x635

Congrats CAM502. Don't forget to keep learning, EMS always presents challenges and oppurtunties with every shift!

For the past couple of years, I've been looking for "where are they now" photos of two pieces of apparatus. #1. Ardsley's former Engine 165, a 1979 Mack CF which was sold to Hartsdale NY which in turn sold it to a department believed to be on the Pennsylvania/West Virginia border in the year 2000. #2. Hartsdales former Engine 171, a 1971 Maxim believed to have been sold to a department in "Conesville" NY, also in the year 2000. If anyone has any information on these rigs (if they still even exist), please post here. If you have photos or can get photos, please PM me. Thanks!

(Original Photo Credit: jjpinto) The feature circled in the photo above I find really great. This is the first time I've ever seen it on an apparatus. It's so the firefighters in the rear of the cab who are sitting facing foward can look in the mirror, and see if traffic is coming from behind them before opening the door. Typically, to accomplish this you have to turn around, crack the door open or roll down the window and peek out before opening the door fully. I think this safety feature is simple and great, and something that should become standard on all apparatus. Getting out of the rig into traffic, even with the "Stop" signs on the door which are often largely ignored, can be very dangerous. I know of a very narrow, busy avenue near me, and when the firefighters open the doors and even get out, people continue to speed by very close to the rig. A simple feature such as, which probaly costs less then chrome trim, can become very valuable if a tragedy or damage to a rig or another vehicle is averted. Does anyone know the proper name for this mounting of mirrors?

Recently, I've noticed a growing trend that disgusts me. Police Officers, who close roads for a variety of different reasons, are harrased by motorists. I've personally been witnessing such activity, most recently at the Mount Kisco Parade, and today's closing of South Central Avenue in Greenburgh. Just today, the poor cop(s) were sitting out rerouting traffic at a major intersection in the heat and humidity, sucking in the fumes all day while dodging dumb drivers. At different intervals, I noticed some of the following behaviors: -A motorist yelling at a police officer, holding him personally accountable for the "uneccesary" road closure and asking for his name and supervisor. -Motorists cutting through a parking lot to try and avoid the road closure or trying to squeeze past the roadblock while the officer was not looking -Numerous Motorists stopping in the middle of an intersection with a large volume of traffic behind them to ask for directions. -Motorists honking at the officers. - A motorist cursing at an officers -Motorists trying to negotiatewith the police officer to let them through And the list goes on and on. How has the public lost such respect for our Police Officers? I realize that motorists get frusterated, and I know some PO's can be rude at times ( I probaly would be too if I had to deals with some of these people just like we can we in the fire service). It disgusts me, and I hope something gets done about these idiots who make the cops job harder. You see the road is closed, follow the directions of the officers and shutup. In todays day of ample media coverage, cell phones, and other devices, and obvious significant storm damage, motorists should be more then prepared to handle situations such as road closures. Granted, we probaly could deploy better signage and more traffic personel such as DPW....but most personel are busy cleaning up the aftermath of the storm and not all manpower can be spent on traffic duties. I give the Police Officers a ton of respect for dealing with stuff like this.

Date: 7-18-06 Time: 2307 Location: Central Ave. IAO West Hartsdale Ave. ("4 Corners") Frequency: 46.26 Units Operating: Hartsdale FD E-169, GPD, GPD*EMS Description Of Incident: Small car with 3 occupants trapped in approx 2 1/2 feet of rushing water from uphill and water surging from sewer holes. Wires presumed down in area of car. Occupants removed to roof then to Engine 169 out of the flood zone. Writer:x635 2307: 60 Control advises Hartsdale FD of incident, Engine 169 assigned 2327: All units picking up

This is a delivery I'm looking foward to. I can't wait to get photos of it. Does anyone have any more information? Preliminary rumors say that it will be an American LaFrance rearmount 100' straightstick, but I'm holding out hope for a Pierce Arrow XT 105' RM. Would match that nice Rescue perfectly.

Found out today that Sleepy Hollow FD has a new Pierce Lance Rescue Pumper due for delivery in October. Anyone have any more details?

