x635

Photos of Engine 6, almost ready to go into service, are posted on EMTBravo.com at the following link: http://www.emtbravophotos.com/NewDeliverie...amfordE607.html

So, based on the fact that I'll hopefully be living just a little north of the area sometime soon (grrr on the housing market), I took the Jones Family Farm reccomendation. We went to get our tree this afternoon. It was AWESOME! I couldn't believe the amount of trees they still had-rolling hills with hundreds of acres of beautiful trees. A very busy but very organized operation. I hope this place stays around for a while, and no greedy developer gets his hand on it. If it wasn't for this board, I would have never knew this place existed....and this will be the official Christmas Tree place from now on! I couldn't imagine NOT cutting down a tree ourselves! Thanks guys! And, coming up on the Merritt Parkway, one out of every 5 cars had a tree almost guarenteed from this place on their roof. Jones Family Farms, Shelton CT- HIGHLY RECCOMENDED!!!! http://www.jonesfamilyfarms.com/ (P.S. Joe (Izzy) I really want to check out Derby, Ansonia, and Shelton some more....seems like really cool towns) Here's me with the tree, right before I take it's life so it can sit in my living room for a month and then get tossed out....but I guess it's good in a way, it keeps money in agriculture and the tree usually reused somehow benefical. Plus, it's pretty and smells nice and puts me in the Christmas spirit.

Here's a comparison shot of the two paint schemes I got today. I'll post a couple more later.

I photographed Engine 6 today. Special thanks to all those involved. The complete set of photos will be posted on http://www.emtbravo.com later this weekend, here's a teaser.

Stamford, CT recently took delivery of this 2007 Ford F-450 Super Duty/Horton. I believe it is their 1st (?) ambulance with the chevrons. I really like the look, I think it adds visibility. Photo by me.

Sorry, I meant Phoenix AZ, not Florida although I have seen some districts in the Orlando and Fort Lauderdale areas with them. Here are two versions I saw while in Phoneix in September. May have something to do with the desert heat, but I know there are other reasons as well.

This is just another EMS band-aid and politco thing. EMS should be it's own entity, just like FD and PD. Goverment funded, civil service. That's what the lobbying should be for-some kind of bill that would help that along. I would like to see the Senators introduce grants and incentives that help communties form their own civil-service EMS ALS/BLS agency or district. Give the Paramedics and EMT's civil service status, good benefits, job security, and entry into the State Retirment system. Also, outlaw current pseudo-civil service agencies that staff with per-diem or part time only, make those employers give their employees the benefits they deserve

I'd love to learn to play the guitar or drums.....I don't think I have the rythm or natural skill needed though. Is it really hard to learn? I know they have all kinds of things to help you learn nowadays, but do they really work and don't you really have to have natural talent? I also wish that I could sing. And have my own band similar to Stone Sour, Disturbed, Adema, etc...but that isn't ever going to happen, lol! I

I don't practice any religion, but I do believe in god. With that said, I feel that Christmas has become two seperate things. A religous event, and, well, the Christmas that we know with presents, giving, holiday parties, Santa etc. There is seperation of Church and State. It is one thing to put up some Christmas Decorations and a Menorah, but I think a manger is taking it a little too far. However, if one religous display is going to be up, then should anyone else should be free to make a display about their holiday as well at the same location? Put it in this perspective- if you sent your child who has no religous affiliation to public schools, and the teacher and school tried to push the religion they believed in, would you be upset? It's a very conflicted and contradicting holiday. I mean, Christmas is a federal Holiday (seperation of Church and State?), but Hannukah and other holidays are not? Where is the line drawn?

FULL STORY: http://www.nbc6.net/news/14784355/detail.html

Nice shots, Duane! Thanks for sharing them with us. I hope I can make it out to San Diego this winter! Looks like plenty of new stuff to shoot!

From what I've seen at various trade shows and other experiences, Crimson builds a quality, progressive apparatus, including their aerial line. The engineering in the ladder is propriatary, and they manufacture all their aerial devices and bodies themselves in Lancaster, PA (with former staff from LTI, I believe). One of the features I really like is the outrigger leveling system: http://www.crimson-fire.com/crimson/images.../spiritlake.jpg Dallas, TX's operates a complete Spartan/Crimson TDA: http://www.crimson-fire.com/crimson/images...llasaerial3.jpg I've heard Ardsley is also looking into a Crimson aerial, Hartsdale was looking at Crimson for an Engine but that didn't pan out.

