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It doesn't matter to a person with an intent to stab someone if they are career or volunteer, nor does it matter. EMS personnel are equal opportunity victims.

USCG wouldn't put a boat there for primarily body recovery, boat incidents, and the occasional fire. They are stretched thin with what they have. I don't believe there is a true fire boat capable of extinguishing a fire or pumping as a water supply on the Westchester side north of Yonkers. . NYS Thruway used to operate their own fire engine and boat exclusively for the bridge, but they don't anymore and haven't for a while. I believe they still have an emergency wrecker, but that is mostly used to clear disabled vehicles from the lanes of traffic during rush hour. With the Thruway Authority's budget even before the new bridge being an issue, they aren't paying any more then they have to. Getting money from a grant fund would actually benefit Village Of Tarrytown taxpayers. They wouldn't have to shoulder the cost of buying new apparatus that needs replacing anyways, and equipment, and expenses, such as fuel and wear and tear that the Thruway and TZ Bridge (Toll Roads) puts on Tarrytown FD. The Thruway in Tarrytown's jurisdiction is not as simple as a highway that runs through town. All the money has to come from somewhere, somehow.

Not being familiar with the Police Academy training, let's take Westchester for example, how much time is spent on active shooter situations? Are there any plans to expand the training, or drill inside a school or mall for rookies?

With Superstorm Sandy brutalizing our region almost one year ago, I'm wondering if any departments have made changes or additions to deal with another major storm. Has any department bought tree-specific chainsaws, trash pumps, generators, hot sticks, etc? Improved communications? Zodiacs? Added a bunk room into the firehouse? Set into place new protocols? Just interested to see if any department is being proactive.

Thanks for the info, guys! I meant to put Engine 77 originally, since that's the one I always see going on the Thruway calls and was getting up there in age. It would be grant money well spent, as taxpayers in Tarrytown shouldn't have pay for all the expensive emergencies on the bridge, especially one that charges tolls. It would also be nice for them to build a firehouse addition to keep the Utility in. Is it equipped appropriately to be a full-fledged rescue truck? And I hope they actually get a nice boat, like one of those SAFE brand boats, with FLIR and all the bells and whistles given the fact that the bridge has one of the highest suicide rates in that nation.

Great shots, good looking trucks! Thanks for sharing them with us. Where are these trucks stationed, who staffs them, what equipment do they carry, and what type of calls do they go on?

Wow, this is confusing. Being a Port Authority facility, doesn't that mean the jurisdiction would be specifically PAPD, like the other airports and PAPD facilities? Wouldn't they be responsible for policing and ARFF? And I assume the current ARFF staff were there before it became a true large frame passenger airport. Has anything changed because of that?

Starts in 15 minutes on The Weather Channel

Breaking news, link to LA Times coverage: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-live-lax-shooting-tsa-agent-alleged-gunman-shot-20131101,0,3517669.story#axzz2jQ8OxSIQ

EMS-wise, I'm wondering if their are any penalties that could be imposed on agencies that can't get a crew and respond, or have significant delays in getting out on a frequent basis? In Westchester, for example, how many chances are agencies given to get a crew before the next agency is called for mutual aid? Do VAC's have a CON? Could NYS*DOH or REMAC take their agency out of service, and replace them with a commercial service or another agency that has the capacity to handle their calls until such time the agency figures out how to resolve their issues?

At Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, TX (AUS), there is always a PD Officer observing the whole screening area from a point where they can see the whole area. It's a quiet post, but an important one. It's been that way for years. An active shooter situation can occur anywhere these days. You're really not safe anywhere. What concerns me is what if this guy made it onto a plane?

AWESOME! I love the new paint scheme, and the fact Stamford is going with a real fire apparatus manufacturer finally! I think mstrang1 will be behind the wheel of this. Will be in service soon. City Of Stamford Fire-Rescue Engine 9 2013 KME Predator Severe Service 2000 1500/1000/30 Class B (Supplied photo with much thanks)

Quite an interesting job. On a side note, I believe "Third Watch" had portrayed this same type of situation in one of their episodes. I can only imagine how scared that victim must have been, trapped for hours without anyone knowing he was there. News article from WNBC: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Man-Rescued-Side-Building-Manhattan-230432831.html

Just a reminder to set the clocks back one hour tonight, and change your smoke and CO detector batteries. And make sure you get that easy one hour of overtime, because if you're working tonight, you're working an extra hour!

