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FULL STORY: http://www.ocala.com/article/20080227/BREA...731/1001/NEWS01

I heard a rumor this morning that the old Mount Vernon R-1 was given to a guy who deals in used trucks in Mount Vernon. From the information I got, a lot of the equipment on the truck, such as lights, radios, scene lighting, generators, rescue equipment, etc was also given along with the truck. I know it was sitting in the back of S-2 for a while now. Now, maybe someone from Mount Vernon or someone who is "in the know" can confirm this for me- is the truck just out for service, was it sold, or was it just "given" to this person? If so, what is the proper protocol for disposing of apparatus and equipment, especially in a department that's hurting for manpower and equipment? Or, if it's going to be donated, the protocol for donating to another department? Also, what does R-1 use for a spare? I hope this rumor isn't true, because even as old and beaten up as this truck is, for a busy city like Mount Vernon that can't afford new equipment, it still would make a good backup truck as well as a support service vehicle? Maybe it was just sold, and the money will be used to buy new apparatus?

I don't know if many people are aware of this, when I took the photo back in December, it's the first I saw of it. They use it as a spare Engine (/tease) Does anyone know who is responsible for this very unique, very creative piece? Whoever it is, AWESOME work!

I'm just curious how many EMS providers leave and wash their EMS uniforms and gear at work? How many of us wear our uniforms home, wash them in our family's laundry machines, put our boots in the closet, and our belt and accesories in our cars, etc. I'm a strong advocate that when you go in for an EMS shift, you go in in street clothes, change into your uniform there. When you leave, you take a shower and deposit your uniform into a hamper for the agency to wash and sterlize where neccesary. Change back into your street clothes, leave your boots and other equipment in your locker or sealed in a bag. Although certain situations may be to "busy"" for this, I feel it should become an important standard in maintaining our line of defense against diseases, and it's just good hygenic practice. I know when I have kids especially, I am not bringing that dirty uniform anywhere near my house......Unfortunetly, some EMS providers barely have the facilities or resources for this.

I'm just curious....does anybody think twice when doing public ed to kids in EMS? You know, letting them climb all over the inside of a ambulance? Persoanlly, most Urban EMS ambulances are filty inside....is that really good for a kid, especailly one that may have a weak immune system, to be climbing around in? Think about how often the ambulance module is COMPLETLY washed, scrubbed down, and made as clean and sterile as possible. Still, after some of the skelly patients we transport.....would you cringe seeing kids playing around in that?

Interesting concept. I can't say that I completly disagree with the idea in some cases. Check it out and tell me what you think. http://www.schertz.com/documents/01-24-200...ication_000.pdf

OK, so I know Scarsdale FD's old Engine 55 has been sitting dead at the Scarsdale Town Garage for several months now. While passing through Scarsdale today, I noticed this Engine sitting on the Crossway Station's apron. Now, I'm fairly sure that Scarsdale didn't have this piece last time I checked. Is this a loaner until they get their new Engine, or did they purchase this used? Does anyone know where this served previously? It's sad such a wealthy municpality can't do the right thing with their fleet....hopefully, over the next few years we'll see the new Chief change all that.

Fairview FD DEFINETLY needs the space! VERY long overdue!! I'm glad to hear Station 2 will be an entirely new building- that's the right way to do things. IMO, Station 1 should have a completly new building as well, but hopefully the addition will allow for more room in the bays. Hopefully the bond will go through.....and the ridiculous $30 million library bond that they approved coupled with the 19.2% raise in Greenburgh taxes won't affect things.

Is the Village Of Mamaroneck planning to replace Ladder 21 anytime soon? If not, are they planning to enclose the cab? Also, was this Ladder originally Mamaroneck's, or did it see service somewhere else previously?

NICE!!! They look REALLY sharp!! The front bumper looks really good too! (Also, very nice photo of T-2) Now, all I need to see is a Yonkers ESU Heavy Tactical Rescue on an Mack chasis and I'll be all set!

I went down to Mount Vernon this morning to investigate the situation. The Rescue, still fully lettered, is sitting in the yard of a truck part shop. Although the Rescue has seen better days, it's still in fairly good condition to serve as a spare rescue, even as a Technical Rescue Support unit. Look at Mount Vernon PD, they are operating with TWO Heavy Rescues that saw over 10 years of daily service with NYPD in the Bronx prior to going to Mount Vernon. I hope the City didn't force the FD to sell this, or the FD sold it for money (especially since the PD is allowed to keep theirs)........I give them the benefit of the doubt, but based on the past...I hope it's nothing shady. Anyways, here's the photo of it sitting in a truck part shop in Mount Vernon. A guy who works across the street says the guy aqquires used trucks, and parts them out...and what's not parted out is sold for scrap metal.

