x635

Definetly an interseting article, and one that's relevant to apparatus here as well.....the community's reaction is also very interesting.

Very nicely done on NYCFire.net, the new fireboats look awesome, and very similar in ways to LA City FD's Fireboat 2. Can't wait to see these long overdue boats in NYC.

Congrats Boris and Deana! Photos?

Condolences to PO Thompson, his family and friends during this tragic and sudden loss. RIP Jason.

Since this forum, time and time again, has proven to be a great way to communicate happenings in my life with a vast majority of my friends, for example the purchase of my (our) home, becoming a Paramedic, and my dream of becoming a career firefighter, I have another blessing to announce. I'd like to tell you all that over the weekend, I asked my girlfriend, Kristen, to marry me while on vacation in Nantucket MA, and she said yes (of course). She is truly perfect in every way for me, great to me, and I am very excited about this commitment and future. This whole relationship reaffirms my belief in fate and there being person out there for everyone...everyone. Kristen is from Yorktown (now of Hartsdale), graduated YHS in '97, and for those who are curious, is in senior managment in the corporate medical education field....and has nothing at all or no interest in the Fire/EMS/PD field but shares a ton else with me. Just to note, lol.

Thoughts, prayers, and condolences to the Byrnes family on their untimely loss. RIP Mike.

Support Our Troops Drop Off July 4th treats for the troops at local Yonkers & Greenburgh firehouses....collecting June 1-16th All donations will be assembled into "Care Packages" and sent to our military personnel overseas. Drop Off Points: All Yonkers Firehouses Greenburgh Firehouses- Greenville FD: 711 Central Ave. Hartsdale FD: (Sta 1) 25. S Central Ave & (Sta 2/HQ) 300 W. Hartsdale Ave. Fairview FD: (Sta 1/HQ) 19 Rosemont Blvd. & (Sta 2) Dobbs Ferry Rd/Worthington Rd. The troops really appreciate: Card or letters, AT&T phone cards, CDs, DVDs, magazines, gourmet cofeee, candy, gum, savory snacks Sponsored by the firefighters of Yonkers and Greenburgh and Operation Support Our Troops. For more info, email supporttroops123@aol.com (Information from flyer distributed to Yonkers and Greenbugh firehouses)

Wow, definetly an insightful and interesting thread. This boards a great learning and communciation tool. Let's not forget that. Even though we may get annoyed at some of these opinions or inaccuracies posted, lets use it to set the facts straight and maybe teach the "youth" a thing or two. There is a great diversity in age, experience, agency, education, etc on this forum, and we will all have differning opinions, and will come across in different tones. But we are all drawn to this forum for a common interest. There's something to learn from every one of us on here, and let's not shut this forum out because we don't like what someone else has to say. I do agree, however, about some younger members on here having a strong opinion or coming across as know-it-alls. They do need to know their place, and can't just have a "don't like it so what we are just as important" attitude. This is the real world, respect your elders and have manners. They may teach you a thing or two. Respect is earned, not demanded. To those this applies to, you're not impressing any true professional with booksmarts or your opinion, you are impressing them with your willingness to learn, the respect you display for those senior and ranking, and the skill you demonstate. And that takes time to show. Yes, you are important, as you are the future, but those that have been around a while have a tottally different perspective...and often for a good reason. No one is debating I don't think the right for the youth to have an opinion, more the fact of the way they express their opinion. Just as a note, I've seen several "youths" mature greatly on this board, and it is quite evident through when they started posting, to where they are now. One member in particular started on here at 15 years old, and is now approachiing 18 and has matured into someone who will one day make a fine addition to the field. It takes time, but we will all see at some point how little we really knew when we were younger and thought we knew it all. Myself included.

Congrats to all the officers recieving recgnition last week, some of which are EMTBravo Network members!

Seagrave has redesigned their website http://www.seagrave.com Still nothing spectacular, lacks information on the product, and also no recent deliveries. You'd think they'd have everything ready to go in conjuntion with the launch. Looks new and fresh, and nice, too bad that's all its got. I'll give it a couple months to see if it progresses though....

