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An "original" Transcare ambulance. Personally, I liked this clean, modern, simple scheme better then the current one. [attachmentid=2728]

Empress buses at Mount Vernon ER bay circa 1999. Mount Vernon Hosptial was the only ER that I knew of to have "loading dock" style ambulance bays. [attachmentid=2727]

Chris192's topic about the EMS abuse of lights during transport got me thinking. When you pull up on a routine call at a private residence, on a side street, flycar or ambulance, police car or firetruck, do you leave your lights on? I was taught a long time ago when I was an EMT at Empress working Medic 30 with Bill Rothchild that it's better to be discreet, especially in neighborhoods. Over the years, I've become a Paramedic and found that principle to be respectful, and have practiced it. Usually, I shut my lights off when turning on to the block of the residence. There's no need for an ambulance, fire truck,or police car to make a scene nor leave the lights on for something like this. If it's nightime, I turn on my scene lights for safety, and occasionally the four way flashers or lightbar flashers/arrowstick. Of course, highway jobs and other times where my vehicle is in a dangerous spot the lights stay on. There's just no need, even on a fire scene....if the road's blocked off and you're pumping, why must the emergency lights be on....it justs adds an uneeded electrical load to the vehicle.

What at a glance you may think is a Tarrytown FD Chiefs car..... [attachmentid=2662] ...is really a DPW vehicle.

Anybody go? How was it?

LMAO!!!!!!!!!! I'm all for animal protection, especially what some morons do to their pets, but I don't understand the priority response part of it?

I rememeber Wei-Wei! Seems like she was a BLS rite-of-passage for everyone at the time!

Happy 25th birthday to longtime EMTBravo contributing member BFD1054!!! Thanks for all your support of this forum and especially all your detailed IA's! Happy Birthday Mike!

First, I love the logo 129! I find it awesome how the Empress family is everywhere! I think this year EMS week Empress BBQ they should invite the alumni! I worked at Empress as an EMT, EMT-I, and EMD from 12/97 to 6/2000 I left for a position at 60 Control, and stayed on per-diem as well as kept my per-diem job as an ED tech at Stamford Hospital. I currently work for Hartsdale FD as a firefighte (E-170, E-169, or TL-15). Empress shield: 700 (they issued EMT's and Medic's Shield #'s in 1999, I believe. Frank Califano was 701, and Jen Califano was 702. I had so many partners and supervisors I can hardly remember (so excuse me if I screw up names) ! Bill Rothschild (who's one of my groomsmen), Keisha Munn, Ronnnie Graham, Anna Ranallo, Tony Adamo, Bobby Diller, Mike Sanjunro, Mike Pizzarusso, Carol Thomas, Matt Tuttle, Tommy Sal, Frank Mancuso, Mark Baumblatt (who's now a Greenville FF and my union brother), Alex Rodriguez, Rory Lynch, and the list goes on and on..... Units: Ambulance 26, Tac 6, Medic 30,31,32,33, MV-A-1 Most miss: Everyone I worked with! Don't Miss; having my car broken into, crappy ambulances, poor parking, getting held over constantly, low pay, some transports, Yonkers General to Regency I would go back to work there as a per-diem Medic when I do recert. Yonkers and Mount Vernon were fun cities to work in.

From Metro-North's "Mileposts" Newsletter May 2007. I can't wait to this facility opens, there's nothing like a clean and shiny M-series!

Recently, I saw what looks like a brand new Empress Type II van with a Whelen LED lightbar, and all other lights LED as well. Does anyone know what brand the bus is? Has Empress added any other new vehicles to its fleet? What are the Yonkers medics currently using? The Ford/Medix boxes or have they been replaced? If so, with what? Is that Ford/Swab Supervisors truck still in service? I know the supervisors have been using Truck 9, the old Yorktown Flycar, but are there plans for a new supervisors vehicle? Has Empress added any other new vehicles to its fleet? I'm out of the loop!

