to pick up supplies for a Saturday project. Later, this store became Tops Applianc City, and is now the Bloomingdale's Furniture. Was Lloyds a chain? I find it ironic, that years later, there is a Home Depot thriving across the street. In another irony, I had heard that Lloyd's used to be an ice skating rink that closed. There's now a thriving ice rink about 1/2 a mile away on 9A, across from where I first bowled at the "Elmsford Bowl" (now Sportstime) I always thought the Lloyds building was in an obscure location.

Let's take a Lifeline Alert. You know, the "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up". To get around the easy going in the windows scenarios, this is a 6th floor of a senior residence. The super with keys is nowhere to be found. The Lifeline Operator said the caller stated she was going to try and open the door, and Lifeline operator states she heard what sounded like caller falling to floor, and was unable to communicate with caller after that. Through the lock or rabbit tool with door control would be better then bash the door in, but who's responsibilty is it to replace the door and/or secure the apartment?

Yonkers FD's New Special Operations Patch (which will be found on all SOC apparatus and members) I don't know who to credit for the design of this cool patch...someone help me out? (Photo by me)

Another angle of the USAR....

Drivers side of apparatus. Please note the storage compartments on top of rig (additional cribbing, etc), TWO light towers, etc. Also, has on board compressor, generator, and hydraulic pump, all with multiple outlets and reels. More to be added on this apparatus, read billfitz's post above.

Scopes, Probes, Cameras, Ultrasound, monitors, and other hi-tech USAR victim detection tools....(all these can link to the command center)

Some of the pneumatic jackhammers and other equipment and accessories....

Some saws and other cutting accessories.....

Just some of the struts that are carried...

Shoring Compartment (more carried on the Collapse Rescue Unit, but this truck is capable of being self-sufficient)

The lift airbag compartment.....

When I worked in Police Dispatch several years ago, I knew of many officers that would write for failure to keep both hands on the wheel or distracted driving before the laws were passed. Sorry if this was already mentioned, I didn't have time to follow/read the entire thread.