spin_the_wheel

Didn't see this post. KEEP THE MACK. Refurb it again.

Then buy a used Mack 75' Tower Ladder, refurb it for a fraction of the 1 million cost. A proven reliable work horse plus the rig can go almost anywhere. I think if you are going to have only ONE type of ladder truck in your department it should be a tower ladder. A taxpayers (building im speaking of) worst enemy.

Interesting that is a throw back. Its hard enough to get the public to understand the audibles for an emergency in this day and age, try explainig why the all clear horn has to be sounded. My dept. had one diaphone and 15 sirens around the district in the 'day" Most were 2 1/2 and 1 horse power federals. There is only one pole mounted street siren left....it does not work but its still on the pole. They stopped using audibles about 1983. The Gamewell boxes were pulled in 1986. AAhhh the days of counting the horn codes on a box call and riding my bicycle to the box location.

Who activates the "under control 3" 60-control? Tarrytown and Elmsford use this code for under control?

I found the below thread link when I searched the Civil Defense logo. I found it odd seeing the Greenburgh PD power unit, a rather modern rig, using the CD logo. I knew this logo was from the cold war era and knew I had seen it myself while in school in the 70's. but did not know if it was still in use. Well apparently the logo died back in 2006 according to this NY Times article. Who knew. Anyway I found it interesting. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/01/washington/01civil.html

http://www.alternatewars.com/WW3/Civil_Defense/CD_Organization.htm http://www.civildefensemuseum.com/ Interesting stuff here.

Greetings all...like to check in on this thread from time to time. Any changes the last year or so? Ossining still using the air horn for alarms? Hartsdale still have a street box system in place?

I know of a firehouse on Long Island where the only pole in the firehouse is for the dispatchers use. The pole goes right into the dispatchers office. They use it all the time when they are doing other duties in the firehouse on the second floor and need to get to the alarm room in a hurry. The firehouse was built in the 1950's and the pole was put in for this purpose.

That's a damn cool logo.

Wow I didn't think that statement was going to rile up so many. Willy D, sorry you took it this way as well. I always felt I was lucky to have been active in my dept when I was. I caught the tail end of just about everything you mention above, and did everything you mention as well. But maybe my opinions are based on volunteer depts. where many of the guys who fought fires in the 60's and 70's are still in their departments and have a strong voice, for better or worse. Sometimes these voices hold back some ,progress. Not everywhere, but some places. Any way this my last comment on this subject. I apologize to any older firefighter who put their time in with open cabs, wooden ladders, wheat lights, rubber coats and bangor ladders. Be safe all.

Anyone have photos of area (emtbravo range) rigs, patches, uniforms, instruction signs still in place with this logo? May be interesting to see what we can come up with.

You mean you didn't buy a separate "rescue/flood light" truck for the generators? Just kidding..... (although there is a lot of truth to that statement for many departments.) Sorry you took it this way, it certainly was not meant to be taken like that, although at least in many departments I know of, the older senior guys tend to hang on to past ways of doing things sometimes to a fault. Im just calling it like I see it from my experience, thats all. As I said above I consider myself a semi old guy at the least, joining my dept in 1984, and having been an explorer since 81. Just look at FDNY at the moment as they are trying to change over EVERY helmet in the dept to the plastic New Yorker style. There are a few guys out there who are never going to give up the leather helmet im sure.

Congrats Rob good luck!

I find that the booster reel argument is pushed mainly by the older generation. The same guys who still think pull up boots are just as effective as bunker gear. (Disclaimer: I'm an old guy, and have deviant thoughts like this from time to time, but I'm also a realist in embracing the future of the fire service and supporting the new younger line officers as they come up the line.) That said....my department bought 2 new Engines in 2010 and 2 in 2011. NONE came with a booster reels. First time in our history that the Engines did not come with them. During the planning and layout for the Engines the argument came up. The older guys said most of the reasons people came up with having them as some did in this thread. But at the end of the day we realized that bumper mounted 1 3/4 trash lines can accomplish all the things that booster hose can and better. Plus the mistake of ever using the "red" line for anything more then washing off tools could never be made. (think it wont happen, your not living in the real world) Yeah it may be easier to push a button then "pack" hose, but that's what the "new" guys are for heheheh.

When did it go out of service?

We use a primative tag system. Like many volunteer departments. It is only as good as the self discipline of the members using it. We need a better system for sure. This is an area volunteer departments can assign to those class "B firefighters" (whats a class B?) volunteer talk for someone who cant enter the fire building with a SCBA for various reasons. Assign that member an accountability officer, the safety officer should not be concerned with accountability tags unless a member is walking by them wearing a tag that should have been clipped onto a ring somewhere in the "support" area. If the stuff hits the fan as stated above, it most certainly will be a cluster mess with a pile of tags to sort through. Since this system is not the best I try to instill in my guys that there is a zero tolerance for freelancing, always work in at least pairs, or let someone know where your going if your not in postion (we pratice the OV position, with riding postions) and know how and when to call a mayday procedure. (LUNAR)

A very good friend of mine has lost his courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He had a very large collection of Mack fire apparatus. Some in great shape others very rough. Many historically important rigs, as well as a huge inventory of parts and vintage equipment. He was very particular in getting the very BEST in parts. Lights, radios, sirens, emblems, bull dogs, bells, hose appliances, fenders, radiator chrome for those beautiful B Macks, gauges, you name it may be there. I am helping his family in trying to give the items new homes with those who are interested. PM me if interested and I will send you a slide show of whats available. Most everything is negotiable. Thanks and be safe all Mike Cap

Well done not an easy task.

Nassau County Parade July 13th 6pm in Bellmore.

Other then this fire company what was the last company/dept in the area to form? I'm thinking Paid-Ryebrook (Westchester County), volunteer-Kiryas Joel (Orange County)?

http://nassauhobby.com/100th-Anniversary-Grand-Central-Terminal-Pre-Order-Price-209.99/

Well said Chief. The problem lies with the older guys who dont want to give anything up. I will use my Dept as an example. We do about 1200-1300 fire calls (this includes MVA's) and about 300 ambulance calls. We have village Departments that borders us. One does under 100 calls a year with a square miles of 0.10 and the other about 250 alarms and a square miles of 0.19 with a combined population of about 3000. Both of these departments firehouses are blocks out of our district. If you were a younger F/F that really loved being a firefighter, why in the world would you not want to combine with a larger Dept where you would do 10x the amount of runs? The future is really up to the younger officers coming up the ranks to see the light and be the guy or gal to make the change. One of these above mentioned departments is very close to a tipping point. Another Village Dept that borders them on the other side of us is actually running dual response with them on all alarms. Rumor has it they only have 3 interior firefighters.

For the hell of it put in Bergen County NJ, geographically in the mix. Also a patchwork of multiple Dept.s and over 50 stations. A population of 911,004. That puts us way over.

Both of our fire service careers will be long over when this happens. You will have a better chance of a few (2 or 3) neighboring Depts getting together to form one new dept then a county dept.

I agree with your point and in some cases it has to be done. As people say better on your terms then on someones elses..like politicians. One other thing to keep in mind the nation is smaller then the state of Maine, with alot less tradition driven mindsets and organizations. The task was probably alot easier to accomplish.