x635

After some Googling, it appears many are perplexed, and there are two schools of thought. Both think its a form of "viral advertsing". Theory #1 thinks its a hoax by the billboard company to prove the effectivness of billboard advertising. Theory #2 says that it's a ad campaign by Court TV to hype upcoming programming. There are several known locations of this billboard, in NY @ 54th and 7th and over the Cross Bronx Expressway, in LA on Sunset Blvd, in Chicago, and in Washington DC. There's also some girl on a blog claiming it's her billboard, and detailing the relationship: thatgirlemily.blogspot.com

I've always heard rumors that this secret train car existed in the Metro North Park Avenue tunnel. In fact, it was referenced in one of my favorite TV documentaries late last year, "Inside Grand Central" (Available on DVD) on the National Geographic Channel. It's neat they are investigating it now, yet I find it weird no one knows for sure the origin of this car. VIDEO: http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/News/De...TY&pageId=3.2.1 VIDEO: http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/News/De...TY&pageId=3.2.1

Is it just me, or does every year the football season start earlier and earlier? There's already a "pre-season" game between the Giants and Ravens this weekend! I mean, it's still August, early August, and hot out and baseball is in full swing. I mean, I equate football with fall and winter, the leaves changing, etc. I guess it's the same with all sports, Hockey and Basketball is on 'til June nowadays. What gives?

Here are some photos that I took today (8-7-06). The current building is scheduled to be demolished this week.

Thanks for the heads up......hope to see some photos.

Ardsley had a 1970 Young Crusader (I think I may have a photo somewhere), assigned to Engine 164 When it was replaced with the 1992 Spartan Gladiator/Beck, the Young was bought by and shipped to Montserrat, an island in the Caribbean in 1992. In the late 1990's, that island was devastated by a volcanic eruption, and the Young was seen running calls on international news footage. Its current whereabouts and status is unknown.

Congrats to Jim and Gina Arena on the birth of their beautiful new son, Michael James Arena on July 31st, 2006. 7lbs 7oz 20" long (Photo by JA3KFD) *Sorry for the late post, I was away

Thank you everyone, I celebrated the big 2-7 in LBI, NJ- that's where I was this past week. I had a great time and a great birthday. I am going to miss 26 though, it was a great age and year. GOYANKEES, I was wondering where the yearly call was, lol. But I didnt have my cell with me in the ocean.... Thanks again for the birthday wishes....

EXAM 6019 Filing Period is 08/07 Until October 13th, 2006 The exam date is January 20th, 2007. More information can be found here. http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/communit...refighter.shtml ------------------------------------ Exam # is 6019 is for Open Competitive Download NOE for EXAM 6019 Exam # 6506 for Promotional EMTs and Medics has been postponed DOWNLOAD Application Here For Information About Exams Call 212-669-1357

Here's an awesome overhead photo of the Interpid from Airliners.net, taken by Kamil Macniak of Epgd Spotters from a helicopter on July 16th, 2006. http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1083943/M/

I love the Pierce Quantum, especially after the redesign. Although not the most beautiful chasis on the market (that title for me goes to the Pierce Arrow XT and Spartan), it still looks really good when done right, and I have photographic evidence of that. (Photo by x635, Fort Lauderdale Engine 2, June 2005) (Photo by x635, Fort Lauderdale Ladder 2, June 2005) And here is one of my favorite Pierce Quantums (besides Fort Lauderdales) Wilmington, MA Squad 1: http://www.nefirenews.org/mass/WilmingtonS1.jpg Not to mention the important part...it has a really comfortable thought out interior cab.

This has got to be one of the hottest new deliveries I have seen recently. (Photo from www.piercemfg.com) The LAFirePhotos.com team is working on photos, and the x635 camera will be on the lookout with a special mission for this truck, LAFD's new ALF tillers, and new Battalion Command units during my upcoming trips to LA.

Very interesting, someone's got to know something here! The current 1992 International/Summit is aging, and is kind of small for the increasing amount of equipment they carry.

Some photos have finally been posted on EMTBravo.com, thanks to FFD79. The car looks HOT! I'm really digging the styling and graphics. Now if only to get photos of County PD's black-and-white chargers....

If I'm not mistaken, the Brewster Parade is this Thurdsay night. Since I haven't been to this parade before, I was curious as to where the lineup was, and what the parade step off time and route is? I'm not sure yet if I will be attending, but I am really trying to get some Putnam County apparatus photos...epsecially Brewster's elusive Tower Ladder and Rescue.