I agree......I too am excited about the promise of the technology. I was very impressed with the operation of the buses yesterday, and hope to see this technology applied in the multitude of other vehicles where it fits. From an enviromental persepective, I do think that finding ways to reduce our oil/fuel consumption and lower emissions does and will benefit us and the people who populate this world in the future, not to mention the financial savings and lessening the dependence on foregin products for our energy.

I had the privledge of attending Bee Line's Commisioning ceremony for the new hybrid buses this morning. I also had the honor of being on the first public "maiden voyage" the fleet, on bus #201. These buses are AWESOME! The technology is fascinating, and the ride is very smooth and quiet. And most importantly on a day like today, the AC is COLD! Photos & Information From This Morning Are Now Posted On www.EMTBravo.com Special thanks to dadbo46!!

The State Of New Jersey adminsiters the civil service exam for local department firefighter elegible lists in NJ. The application filing period will be from May 1 through August 31, 2006. The Firefighter’s exam is tentatively scheduled for winter of 2006 into 2007. Further information available on the following website: http://www.state.nj.us/personnel/public_sa...ighter_opps.htm

Just to note, Squad 6 is comprised of Greenville, Hartsdale, and Fairview FD's (Town Of Greenburgh)

Beautiful weather for a parade last night. Myself and x901's photos are now posted on EMTBravo.com

Was watching a couple different news stations that were covering Westchester County PD's crackdown on speeding and drag racing. I noticed that the County PD was using, what I assume to be, a loaner/demo Dodge Charger. It was a black and white scheme, with the County Police patch and grey lettering, with "Special Enforcment" on the front fenders. Looked hot! A couple different reporters reffered to it as County PD's special weapon to catch up with the speeders.....I guess that's a reference to the Hemi, lol. Hope to get photos soon.

Just a heads up if you're on the Yonkers PD list....they're hiring 42 if I'm reading correctly. I beleive this will be from the list of the test from December..

Date: 7-10-06 Time: 1030hrs Location: 196 E. Hartsdale Ave., Eckerd Drugs Frequency: 46.26 Units Operating: E-170, E-169, TL-15, C-2172, L-4, E-175, E-54 (FAST) Description Of Incident: Unknown type fire in occupied commerical occupancy Writer: x635 (O/S w/ camera) 1030hrs E-170, E-169, TL-15 & C-2172 responding 196 East Hartsdale Ave. on report of heavy smoke inside occupied store, possible fire. 1032hrs E-170 on scene with smoke showing 1033hrs C-2172 on scene establishing command 1034hrs C-2172 requests Greenburgh PD to shutdown E. Hartsdale Ave. 1035hrs C-2172 requesting Engine from Fairview, Ladder from Greenville to relocate to scene, stage at E. Hartsdale Ave. and Rockledge Rd. 1039hrs C-2172 reporting evacuated commercial structure with heavy smoke condition, attempting to locate fire. Request Scarsdale FAST, stage E. Hartsdale Ave. IAO Train Station 1100hrs C-2172 transmitting situation under control

I read that they are going to do the much needed refurbishment in the Daily News the other day. It should be quite a sight to see the Interpid "sailing" down the Hudson when it is towed to Bayonne. I always wondered when that would get done, after all it's got to be pretty rough sitting in the Hudson all those years. As for the guides, they are definetly something to be valued, appreciated, and learned from.

In 1993 or 1994, just after Elmfsord FD has recieved their new Quint 2 (now TL-21), they had a tractor trailer carrying millions of live bees overturn on I-287, within the Elmsford jurisdiction. As a result, the bees got loose and formed a huge swarm in the area of the truck, affecting traffic and the numerous people in the area. Long story short, they ended up spraying a sugar-water solution through their new TL from a short distance away, and that killed or dispersed the bees. That is the reason for the Bee-Line bee on the bucket of Elmsford TL-21. Here's a photo of that:

Last July 20th, in Ossining, a 24 year old village sanitation worker named John-Paul Rodrigues fell off the back step of a garbage struck, struck his head, and died. As a result of this, there are many new safety iniatives being looked into for sanitation workers, including helmets, harnesses, rear cameras, etc being advoacted by his parents, and a bill is even in front of the NYS assembly for safety regultions. And it wasn't the first time that has happened either. NIOSH has very strict standards for riding the rear step of refuse trucks, and doesn't even reccomend it. Here's a photo example from a recent parade, from one of many departments using the fire apparatus cabs, hosebeds running boards etc as a shuttle for anyone that needed it. This, and many other, apparatus was traveling over 10mph for distances over a mile. Why worry about FAST teams, presenting yourself and your department professionally in the public eye, etc when it's all going to go out the window during a parade anyways????

