tommyguy

Monday morning (02/03/14) a Bee-Line No. 30 bus skidded in slushy snow as it turned left off Lockwood Avenue onto Saw Mill River Road in Yonkers. The bus mounted the sidewalk at 307 Saw Mill River Road and slammed into the front of the Saw Mill Deli. The bus was en route from Bronxville to Getty Square. Yonkers Police and Fire Departments responded. Four people on the bus suffered minor injuries. The two employees in the store at the time were unhurt. The Yonkers FD Collapse Unit responded along with other companies. There was significant damage to the store but thankfully no collapse. News link with video .

Yes a terrific example of Mutual Aid working and working very well.

I didn't see a news report on this until this morning and I don't have a rundown on company assignments. Sounds like most Yonkers' companies were there and undoubtedly MA was used as well. News link with video The houses are located very close together on that block of Park Hill Avenue and keeping the fire contained, YFD Chief Brian Travers said, was a top priority. Tough job but handled very well.

I used to commute to work from Tarrytown to my job in Elmsford via Bee-Line buses. Early one very cold morning, a couple days after a snowfall of five or six inches, when I boarded my bus at Tarrytown train station the driver looked a tad pale! I liked him, I rode with him all the time. He was an older guy a couple of years away from retirement. He had been operating a bus for many years since immigrating from Ireland. Very nice man. Anyway, when I got on board the bus I asked him if he was okay? He shook his head. He said, "Yeah I got shaken up." What had happened was, as he was operating the inbound trip to Tarrytown the bus had done a 360 degree spin! He had been going west on Rt. 119 and turned right at the intersection with Rt. 9. As soon as he turned, he said, the bus took off into a circular skid. I thought, wow! I said to him, I didn't think these buses skidded, I thought they were too heavy. I can still remember him looking at me and saying very seriously, "Oh but they do! When I turned the wheel the bus took off, it went right around." He made a circling motion with his hand. "Scared the devil out of me!" The bus had done a 360 degree spin in the intersection but it was early, around 6:30 AM with very light traffic and luckily he didn't hit any cars. I rode the buses in all kinds of weather and the operators do a great job. I never had a problem. Never got stuck in the snow, never had a bus skid while I was on it. I don't think the bus operators get enough credit.

Date: Feb. 3, 2014 Time: 0919 Incident Type: Smoke in laundry area Location: St. John's Riverside Hospital No. B'way Yonkers District: Yonkers FD Units: Companies from Battalion One Description: This fire was reported at 0919 this morning. A fire was discovered in a laundry area at the hospital and was quickly contained and extinguished. Because of smoke parts of the hospital were closed but normal operations continued. The emergency room remained open throughout. Traffic into the hospital was interrupted after North Broadway was closed to traffic. Falling snow and several inches of accumulation made the job more difficult. I don't have a rundown of the companies that responded. Because of the scarcity of incident alerts recently I did want to at least post something. News link

The Yonkers Fire Department has their hands full tonight, one of the coldest nights of the winter, with two multi-alarm structure fires plus other smaller jobs as well. The first multi-alarm fire was in late afternoon on Riverdale Avenue. The second at mid-evening on Nodine Hill. Stay safe guys!

Oh okay I got you. I thought their county number would've been lower than that. Yes I guess that is their county number. Thanks.

But it wasn't E4 that was reported to be working in Yonkers the other night. It was E204.

If I can ask... Regarding the FDMV company that was assigned on MA. Engine 204 is shown as a reserve rig. Would one of Mt. Vernon's front line engine companies necessarily been taken OOS in order to man E204? I didn't understand that. I don't think I've seen a standby company assigned to MA before.

I sure will say hello and thanks Chief! I served over there too, in a U.S. Army Assault Helicopter Company. I haven't seen Vinnie in quite a while. I used to give him a ride to work once in a while when he was at Station 2. I remember the night he was overcome by smoke in a serious fire on East Hartsdale Avenue, trying to get to an upper floor I think. He wound up in WCMC but as I recall he bounced back from that. Very sorry to hear he retired with an injury. He was a class act, a guy I really respected a lot. I had another buddy who went to work with Fairview FD. John Graham. Another very solid guy.

I think I know what you mean by confusing but listening to the radio transmissions I didn't sense any confusion. It seemed like a well-orchestrated response to a difficult situation. It was fairly amazing actually. I really salute all involved. I also noticed that when Yonkers FD radio was releasing companies back to their jurisdiction the dispatcher thanked them for their help. That was a nice touch! As a Yonkers resident and homeowner I was somewhat relieved at the way in which responses were carried out during the Beech Street incident. Especially the way a full response was mustered for the Landscape Avenue job (which was reported as a structure fire). Believe me, that was very reassuring. As someone who lived and worked in White Plains for many years I got a kick out of hearing the truck company coming up North Broadway last night to the activated alarm at St. John's Hospital (I live relatively close by) and knowing it was Tower Ladder 6 from WPFD Station Two! Years ago I knew guys who worked at Station Two -- with the engine company, though, I don't recall knowing anyone who worked the truck -- and I can only imagine what they would've thought. I also knew a guy (Vincent Varley) who worked for Hartsdale FD. So I got a kick out of hearing E170 responding to the job near South Broadway. Then hearing them return to Station 13 on Kimball Avenue. Quite a night and a terrific performance by all involved. As a Yonkers homeowner I give a heartfelt, "Great Job Guys and Thanks Much!"

Lot of things going on now. E5 Pelham and L16 Eastchester released. E22 and Car 2309 New Rochelle at Sta1 (HQ). E305 Yonkers at Sta10. E204 Mt. Vernon at Sta12. E170 Hartsdale at Sta13. I'm sure there's others. I think L78 Yonkers was sent to Sta14.

