SECTMB

Not withstanding our wishes for the speedy and complete recovery of the injured firefighters, I don't think this thread is about the hazards and suppression methods for a basement fire. Its about staffing. One of these days Westchester is going to experience the unfortunate outcome that comes from the inability of the volunteer and paid depts to maintain proper staffing. It will be a sad day for all involved, but we will be able to look back at the hundreds of posts on forums such as this one and wonder why something so recognizable went unsolved. It will provide no comfort.

BMFD's Scarborough Engine Company (Engine 92) has formed a truck committee.

The benefit of the old style cisterns is lessened in earthquake prone areas as they are subject to damage as a result of the earthquake therefore rendering them useless.

CAFS

These are also common among the historic squares here in Savannah. I also know of one large estate in Bedford that has one.

Sounds right!

Good for you J. Gary Pretlow. People before politics and special interests. Admirable.

Date: 04/25/2017 Time: 0140 Location: 48 Gordon Avenue District: Town of Ossining Battalion: 12 Channel: Weather: Units: 2051, 2052, 2053, E92, E93, E94, TL-40, R-37, 53-B1 Writer: SECTMB Description: Dispatched for reported structure fire. Upon arrival, Car 2051 reported a working structure fire and requested 2nd alarm response. Structure and adjacent vehicle fully involved, heavy fire, all occupant evacuated. M/A units from Ossining FD, Croton FD, Chappaqua FD, Pleasantville FD, Pleasantville VAC, Ossining VAC, Thornwood FD, Pocantico Hills FD and Buchanan FD assisted at the scene or backfilled stations. Westchester DES Battalion 12 and C&O team also responded. Multiple 2-1/2" lines and 1-3/4" foam lines were put into play for a defensive operation. Photos and video can be found on the Briarcliff Manor Fire Department's facebook page.

Too early in the Season to consider leaving any hard surface, it happens. Hope they got it out without any damage to the undercarriage.

Looking very Saab/Scania.

Date: April 9, 2017 Time: Afternoon Location: Morningside Drive District: Town of Ossining District Battalion: Channel: Weather: Units: 2051, 2052, 2052, 2055, Eng. 92, Eng, 93, TL-40 Writer: SECTMB Description: Two youths ascended a large pine tree and were unable to descend safely without assistance. A 35 foot extension ladder was positioned and two FF's assisted the youths to the ground. No injuries resulted from the incident. As units cleared they were directed to a second call in district, automatic alarm at Brandywine Nursing Home. 2-pull boxes activated, but call unfounded.

Tarrytown FD Facebook has the story.

Just today I was speaking to another 'ex/retired' firefighter who wondered who was better Pierce or Seagrave. I thought they were about equal but generally better than the rest. You see a lot of posts critical of various apparatus makers and the lack of quality in their products. Are there too few manufacturers for the demand and therefore less quality control in order to keep up with that demand?

I guess you can assume from this that the volunteers have accepted that there will be no paid personnel in, at least, the near future. And, I agree this is in poor taste given the circumstances by which their paid 'brothers' lost their jobs and livelihood.

Quite a rig.

I guess Buffalo is getting a new Ladder. Saw a rear mount ladder going North on I-95 at the Georgia/South Carolina border. It was lettered on the Ladder 'Buffalo FD'. Might be coming up from the E-One Facility in Ocala.

And this is why I moved South!

I believe at this time, CA is about 15 Billion in debt at this time.

I don't think I would be out on a limb to suggest that this vehicle received its regular, required maintenance. They couldn't donate this rig to some 'poor' department where it could provide service for years to come rather than accept $4+K so it can be sold for scrap or some parade piece? There are hundreds if not thousands of departments with equipment far inferior and aged that this engine.

I have proposed this idea previously but included neighboring depts in the mix to spread the responsibility. The 'duty' apparatus responds immediately to any call in the 'mutual' district, supported by the primary department when it assembles their crews. Many depts are providing dual response these days so designating alternating companies to provide a duty crew can build teamwork and commeraderie while providing immediate response to the community. If two neighboring depts that typically rely on each other can't field a duty crew of 4, then the problem is more serious than some would like to acknowledge.

I think this is one of the more significant reasons for loss of volunteers, especially in the more affluent communities. The median home price in Pleasantville is over $500K, Briarcliff Manor is over $700K, in Chappaqua and Katonah it is over $800K. So you lose the younger members who followed their childhood desire or their parents/family into the service because at some point most need to move on. Those who are moving into town and buying homes of these values aren't necessarily inclined to become volunteer firefighters. You just have to listen to the scanner to know that, especially day time, many of the volunteer departments are lucky to get one piece of apparatus on the road and it is usually inadequately staffed. Sooner or later many of these departments will be forced to go combination. In some of the more rural departments, the lack of volunteers will undoubtedly affect response times as fewer members to make up a crew need to travel further to make the apparatus. Fifteen years ago when my nephews came into the service as our families fourth generation of volunteers I said they would probably be the last. I believe I will be correct in that prediction.

She seems to get it.

Pooler is the City next to where I live now. The Pierce tiller is brand new along with 5 new Pierce engines. The tiller is in their new HQ which just opened last month. They now have three stations, all new, and a fourth is under construction at this time. The City has doubled in size over the past 10 years. When I was checking out their new engines they told me about the tiller coming in. There are a lot of condo and apartment complexes in the City and they wanted a tiller for its manueverability in the tight parking lots.

ALL of Westchester County, paid and volunteer, has serious issues.

What I mean't by all the money is not a Dep't budget, which all seem to be inadequate, but all the money from one the highest taxed Counties in the Country. And with regard to the M/A, they pay overtime which their budget can not sustain to fulfill a request to another town whose budget does not allow for proper staffing or send their only ladder out anticipating the arrival of a neighboring ladder if needed but what if the next closest ladder is already providing M/A to the same incident? It this is what NYC adjacent fire services look like 15 years post 911, what will they be like 5 or 10 years from now?