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Isn't this just a clarification that the particular officer is responding on a specific piece of apparatus and not independently in a Dept. issued officers vehicle or POV?

In some rural areas, the major apparatus can be 15 or more minutes behind a chief officer responding directly to the scene. It may not put out a barn fire, but it may prevent a small fire from getting out of control or it may provide cover to effect a rescue. It's not an answer to all things but a useful tool for some things.

i think one of the reasons volunteer departments have a recruitment issue is that, yes, many residents who have moved into the northern communities came from areas protected by paid departments and they are oblivious to their local department's make up. The more wealthy the northern communities have become, the less likely their residents will have the time or inclination to join. I actually had a resident give me the "i pay your salary" speech one day. In the 'old days' we only had the siren or a plectron in the house. If you were in your car you were out of luck, in the yard you might hear a firehouse or remote siren. Pagers significantly changes all that but we still used the sirens. But now that every single call warrants a response, some departments are still blowing the house siren for every 'bullshit' call, and you know the kind of calls I'm referring to. If you have a confirmed working fire, knock yourself out, but if you have an automatic alarm come in at 4:00 am do you really need to blow the house siren? Who is that siren going to reach at 4:00 am that the pager won't?

With all due respect, and I mean that, between City of Stamford, Belltown, Turn of River, Long Hill, Springdale, am I missing anyone? you had to get a donation from Burlington?

Thanks for the photos and background Seth. Looks like they have a nice, well organized and equipped department. The live in program, administered properly, is a nice way to provide a quick out the door response for volunteer departments, particularly in rural areas.

Sounds about right for today. Make an effort to save someone of their loved ones, human or otherwise, get an unhappy result, get sued. Glad I'm 'retired'.

I think this pretty much explains the Bedford Village situation. Although it does not explain why 20 years have passed and the issues have never been addressed. The firehouse has been obsolete for a generation and its hard to understand how one of the wealthiest Villages in Westchester, making it one of wealthiest in the nation, has not placed a higher importance on their first responders and their ability to handle any circumstance that may arise. As Steve points out, the Department is staffed by good dedicated members, as all Westchester volunteer departments are, but like many other Westchester volunteer departments, the cost of living for those villages does not exactly lend itself to volunteerism, especially to the fire service. The young who grew up in their respective villages and would have the 'fabric' of the community at heart and would make the best candidates for the fire service typically can't afford to live in the village they grew up in.

Really? You need a bill now for the obvious I can recall at least four specific incidents over the years where we rescued and/or treated dogs at the scene. At the time there wasn't any hesitation to do so or concern that it wasn't 'legal' to do so.

Let's get to the bottom line. An individual who did not meet the physical standards of the FDNY was nonetheless graduated and placed into service. That individual, ten days into their career, has suffered a significant and no doubt career ending injury. This individual will now be on medical leave which will eventually become permanent disability leave and the taxpayer will support this individual for the the rest of their life. This was a line of duty injury to a person who could not meet the physical requirements of the job but was, for the sake of diversity, allowed to advance.

Briarcliff Manor Rescue 37 has a cascade.

You know, when I see the country about to go to a 20 TRILLION dollar debt ceiling and taxes keep going up and up, its hard to understand how any department can have less than industry standard staffing. Really, where does all the money go? I had to kill some time on Saturday so I stopped at a County fire station. 1 Engine, 1 Tanker, 1 Brush Truck and 1 Ambulance.........2 firefighters. The next nearest station is not manned at all. The paid are supplemented by volunteers. By the way, pay down here (Rural Georgia) is about $11-$14 dollars per hour. And, if you're fortunate enough to get a grant, when the grant money is gone, so are your extra firefighters. With the notable exception of our major cities, are our first responders really capable of handing what's coming?

I know it is it is been standard practice for Ossining to ask for a truck from Sleepy Hollow when a working fire requires the use of their own two trucks, but that leaves Sleepy Hollow without a truck. Why not get the truck from Tarrytown which, like Ossining, has two? The distance between Sleepy Hollow's and Tarrytown's stations is fairly negligible with regard to response time. Is it strictly the preference of the individual departments or does County Control have any input as to the deployment of the County's assets? I know this has no bearing on the paid departments which will call in mutual aid from significant distances rather than an immediate neighbor which is an un-paid department.