I was wondering why I didn't hear anything when I turned on my scanner after hearing the sirens of HFD! I am so out of the loop. Does anyone have the Tone Out code for Hartsdale on 46.26, so I can set the alert for my scanner?

In California and Florida, they have "Union Buster" garbage trucks. You're issued cans from the city in which you live, on collection day place them on the curb, and a side loader garbage truck with an arm and comes by and picks up the garbage. This results in the need for only ONE driver/operator. For dumpsters, they use the fork/overhead style garbage trucks. Some of this is related to the heat, but a majority of the trash removal is done via private company-the majority I see is Waste Management- and less labor costs means more profits. Also, I'm told their insurance bill is a LOT lower since they don't have anyone riding on the back. Anyways, I completly understand why sanitation workers ride the back step. However, I feel that there should be cameras on the back so the driver can see, a helmet and a relfective orange coat/shirt for the workers, and a harness that allows them to clip in-in addition to speed restrictions. What I do not understand is the sanitation workers that hang on the back step....just recently, I saw one on the rear of a muncipal truck, going about 40MPH.

Date: 12-6-07 Time: 1300hrs Location: 6 North Broadway Frequency: 484.525 Units Operating: E303. E306, E309, E308, L71, L73, R-1, B-1, Safety, Yonkers FD Arson Car 6, Yonkers PD Description Of Incident: Language barrier upon dispatch reporting fire in a beauty supply store. Upon 1st due's arrival, found small extinguished rubbish fire. Reportedly female set small fire and fled. Neg extension, all companies released, PD and Yonkers Fire Car 6 Arson unit requested. Unknown motive ATT Writer: x635

Pretty unique vehicle fire! http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2007/1...amboni.fire.cnn

FULL STORY: http://www.nyjournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...EWS02/712040405

OK, so fill me in here......which Fire, EMS, Police departments are expecting new apparatus anytime soon? Also, what agencies are in the process of trying to replace apparatus, or are planning to do so in the near future?

As you can see, becoming a New York State Trooper is a solid, challenging, and rewarding lifelong career with plenty of oppurtunties to serve in different areas, in different specialties. Plenty of promotional oppurtunties will always exist. All that with excellent compensation and benefits! (Note the salaries listed below don't include all the other stipends and the such, plus a new contract is currently being worked on, and raises are expected) The December application deadline is quickly approaching! If you don't sign up NOW, you'll have to wait until 2012 to apply again. I know for a fact it's been proven that Volunteer FF's and EMS personel make great trooper canidates, and it looks good on your application. NYSP is a diverse workplace, that represents a very diverse state. And it is one of the premier Law Enforcment orginizations in the world. I HIGHLY RECCOMEND taking this exam- you can always change your mind if you decide later down the line you don't want the job- but don't regret not applying now and having to wait until 2012!!! ANY QUESTIONS? Please contact me via email or PM, and I'll try to get them answered and/or I'll put you directly in touch with a NYS Police Recruiter that's specially for EMTBravo Network members. . Also, did you know that the New York State Police was founded by residents of Bedford Hills in Westchester County due to an incident that occured there? There's a plaque on the site in Bedford Hills on which it occured.

I know it may be a little too soon to be talking about this, but I believe that from tragedy should come lessons. While this is fresh in my mind, I'm going to write about it. We all know that working for a private ambulance company doing transports sucks. Many of us here started out our careers this way, myself included. I've known many EMT's who work the overnight and go to school, care for a child, or work another job during the day. Many companies don't have quarters for the crews to sleep, or appropriate ones at that, or crews even have to sleep in the bus. Now, 5AM is not a natural hour to be up. I've worked overnights my entire adult life, and the time period between 4AMish-6AMish is always a time period where people lag, no matter how used to it you are or how much of a "night person" you are. Your body struggles. No matter how much caffeine's there. There have been several incidents across the country of EMS workers falling asleep at the wheel on overnights. Put all the afformentioned factors into play here, and is there something we can do to prevent this happening in the future? I beleive so. First, I think each company should be required to have appropriate places for the crews to rest inbetween jobs. Second, I think that all non-emergency transports, and pseudo private emergencies, should be extremly limited from Midnight-7AM. For busy agencies that run all night, there should be enough personel to rotate drivers if someone gets tired. After doing back-to-back jobs on the overnight, many times being the only bus, and coming back to base at 5AM, I know the feeling. You just want to rest your eyes, but some nursing home on the other side of the county doesn't want to deal with a patient, so they send them to the ER, and you're on your way out again. This scenario repeats itself day after day, night after night. EMT's and Paramedics for private comapnies work very hard for very little money. The health and safety of the employees is often overlooked and put below making a profit. Sure, there are other professions that run all night, but the transport sector of EMS is very different, IMO. Burnout Reason #100,001

