FFPCogs

Like the energizer bunny, it keeps going and going and going....... http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Federal-grant-complicates-fire-merger-talks-5321301.php

Yep 176.5". Thanks for the correction.

Agreed B, the dividers are too high, but a nice compact rig just the same.

I agree with Barry in regards to "seasonal" light displays, wreaths and such around the holidays. But I think there is another solution, albeit highly impractical, to this conundrum if leaving the mural is of vital import. And that would be to display religious symbology reflecting all faiths on the apparatus, with a spot left bare for agnostics and atheists of course.

Nice rig. I like this one too...also from PA (Blue Ridge Summit VFD) 1500 gpm pump 750 tank on a 130" wheelbase. No cross lays on this rig either, which I have come to believe is a better set up for a number of reasons . And here's the final product....with a proper paint job...

Umm..uhhh...wow! Look I'm all for giving guys a second chance...or a chance period. Criminal convictions, while damning, do NOT always illustrate the man. People can and do change as their situation does, so something someone did years ago may not really have any bearing on whether or not they can be an upstanding and productive firefighter now. But in this case I think it's clearly evident that this FF hasn't done much of anything to drag himself up from his past. I truly hope he wakes up before it's too late, but I also think it may be time for a career change for him, he's just too much of a liability to his fellow FFs at this point.

I'm no PC "Nazi" by any means, in fact I'm probably one of the least PC people you'll ever meet, but in this case I think that if a rig is taxpayer funded than religious or other potentially offensive or exclusive imagery should not be on it. On the other hand if a department purchases their own apparatus, as mine does, than as far as I'm concerned they can pretty much put whatever they want on it so long as it's not pornographic or insulting.

I don't know if having a raised roof actually leads to members "surfing" in the cab while in motion or not, but I do know that having that option certainly allows for it. It's like anything else, you can require, demand or dictate all the regulations you want, but ultimately it's up to the members themselves and their officers to follow through with them. I guess the easiest way to address the issue, if it is one, is to simply keep the roof line flat...if they can't stand up comfortably, well then guess what, they won't...problem solved. And injuries, I've never heard of it being an issue either way. To me the real test comes when we look at how or when a raised roof will affect functionality. On an engine I doubt it makes any real difference. I do think however that a raised roof can impact the functionality of an aerial when or if it is necessary for us to work off the front of the rig. Those few inches gained on the cab can translate into feet lost in scrub area at the tip. But for all that, the truth is I'm just not a fan of the raised roof configuration and never have been, and frankly, that has more to do with aesthetics than anything else. Given the choice I would pick with a flat roof configuration over a raised roof every time simply because I think it look better...and you know what there's nothing wrong with that.

Great find and interesting bit of trivia.

A CFA Fire Instructor II class will be held at the Belltown Fire Department 8 Dorlen Rd Stamford, CT beginning Sunday April 6 2014. Course Dates and Times: April 6, 13, 20 8:30-16:30 May 11, 18 8:30 -16:30 June 1 8:30 Practical examination June 11 19:00 Written examination Course fee is $300.00 plus textbook Anyone interested please call 203-323-0626 before March 31, 2014 to reserve a place in the class.

Just a heads up for anyone I have been unable to contact yet, the date of the practical examination has been moved to Saturday May 31, 2013. For anyone else who may be interested, there are still a few openings available for this course. Please call the firehouse for additional class information and details @203-323-0626

Thank you T, that recognition means alot to me and I know my colleagues at BFD appreciate it as well.

T, I'm must admit that I am somewhat stupefied myself that ToR was able to secure this grant at this time, but I guess their grant writer does do one hell of a job since he has a very successful track record. Beyond that I haven't seen the application so I can't comment on it's content. I have no idea, nor will I speculate on how this will play out, but I can say that for me personally I would oppose placing career members in our firehouse at this time, be they ToR hires or anyone else's. This is not out of any misguided anti-career bias (remember I too get paid to fight fires for a living) but more so because at this point in time we are doing well as we are. And I also agree that if all the talent we have on hand were to put their efforts into more productive goals, we would all be much better off for it, but unfortunately I don't think we're there just yet.

Yep..and they're the only real winners here

Well if in fact a fraudulent submission was made then I'm sure the proper authority will be informed, if they haven't been already.

Cap, I realize the vote was clear and if that had been it that would be it. But that is not what happened. Once the challenge was entertained by the courts the Charter revision was in limbo until the judge ruled in mid December...which was after the application was submitted. Now don't get the wrong idea here, I'm not commenting one way or the other on the validity of the submission, I'm simply stating that when that submission was made there was no Charter change in effect (technically speaking) so ToR was still an independent entity free to secure such a grant. With the judges decision that state of affairs has since changed, although he did find their management agreement is still valid as did judge Tobin previously, so it will be interesting indeed to see how this all plays out

Did they?? Since the application was made in 2013 one could argue that technically the "old" system was still in place since the Charter change was being challenged in court and had not yet been deemed legal by the judge. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

In 2014 it's hard to find any manufacturer that can fit that bill. The more electronic rigmarole they add, the less we get to actually use the rigs.

Class size is limited to 18 so anyone interested in attending can also PM me here to reserve a seat.

I'm sure Capt Behre knew full well what the repercussions of his actions would be, yet he stood up alone and faced them. That is courage, that is integrity and that my friends is what we need more of today. Hopefully others will take note and draw inspiration from his example. Good job Capt and good luck!!

You've left out the 3 that are Stamford's real claim to fame and most informative and important shows on TV ...The Maury show, The Steve Wilkos show and The Jerry Springer show!!!

These devices are good, but prone to damage from vandalism and lack of maintenance. I've seen more than a few damaged by heavy snow thrown by plows. Years ago we used to use a system where we painted a reflective yellow ring about 6" wide on the telephone poles on either side of the hydrant at eye level when driving the rigs (roughly 6-7 ft from the ground). As you turned into a street and approached the incident you would look at the telephone poles. If the hydrant was on the same side of the street as the poles a line was painted on each pole facing downward from the ring, if it was on the opposite side the line faced upwards and if the hydrant lie in between poles that crossed the street the line was placed on each pole in the appropriate direction of the approach. Many of the markings are still visible and we are planning to redo them once spring arrives. The benefit of this simple system is that snow, even plowed snow piles, bushes, trees and parked cars rarely if ever obscure the markings and maintenance is nothing more than a few hours and the cost of a gallon of paint to touch up the markings every few of years. Below is a rough (really rough) drawing to illustrate:

Visual inspection using a light and telescopic mirror for our few plugged hydrants. For the majority which are not plugged we crack it open and ensure there's a flow.

My FD does it and always has. Hydrant detail fulfills a couple of factors along with clearing the hydrant 1. We dig em out so we know they're dug out sufficiently 2. We check them to see if they're frozen while we clear them 3. Members learn hydrant locations (one day that MDT might not work) We also carry a shovel on the rig to clear any that might have been missed, plowed in after we cleared it and mutual aid runs

I don't know if this even belongs here, but after watching it I thought it was something worth sharing. What follows is a clip from the show Newsroom which very well may be the most honest moment on television. Although the clip is a bit long at 8 plus minutes the bickering of the first three are like a set up for the speech which follows and hits dead on. It is a bit of truth worth taking to heart ...and doing something about while we still can!! Most honest moment on TV? Yeah I think it is..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q49NOyJ8fNA **Warning: there is some coarse language for the sensitive**