I actually liked the HT1000. Was a very durable, easy to use radio. That goes for the MT1000 as well. I don't see why all the new radios coming out have to have all this fancy technology, tiny screens, and do-dads, most of which we don't use anyways. Why can't they come out with a radio that is lightweight yet durable, has an easy to read and change channel indicator, and recieves and transmits properly??

I haven't heard that myself. If that were true, that would be awesome! Macks, even though discontinued, are still wildly popular and have a great reputation. Even though I know their reasoning behind getting out of the fire truck market, I never really understood it. Mack Trucks is owned now by Volvo North America. I don't know if their corporate parent would want to get back into the market. And from what I hear, because of their new parent they're not the same company they used to be, although they build some visually stunning chasis with great powertrains and have quite a great heritage.

Exciting news! The State Of Connecticut has finally awarded the bid for the new M-8 railcars. And they will be assembled at Kawasaki's Yonkers facilty. I can't wait to see and ride these new trains, they're definetly long overdue. Below are two image links I found on a cool rail forum, Railroad.net'sMetro-North forum Conceptual Color Drawing: http://img126.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m...exterior5sh.jpg Lifelike Conceptual Photo: http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/4628/m8...ngmedium2sd.jpg Interior Concept Drawing: http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m...aldesign8jb.jpg (These images posted and thanks to ImageShack by Railroad.net members "L-Dog" and "DutchRailnut")

I have learned this week that Elmsford PD has switched to a black-and-white cruiser scheme with the delivery of their newest 2006 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. One of the main reasons this was done was to differentiate their cars from the similar, neighboring Greenburgh PD units. If anyone has good photos of the new car, please send them in to EMTBravo.com. Until then, me and my camera will be on the lookout.

Today, while driving past the severly dilipapidated, cramped, and obsolete Ardsley-Secor VAC building on Legion Drive in Ardsley, I noticed they have set up a temporary cage for the ambulance, and have begun demolishing the current building (which used to be a bank in Mount Vernon before it was trucked to Ardsley for it's current use) The new building will be a prefabricated building with a meeting room, storage and decontamination rooms, and 1 ambulance bay. Ardsley-Secor VAC has 1 ambulance, a 2001 Ford E-450/Lifeline Superline assigned to 50-B-1. Their ALS is provided by Greenburgh PD*EMS Car 75 which responds from Dobbs Ferry Hospital. I'm not a member of Ardsley VAC nor have I ever been, but my grandfather helped start ASVAC in the 60's, and hellped arrange for their current building. Before the building that is being demolished now, when ASVAC first started, the ambulance was stationed at my grandparents house for a short period. So that is my connection.

Just an update ( a little late): As of last Thursday 7-13-06, Ardsley has moved into and started operating out of their new temporary firehouse on Saw Mill River Road (Route 9A) near Ashford Ave. I had a personal tour last Friday, and it's almost nicer then their old station. L50, E165, E165, and E242 all have plenty of room, more then the old quarters. Construction on their new firehouse, located on the site of the old firehouse, on Ashford Ave, is slated to begin shortly. It will start with asbestos abatement, which is going to take 3 weeks, give or take. Then, demolition will begin. See spy shot of temporary firehouse in post above. It's been cosmetically improved since the photo was taken, and I will get an updated shot soon.