Date: October 25, 2015. Time: 14:43 Location: 291 North State Road btwn Stafford Street and Copley Court District: Units: E92, E93, E94, TL40, R37 Description: Reported structure fire, 2-story duplex apartment, report of person trapped Multiple callers 14:44 10-75 requested To Fireground: Ossining (E99, TL42) Croton FAST (R18) Millwood (L52) Battalion 12 Station Coverage: Pleasantville (E91 to BMFD HQ) Chappaque (TL27 to BMFD HQ) 2051 reporting occupant is out of the building Firefighters have effected the removal of the occupant, minor injuries, EMS to transport to WCMC 2051 reporting fire on the second floor of a 20x50 duplex 2051 reporting fire has been knocked down 2051 requesting C&O Battalion 12 reporting fire under control, Approx. 15:08

YES, YES, YES, BUT DOES IT ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL OF DIVERSITY????????

Burn your house down to get a raccoon out of the chimney? Bet he votes too.

What is with the Cataract dump truck?

Date: August 29, 2015 Time: 03:58 Location: 311 Locust Road District: Units: Briarcliiff Manor; 2052, E92, E93, E94, TL40, R37 (Some units responding from scene of PIAA) Description: Structure fire in an unoccupied 1-1/2 story private residence - 2052 on scene declaring a 10-75 - 10-75 response: Millwood L52 Ossining E97 Ossining TL42 Croton E119 as FAST - Battalion 11 - Cause and Origin - Heavy fire, multiple lines in operation, significant damage - Station Cover: Hawthorne E155 to BMFD HQ Thornwood TL1 to BMFD HQ

Wasn't referring to this parade specifically, just in general and that years ago the bands and the 'men' in line were greater.

This is not a 'criticism', just an observation and a wish. I wish parade goers today could have experienced the sight and sound of 100 uniformed Ossining Firemen in lockstep march behind the Tarrtyown drum corp, double or more the numbers of todays' corp. Those were the good old days. Gave you goosebumps when those horns and bugles got revved up.

Monitoring the scanner today, it appears drivers are in short supply. You don't need medical training to be a driver or attendant.

The article doesn't mention what happens when the grant money expires. Are the new hires kept on? If so by higher tax revenue? or money available through attrition of existing firefighters that are not replaced by new firefighters and you just end up short staffed again. Allow me to be naive for a moment. I need a break from work. Can we all agree on a National minimum staffing for an engine and a truck. Then lets look at whether or not a department truly has the financial ability to meet that minimum staffing standard. If not, they deserve grant money themselves until their economies can sustain the expense. To be clear, not 'ideal' staffing but agreed upon 'minimum' staffing. Maybe the money could be redirected from supporting organizations like Planned Parenthood who focus on the 'not quite living' and given to the organizations that truly focus on the living. Just a thought.

I couldn't help but notice how POV response changed over the years. When I first joined in the 70's, the general public was more attentive and accommodating to a POV with a colored light. Over the years that accommodation became less and less to the point where employing lights to respond almost became counterproductive. You might get someone to yield to you, but usually not. I imagine the benefit of using lights has a lot to do with your response area, roads traveled, urban or rural, distance to travel, etc. If lights work for you, fine, but in any case, when you deploy your lights you are identifying yourself as a firefighter and your driving with reflect on your department. Drive like a maniac and you diminish your department's reputation along with your own. Drive responsibly and you will be acknowledged positively as a volunteer responding to assist their community.

Looks like the return of the 'gold standard' for tower ladders.

Date: July 18, 2015 Time: 12:40 Location: 190 Long Hill Road East btwn Hyatt and Cedar Drive East District: West Side Units: E92, E93, E94, TL40, 53B1, 2051 Description: Single family residence 12:43 2051 requesting 10-75 12:44 60 Control dispatching Ossining Engine (E-99), Millwood Ladder (L-52), Croton FAST, Battalion 12 12:45 60 Control dispatching Pleasantville Engine (E-91), Chappaqua Ladder (TL-27) for BMFD HQ coverage 12:46 60 Control requesting Tarrytown standby in quarters 12:54 60 Control dispatching Thornwood (R-75) as FAST, Croton unavailable 13:00 2051 reports heavy fire, through the roof. 13:13 C&O requested, C&O 14 responds 13:21 2051 requesting additional alarm 13:25 60 Control dispatching Pocantico Hills Engine (E-189), Tarrytown Ladder (L-37) to BMFD HQ for coverage Pleasantville Engine and Chappaqua Ladder to scene 13:37 Battalion 12 reports companies are opening the roof 14:16 2051 reports main body of fire knocked down, checking for extension 15:45 Battalion 12 reports fire under control Numerous EMS transports for MOS, Chappaqua ambulance and Valhalla ambulance M/A, multiple calls, lift assist on South State Road, cardiac emergency on Willow Drive.

Sorry, I meant the Glenville pumper, not the Glenbrook ladder