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I'm just curious if there are any departments out there that cross-train with their local tow agencies for rescue work? For instance, Stiloski's Towing has a wealth/variety of equipment that makes an excellent supplement to rescue work, Stiloski's Equipment Photo Gallery On x635Photos.com Do any agencies have tow services on their running card for extrications and other types of rescue trucks? Also, has any department in the area considered using a wrecker as a heavy rescue, like Los Angeles Heavy Rescue 56?

With all the serious incidents on the Tappan Zee Bridge over the past years, and with the bridge being obsolete for current traffic load, should the Thruway Authority increase the manpower, equipment, and training of the Bridge Patrol? For instance, the Port Authority George Washington Bridge Division just took delivery of a do-it-all 2007 Pierce Lance Engine (as featured in Fire Apparatus Journal July-August '07 Page 25) that has a 1250GPM pump, 2500 gallon water tank, 300 gallons foam tank, 6 ground sweep nozzles, extrication equpment, hazardous materials supplies and references, light tower, plenty of hose, EMS Equipment, and a multi-agency command cab. This is to supplement their quick response patrol wreckers that also have some fire suppresion and extrication capabilities. All of these trucks can be seen on FDNYTrucks.com The bridge used to be much better covered by "Wrecker 1", with them having their own fire engine, better staffing, and training at the Rockland Fire Training Center, but it seems budget cuts have resulted in cutbacks. In my opinion, I feel the TZ Bridge does need an improved emergency response squad. Given traffic conditions and the unique nature of the bridge, this would mitigate incidents much more quickly, and possibly limit the need for multiple agencies to abandon their districts to cover an incident....instead, they could be supplemental. These positions should be trained to a career firefighter level, rescue technician, and master wrecker operator, and it should be a civil service position. Two men should patrol the bridge in a better equipped wrecker then they have now, and a third crew member should man the fire apparatus at the Tarrytown Barracks. Add an additonal patrol wrecker for peak travel times. Tarrytown, Central Nyack, and the EMS agencies should still respond, as directed by the Thruway Authority Crew Chief. In fact, the Thruway Authority TZ Bridge might benefit from an airport-style crash rescue vehice with snozzle. Anyways, that's just my thoughts.

The PAPD Bridge And Tunnels Emergency Squads, including the GWB, are staffed by civilian agents, backed up when needed by PAPD ESU.

Interesting case. I don't know the particulars, but if this kid is at fault, then the victim deserves what he is asking for, and the FD needs to do some serious work. For volunteers, responding in their personal vehicles, especially with lights, is a huge personal and departmental liability that many departments neglect. For the owner/operator of the car, I've heard of insurance companies jacking rates up or dropping coverage because of this. Insurance works differently in different states though.....does a departments insurance cover a member if he is driving his personal vehicle to a call or the firehouse????????

9A-6P 7 Days a week, according to the menu. However, I think I saw a sign in the store Mon-Sat.

Well, after acting on some tips from you guys (which is one of the examples why I love this forum!), Kris and I went on an investigation. I found out, that although the Manero's building is rubble, that Manero's signature items do still live on. Kris and I decided to try Greenwich Prime Meats, and their steak sandwich, for lunch. We also got the Gorgonzola Salad to take home, and both were delicous! All the favorites from Manero's are on their menu, as you can see below. I definetly reccomend it, it's two minutes off I-95 Exit 2 on Bruce Park Road, just up the hill from Greenwich Ave, in Greenwich, CT. It's also a GREAT butcher shop, the cuts they have there made my mouth water...... Ah, the favorites.......

Some of my favorite quotes regarding this holiday, which also reflect the spirit of this site: "No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots."- Barbara Ehrenreich "My Country! When right keep it right; when wrong, set it right!"-Carl Schurz "We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it."-Edward R. Murrow "You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism." ~Erma Bombeck "There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America." ~William J. Clinton "Freedom is never free." ~Author Unknown

What I envisioned was a combination department. As for the economics, quite the contrary to your thoughts. The amount saved through elimination of duplication of resources, consolidating purchasing services, and other methods will actually SAVE taxpayers money.

I had heard a while back a rumor that Code 3 was getting ready to release a 1/64th diecast model of Yonkers Engine 306, the ALF. They had previously released the Mack CF. Then again, they said that the Los Angeles ALF Tiller was going to be released in the spring. Time will tell. I'm not even sure we'll see anything really new from them, they've been very shady as of late.

Excellent find Chris!!

jetBlue ROCKS! Best airline ever. I always fly them when I can, and am a very happy stockholder!! I told you so! However, I too can't wait to Virgin America, hopefullly their introductory fares will enable me a buff trip to LA when I get back to work and better!

