JBE

Congrats to all who passed.

Way too big, it would never fit in the firehouse. It's a pretty tight fit with the present rig.

Westchester Collectibles has been out of business for a while now. Let's hope this is the start of some better quality, which has been lacking lately.

It's probably to replace 34 Truck. They have the oldest frontline tiller in service.(Either a 99 or 2000)

Wow. Just wow.

One of the things I was notorious for when I was a dispatcher, was telling units who kept begging for a ticket was, "Write it down, you'll have a ticket waiting for you in Quarters." Now that I'm a boss, I usually say it loudly across the platform. That and if I hear something I don't like, I make it a point to have a polite word with anyone who speaks to my people like garbage. Usually that's enough.

Be nice to your dispatcher..nuff said.

Now this is where you're going to PM me, tell me where you work, so I can come out and shoot these rigs, so you can show em what buffed out truly looks like.

Nice shots, Joe. The FFT is used to transport members who cannot drive.

I got nothing. I got a 4 day rip last week. Happy Telecommunicators week and 13th anniversary to me!!! Phooey!!!

Guys, this sort of thing happens in comment threads about people dying all the time. Pete Steele from the band Type O Negative died yesterday, and the second or third comment was DRUGS, followed by something about how he was a bad role model, etc. Face it, there are people out there who just don't like people in our profession. For whatever reasons. Remember that guy who wrote the scathing article about what he saw at a LODD funeral?? Same type of person. Ignorance, or just dislike fuels what they say. Try this, IGNORE IT!!! For every three people that respect, admire, appreciate what we do, there's one that doesn't. It's how it goes. We don't have to like it, we just have to learn how to deal with it.

Soooooo, I hop in the rental, and head on down to Florida for a week with the special lady friend and her son. 20 plus hours and we arrive in New Port Richey.. I spent the first few days scoping stuff out and just getting acquainted with the area. After four days, frogs legs, alligator, and some pretty decent amounts of JD and Cruzan Rum..it was out and about I went. First Stop, Pasco County Station 21. Here's Engine 21, a 2005 E-One Typhoon with a 75 foot Telesqurt. I'm not a fan of midmounts, never have been. It's interesting, and it works for them. Tanker 21, brand new Freightliner with a 2000 gallon tank and 500 gallon foam cell. Ran over to New Port Richey, and nobody was home..I'll come back later. Off to Tampa. I checked out the museum took some shots of the old Mack and the Gamewell box panel they had there. When I walked across the street to shoot what I had been looking for. Apparently the former Tampa Chief was a humongous Buccaneers fan. I think it shows.. Engine and Truck 1. Engine 1 is an 07 Pierce, and Truck 1 is an 08. Truck 1 is also second due to Raymond James Stadium and Steinbrenner Field. Big thanx to the Tampa gang, especially after they pretty much shoved me out the door yelling, GET OVER TO 17!!! So, I did... 17 was driving a spare. I want to say late 90's Quantum. Amazng how these rigs have been around nearly 20 years. Why am I going to 17?? This is why. They cross staff the Fireboat Patriot. The former chiefs love of the Bucs carries over to the boats as well. Imagine what these rigs and boats woulda looked like if the Bucs hadn't changed colors?? Next stop the airport.

I gave the little guy, my special lady friends' son, my word I would take him out and about. So we ran down to New Port Richey and got them. Engine 1 is a 2005 ALF. Engine 2 is a brand new Velocity..I like.. Ladder 1 is a 1995 Pierce Arrow 75 foot Quint. Got the little guy in the chauffers seat too.. I also gave my word I would take a ton of pictures when I went to the Yankee/Oriole spring training game. And I did. Got some really good ones too. Shoulda charged the battery before I left. The camera died on me just as I was getting to Tropicana Field to watch the Mets and Rays. So, all I got were St. Petersburg Engine 5 and Truck 1. This house is HUGE. It's called the Master Station, 2 Engines, a bus, Squad, Haz Mat, Truck, and a few other miscellaneous vehicles. It reminds me of Steadman in Baltimore. There's also a boneyard in the back. First in to Tropicana Field. I got the shot of Engine 5 and Boom, Camera went bye bye on me.. Truck 1, 1994 Pierce Dash 100 Footer Engine 5, if anyone can fill in the blanks, please do.. So we watch the Mets get beat. Yanks should watch out, Tampa's no joke. Played with some real rays in left field and fed them. Got to walk out on the field after the game, BEST THING EVER!!! The next pictures are a little more solemn. In 1980 the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn, a 180 foot Iris Class C Buoy Tender was sunk in Tampa Bay after colliding with the M/V Capricorn. 23 Coasties were lost. This is the memorial to them.. Finally, my sick sense of humor comes out. Who really wants to live on a street like this?? Almost as funny was White Ash. I could think of a few things to stick up that. I close my trip with a warning. Pull the car over when you're watching the Space Shuttle take off. You can't take pictures when driving. Sorry no shots of that, but it was beyond cool. Enjoy!!

After shaking hands, a few thank you's and NUMEROUS SHAMELESS PLUGS of this website, I headed over to the airport. This is probably the first one I've been to where the rigs are not in a secured area. And here we go.. This thing is a BEAST!!! I presume this is a spare. Thanks to Captain Stokoe and the crew.. Back the next day for New Port Richey.

Nice shots, Joe. Thanks for sharing.

If I'm not workin, I'll be there.

Looks like you were at Station 1 in Tampa a little after I was. I recognize the Engineer driving Truck 1. I'm still down here, did a day and a half Out and About. Pix will be up Wednesday at the earliest.

Wait a second there, old pal. I seem to remember an incident involving a wasps nest with 17-7-1 back in 1989 or 90. Wasn't that patient transported in 6-1, or did they wait for CVAC or Patterson?? PS let me know when it gets delivered. I'd like to come up and take pix.

Was that power and light tractor a shops refurb, or a newly built rig?? Quite interesting.

I love driving, and despise flying. I will drive till my feet blister and hands callous on the wheel. I also don't look out for red light cameras when driving around Lancaster, CA. So I got caught and had to pay the ticket. Being slightly young and single and somewhat care free, and tired of getting the online and over the phone runaround from the LA County Superior Court system, I decided the best thing to do was go out there and pay the rassum frassum ticket. So, everybody's favorite Supervising Dispatcher flew out St. Patricks Day to the warm and lovely land of LA LA. Hopped in a nice rental(09 Chevy Cobalt, I WANT ONE!!!) and went to pay my fine. But wait, as I cruise into Lancaster, I also spy LA County FS 129. I had been here before on my last trip, but light was crappy and I only whacked out a couple of shots before it went to complete poop. Not this time. $446 later, just for the ticket, and here we go. Engine and Haz Mat 129 and Engine 329. I forget if 129 or the "3 Car" takes the Haz Mat. Both Engines are 2006 KME's and the Haz Mat is also a 2007 or 8 KME. Ran further out back and Copter 16 was hanging around for the day. They have a copter here 24/7, I forget if it's an air squad, or just for firefighting duty. I lucked out, as Quint 24 was finishing up some maintenance at the shops as well. This complex is pretty big actually. It's a fire station, training center, helispot, shops, and storage area for spares and reserve rigs. Ran around back and got Water Tender 136. Next stop, my second slice of the Orange..

The door is always open my friend. BFR and I will take you to the new place across the avenue, and then anywhere ya wanna go.

Mac, just let Adam and I know when 46 gets into the neighborhood. I'm really looking forward to getting some pix of that.

appreciated, however, I did Union Vale last summer.

Bump..

Nice shots..