x635

Just a heads up, there's an article regarding HazMat operations in Yonkers in this months Firehouse Magazine (April '07) The article opens with a nice background on the City Of Yonkers, and includes a nice photo of the HazMat tractor trailer. It gives a great insight into Yonkers FD's comprehensive HazMat program that's intergrated into their entire department.

While on duty, after executing search warrants at a heroin stash house in Hartsdale in December, Senior Investigator Stuart Cohen of the Westchester County District Attorneys Narcotic Iniative (W-DANI) contracted a severe, and mysterious illness. Stu has been hospitalized since December 10th, 2006, and is presently at the I.C.U. at Cornell in Manhattan. Extensive medical exams were conducted, with no diagnosis made. Unfortunetly, Stu has lapsed into a coma, wherehe remains to this date. In the near future, Stu is expected to be transferred to a long term care facility more suitable for coma patients. Needless to say, Stu, his wife, and his two young daughters have a long road to recovery ahead of them. Stu is a former officer with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority PD, and the Hastings Police Department. Stu is also a volunteer firefighter with Hastings FD and a karate instructor in his off duty time. In light of these tragic events and due to increasing and anticipated medical costs, which his family will occur, we are asking you to join us at a 10-13 benefit to support his family DATE: Sunday, April 29th 2007 TIME: 4PM to ???? PLACE: The Thirsty Turtle, 201 East Post Road in White Plains $25.00 Donation at the door D.J., Live Band, 50/50 raffles, T-Shirts, Food, and Drinks Please make all donations payable to: W.C.D.A.I. P.B.A. P.O. Box 326 White Plains, NY 10602 Contact Info: Inv. Dennis Gallego 914-447-2806 Inv. Murph Whalen 914-490-7834 Inv. Juan Rodriguez 917-709-4476 Inv. Trevor Luiso 447-2805 Please pass the word around, and post this information whereever you can.

FLYER:[attachmentid=2443] Hybrid_Films.pdf

Today, I got to shoot a truck I've been wanting to shoot forever, New York State Thruway Authority "Wrecker 1". This unit is first due to any incident on or around the Tappan Zee Bridge (I-87 between Tarrytown in Westchester and Nyack in Rockland, over the Hudson River) Don't know the spec, only that it is an International chasis. Does anyone know anything further about this operation currently due to Thruway budget cuts. They used to have an fire engine, but that has been disposed of. How many of these vehicles do they have operating on the bride, and what is the operation like? Also, this is signifcant for me since it is the first apparatus I have shot since my accident. I saw this sitting in a parking lot by my doctors office as we were pulling out, and ordered Kristen to pull into a position where I could shoot from the passenger seat of the Nitro. Photo taken by x635 3-23-07 using a Canon Digital Elph SD900 10.1MP [attachmentid=2282]

It seems like every week, or sometimes multiple times a week, we read about another person stopping their car on the bridge and jumping off. I'm always reading about how Tarrytown or Rockland respond with their boat, sometimes saving the person. Not only does this place emergency responders in the water and on the deck at risk, it also places other motorists at risk when a car stops and parks in a lane, and also causes a rubbernecking hazard. And, at times it causes massive traffic jams on a bridge that has too many already. So, my question is, how hard would it be to install some high, non-ugly, non or delayed scalable fencing along the Tappan Zee Bridge. I think this would help to solve a very dangerous and deadly issue that seems to be plaguing the bridge. [attachmentid=2432]

That's a cool fact...thanks! I always thought the short wheelbase was so that they were manuverable in tight traffic...hadn't thought anything else. Some very versatile units the PAPD has....are they any new ones coming in?

Looks like Stamford has taken delivery of quite a few new Mack Granites: [attachmentid=2433] A related question- is the yard on Magee Ave. the only DPW yard in the City? I would think they would have something on the northern end as well?

"All aboard! Up front with a Metro-North engineer" Very cool article in the Journal News: http://lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID.../704020339/1018

Thanks for answering my question.....and I have another one. Both Scarsdale and Chappaqua have a similar truck (except Scarsdale no pump). Has anyone talked to them? I know some members of those departments may have some feedback.

Thoughts and prayers are with Stu, his family, friends, and co-workers. Please be reminded there is an upcoming 10-13 Benefit for Stu Cohen on the 29th of this month. http://emtbravo.net/index.php?showtopic=16831

It's one of the 1986 PAPD WeldBilts. Wonder if they replaced it with a 2006/7 model? Also, since it was sitting in a locked yard with other Brookfield Wreckers, I wonder if they plan on using it themselves? Photos taken 4-8-07 [attachmentid=2429] [attachmentid=2430] [attachmentid=2431]

With Westchester County Airport increasing traffic and having bigger planes (the AirTran Boeing 717's and the jetBlue Airbus A320's), is it time for Westchester County Airport to upgrade their emergency response and have their own FD? I know and hope that it would be quite an uneventful job, maybe staffing could be per-diem off duty or retired career firefighters who have gone to Crash Rescue school (the real deal one- I think in Texas?) From my understanding from visits there, the airport managers are cross trained, and will abandon airport control and go out in the crash rescue truck. However, there are only a couple of guys to man the rigs. Granted, most of the operation of these apparatus can be done from the cab. However, evacuations of the airplanes and the such need manpower. I also understand that there is a three department response to the airport. Nothing against these departments, and they would be a big help in any large scale situation, but I think the airport needs to increase their first response capabilties. Especially when a lot of these incidents can happen without notice instantly. I also wonder the level of training with aircraft that the departments and their officers have with aircraft emergencies. Also, I don't think it would hurt for the county to maintain airstairs such as the one pictured below: [attachmentid=2406]

If career firefighters are forced to retire at 62, then why is the volunteers different? After 62 as a social member...but...??

