JBE

Since I ran a little late with the errands today, the laundry is going to have to wait a few more days. Which truly stinks. I'm running out of socks!!! Anyway, Someone asked about Los Angeles and why there is so much LA Stuff on what was originally (IMHO) started as a NY/NJ/CT-centric buff site. My biggest buff destination, aside from the 13th Division, is Los Angeles County. These guys, City and County do a pretty decent amount of fire duty, Brushfires notwithstanding. The yellow helmets have to go, but that's another story for another time. Anyway here's some pictures from my last two trips out west. First, to wet the pallette of a certain LAFD Buff, I offer these little tidbits. LA City Engine 88. Pierce Arrow XT. LA City USAR 88, Brand spankin new Pierce Arrow XT. This is the chassis rumored to be going to FDNY Rescue 1 as a Demo. LA City Truck 4. 2002 or 2003 ALF 100 foot TDA. RA-4 LAFD ALS Bus. In the new paint scheme. RA-804 BLS Bus. In the obviously, old paint scheme. The Business end of LAFD Fireboat 2. The Warner J. Lawrence, which replaced... The Ralph J. Scott. This boat is being restored and will be turned into a museum eventually. Not sure if it's going to be floated again. LAFD Squad 4. The Squads in LAFD are their Haz Mat Units. However, they do respond on all working fires in their first due area. LAFD Engine 4, in for repairs at the shops. LAFD Engine 112, Quartered with FB-2. Next up, LA County.

I liked it even more without the stripes.

Yes he is. I actually met him at the fire station he works at. Nice guy.

LA County Station 170. This is Inglewood. This is not the greatest neighborhood for everybodys' favorite blue eyed weirdo to be. TRUST ME!!! These guys are a Light Force, But are counted as a Truck company. Sorry guys, since you got an Engine with you, you are not the busiest Truckies in the country. Took a ride out to Cerritos to visit my buddy RJ over at FS 30, and he goes off on a run. The ULTIMATE BUFF DESTINATION!!!! LA County Station 51 in Universal Studios. The Squad.... And yours truly, at his happiest... They also have a Patrol rig for the studio, and a golf cart for the Captain. I got some pretty sweet video of the Engine and Squad going out on a run. Once I figure out how to post that on here, I will. I think that about sums it up. I did have some shots of Long Beach Engine 5, which I came across on a fluke. But that can wait. My next trip out there will probably be strictly LA County and Long Beach, with maybe a little Anaheim thrown in.

First stop from my trip last March. LA County Station 69 in Topanga Canyon. It's known as the Penalty Box because it is a very remote station. Also it's a pain in the neck to get to. This is also where Mike Stoker of "Emergency!" fame, worked as an Engineer in between shooting. Tony Dow, formerly Wally Cleaver, was also a Call Firefighter(kinda sorta volunteer) at this station. Next up is the brand new Patrol rig. Then the CFF Engine. Engine 269. This is a 1974 Crown. What's a trip to California without seeing the Baywatch truck??? Unfortunately, no red swimsuit wearing babes, but I did meet Mike Newman, who was the only guy in the show who was actually an LA lifeguard. Here's Engine 127, part of Light Force 127, also known as the Fire Station where "Emergency!" was filmed back in the day. It's a 1986 Seagrave. Off to Pomona, Here's Engine 188 and Quint 187. LA County USAR 134. They got an FDNY R-1 sticker on the window, so these guys are OK by me. LA County Engine 88. Gotta love it when you're a FF or FF/PM in Malibu. Couple hundred feet off the beach. More LA County coming...

As it stands right now, I am covering KED-962 for the forseeable future. The spot here goes up for bid in December, but I doubt anyone is going to put in for it. I'm waiting to see what happens with renovations/consolidations/after wedding stuff before I decide where I want to end up.

Maybe a little later. I got laundry to do.

You can send me one too...

Anybody wanna come work with me?? We're always looking...

Entemanns folks. The Devils food crumb donuts. That's where it's at. Besides, I lost all hope in Dunkin Donuts when they attempted bagels. Anyone who says DD makes good bagels should be dragged out in the street and shot.

Touche' pussycat.

Where are they looking to put this store up?? Doesn't seem like there's a lot of room left in the neighborhood for much more. Traffic is already a nightmare over there. You guys can hit me with the Reading is Fundamental tag of shame. I choose not to bother with News 12. My dislike for them is well documented on this site.

The ALF is something like a 1980, definitely not an 89. The old firehouse is in the confines of the 43 PCT. E-96/TL-54 first due. It's a pretty long haul for 96 and 54 to get in there. But it's a straight run right down White Plains Road.