Recently, I realized something. It seems to me our brothers and sisters in PD and EMS deservingly have annual awards, but is there any type of Westchester Fire Service awards? I'm aware many departments have local events, but there is nothing countywide as far as I'm aware. I think this is an annual event/celebration we could hold on a countywide level. We could have categories like Firefighter of the year, company of the year, Incident Commander of the year, Rescue of the year, Dispatcher of the year, Incident of the year, Instructor of the year, Best fire prevention/codes program, etc etc, with nomination and judging by our peers. Now, I'm completly aware that we don't do it for the awards, nor do any of us expect it. But, NYC and numerous other departments have medals days and the such. I think this would go a long way to prmoting camraderie and unity on the countywide level. Do any other surrounding counties have something like this?

We've seen a lot of new equipment breakthrough and proliferate the fire service over recent years. Such equipment that is now almost standard on a first due apparartus and the personel riding on it includes thermal imaging camera, bunker gear, AED's, LED lighting, and intergrated PASS alerts What do you think the next big breakthrough in fire equipment will be, and why? I think the next breakthrough equipment to become standard on first due apparatus will be Class A foam/CAFS. Although the fire service is traditionally resisiting this for a lot of different reasons, I think technology and experience will show this chemical to make putting out fires quicker and easier. A lot of departments carry a small tank of foam on their first due, but that foam is hardly used. Here is an every day foam. The other product I see becoming commonplace is GPS locator devices for ScottPacks, with remote monitoring for air pressure, working duration, etc. This can be a valuable tool for the IC, and one piece of fancy technology that can actually be put to legitamate use.

Can't wait to see these on the road. Since these buses are in every Westchester community everyday, I do hope that Liberty Lines holds an open house for us all to come to and check out the new buses. Also hope they distribute literature to all agencies. Hopefully they will come with bike racks in the front like in LA.....

Well, I visited the Danbury Rail Museum today, and it was quite a neat place. They have an impressive collection of locomotives and rail cars. I particularly liked the New Haven FL-9, the caboose (the history of them is cool), the Sperry car, and the Budd car. And the Boston-Maine Mogul was pretty cool. It's pretty interesting what hard work it once was "working on the railroad" and still is today. Unforuntely, didn't get to ride the train up there. But hopefully I will get to go on a train photo hunt soon, and I hope to get a Metro-North M-7, M-3, M-2, a FL-9, and a Genesis engine in New Haven colors.

During my time as a dispatcher, and frequently I hear on the air is that the caller is requesting a "silent approach". I completly understand the rationale for this, I wouldn't want the commotion if I was having chest pain (knock on wood) especially with the massive response of apparatus in some communities to simple EMS calls. However, I'm curious as to what burden this places on the responding agencies. If a vehicle is to be involved in an MVA after shutting off their siren when approaching the neighborhood due to the callers request, is this really a valid excuse, especially if you have a lights on, sirens on policy? How do your dispatchers handle this, and how does your agency react to this request? I completly understand that you don't know what it is 'til you get there, so it's gotta be a full-throttle response, and "you called 911 you get lights and sirens" is the common response to the question. But, can EMD or common sense be balanced with this to honor the callers request? Often times, it's hard for a modest patient to call for an ambulance, or even to be convinced to seek help. Also, I'm curious if your agency, when not in danger of traffic (like on a appropriate side street or in a driveway) shuts off the lights of the bus when going into the house. Or, do you leave them flashing outside regardless?

Thoughts and prayers are with Lt. Steger's family, friends, and coworkers during this sudden tragedy. Rest in peace Lt.

The Arenas are now national celebrities. Well, if any one or thing made me cry, it was Big Jim. I'm just so happy for him, Gina and all the Arena's. AWESOME, AWESOME family, makes for an awesome TV show. Congrats!! Thanks again for the message you sent and continue to send to everyone...

Well, EMS Week 06' is here, May 14th-20th 2006. Happy EMS Week to my fellow EMS providers.... Now, what is your agency or primary recieving hospital doing to commemerate this week? I saw the the medical center took out a very nice ad in the paper, hopefully that ad will be posted in the EMS room when they give it back to us. Also, is your agency using this week as a reason to get out there and educate the public about EMS and the service you provide, like FD's do during fire precention week?