Date: 7-21-06 Time: 1523 Location: Frequency: 484.7125, 46.5000 Units Operating: Description Of Incident: Multiple Incidents relating to severe thunderstorm moving through area Writer: x635 1523: Yonkers FD operating on multiple transformer fire, wire fire, and other calls in the city and the area of this call. E-308 reporting visible 10-29 in a garage 1 Shonnard Terrace C/S Warburton Ave. E-308, E310, E-312- E-306, E-309, L-71, L-74 R-1, B2, B-Safety, Empress EMS, YPD assigned. Garage Fire, reportedly caused by primary wires burning 1524: B-2 Requesting A Full Asignment to Shonnard Terrace. 1525: Engine 309 states they are close to scene and can take in job. Yonkers FD communications assigning them to the job 1526 B-2 requests Con-Ed, states primary wire fire catching garage, can not put out with Dry Chem at this time and request Con Ed expedite 1530: Safety Battalion requesting YPD to Warburton Ave IAO Hudson River Museum to control traffic 1532: Engine 306 Requesting PD to Glenwood and Warburton for traffic control. 1535: Yonkers FD Communications advising B1 & B2 they have lost the Seminary transmitting site, now transmitting off School 5. 1536: Battalion 3 is in service in the city, reporting Linden St and Elm St. Water Main break...taking in alarm @ 75 Spruce Activated CO Alarm 1537: B-2 Progress Reports 13KV Primarys down and burning in middle of street on Shonnard with exposure problems, no transformer involvment & garage not on fire at this time, holding all companies. 1537: E313 on location with a transformer fire 149 Mile Square Rd. 1538: Squad 11 Lockwood And Mile Square on scene with primarys burning, Lockwood Ave. being shut down. 1539: Car 2 handling communications and liason with Con Edison 1540: B1, E- , L70 responding Mark Twain Jr. High School commercial alarm. 1541: Authority of Car 2, all automatic alarm assignments will be 1&1 1542: B-2 requesting Engine to check 2 blocks north of Shonnard, report of more primaries burning. Engine 306 assigned. 1543: Engine 306 states cannot respond-already commited, Yonkers Comm requesting available engine to respond from scene at Shonnard. Engine 312 assigned. 1545: Batt 1 commited @ 283 Mile Square Road at Palmer, primaries down and burning. Needs an Engine company to relieve him and Con Ed. Engine 307 assigned. 1546: L-70 dispatched to Palmer Rd./Bryn Mawr Place on a transformer fire. 1546: Batt 1 reporting Bryn Mawr/Palmer is same run he is on, Con Ed rep is on scene, he only needs E-307 to stand by burning primary which is blocked off at this time. L70 10-8 1547: E-304, B1 799 Yonkers Ave C/S Central Ave & Belmont primaries down and burning 1549: B-1 advises wires down on top of building, investigating what type of wires they are. Requesting Con Ed. 1550: E312 advising primary down in front of 632 Warburton Ave, they will need 10-15 traffic causing a problem. They are just north of Station 8, and will need Con Ed when they are available. 1551: L-75 reporting Rumsey Rd south of Spruce is flooded, advise PD...they may want to shut it down. 1559: B1 reporting he is 10-8, E-304 is going to standby for a while, people reporting wires sparking from the pole but they haven't witness it. Requests Con-Ed put it on their long to-do list. 1600: B1 10-8, requesting another assignment. 64 Lakeside Drive C/S Van Cortlandt Park for a water condition in basement affecting electrical panel. YFD Comm advising no company available to respond with them at this time. 1605: Numerous new communities in Yonkers now without power in addition to those preexisitng from earlier storms this week 1606: Squad 11 reports transformer is out, smoldering. They are availble. 1607: B-1 requesting Tower Ladder or Aerial Ladder forthwith to Central Ave. and Mile Square Rd. Squad 11 assigned, YFD Comm advising B-1 that SQ-11 has a boat. 1607: B-1 reitterating he needs a truck company if available, preferrably a towern ladder. L-75 assigned 1608: B-2 Reports Con Ed on location, evaluating situation 1609: B-1 requesting all units cancel CPA/MS, victim is out of the completly submerged vehicle, victim is OK and with PD at the moment. Squad 11 and L-75 are 10-8. 1610: B-1 once again 10-8, requesting one of the 10-8 units take the water condition on Lakeside Drive. Engine 303 already assigned. B-1 will be on the air available. 1610: E-314 back at Station 14. E-304 on the air for a run. YPD Comm dispatching E-304 and B-1 to Saw Mill River Parkway in area of McLean Ave for reports of numerous vehicles submerged with occupants. B-1 request Squad 11 respond, B-2 freeing up R-1 from Shonnard Terrace to respond. 1611: E-303 requesting an electric pump at 64 Lakeside...couple of feet of water in basemet, 3 engine does not have one. 1612: Units responding Saw Mill River Parkway Southbound @ Mclean Ave, multiple vehicles submerged with occupants....B-1, SQ11, R1, E-304, Empress, YPD, YPD*ESU 1613: L-71 10-8. Yonkers Requesting B-1 free up some of his engines. Multiple Calls holding. 1614: SQ11 backed up on Saw Mill by Cross County, advises Rescue to enter Saw Mill by McLean. 1614: B-1 on overpass in area, several vehicles in high water none in danger of being submerged, still investigating 1614: YPD Comm requesting B-2 free up Engines. E-306 will be free shortly from Shonnard. 