Dr. Zuki

I had just read that it could start being built next summer, but that's likely to be unrealistic. Scaling it down to gated residential community would be the most palatable to the community. Regardless, it's never too early for the YFD to think about where to relocate the Ridge Hill Bunker when the time comes. The Water Dept won't allow any expansion on their property adjacent to the Nepperhan service center. Too bad, it's a nice, flat, wide piece of vacant land. Happy Holidays. P.S.-Did the YFD construct a makeshift bunker up there? Or are they occupying an existing left over structure ?

Several of the YFD specialized units are stored there. Ridge Hill is located on the east side of the NY State Thruway just slightly north of Tuckahoe Road. It may be deveopled as a mixed use retail-housing complex. Prior to this, it housed offices for Lockheed Martin and Loral going back to when the state vacated it as a drug rehabilitation center that opened in the mid-1960's, and going way, way back, it was a tuberculosis hospital. You can see the sperm cell looking water tower from the Sprain Pkwy and some of the vacated office buildings up there.

Just learned that many movie theaters are using teenage projectionists inspite of licensing requirements from local fire departments. How can this be? The Yonkers City Code (see cityofyonkers.com) states that all projectionists must be licensed by the YFD and board of examiners, yet the projectionist union seems to have lost it's membership ithroughout the county. Am familiar with this having worked for General Cinema chain back in the mid 1970's. Every theater had union projectionists back then and I believe White Plains and New Rochelle also had the licensing requirement. Happy Holidays.

Well then it looks like the labor laws are being violated openly in this county with no enforcement. May have to take this to the media for follow up.

Just happened to notice a small fenced in area mid-way down on west side of St. Casimir's Avenue that Yonkers Fire is using as a training center. It's a fenced in lot with abandonded cars that were likely used for extrication practice and staged fires. How long has this place been in use anyway? There is a small metal sign reading Yonkers Fire Training Center posted. Col. Von Ryan

Where exactly on Saw Mill River Road? Was it that lot on the right side underneath the unused Putnam Rail line overpass? Thanks, Col. Von Ryan

Yesterday, Friday, saw a 1960's Green and Black prop NYPD radio car being repaired at a service station located on southbound Central Avenue just one block below Yonkers Avenue intersection at corner of Cowles Avenue. Not sure if it will be there next week, but will drive by tomorrow and see. It may actually belong to an individual collector and not a movie car supplier company. Looked like a early 1960's Plymouth Belvedere.

The car was still there Sunday morning visible through the door glass in the center bay at this Meineke repair shop.

Is that trailer being permanently based at Ridge Hill? Or is it just temporary until a new home can be found for it? No photo opportunities due to the 24 hour manned guard house which is there to prevent illegal dumping according to a representative from Forest City Ratner speaking a a community meeting months back. Site probably also make a good lover's lane for kids. But if they hold Yonkers Business Week up there again next year for a day or two, it's worth taking a ride up there to check out this unique property. Don't miss.

On my way to work at 8AM today, YFD was backing it's new Special Operations trailer outside of Station 11 on Bronxville Road at Cross Street. Don't know how long it will be here, but here is a photo opportunity for anybody interested. Happy Weekend Dr. Zuki

The big rig is still used in TV show and films shot in NYC. See photo of it at www.pixxcars.com

DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHY THE FIRE DEPT RETURNED LATER THAT EVENING BEFORE THE CAR WAS TOWED? DO NOT ANSWER IF IT WILL JEOPARDIZE THE INVESTIGATION PLEASE. A DEAR FRIEND WILL GO PUBLIC WITH A LARGE CASH REWARD IN THE EVENT THAT THIS CASE DRAGS ON....THE WHOLE INCIDENT IS JUST SO OUTRAGEOUS. DR. ZUKI

He's soon returning to film more of this new cable comedy about fire frighters somewhere in Yonkers. Already shot the pilot episode at Fire HQ so would guess that's where they are filming again. Then again, with all the recent fires, who knows? maybe they'll use the entire west side as a back drop. Also filming alot in Far Rockaway, Queens. Dr. Zuki

Which company are they renting their prop rigs from? (Three major suppliers: pixxcars.com, movietimecars.com, autofilmclub.com).

Since this show ia a comedy, maybe it will all take place in quarters like "Barney Miller" and "the Honeymooners." But it would be nice if they film outside using some of the nicer sections in west Yonkers. YES, THEY DO EXIST.

Saw a copy of the Capital Improvements budget yesterday at the City Clerk's office. There is absolutely no money allocated for any new Yonkers Fire HQ leaving many us to doubt that there ever will be as the so called stadium will never come to fruition. And Yonkers Raceway has no interest in building it on their property. There is money for new apparatus, but it doesn't say specifically as to what type. Nothing is mentioned either about a new ladder company for Ridge Hill property ( or opposite Shop Rite, depending on which rumor you head). Happy Weekend

I thought original post was referring to YFD fireground frequency. Sorry, my error.

DF, This same question was posted few months back on fordyce.org/scanning, and if I remember the answer was that the frequency is rarely used, and although it's UHF, it uses a low wattage and you have to be very, very close by to hear anythging. BUT, would guess they might have used it on the Orchard Street fire the other day. Maybe not..... Col. Von Ryan

How will the city afford this ? Last year they proposed aladder company for Ridge Hill and later decided against it for financial reasons. Also, correct me if wrong, but aren't there two, not four YPD E-Rigs on every shift? But sooner or later the city poplulation will exceed 200,000 as it did during the 1960's and then maybe you'll see another fire company added on as a necessity. Look at how the population will grow on the west side alone--they'll be announcing any day now a 1600 luxury housing development for Alexander Street on the waterfront stretching the entire block on the waterfront side, plus on Warburton Ave just below Hastings, two separate condominiums were just approved. And does anybody know if they still have the mutual aid agreement with Greenburgh for YFD Station 14 responding to the Jackson Ave nursing home as well as the Fountainhead Condos on Central Ave? This goes back to the early 1980's. Dr. Zuki (The Scanner Apprentice)

That's when it returns.....

Did anybody ever implement another Fire Dept Arson Dog after the death of Greenville's a few years back? If not, County Police would be a logical place to start another.

And here's some more prop Fire, EMT, Police vehicle suppliers: www.pixxcars.com www.autofilmclub.com www.cinemavehicles.com And the real firehouse used for "Third Watch" exteriors is someplace in Long Island City, Queens. Their studio is Warner Bros. at 196 Diamond Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Some of their fire rigs are actual FDNY rentals from it's training division. There is no 55th Pct. in the NYPD.

Here's web page for supplier of their prop Fire and EMS rigs: www.movietimecars.com Also, how can you believe nothing happened when Sgt. Cruz and Yokas shot each other at end of last season? That was so contrived, but in general I love the show. It 's too bad if Nia Long's character ( Bosco's partner) gets written out with Yokas returning.

Interesting! Will see if Yonkers Historical Society will run photo in next newsletter. But where in Yonkers did they ever have Volunteers? Thought that Crestwood section in northeast Yonkers was the only location years back for volunteer firemen. Correct ??? Thanks

Just read in last week's Westchester County Business Journal that Dennis Leary used Yonkers fire HQ for filming of his "Rescue Me' series for FX cable. Didn't say how many days he was there or type of scenes. And NBC's pilot "FDNY" was filmed completely in Montreal. Tom