Now they have a reported structure fire (basement) at 2 Landscape Avenue in South Yonkers ( near So. B'way and Valentine Lane). On arrival: fire may have been extinguished by homeowner. E309, 317, 319 Yonkers, E170 Hartsdale, L78 Yonkers, TL6 White Plains and Car 2517 White Plains.

I don't have a rundown on the company assignments or the MA companies. I did hear this a few minutes ago. E317 Yonkers, TL6 White Plains and Car 2517 White Plains responding to an activated alarm at St. John's Riverside Hospital on No. B'way. I think TL6 and 2517 are working from The Big House. I heard E317 get assigned to Station Six.

Interesting thread. Given the volume of fire YFD had to contend with, and the density of that downtown block, they appear to have done a tremendous job in knocking down the fire. It could've easily extended to other buildings and become a real catastrophe. Great job (as usual) by Yonkers. I have two questions. 1. The Bee-Line bus shown parked within the fire lines. Was that there to give firefighters a warm dry place to take a breather? 2. The alarm assignment shows E170 Hartsdale was MA at Station 13 on Kimball Avenue. Does anyone know if E170 got any jobs while they were there?

Below is an audio link to the radio traffic as this fire was toned out and the first units began to arrive. The audio is on the Lohud site. The radio traffic shows: 0312 - Initial assignments for heavy smoke in the building. 0316 - Advises Battalion, "We're getting multiple calls including from PD." 0317 - Eng 4 is 10-84 at scene, reports basement fire with heavy smoke/fire condition. 0319 - Battalion reports,"Four people are still inside." 0323 - Primary searches are underway. One line stretched, second line being stretched. Audio Link

Tragic early morning fire in Mt. Vernon on So. Bond Street (near the NH Line tracks) resulted in the deaths of four persons in a basement apartment. They were all members of the same family: the husband and wife and two adult children. There is a report the two children escaped the flames, went back inside to try and rescue the parents, and all four ultimately perished. The photos taken at the scene show firefighters were confronted by an extremely heavy fire condition upon arrival.

The New Rochelle Fire Department responded to a working fire at the Mid-Westchester Jewish Community Center on Wilmot Road near the border with Scarsdale Wednesday evening. Engines 25, 23, 21 and Ladders 13 and 12 responded on the initial assignment. Engine 22 and TL11 were special-called. Yonkers FD Squad 11, Truck 75 and Battalion 2 were M/A at NRFD Station One with NRFD Eng 24. The fire began in a sauna room in the rear of the building around 5 00 PM and was declared under control by 7 00 PM. Below is a news link with six photos taken at the scene: News Link

I can take a crack at this question about the station's history. The current Station 2 replaced the former Station 2 in about 1980. The former station was located several blocks east at Hamilton Avenue & North Lexington Avenue and was within an Urban Renewal zone. The old Station 2 was a real classic firehouse in appearance. It was a 2-story, 2-bay house of tan brick construction. A couple of WPFD FFs I knew who were assigned there when the move was made said there were some maintenance issues with the old house. I especially remember them complaining the heat was not too good in the winter. They were happy about the move. The same two companies were moved, Eng 66 and Truck 33. Later, I don't recall the exact date but during the 1990s I think, Eng 68 was moved to Station 2. Eng 68 was originally quartered at Station 4 at South Lexington Avenue near Maple Avenue. The company was moved in order to close Station 4 as an active firehouse. Engine 68 is now OOS. This took place within the past five years I would say.

It occured to me that some people might not know, that the old Westchester Street Transportation Co. bus garage and White Plains Fire Department Station Two are the same building. The gutted and abandoned bus garage in the first photo was gutted and rebuilt into today's Station Two. I believe the south end of the building was or is used by WPFD maintenance people. Btw, about twenty-five years ago there was an embarrassing mishap at Station Two. A friend of mine, Victor Price, was working as a FF assigned to Engine 66 quartered in Station 2. One night an alarm came in about 3 AM. The driver of Eng. 66 took out the bay door by moving the engine forward before the door was opened. What happened was, the driver heard the door's motor go on, run and then shut off. However it had not engaged the door. He put the rig in gear -- it was one of the Maxims -- and started to pull out (obviously without looking for some reason) and bam!. Like I say, very embarrassing!

Here's an interesting image from the same Google Streetview as above. These are dated one year ago (Oct. 2012) and look what company is in the bay at Station 2. Engine 71 from Station 7 on North Street. Guess WPFD was a little busy that day.

Sorry I missed this when it was first put up. That takes me back. The old Westchester Street Transportation Company bus garage. Back then the street in front wasn't even called Ferris Avenue like today. Back then it was John Street I think? Would you say the area has changed a bit?

Fire officials believe a buildup of propane gases in a basement area from a faulty underground propane tank set off a massive explosion that destroyed a million-dollar North Stamford home Tuesday afternoon. The explosion was reported in a 911 call at 1:54 p.m. Tuesday, and responding fire crews found the home leveled and debris scattered in a 400-foot radius on the property. Nearby homes were damaged as well. The propane remaining in the tank, which was only used to heat a swimming pool, was burned off in a process that took over twenty-four hours.

What I wonder about is the 'no hydrants.' Does anyone know if Pound Ridge did send a tanker? Anybody else?

I don't want to make light of this but... Sounds like Mrs. Cardillo doesn't allow Joe to smoke inside the house. I can relate to that because my wife doesn't allow it either. So stepping outside to smoke that butt presumably saved his life. Of course it may've also destroyed their home. I wonder how Mrs. Cardillo will see this?