Date: 6-30-06 Time: 1155hrs Location: 1 Babbit Court, C/S Saw Mill River Rd. (Route 9A) Frequency: 46.26, Fairview Fireground Units Operating:Fairview E-175, E-174, E-176, L-1, R-3, C2121 (IC), Hartsdale E-170, Greenville L-4, Elmsford L-55, White Plains Engine 66 (Cover), GPD*EMS 78 Description Of Incident: Fire in basement of wood frame "Cape Cod style" residential dwelling with extension to upper levels. Writer: x635 1158 E-175 on scene with fire showing from the basement, transmitting 10-75 Fairview requesting a Greenburgh 2nd Alarm. Hartsdale Engine 170, Greenville Ladder 4 to scene, White Plains Engine 66 to Fairview HQ's. 1159 E-175 stretching line to front door 1210 Greenburgh PD has Route 9A closed in area of Babbit Ct. 1224 Fire in basement K/D, checking for extension on upper levels 1217 WP E-66, Fairview U-7 responding on EMS call on Grasslands Rd. 1252 10-30 transmitted authority C-2121, Greenville L-4 released 1302 Hartsdale E-170 10-8 1303 Fairview E-176 enroute to HQ's to relieve E-66

Proving once again that the Legal Notices section of the Journal News is one of the best places to get a heads up on the departments that are getting new apparatus, I read Sunday that Westchester County has out to bid for a new "ARFF Vehicle". This suprised me, because aren't the two current ARFF vehicles rather new??? Or maybe ARFF stands for something other than "Aircraft Rescue Firefighting" Anyone have the scoop?

Progress is being made on the temporary firehouse, the work is almost done and Ardsley FF's should be moving in soon. Once the move is complete, the current firehouse will be demolished in July-ish. Work is expected to take a year to year and a half. Here's a photo of the temporary firehouse, as it looked on the evening of 6-28-06. As mentioned, it used to be an automotive repair garage and gas station for several decades. Some cosmetic finishing touches will be made once the major work is complete.

Date: 6-28-06 Time: 1958hrs Location: 392 Dennytown Road, YMJA Camp Frequency: Units Operating: Putnam Valley FD, Mohegan E-255 FAST, Mahopac Falls 19-2-3 to cover, CC-5 Description Of Incident: Fire in vacant 25x75 wood frame bunkhouse in camp. Writer: x635, MPACE2-299, jblazing56 2000: PVFD Chief on location reporting fire showing 2036: Fire knocked down, checking for extension

Date: 6-29-06 Time: 0500hrs Location: Westchester -> Binghamton Frequency: Units Operating: ( Departments sending manpower) Mount Vernon, Pelham, Yorktown, New Rochelle, Fairview, Hartsdale, White Plains, Somers, Croton Falls, Lake Mohegan, Croton, Montrose, Verplanck, Purchase, and WCDES staff. Description Of Incident: 52 firefighters from Westchester enroute via bus to staging area in Binghamton. Firefighters will assist with disaster relief due to massive flooding. Response as per request of SEMO for manpower, State Disaster Plan activated. Writer: x635

Spinning off an idea percolating in another thread...... I hope that the departments participating in upcoming parades use the sirens very little, or not at all. I was at a parade recently, and the host department had every apparatus (about 10 in all) with the Q, electronic siren, air horns, and whatever else made noise all going at once on every apparatus. Not only was it uneccarily and obnouxiously, ridiculously loud, it really hurt the ears and damges hearing. It sounds completly different when you're sitting on the ground 2 feet from the bumper when the apparatus is stopped or crawling along, and I hope the drivers realize that. Also scared several children. A toot is fine, but a tool is not a toy. Going full blast constantly on every device is ridiculous. I guess it's no different then going to a Disturbed concert, but I go to parades to see the apparatus, enjoy a nice community oriented summer evening, and photograph it so I can share it with all of you, not to get a headache and hearing loss. Lights, however, light it up!!!!