Just an FYI, Hartsdale FD Station 1 (Central Ave, 4 Corners) is closing for renovation effective December 4th, for an unknown duration. I'm not sure what the renovation plan consists of at this point. Engine 170 and Engine 171 will relocate during this time, and operate from the newly expanded and still under renovation Station 2/HQ's on West Hartsdale Ave. So, you'll have E-169, E-170, E-171, TL-15, and C-2172 all under one roof for awhile. As for the new Engine 170, the chasis has been accepted from what I understand, and 4 Guys Fire Apparatus is to begin construction soon. Hopefully, we'll have it late Spring. A new utility in the form of a pick up truck is due for delivery anytime now, yet it remains a mystery to everyone exactly what it will be.

ldrco195 brought this up in another topic, and has some excellent insight, and I think there's still some awesome discssuion about two interesting structures on that thread, but I want to spin this from a "different angle" Let's say you got dispatched to this, with a report of squatters trapped on the top floor of the vacant, wood frame OMD pictured below. You arrive as the first due engine company (which is a 100' Quint), and moderate fire is showing out of the top floor, B side window closest to you. Heavy black smoke is present. And, oh yes, it's 3AM.....the middle of December and snowing. When you arrive, one person is out of the building but says there are still 4 more people there....they were smoking crack and had just lit a fire to "keep warm", when it quickly got out of control. You have hydrants with good water pressure, and your next due Engine is two minutes out. Your TL is questionable in the timeframe arriving, since Burlington's Tower is out of service-who would be next and what would the response time be? (Over 10 minutes, probaly Malden Pierce RM 100') How would you handle controlling the fire and making the rescue without endangering your firefighters? Let me hear you concerns, thoughts, tatics, observations, etc. There are a lot of tactical minds on this forum, and I'd like to hear some thoughts-posting=sharing=learning. Who knows, by one little tidbit you notice or mention, that could save a life when someone recalls this topic somewhere down the line. I'll answer any questions, and you can reference the other thread by clicking here for further information. (Side Note: When this building was condemed, it had 12 known apartments. It is currently scheduled to be razed, possibly this week due to the condition of the structure, after a court battle. The City Of Woburn, MA FD, PD and Building Dept. have done extensive pre-planning and know this structure well)

Chris- I may just take you up on that....I also want to get to Pittsburgh to shoot their EMS apparatus. Here's the conceptual drawing of what Station 1 was supposed to look like, before all the budget cutbacks due to Station 2 being overbudget (or at least that's what I am told). I think they are just going to refurbish it now....I hope their is still money to widen and raise the bay doors- E-170 has less then 1" of clearance on each side and top. Since it was built in 1926ish, it has never undergone an extensive renovation, and retains a lot of beautful charecteristics that aren't found in many firehouses anymore. I hope the look and feel is preserved, yet I hope it is completly modernized and expanded. If you notice, there was supposed to be a driveway on the right, but Chase Bank is next door and it would cost $100,000 just to move the traffic light and utility poles, so I don't know if that deal went through. So we just have to cut through other parking lots to get to the back and park. There is also no apron for this firehouse......due to the expansion of Central Park Ave since 1926, the apron has been reduced to a small sidewalk....when you pull out, you have to go slow due to pedestrians on the sidewalk and high speed traffic (from 3 lanes in each direction for a total of six) blowing the light. And here is Station 1 as it stands today:

Please. Emergency apparatus is sold on EBay all the time. I'm sorry to say, but if the terrorists want to accomplish something, they're going to get it done, someway, somehow. I personally feel that all emergency apparatus disposed of should either be traded in or donated to a department in need in this country, if we're so concerned about "HOMELAND security". Fire apparatus is sold and aqquired in a variety of different fashions, and new purposes found for some, and I'm sure if the terrorists wanted to get their hands on emergency apparatus, they could find a way that goes without notice.

WOW! Nice boat! I wonder about operating in the wintertime, lol.