Here's the official LAFD Release. LAFD has an excellent PIO program as proven in this release.

Per the official press conference at 11:52 PT: LAX World Airport PD Chief Gannon: About 0920hrs Pacific Time an active shooter situation occured. Suspect armed with assault rifle (per PD Chief) inside LAX Terminal 3. Shooter started firing before and through security checkpoint and continued deep into Terminal 3. Officers followed the suspect, who was still actively shooting, engaged and shot the suspect/shooter. Multiple victims shot. Suspect in custody. Terminal evacuated.Unknown fatalities, working with FD to rectify. Only one shooter believed involved in incident. LAFD Chief Featherstone: LAFD treated 7 patients, transported 6, 100 Fire/EMS personnel committed to an Major Emergency MCI incident, LA Emergency Operations Center operating at Level 1 LAPD Chief Charlie Beck: FBI handling investigation, with LAX PD and LAPD assisting FBI: Agent David Bowdich: Will give very little facts today, no information will be given about victims, today, evidence response and other specialized teams enroute to LAX. City Councilman: Commended the unified command

Some cool new tools. PHOTO GALLERY: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fdnyhome/sets/72157637133411574/ From FDNY.gov: PHOTO GALLERY: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fdnyhome/sets/72157637133411574/

Is this a good thing for the fire service? http://greenburgh.dailyvoice.com/news/gov-cuomo-signs-fire-hydrant-bill-law

Saw this guy profiled in the documentary movie "Burn: One Year On The Front Lines In Detroit" in Stamford last week. For those that saw the film makes this story even more disgusting knowing the background. This is a young guy who had an entire career and life ahead of him. FULL ARTICLE: http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/23824525/a-face-to-detroits-bankruptcy-paralyzed-firefighter-to-lose-health-benefits#ixzz2jDIFHePr

Kinda related...wasn't the Port Authority trying to take over Stewart at some point?

I know Westchester doesn't need as many or all of the tools that FDNY got, but could some of them do good here for the next storm? Has WCDES or department purchased any gear specifically for water rescue and storms after Sandy?

Sometimes you can have all the proper staffing in the world and not save lives, like last weekends fire in the Bronx that killed 3 children. FDNY has great staffing and a pretty quick response, and Elmsford had a quick response with a lot of manpower with their fatal fire the weekend before. But by staffing under par, the chances of fatalities can greatly increase as if you don't have enough firefighters. How are you supposed to get to every trapped victim as well as all the other things that need to be done upon arrival? This also shows how strict code enforcement can potentially save lives. (That's why there are codes). Not staffing your fire department and not having a proper code enforcement program in areas known for illegal subdivisions shows that the Mayor of Mount Vernon doesn't care if his citizens are safe or not. Also, I thought things in MVFD were going pretty well as they can be and settling down and they were making some progress to repair years of neglect. I guess not. It should also be noted that Mount Vernon is not the only community in southern/central Westchester that is understaffed. Fairview only has 2 guys on E-174/5, one firefighter on Ladder 1, Hartsdale usually has one guy on TL-15 and two on E-169. Eastchester and Scarsdale don't ride with full crews, nor does Pelham or Pelham Manor.Those are "combination" departments, but the volunteers have dwindled, have volunteers who can't be interior, or don't have them at all anymore. What about Rye Brook? A lone driver has to bring Engine 59 to sit there at night, depending on staffing from Port Chester. And I think White Plains FD is understaffed as well. How much more outrage would there have been if something like that had happened in one of those wealthier communities, where people pay an enormous amount in taxes? Would they accept there weren't enough firefighters? Would things change, or since it's people living in a poor urban area, the Mount Vernon politicians can get away with it?

RIP Patriot. Thank you for all your service. Thoughts and prayers are with Patriot, his partner Detective Wayne Papovitch and his family. Full article: http://greenburgh.dailyvoice.com/news/greenburgh-police-k-9-officer-patriot-dies-12

I've heard through various sources that Seagrave had been awarded the bid for 4 new Field Com units. Does anyone know anything more? What kind of chasis will they be on? I don't believe I've seen or heard of Seagrave building something like a Field Com, which is a complicated thing different then the ordinary fire truck or engine.