Westfield12

Beautiful shot looks great 

 

Looks Great  surely needed to replace that well used Lance they have

 

thanks for sharing the pics, great job by the photographers.

Apparatus pics from this years event
Bill & Chris Tompkins photos
http://www.btfirephotos.com/World-Trade-Center-Memorial-in/Apparatus/2017-Apparatus/

Bedford Hills & Mt Kisco Fds from last year 
Bill Tompkins photos - btfirephotos.com 

Who bought it?

Can I ask why did they sell it ?

dumb question but why?? 

Yeah, I have to also ask why? I understand the full time staff were laid off but why sell the rig when there are older trucks in the fleet? If it's because it was the full timers rig than that's just petty.

The boro is the one cutting the check  & each fire company Specs out the piece they are looking to purchase Have seen a few Dept's spec out same exact pieces before though Example Rutherford with their last  Pumpers purchased 

Consolidated Hose Engine 77 is getting a Cyclone IIX with a 1500 GPM Hale QMax Pump, 750 Gallon Tank, 30A Foam. Phenix Hose Engine 76 is getting a Cyclone II with a 2000 GPM Pump, 750 Gallon Tank, and 30 Foam. 

FL Rescue is going to Wildwood, then will be delivered shortly after. FL E3 is a duplicate of the current E3, with addition of foam tank/pump only. not much else changed...........

As for Wildwood, Rescue 1/NJEV will have both Fort Lee and Fair Lawn Rescue Trucks on display as they are pretty much done. 

Tarrytown has ordered 2 E-One Engines. Not sure which companies they going to.

City of Newark NJ has 3 E one 110ft Metro Sticks on order 

Cliffside Park NJ Ordered a new Ford F 4WD Series Braun  to replace an older unit this is their 4th Braun & Going back to Ford F Series Chassis Their Police & EMS acquired 2 ATV's for use during heavy snow storms

I sent this email to TWO members of the Yantic FD on August 7, 2017. They had contacted me earlier through my email address regarding this issue. I don't personally know these two individuals.
This is part 1 of 2 - although the entire mail was originally sent as ONE.
 
QUOTE:
To: Yantic FD member - Brian K.
      Yantic FD member - Chris C.
 
I kept your email addresses and I would like to pass on a few thoughts that I'm hoping you will pass onto the members on the Yantic FD. Especially to the officers and the Chief. Just a couple of thoughts that I think the guys might be interested in.
 
 1) I am told that when one member of the Yantic FD needed transportation to his doctors appointments or medical treatments and he wasn't able to get there, "it was a member of the Norwich Fire Dept that took him there".
 
 2) I am also told that recently a former Fire Chief from another department apologized to the Norwich Fire Dept for the way he acted AGAINST those Norwich Firefighters during his time as chief.
 
 3) About four or five years ago, I organized a FREE Class to help anyone interested in becoming a career firefighter. How to prepare for the written, the oral, and the CPAT agility etc. I was able to get use of the Jorden Firehouse in Waterford to use the night of that class. I was also joined by another Norwich Firefighter, Retired B/C Stu C., as well as one career firefighter from New London, West Hartford, Hamden, and Stamford. Those guys didn't ask for ONE DIME. Not even gas money. In addition, the guys set up separate tutoring sessions to give more help to individuals living closer to their area.
  One guy who attended that class was Ryan F., who at the time was a member of the Yantic FD. As you know, he is now employed as a Norwich Firefighter. He credits that class and Norwich FD Retired B/C Paul S., for helping him to get that job.
 
 4) After some comments were made accusing the Norwich Fire Chief of putting his own firefighters at risk, I checked into that. NOT ONE NORWICH FIREFIGHTER EVER MADE SUCH A STATEMENT. That rumor is Totally FALSE. In fact, he is very much concerned with the safety of his members.
 