This recently delivery of Rescue Ambulances for Los Angeles City includes chevrons (2007 Ford E-450/Wheeled Coach Type III Custom for LAFD): http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?...3207&p=75539910 Photo courtesy of John Gregory

Just another reminder to watch out for those hydrants......first thing I ever learned about the fire service when I joined as an explorer. Also a reminder why EMS should be on scene and ready at EVERY fire.

When you're driving, what are some of the things you're thinking or should be thinking when your going out the door? Me: The specifications and capacities of the vehicle I'm driving Who's on board and are the buckled up? Have I marked myself enroute? How can I get there the fastest, are any streets closed, can my truck fit, etc? Dangers: School dismissals, Sunday Church, etc while enroute Weather and road conditions And finally, preplanning the structure in my head and figuring out where to place the apparatus upon arrival. Of course, there's other things and I'm sure I'm forgetting something What do you think about?

I saw on the Medix site a van #503 and a Type III box #55. May be old deliveries by now. I'm informed by a member of this site who's going to try and get photos that Empress has gone with Ford E-Series/Type II Wheeled Coach Crusader Van Someone from Empress on here must know more!

I'm curious as to the local agencies using Medix brand ambulances. How are they holding up? What pro/cons do they have? Would you or have you purchased another? Additonally, was price the major factor in purchasing?

Interesting thing to keep in mind.

I found this site of Chicago FD incidents. The photos are great. http://www.nordfirephotos.smugmug.com

I noticed those too. There is an article about them in this month's Fire Apparatus Journal. http://www.nordfirephotos.smugmug.com/gall...98323#149323928 Kind of daunting to pack like Pound Ridge Engine 112, or that Bedford Mack. Although I'm sure it gets packed a lot faster in Chicago because neatness is not a factor. It also looks like they have a device on the bottom that assists with packing the hose.

Tommorow, I'm missing out on something huge that I was planning on attending and am very sad and dissapointed. It's the second Saturday of May- which means it's Fire Service Day in LA! This means that every Los Angeles CITY and COUNTY Fire station is hosting an open house. Also, Cities in Los Angeles County and beyond, such as Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Glendale, and Burbank are also having open houses, along with other departments in California. Most of my favorite stations will have their apparatus, special apparatus, and equipment out for display. Some will have special demonstrations and other events. This is a photo op/hunt dream! I'll be there next year though! The reason I posted here is because I'd like to see Westchester have a Fire Service Day, promoted countywide with all WC stations particpating.

According to News Channel 4 news ticker on the Today Show this morning, FDNY has ratified a new contract that raises the Probie pay from a measly $23,100 to $36,400. Does anyone know further? I have not found anything else online to validate this.

Recently, Westchester County established a mounted (horse) division to patrol County Parks, events, etc. I'm reading through the Images Of America Westchester County Police History Book (GREAT book, GREAT photos!) and it stated that Westchester County Police has stopped Motorcycle use due to injuries and fatalities. In California, they use motorcycles extensively for highway and traffic duties. The WC Police has all types of vehicles, but I wonder if one day the Motorcycle will make a comeback. I also personally hope WC*Police will bring back their ESU. BTW, here's the link for those interested in the book http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearc...738509518&itm=2

Finally! This is much needed! I don't know where the ambulance bays will be based on the drawing I saw recently of the addition, do any WP*EMS/Transcare people know? Hopefully, it will be larger then the current bays and spaces. Also, I heard that the decon facilities will be able to handle more then one person at a time without having to set up a big to-do.

First off, I remember working Tac One with Ole129K when these got delivered and were new to Yonkers! I'm a little out of date with YFD here, so just trying to catch up. I assume the Smeals, Engine 307,310, 304, and 312 have gone to the spare pool. So I assume that the Macks that are currently in the spare pool will be disposed of, except for the former Engine 306? And are there any Sutphens left? As for the Ladders, 72 and 74's Seagraves and 71's ALF will go to the pool, along with one of the older HME/Smeals (until a new truck company is formed). So the current spare ladders will also be disposed of? Rescue 1 will become a spare. I wish I had room to keep and restore a Yonkers Mack CF!