One of my favorite Tower Ladders in the world! I got a really nice shot of it today that I wanted to share.... Fairview Fire Department Greenburgh, NY (Westchester County) Ladder 1 2004 KME 100' Aerialcat Mid Mount Tower Ladder, 2000GPM Pump, 500 Gallon Booster tank

Greetings Darren! Harrisburg is an AWESOME show, it is GIAGANTIC and has all kinds of equipment both on display and for sale. It's inside several HUGE exhbitit halls. Numerous major and local fire apparatus manufacturers attend, and usually have the best demos they can bring from across the country (In past years, I've seen demo's from Phoenix, AZ Fort Worth, TX and FDNY, to name a few). There's all different kinds of apparatus on display, and many are "fully loaded" and spectacular, given the apparatus-loving culture of the area. It's quickly becoming one of the "must attends" for apparatus manufacturers. Harrisburg is not much of a "destination" though as far as the city is concerned. However, it is within an hour or so from Baltimore and Philidelphia, and a few more minutes from Washington, DC, all cities I highly reccomend checking out. I guarenteee you'll have a great time! I hope I can make it and meet you. Let me know if you need any other information for your trip. -Seth G.

Thoughts and prayers are with you.......hope you are getting better and will be out of there soon. I will try and stop if I can for a visit. -Seth G.

Found these photos online through another site featuring Metro North's new Brookville-brand locomotives. The one in the photo sports the classic "New Haven" paint scheme, and looks very sharp! http://dieselman.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/...pment-pictures/ From what I understand, funding came from Metro North and the CTDOT. 11 will be delivered, and used exclusively on the New Haven line (or at least that's what I'm told). They will be used for maintainences trains, switchers, and for shuttle service (like the Danbury branch).

Well, excuse the pun in the topic title. Police Departments wouldn't accept not having a Police Station. Firefighters WOULD NEVER sit on a streetcorner in the fire engine to wait for a call. So why is it acceptable for EMS to operate without stations to change in from streetclothes to uniform, rest and eat during downtime, decon, restock, etc. Also, it seems in many communities new paltial Police and Fire stations are being built or considered, yet often times EMS Heaquaters is an obsolete, cramped, falling apart DUMP. Where EMS does have a station, it's usually in a cramped room in a hospital, usually near the dumpster or loading docks, or in some other shoved away place in the community. Often times, many medics have to take "refuge" in a VAC, where they are considered "guests". I feel there are many reasons for this. First, EMS isn't a civil service, seperate muncipal agency. EMS workers are very complacent with their enviroments, and while many young people come in with energy and want things to change, after several years they burnout and don't care anymore. It seems in many systems no one wants to band together and fight for better working conditions. Some Police Officers argue they're on the road all day. BUT, they have a station to bring their arretees to, do their paperwork, to change, etc. Firefighters argue they need stations to keep the trucks out of the weather. So why is it OK for ambulances to be "out in the weather", and have critical medical equipment and supplies that need to be at a certain temparture either scorching hot or freezing cold? Also, another huge part of this is EMS provided by for-profit agencies. Often, their is no money to invest in the system infastructure, nor a reason to. Othertimes, EMS is often spread thin and has to cover such a large area, and roams around to where they are needed. Often, EMS is too busy to fully utilize the station. But the biggest factor is many communities aren't even aware of "EMS", what they do, how they do it, or where they "live". Ask a kid where a fire truck comes from, and an adult where the nearest fire or police station is. I feel that EMS facilities are a huge part of EMS life. I believe that taking steps to make our facilities better, or create facilities where they don't exist, would aid in recruitment and retention of personel. I know on my part, in some systems I have worked in, it would have made life a heck of a lot easier to have stations. In the systems I worked that did have stations (proper and dedicated stations that were maintained), it was a heck of a lot easier.

But that's not just the Medic School's fault. Again, I blame a lot of it on the agencies, and the "you have a pulse, we'll hire you" syndrome. A for-profit agency, or agency with limited funding or high turnover, isn't going to invest a lot in their employees. EVERY system needs FIELD Supervisors/Evaluators, training staff, mandatory in-house training and skill recertification, and other tools so they can BUILD or REPAIR on what the Medic School taught or didn't teach...which is also where the academy would come in. Just like you're not going to have a perfect firefighter or cop right out of the gate....you're not going to have a perfect medic. However, PD and FD oversight of new employees is a LOT stricter and more comprehensive then 95% of EMS Agencies.