There are some of us out there who are pretty big LAFD/LA County Buffs. I did a buff trip out there back in September, but chose not to post the pics here. Took a lot of really good shots, too. I guess that's why you're seeing so much LA Stuff up in here.

The Satellites are the third step in the evolution of the old Super Pumper System from back in the 60's. A Satellite Unit is not a pumper. It does not have a pump. The Engine it is associated with is rated at 2,000 GPM. The six associated Engines are not high pressure pumpers. The Satellite is a hosewagon that carries a manifold for use of multiple hand lines. It is not a Foam Carrier. However it does carry a certain amount of foam cans and a foam inductor(eductor??) if needed for Foam Operations. It carries Large Diameter Hose. Not sure how many feet of 3, 4, and 5 inch it carries. Its most obvious characteristic is the large Stang Intelligiant Deck Gun. It also carries various reducers, adapters and other hose connections. If memory serves me, I believe Satellite 2 also carries fittings for some Westchester Departments. The Satellites respond with the associated Engine(or back up) on all Second Alarm or greater fires. Any All Hands Doubtful in Staten Island. Any Foam Operation. Certain Street and Bridge Boxes. Or, when special called by an incident commander. Side Note, the back up Engines are rated at 1,000 GPM. I think that about covers it.

It's 2042. I came in the job with a few guys from West Hamilton. They got a nice new firehouse. I remember the old one from back in the 80's. Looked like it was about to fall over. Broad Channels' is pretty much in the same condition. They are looking to build a new house on Cross Bay Boulevard about a half mile north of the present quarters on Noel Road. I was under the impression Aviation was pretty much done. Reason I say that is I was out in the area a few weeks back and there was no building, or apparatus to be found.

Date: 11-19-05 Time: 2345 Location: 145-72 176 Street. Frequency: 154.400 Units Operating: Numerous FDNY Rundowns to follow below. 1st Alarm Engines 311,302,275,317. Engine 314 S/C just after 10-75. Ladders 155,133. Battalion 54 Squad 270, Rescue 4. 10-75 @2350 Ladder 158 FAST Battalion 51 2nd Alarm on arrival @2351 Engines 303,308,331,Ladders 126,173, Battalions 39 and 50 (Safety and CC) E-324/Sat-4, Tac-2, Rac-4, Safety and Rescue Bn, Field Comm. Description Of Incident: Fire thruout 2 Frame 20x30 and extension into exposure 2 and 4 both 2 Frame 20x40 Engine 298 S/C at 2352 for Brand Patrol. Exterior Operation, 4L/S and Operating, 1 Tower Ladder set up and operating Writer:JBE

Aviation was shut down a few years ago. I think 02 or 03. The firehouse was vacated by FDNY and DOB and shut down. It is no longer there. It was falling apart if I remember correctly. As for the relationship between certain vollie companies and FDNY, it depends on who you ask. I have a few friends in Broad Channel and they have a pretty good relationship with the Rockaway companies and the 47 Battalion. From what I have heard, it's a little iffy when it comes to West Hamilton and the Howard Beach companies. One of the girls that works for me is a member in Gerritsen Beach and they have no problems with the Brooklyn Companies. Not sure about Richmond and Oceanic, but we turn them out and they were there before the FDNY. Most of the volunteer companies operate on borough frequencies if they need to get a hold of us.

And just remember, if you are a non-vet, or non-military member, you cannot refer to a Marine as a Jarhead or Leatherneck. Nor can you refer to a Sailor in the Navy as a Squid, or a Coastie as a Shallow Sailor. Nor can you refer to an Army Soldier a Ground Pounder, or Air Force Airman as a Flyboy. This will produce a butt kicking.

They do not leave the island because they are geographically isolated. Doesn't make sense to send them off the island to a job if you have to fill them anyway. If the bridge you refer to is the City Island Bridge, which is the second bridge, they are first due there. It's also an unwritten rule that a Tower Ladder has to go to City Island if 53 goes out. But, if you're in a jam you can send an aerial over there.

And then you get the pi$$ed off neighbors who call and complain about the noise and how nobody was informed about it. And us dispatcher types tell them the same thing, we were also not informed about it until the company asked to be assigned.

If there is a job on the Island, I believe it is Manhattan Box 8204. Units are transported either by Marine 6 or Marine 1, and by Ferry. Or at least that is how it was before I transferred out of Manhattan a few years ago.

They don't leave the island. If they are going out of service, they have to have a relocator on the island before they can go out. The closest companies are 66 and 61 in Co Op City, followed by 97 Engine over by Jacobi Hospital. I haven't looked at my colleague Franks' site in a while, but I would say they do about 3 to 500 runs a year.

I dunno about cushy work schedule. Most of the year is spent travelling, very little time at home. Then factor in all the other stuff...

Not known ATT.