I know this came up before, but I can't remember or find it. Besides Bruckner Hobbies in Hartsdale, what other hobby supply shops are in the area? My favorite is HobbyTown USA in New Milford, CT. They have everything!

Dan- I guarentee that your son would love this place....and you too! They have everything for everyone, well stocked, and a helpful and friendly staff. They're located in the shopping center with Wal-Mart and Stop And Shop and 7/202.

I love the red one at the top! Is that custom, or is that the latest from Intenational Navistar?

Cool. Doesn't Millwood have a unique Engine. A Sutphen Body on a Spartan chasis? Anyways, will Millwood be training on Truck Company Ops and changing their SOP? I guess my question about where the apparatus will fit is null, since they're going to be building a new firehouse (soon?)

[attachmentid=2420] This is a fictional model of the real Wrecker 1, which is the emergency response truck operated by the New York State Thruway Authority for the Tappan Zee corridor. This unit is the first response to a wide range of incidents, including MVA's, Jumpers, Car Fires, etc. The fictional unit's specs -2007 Mack MR 4x4 w/ Mack Engine and Transmission -x635 Industries Body -25 Gallon CAFS/25 Gallons AFFF/Dri-Chem fire extinguishment systems -Holomatro Multi tool -Thermal Imaging Camera - 4 winches. 2 side winches can facilitate repeeling over side of bridges -Whelen and Federal Signal LED/Strobe package -Generator and Halogen floodlight system -Collapsible cones and flares -Speedy-Dri -LiveStream Video Feed And it's primary role: -Ability to secure and tow and kind of car or truck off the bridge. Photo of the real unit: [attachmentid=2422] This is a fictional model of the real Wrecker 1, which is the emergency response truck operated by the New York State Thruway Authority for the Tappan Zee corridor. This unit is the first response to a wide range of incidents, including MVA's, Jumpers, Car Fires, etc. The fictional unit's specs -2007 Mack MR 4x4 w/ Mack Engine and Transmission -x635 Industries Body -25 Gallon CAFS/25 Gallons AFFF/Dri-Chem fire extinguishment systems -Holomatro Multi tool -Thermal Imaging Camera - 4 winches. 2 side winches can facilitate repeeling over side of bridges -Whelen and Federal Signal LED/Strobe package -Generator and Halogen floodlight system -Collapsible cones and flares -Speedy-Dri -LiveStream Video Feed And it's primary role: -Ability to secure and tow and kind of car or truck off the bridge. THIS IS THE ONE IT IS MODELED AFTER (AND I AM LOOKING TO SEE AND PHOTOGRAPH UP CLOSE AND IN PERSON)[[/b Port Authority B&T Wrecker This took quite a while to complete, and although I'm not as happy with the results as I though- I know the reason why...stupid stringy hot glue. BIG mistake. Other things too, but I learned. This was my first scratchbuilt body plus. Check out the rest of the photos from throughout the kitbash here. http://www.x635photos.com/thumbnails.php?album=137 This project took quite a while to complete, and although I'm not as happy with the results as I though- I know the reason why...stupid stringy hot glue. BIG mistake. Other things too, but I learned. This was my first scratchbuilt body plus.

I have the LockTite, it's a PIA, looking for something faster acting. Maybe Testors Dissimilar cement. I used Testors Plastic Cement for the plastic parts. The Bondo is a good idea. I painted the body using an airbrush. (Testors Mighty Mini Airbrush system) I need to get a better single action airbrush handle though.

Still working on that answer...

I used Plastruct ABS sheets of plastic and ABS plastic I-beams, cut them to the needed shape, and glued them together. Where there were gaps, I used Elmers wood filler.

I have heard a rumor that DES has appointed a Chief Of Special Operations, Peter Pitocco (formerly Car/Batt 5) Is this true? Also, is that awesome crew cab Chevrolet Silverado with an LED bar and cap his?

I passed by WCDES the other day, and noticed construction fencing, construction trailers, and bulldozers surrounding the main building. Has construction finally begun on the new building? I'm looking foward most, besides the new training props, to the several bay addition on Bee Line Drive that houses all of DES's growing apparatus fleet.

Well, yesterday I missed jetBlue's first flight out of Westchester to Orlando, that I really wanted to be oon. I've always wanted to fly a jetBlue inaugral flight, and I've always wanted to fly out of HPN, but unforunetly circumstances overuled. I would have at least liked to have gotten some photos. I wonder which plane it was? Does anyone else know what jetBlue did to commemerate this occasion? Did they bring the "jetBlue" experience trailer? Free ballons? Anything?