Why would it hurt EMS? EMS, as it currently stands, has a huge problem. You have commercial, for profit ambulance medical transportation companies calling themselves EMS agencies, and real Emergency Medical Services agencies. The whole line between the two is blurred. EMS SHOULD be a Civil Service job. EMS is just as important and is just as much a part of an emergency response as PD or FD. There's absolutely no reason why Paramedic's and EMT's shouldn't be afforded the oppurtunity for job security, reasonable pay, good benefits, and a pension. Also, if you made EMS a Civil Service job, with a competitive test including a physical agility component, I'm sure you'll get higher quality people. Also, if you put these same people through an EMS Academy, just like the PD and FD academy, they'd come out better for it. Take Boston EMS and Austin-Travis County EMS. Both are third service, municipal agencies. Both have strict and comprehensive hiring standards. It's a competitve process. Both have comprehensive academies, and high standards to meet both clinically and operationally once you hit the street. Both offer excellent pay, benefits, and equipment. Why can't we do the same here in Metro NY? Also, about the Medic School comment. There are still some Medic Schools around that do the right thing. The Medic School I attended REQUIRED mandatory GPA's, etc etc. However, some schools nowadays are more interested in the money that the administration is forcing them to take in, then the product they put out on the street. Again, just like a FF or PD Officer starts fresh into an academy, the same should be done for EMS to ensure consistent quality providers that are all on the same level. Don't lump every EMS provider into the same category, or stereotype everyone based on certain individuals.

A background check for arson is useless, unless you're a serial arsonist. As a career firefighter, you're subjected to a full psychological examination as part of the application test. Granted, as Jack said, this test doesn't have a crystal ball that will tell how someone's personality may change as they mature, or their life changes, etc-but at least it's a potential. The major problem with this, not only the property loss, but he chose to put his own brothers in danger with a single, wreckless decision. I'm also curious, he's expected to pay $1 million in restitution....where is he going to get that kind of money, especially if he's in jail?

Driving home Saturday night on I-95 in Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey, the Troopers were out in full force pulling people over left and right. On the dark, rural portions of the road, their LED's are so bright, they almost blinded my already tired eyes. VERY distracting. I saw one trooper standing at the drivers window in a dark stretch after that bridge in Maryland (forget the name) and you could hardly see him over the lights. (plus he didn't have a reflective vest, which is a different story) I've also heard CT State Troopers tell me they hate them too, when they are responding or walking back to their vehicle, etc. We shove all these LED's onto our vehicles nowadays, since their so easy to wire and compact. More and more lights are on emergency vehicles ever before. And brighter, too. I wonder when someone will come up with what's enough for a lighting package....and maybe a daytime high intensity, nighttime low intensity modes.

Date: 2-21-07 Time: 08:50hrs Location: Stone Ave @ Lincoln St Frequency: Units Operating: FFD E-174, E-176, Hartsdale Engine 170, GPD, Westchester County Hazmat Description Of Incident: Oil tanker rolled over with approx 2,500 gallons of product on board, unknown if leaking intially. The vehicle was stabilized and a precautionary line was pulled. Only some diesel from the trucks saddle tanks leaked, the oil onboard the tanker was offloaded to another tanker. FFD stood by while the tanker was uprighted and removed. Writer: HFD23, x635 Fairview units were operating at another MVA on Hillside ave. So E-175 was tied up, E-176 responded from that location. Hartsdale Engine 170 was on standby in Hartsdale's Quarters.

Yonkers FD Engine Companies have two different layouts now, one for companies with the standard Yonkers Hose bed layout, and the companies with LDH. Maybe someone could explain this further, I just thought showing the two comparison photos would interest some.

I don't know about you guys, but this is the first ambulance I have seen on the new Ford E-Series chasis, and just as I thought, it looks SICK! Norwalk (CT) Hospital EMS has taken delivery of this 2008 Ford E-450 (Diesel)/1999 Lifeline Superliner remount (the module is from the old 402) Sorry about the lighting, I hope to get better shots in the next couple of weeks. For now, check out the Spy Shots here: http://www.emtbravo.com/SpyShots/NorwalkNew405.html

I found this story to be intersting and unique.