1615: B-2 freeing Engine 312 and Engine 306. 1616: B-1 requesting SQ11s location, SQ states they are rerouting due to severe traffic in area, B-1 confirming to do that, B-1 also stating cars are still driving through the water they are going down to roadway to invvestigate. 1616: E-312 has an electric pump and will meet E-303 at 64 Lakeside Drive. 1616: E-303 reporting walk up report from civilian of treee down across roadway and wires at 41 Hillcrest. E-303 is trying to open house trap to reduce flooding. 1617: B1 requesting County PD Engine 304 is removing 1 person trapped in car underneath overpass, they are checking 2 other cars in water. Parkway is completly flooded all lanes. 1618: B-1 requesting SQ11, R1 stage at McLean Ave. overpass while he investigates 1620: B-2 power is cut at Shonnard Place, extinguishing small fire at 120 Shonnard Ave. Wants to make sure Con Ed got incident with wires just north of them. 1621: E-303 doesn't need Engine 312, using homeowners pump. Hillcrest tree is not down on road, but down on wires.....and power is out in the entire area. 1622: Engine 312 trying to go 10-8 1625 E-307 to Acker/Kimball on a flooding condition. E-307 wants to know if they can clear the downed wire they are currently sitting on. 1626: YFD Comm wants to know if scene is safe. E-307 advising live wire down in road, cordoned off. YFD Comm advising E-307 to disreagrd, E-312 asssigned. 1626: B-1 reporting all civilians removed from their cars and the water level is increasing, consulting with PD on how to remove the civilians to McLean Ave and out of the flood zone. All companies working. 1635: B-2 requesting DPW on Shonnard. Road is buckled and impassable. 1636: SB Saw Mill Pkwy units picking up, no injuries, finishing up removing vicitms from flood zone to Mclean ave as per report by B-1 1640: B-1 releasing E-304 and SQ11, holding R1 for some last minute assistance 1641: Yonkers Comm continuing to assigned numerous holding water conditions and wires down calls throughout the city as units become available. Numerous phones still heard ringing in YFD comm background. 1648: YFD Comm requesting R1 through B1 for possible partial facade collapse due to lightening strike at 75 Spruce St that happened previous in storm. B1 says R1 still commited to water rescue job, requests available truck company to respond. L-71 assigned 1651: All FD units clear from Saw Mill Pkwy, Pkwy is shut down southbound. 1652: B-2 E309, L74 in process of picking up, will be 10-8 shortly. B-1 now responding (unknown location) 1653: L-73 is 10-8, now assigned to respond 800 Central Park Ave. on an MVA 1658: L71 reports lighting strike, bricks in street, building maintainence on scene clearing life safety issue. 1659: L-73 reporting minor car accident on Thruway, no injuries, SP on scene 1700: L71, L73 10-8 1719: B1 on scene with heavy smoke in the basement of Hudson River Musuem 511 Warburton . Request Full assignmenty Requests all units stage at the rear north entrance of the museum, switch to Handi-Talki Channel 2. 1720: Units assigned to 511 Warburton E309, E308, E310, E306, L71, R1, B1 Smoke condition in Museum 1721: Yonkers FD Comm attempting to ascretain where Warbuton is still closed due to wires and trees down at the request of responding unit. 1729: B-2 and E-304 reports man down IFO St. Peters Church on Riverdale Ave while enroute to 10-35. 10-35 is verified by unit on scene as false, B-2 will be assisting man down. 1730: B-Safety is responding to the Musuem job 1734: Yonkers units continue to respond on numerous water conditions and wires and trees down. 1735: B1 Progress Report 511 Warburton is a burnt out compressor in the basement, holding E-308 and L-71, all other units 10-8. 1736: B-2 and E-304 reporting man down is having a "happy afternoon" and doesn't want any help. They'll be available. *AS OF 1839hrs, Yonkers Fire continues to respond on a large volume of storm related calls. This post will be updated only if needed or something of significant relevance to this storm occurs.

Best wishes to the brothers involved for a speedy recovery. Whoever's a regular pedestrian in Manhattan knows how dangerous and careless the cabbies can be. Just another thing that makes the job tougher.

When a 60 Control Dispatcher enters a job into the CAD system (which is done simultaneously with taking the phone call), the CAD system autmotically and by itself generates the page instantly and sends it out to the set subscribers via their cell carrier. The delay is usually because of your personal carrier. The message has to go through their system, and that is where the delay orginates.

Date: 7-19-06 Time: 0815 (approx) Location: 52 West Post Road Frequency: Units Operating: E67, E66, E65, TL6, L32, R88, C2512 (Unit Assigment Not Complete) Description Of Incident: Working Fire Writer: x635 0815: C-2512 on scene establishing "West Post Road Command", transmitting working fire 0832: C2512 requests (2) engines and (2) trucks to relocate to White Plains due to fire and numerous storm related calls in the city. Relocated units included Hartsdale TL-15. 0845: Fire knocked down, units checking for extension 0900: Mutual aid cover units released *IA will be updated upon the reciept of additional information.