As seen in my thread regarding the movie "Sicko", the majority of this forum thinks that the healthcare system in this country is perfect, and that a movie addressing issues such as the one mentioned above were false, just because they had a closed mind and didn't care for the filmmaker. It's a fact.....health insurance companies are making millions, people are going bankrupt with medical costs and sometimes pay with their lives, and the Goverment comes out with bills like this, instead of addressing the issue at large. This bill, that I am affected by, will also affect employers budgets and possibly taxes. Could even result in staffing and equipment cuts. All comes down to the issues addressed in "Sicko". I wish that so many people could go and see this movie with an open mind, instead of complelty disregarding it based on it's filmaker. It really is a must see movie, you won't regret it. I support this bill, but I also wanted to reflect that this bill is reactionary to the healthcare industry status in this country. The middle class suffers.

The GWB has an emergency squad, as do most of the bridges in the NYC area. This wouldn't be to replace the local FD's, only to supplement them on an extremly dangerous operating area. A way to get this through the beauracratic process would be to mention the word that gets everything done seemingly nowadays. "Terrorism". These members can also be eyes and ears for terrorism. Everday duties for the bridge patrol would include clearing disabled vehicles and minor accidents, and other duties as needed. One reason it won't get through is because I'm sure there will be those with egos seeing this as "losing power" and fight it. Think about all the hazardous materials that go over the bridge on a daily basis, the gasoline tankers, etc. Think about the daily choking traffic on the bridge. The NYS Thruway Authority used to be a top-notch agency, with their roads and equipment impeccably maintained. Over the years, that's all fallen apart. I still can't understand the justification of reducing the Bride Patrol's staffing and equipment as compared to priors years, especially with the bridge aging more and more and handling more traffic then ever. Especially considering that neighboring Hudson River crossings have top notch security and emergency response.

Found this posted on another forum. Intersting.

You're not abandoning your district per say, but you are committed to the incident for a longer duration then an average alarm. Also, I've seen departments, especially in daytime hours, commit their resources to highway incidents, including all their chiefs, and then have another alarm come in and not be able to cover it. But that's a whole seperate issue. I was informed by a higher up with the Thruway Authority that the engine was taken away due to the inability to properly fund and staff it, and subsequently the inablity to train members and equip them with turnout gear. Traffic builds on the TZ quick after an incident. If there is some form of a rapid intervention, and coordination by a source familiar with the bridge, the better off the motorists are that travel the bridge. A TZ Bridge crew would be able to get to an incident and mitigate it quicker then local resources. The GW Bridge does it, why not the TZ? That is only my opinion.

Happy 34th birthday to EMTBravo New England Deputy Administrator and EMTBravo Network active Verified member IzzyEng4!!! And to all our other members celebrating a birthday today!

As many of you may know, I'm a huge Dodge fan. Recently, Wheeled Coach announced they are making a Type I ambulance on a Dodge 3500 Series Cummin Diesel chasis. Finally!!!! This demo looks great, and Wheeled Coach has really improved their quality recently.

I'm definetly getting myself a BuddyLight for my helmet when I return to work. Really impressed with it.

Actually, I had the chance to test this out. The BuddyLight helmet LED system that's on EMTBravo.com is very lightwieght with a long battery life, it provides great lighting without being bulky or obtrusive, is very rugged, and it makes you more visible to others inside a fire building, on a roadside, or on a dark scene. Additionally, purchasing BuddyLight helps support EMTBravo.com and this forum! I heard a rumor that this item may be available as part of a Bravo Points contest this fall. http://www.buddylight.com If you do purchase it, please let them know you found out about it here!!

Does the Stamford Fire-Rescue, Sprindale Station still have their 1985 Ford C-8000/1960 Young 65' Snorkle? Just reading a book on Young, and was curious as to the truck company apparatus for Springdale.

Nice find!!! It would be great if Mamaroneck re-aqquired this and restored it- I don't think they have an antique, plus it would be cool to have a more "modern" antique. When was this retired from Mamaroneck?

According to the legal notices in todays Journal News, the City Of White Plains has issued a $1,000,000 bond for a new Public Safety radio system. Anyone have further details on this? Will they be going digital?

If you're serious about wanting to take the CPAT and can't get in anyplace around here, there's a facility in Orange County, CA that gives CPAT's quite regularly. A CPAT is a CPAT, and they will give you a cert card. I've taken the CPAT a couple of years ago at this facility- they are very professional, as that's all they do there is give CPAT's, and it's open to everyone. Plus, it's a great excuse for an L.A. buff trip, lol. http://www.cffjac.org/jac/cpat/for_candidates/index.cfm

OK, let's put Michael Moore and Socialized Healthcare aside for a moment. Is there anyone here who thinks that the healthcare system in this country needs to be improved??????