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There are several agencies, and my comments are directed from an EMS perspective, that rely on a core group of volunteers. In fact, I know several agenciesin the Metro area that rely almost completly on the local highway department for daytime coverage. Although it would be a very positive gesture if the village in question would let these two employees respond, considering the said village probaly doesnt pay anything for EMS, there is a job that needs to get done from the Village's side. If two employees are getting paid to do this job, and the EMS calls are taking them away from that on a regular basis, or making other members NOT respond, then there is an issue. (Please note that in MCI situations, the employees should without a doubt be released) As I have said in other threads, muncipalities pay for parking enforcment officers, sanitation removal engineers, heavy equipment operators, etc to cover tasks in the village that need to get done. It's the 21st century, and EMS is a professional and neccesary service. Do you want to wait for an ambulance for 20 minutes or more if you are sick, in pain, or injured? Unfortunetly "creative" staffing solutions only construct a barrier to more permenent and effective solutions. If we cover up problems for pride or other reasons, we are doing nothing to help those you are there to serve. As we all know, politicians are reactive. For crying out loud, how come we can pay people to mow the park lawns, man the skate park, and guarentee garbage collection and parking tickets, yet we cant guarantee an ambulance or pay to get one there if needed? Fire service volunteering is a COMPLETLY separate animal from EMS volunteering. They are two vastly different issues, and solutions that work for an FD will not neccarily work for a EMS agency. It sounds harsh, and nobody WANTS to hire daytime or whenever needed crews, but the fact is, it is becoming commonplace for VACs, look at Rockland County (We won't get into the issue that it "kills the volunteer sprit", because that should be a non-issue if you have the people in mind). Even if you need to, establsih an agreement with the local commercial or not-for-profit ambulance sevice. It all comes down to doing what will be best for the community you serve....and the people that are depending on you to get there...quickly.

Although a helicopter is an important asset to the WC, especially with the traffic that is ever increasing on our roadways, it's not nearly as important to us as it is to the upper Hudson Valley, such as Greene and Orange counties. Privatizing the Helicopter program in the hands of a corporation, although experienced at this type of venture, is a huge step back for EMS in the Hudson Valley region. I do not know the full details of this new operation, but I would assume that a program such as this is better left locally controlled. I understand it costs a bundle to operate, but what is that money compared to all the lives it has saved. That sounds trite, but the MI or Trauma patient who gets to the needed level of care sooner has a signifcantly better prognosis. WMC, after years of fiscal mismanagment IMO, takes another wrong step. And if they don't watch out, this helicopter will be needed even more, since transport times to the next Level I will be increased vastly.

The first word I thought of when I read this thread is "competition". Becuase that's what a parade is. A competition. Who's trucks are shinier and who can march better then who. It's fun, but is that really important? Don't get me wrong,those that know me, being the HUGE apparatus buff that I am, know that I love parades. And there's nothing wrong with them until departments become "Parade Departments", and disregard their main purpose. Parades do give us a chance to interact in a more social manner with those from other departments, as well as they are a great community relations tool. However, It's now the 21st century here in Westchester........How come we don't have skill competions or competitive drills???? Why don't we take the same pride we take in going to parades and winning tropies that we take in progressing our skills and equipment? How come I don't hear "We just took BlahBling class and we can now do blahblah", but I hear "We went to SoandSo Parade and cleaned up in tropies!!"........HOW IS THAT IMPORTANT TO SERVING THE HUMAN BEINGS YOU ARE PROTECTING????? The time spent at parades could be spent training your entire department as EMT's, or Hazmat Techs, etc. Another little thing of mine that seems to be a favorite pastime.......I don't want to sound like a prude.......but the consumption of alcholic beverages at a parade (both before and after) while in department uniform and near department appartus..even going into taverns with uniforms on...I wondered how that looks to the public? I mean, I think they probaly understand that firefighters like to have a good time, but again we stand on a line between old time volunteering and 21st century prrofessionlism.

Quint 1........Best Truck!!! (Even though it does have a pump,lol) :-)

Leaving such a beautiful and classic piece unseen should be a crime!!! I hope to see it plenty in 2006!!!!!

Could it be as simple as he had an accident on the tractor in a remote location, and fired the shots to get help before he died? Also, who knows with the house...if you ever watch HGTV, people build some strange houses. Maybe he was just paranoid, coming out of the cold war era. But then again, he was from Mount Vernon.