Just a reminder, Exrteme Makeover: Home Edition will air the Arena episode this evening at 8PM EST on ABC. As many of you know, (Click Here For The Previous Thread ), a few weeks ago the Arena's were suprised with an Extreme Home Makeover. In only 7 days, and with the help of a massive amount of the Arena's friends and brothers/sisters in the fire service, they were given a beautiful new home as a small token of everybody's appreciation of the lessons JimmyBoy taught us and continues to teach us and a thank you for the spirit that Jim and Gina have and convey always. Unfortunetly, I will be working tonight, but I will be watching/Tivo'ing......if you watch, let us know your thoughts on this thread... For more on Jimmy Boy and the Arena family, click here: http://www.jimmboy.com

I always prefer my Digital Rebel, but enjoy the convient size and portability of my S500. My Digital Rebel comes with me when I'm shooting for fun, or out for a ride. But the camera itself is large, and with it's value, accesories and large bag, it's not always an option to take it everywhere with me. My S500 is nice, durable, and small, so along with it's protective LowePro case, it's easy to grab and take to work, on an errand, or a night out. The only thing I don't like about the S500 is the slow shutter response, and I miss a lot of shots because of that...unlike my D-Reb, where the shutter is instantaneous. The S500 is what many of my posted photos from work come from, and the D-Reb is where many of my travel, scheduled shoot, and photo hunt photos come from.

x635 A Metro North Fan Lately, my newest obessesion is the railroad, more specifically, Metro-North and to a lesser extent LIRR. I find their operations fascinating. I love the M-3 and M-7 trains and the FL-9/FL-10 and Genesis Locomotives. Lately I've been trying to ride the rails as much as I can, each and every line. I also love to photograph trains, and have been trying to find good and legal spots to do such. I also have been wanting to ride one of the diesel trains from Grand Central to Danbury and visit the rail museum, but I hear there are bustitions this month apparently, so I'm going to wait until June. I'm hoping their will be another Metro North Harmon (or even better, North White Plains!) Rail Yard Open House in October, and I will be able to go. I also wish I had space in my home for an HO layout. Another thing I like, is that I live within short walking distance of a lower Harlem line train station. I can hop on a Metro-North Harlem line train, and be at Grand Central, and midtown Manhattan, within a half hour. That's so easy and so cool to me. New M8 Sneak Preview Anyways, in 2008 (I think) the CTDOT/Metro North will be receiving much-overdue new M8 railcars to replace the aging and worn M-2's on the New Haven lines. They will be similar to the M-7's, but have some key differences, including a pantograph. Below are two 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") They look HOT, I can't wait to see and ride them in person! Other EMTBravo Network Railfans Another interesting thing I found is that EMTBravo Network member GrumpyFF is also seemingly a railfan and has taken some real nice Metro-North photos. They are seen at this cool train photo site: http://naphotos.nerail.org/show/?byrail:1:Metro_North Is anyone else on here a "railfan"?

Although I'm aware of the current purpose the sign serves, I was always under the impression that its origins were when firefighters used to ride the tailboard, it was so if they fell off a car had time to avoid them.

LA City FD's Battalion 14 Blog, contains some cool information regarding happenings in the battalion, as well as some neat photos, videos, and training tips. http://battalion14.blogspot.com/

Tonight, on the Travel Channel, at 8PM (repeating at 11PM and May 7th at noon) is a show called "This Jobs A Trip". I've never seen this show before, and there's not much on the web about it, but it seems to follow two people who dream of becoming something. Below is the synopsis, from Discovery.com

The Saw Mill River Parkway in Pleasantville will close next Monday, for a week. This is for flood repair, which in my opinion is much needed. However, this fix doesn't seem to me like it's going to work very well, as has been proven in the past, and there are other temporary fixes that should be tried. It's still a mystery to me why they don't resume maintaining the river, something that would clearly help to reduce the severity of this issue when you consider all the silt and debris that the river has in that area due to development and increased runoff. But this is the same agency that doesn't even reconize that the whole Saw Mill Parkway, north of Marble Ave to I-684 and in between Elmsford and Hastings, is completly falling apart and is in need of a massive overhaul....something the DOT says won't be done until at least 2012! 2012? Have they seen the Parkway recently? How can it last that long? Aren't they concerned that the parkway lacks many safety features, and it's poor and poorly kept condition is posing a safety hazard to everyone who travels it? I still don't understand, until then, why they can't even fill a large pothole on the Saw Mill, not to mention even on busier roadways, such as I-287 or I-684? What about guardrail repair, or even removing debris from the roadway? Looking next door to CT, I cannot understand why our road surfaces cannot be cared for better. Best wishes for the Pleasantville residents and commuters affected by this action. Here's hoping for some temporary relief.