x635

Great info, Snotty. I don't think our Probie School got to use the pompiers, I wanted to try it but I must admit it is kind of nervewracking.

Thanks! I really appreciate the comments, especially from a fellow active photographer. I spend a lot of time getting and posting these photos, and I'm glad people like 'em. I try and show what the apparatus is all about- since I find the working parts of the apparatus a lot more interesting then just your typical front/side shot. If anyone wants me to photograph their apparatus for a photo feature on EMTBravo.com, I'd appreciate the oppurtunity if my time (and gas money) lately permits. [/shameless plug]

From the Westchester County DES email list. Can't wait to train on these new additions!

Well, several times I got berated by railfans for getting in the way of their cameras. At one point, I was trying to look at a locomotive on display, and they were set up on their tripods and thought they owned the area. They cursed at me, and told me that I should get out of the way of the camera and away from the display until they were done. Also, I asked a question about a Maintainence-Of-Way truck, and a railfan who was also at the exhibit said called me an idiot and I should let the "real railfans" have their times with the employees. And some other real wierd people. It's a nice family outing, and it's very nice of Metro North to put on such a production, but I wish that from 10-2 it was open, and then from like 2-4 it would be for railfans only. It's hard really looking at stuff with kids running all over the place and crowding booths. But, I would be doing the same thing at that age. It was fun and interesting though. I should have some photos soon, not any good ones though.

I attended the Open House. I got there at 10AM, and it was already mobbed. I was impressed by the display the was put on by Metro-North, and not suprised with their excellent hospitality, which refelects, IMO, in all their operations. However, the one dissapointment was the attitude of other railfans. Some people there was so egotisitcal, selfish, and just plain rude that it makes me embarrased to be a railfan.

Congrats Barry, thank you for your service and best of luck in your retirment!!!!

I'm just curious, on your fire apparatus, particularly your engine, if you carry one, where do you place you backboard? I've noticed many agencies carry it very loosely in the hosebed, thrown over the pump compartment, or stuck behind the ground ladders. Now, maybe it's just me, but I thought the backboard was a medical device? It should be kept as clean as possible, especially when you consider the patient you place on it may have open wounds. Now, combine that with the road salt and all the other debris that accumulates on the backboard, I don't think that would help the patient. Although EMS is not a clean job, we need to do all we can to keep our patients clean, something that's often overlooked. I'm not saying there needs to be a backboard compartment on every engine, but at least keep the backboard in a bag or plastic or something.

From the LA City FD Blog:

Interesting story.

Brian Williams, anchor of NBC Nightly New With Brian Williams, the succesor to Tom Brokaw, will be hosting Saturday Night Live tommorow on NBC at 11:30PM. From what I am told, Brian Williams was a former volunteer FF in New Jersey (he actually hosted a series on NBC about Fire Departments a while back), and also- I'm not sure if this is true- a resident of New Caanan and grand marshall of their FD's 125th anniversary parade. Definetly a unique host, SNL, for the most part, has really sucked the past couple of seasons- hopefully Brian Williams will show the funny side of a man we trust to bring us the most critical of news.

I agree with those who say don't cause a panic situation. Conan's studio in 30 Rock is very, very small. It's also located on one of the upper floors of the building, accesible primarlily via elevator. There's no need to get a crowd of 100 or so people to evacuate- there's a lot of money, time, and pressure riding on the taping of Conan. The is a sprinkler system. The fire alarm system is very complex at 30 Rock, and they do have a 24/7 Fire Safety director, so the production staff probaly handled the situation as they were directed or previously told. If the studio were evacuated every time there was a fire alarm, we'd probaly see interuppted broadcasts of Saturday Night Live, NBC News, WNBC TV, etc all the time. He handled it like he should- as a comedian- but he should have said something about not making a mockery of situations like that. P.S. There is construction on the 5th floor of 30 Rock involving the final prep of the new studios and offices for MSNBC, CNBC, , and NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.

Bump for tommorow, anyone from here planning on attending?

Legally, could FD's in the Northeast bill as well? I imagine the homeowners insurance would cover it, I assume. If it does, I wonder if "billing" would be a practical way to add funding to FD's such as Mount Vernon? But then again, what do people pay taxes for???

Yes, it is big......but it carries a ton of equipment. They could have gone small, crammed in all their equipment, and had to shuffle things around just to get to one tool like other department's rescues, or gotten three seperate vehicles, but they chose to get one with plenty of space. I know there's a lot of smack being talked in Dutchess about this Rescue and the price tag, personally, I think it's part jealousy. This is THEIR rescue, and although everyone's entitled to their opinions, they planned it for them and the people they serve, and they bought it and they are the ones who are using it. I doubt anyone's going to be complaining when their life is on the line and this truck shows up. Also, correction, Hughsonville is in the TOWN OF WAPPINGER, not Wappingers Falls.

Congrats Art!!! Best of luck in your new awesome career! But what I want to know is what happens if your band gets signed??

Date: 10-18-07 Time: 15:30hrs Location: Sprain Brook Parkway Southbound IAO Heatherdell Road Bridge. Frequency: 46.26, Fireground 2 "Sprain Brook Parkway Command" Units Operating: Fairview Engine 175, Fairview Engine 174, Fairview Rescue 3, Hartsdale Engine 170, Greenville Engine 150, Greenville Tactical Support 29, Greenburgh EMS, Transcare EMS, Ardsley-Secor VAC 50-B-1, Stat Flight Air 1, Greenburgh Police, New York State Police, H.E.L.P., NYS*DOT Description Of Incident: 2 Vehicle MVA down embankment w/ entrapment. 1 DOA, 1 Critical extricated and transported via Stat-Flight to WMC due to heavy traffic condition in area, 2 w/ non life threatening injurie transported to WMC. Writer: x635, x635MA 15:45hrs: Landing Zone being established 16:03hrs: Sprain Brook Command reports situation under control 16:32 Sprain Brook Command terminated. All units in service returning. *Incident information still breaking. Information may be updated or changed at anytime. Send a PM with any updates or information you may have to x635. Please refresh this page to see the latest updates.

This site has been around for a long time. It's very interesting and informative. Personally, between that website and what I hear from FDNY friends, I think EMS would have been better off it's own seperate entity. It seems like it is FDNY*EMS in name only, IMHO. NYC has a Police, Fire, and Sanitation department, so why not EMS? I think the original concept when Guliani merged FDNY and H&H EMS in 1996, was to be more like an LA City or California type Fire/EMS intergrated system...but that never panned out. It's funny, you would never think of merging PD with Sanitation, etc, so why is EMS always lowly? Nonetheless, that site is an interesting way to express frusteration.

Interesting story. Just ordered the book.

I think this is a pretty good idea, especially with housing prices the way they are. I know some people actually enjoy living in the communities they serve, but are often times financially prohibited to do so.

And here's a photo of the above prop.

Here's a photo of above: I really can't wait to use this prop- I hope we use it for my training day sometime!! This will be great for the many departments that have high rise buildings in their jurisdiction.

I know more people have input, please add because this is going into a presentation aimed at media and goverment officials! Your concern might be addressed in that presentation if posted here.