You can see some of the Governor's Island apparatus in the NYCFire.net Photo Gallery, FDNY Album Page 7: http://www.nycfire.net/gallery/view_album....ame=fdny&page=7

Just curious, what is the tallest building (and/or structure) in Westchester? And what sits at the highest elevation in the county? I think the WestchesterOne Building in WP, or the new CityCenter tower, also in WP. Don't know the exact height of these. As for structure, the WFAS radio tower in Hartsdale or the Grasslands radio tower. Anybody know?

My first time attending this parade, and it was great! Got to see a lot of apparatus I haven't seen before or haven't seen in a long time. Among some random observations: -Patterson's Ladder is a lot like Somers, or vice-versa. -Where was Engine 119? And Engine 182 I'd like to them in at least one parade this year! -Mahopac's Rescue is awesome! I've never seen it before. So is the Falls. -Verplanks Bronto is kewl, their Ford Explorer, like Car 2533, is lit up quite nicely. -The weather was awesome, and so was my "seat" -Putnam Lakes ALF and Brush unit were neat, and so was Carmel's Seagrave Lo-Pro engine. I'm sure I have many more random thoughts, but I'm tired and thats it for now. Photos have been submitted to EMTBravo.com and should be posted shortly.

Just a heads up. In the latest issue of FAJ (Available at most Borders and some Barnes and Noble locations, from www.fire-police-ems.com, Marilyn and Gils Fire Station, and through subscription at www.fireapparatusjournal.com) Joe Pinto profiles the apparatus of the Mount Kisco Fire Department. Included are photos of Engines 103, 104,105,106 Ladder 14 and 41, and Rescue 15.

Update: I found out today (or remembered) today that the new Battalion 1 is a 2004 Ford Expedition. Any idea of the unit ID for the new Hazmat rig?

Wait....do I see that guy WALKING UPRIGHT, AND FOWARDS :yikes: on the aerialscope escape ladder???? What is he, crazy????? :weee:

????? Who is getting these Mass Decon trailers,how are they set up, and is it going to be an EMS or Fire responsibility?

I still think the FTC in Valhalla is way too crowded. I'm dont really think ultimately it has to be too big of a facility, but maybe a couple of classrooms and a multi-function building, maybe in a small section of a park or highway depot. Other benefits could include a Northern Operations center for disaster preparedness. For a County that lavishes themselves in other wasteful projects, the cost for building and mainting this facilty is naught. As far as instructors go, its not that big of a hardship if you work it out logically. However, whenever operations are centralized, it cheaper. So the county needs to look at more land on the Grasslands reservation or somewhere else, because space there, and with projected future use....is at a premium.

LOL, The sad part is I had the magazine right there in front of me!!! My memory is shot, a lot of new things going in, a lot getting pushed out, lol!)

What is the new Battalion 1? An Excursion?

I heard those were "Impact" cameras....there exact operation or function I do not know, other than that that can be implied from the name.

Definetly catching up, and it's been a long long time in the making. Some great improvments. Some of the things though, is the center still gets crowded and parking is a PIA. Also,when you've been there 1000 times, diversity is key. I'd like to personally see the county invest in a FTC for the northern sector of the county. Maybe have a different layout, and also could accomodate tanker operations, as well as other situations. Although Valhalla is very central, I think that a North TC would not only reduce travel time, but reduce crowding in Valhalla, as well as adding some more props and different scenarios.

I can and will help with the above to get TL-57 made, lol!!!

Whether the Lt. is right or wrong, he is still one cool guy IMO!

Am I the only one who thinks these are a good idea? I know in some towns, traffic is the PD's responsibilty, but some the FD is responsible, or is drafted into, traffic control duties. Recently, in my travels around the northeast, I have seen quite a few. They usually are an older pickup truck converted for fire police or traffic use,many done in house, and some even aaquired from the local highway department (or even part of their budget lol), and contain arrowstick/arrowstick boards, lighting/light towers, cones, flares, vests, signs like road closed, accident ahead, detour, etc, radios, barriers, barrier tape, etc etc. Here's an photographic example: http://www.emtbravo.com/Spec2/NSFP.html With the amount of traffic in Westchester, how has this idea not caught on in some form around here?

Happy Birthday to the USA and Happy Independence Day to all fellow board members. Have a fun and safe holiday!