 5) When some individuals falsely accused current members of the Norwich Fire Dept of "encouraging me" to begin this campaign roughly 2 1/2 years ago, requesting the nearest, quickest fire dept to respond to serious incidents within this city, that was totally WRONG as well. That has been all of my own "free will". In fact, for the first year or so, I was discouraged from taking such action by Norwich Fire Chief Scandariato and President Scott M., IAFF892. I was told at the time that a plan was in the works that would benefit EVERYONE.
  AGAIN - NO MEMBER OF THE NORWICH FIRE DEPT EVER ENCOURAGED ME TO PURSUE THIS CAMPAIGN.
 
 6) I am being told by some city officials that the Fire Chiefs of Taftville, East Great Plains, Laurel Hill, and Occum are ready and willing to agree to working more closely with the Norwich FD, for the benefit of ALL the citizens and their own members. We have seen proof of that since the first of the year by requesting the Norwich FD to the scene.
   a - December 31, 2016 (New Years Eve) - East Great Plains - Fire in an office building located at 598 West Main St.
   b - July 3, 2017 - Taftville - Fire in an apartment building at 3-7 South Second St (exactly one year after a front page headline story July 3, 2016 titled: "Norwich's Fire Service More Fractured Than Ever Officials Say").
   c- July 28, 2017 - East Great Plains - Structure fire in a large wood frame building (Cottage 6) at Uncas on the Thames Complex, 401 West Thames St.
 
 Just ONE YEAR PRIOR to that, Five serious incidents within the city had NO Norwich FD Response - despite the NFD being closer than any second due fire company. The list includes:
  a - Yantic - Norwichtown Rehab - 93 West Town St
  b - East Great Plains - 401 West Thames St. - 2 1/2 frame known as Cottage 8.
  c - Yantic - U.S. Foods - 222 Otrabando Ave - Dangerous Chemical Leak - Norwich Fire Dept Haz Mat Team responds at the request of U.S. Sub Base FD Officer responding from Groton 15 miles away.
  d - Yantic - 182 Vergason Ave - Structure fire with reported children trapped
  e - Occum - 17 Taftville Occum Rd - Structure fire.
 
 So clearly as you can see by the incidents described there has been some very good progress made throughout the city. The ONLY issue of concern is the Yantic Fire Dept. Why ?
 
 Why is it necessary to call a fire dept like Colchester - 14 miles away, to an incident in which TWO STAFFED fire stations are much closer. Norwich Fire Headquarters - 2.8 miles, and Engine 2 - 3.9 miles away.
 
 If the reason being that Colchester is listed on the next running assignment at Norwich Dispatch, that may NOT hold up should a very serious incident occur as a result of that action.
 
 In addition, few, if any firefighters themselves actually agree with this. They feel that goes AGAINST any logical, common sense rule on the fire ground. It could be a very tough one to prove otherwise.
 
7) I have been told by MORE than one individual that the younger members of the Yantic FD feel they should work more closely with the members of the Norwich FD. I've also been told that there is some pressure put on them by many of the more senior members to do otherwise. However, I'm sure that you know much more about that than I do.
  But here is an example from many years ago;
   When I was offered the job to become a Norwich Firefighter, the guy ahead of me on the hiring list was a member of the Yantic FD. When he was offered the job BEFORE ME, he turned it down and I was hired instead. The reason he turned it down.....because then, Yantic Fire Chief Walter K., told him not to take it.
 
 8) I also understand that the Yantic FD has it's own fireground radio frequency that might be put in use at the scene of an incident. Is this an FCC assigned frequency to be used solely by the Yantic FD without regard to any Incident Command System ? Do the officers realize how this can have a serious affect on the Yantic members and other firefighters operating on the scene. As well as civilians and members reporting fire conditions within an area. Creating a very dangerous situation to all who do not have these radios.
 
 9) There are also reports of city owned fire apparatus arriving on the scene, when in fact that is NOT the case. But actually a civilian owned, personnel vehicle rather than a piece of fire apparatus as a way of perhaps "padding response times". Below is a photo taken of what appears to be a personnel vehicle and NOT a piece of city owned fire apparatus. When this vehicle arrived the operator stated: "Squad 36 is on the scene". Is this Squad 36 ?
  * Note for the purpose of this web site - I was NOT able to show that picture of a maroon colored pick up truck - personnel vehicle *
  The problem today is we never know who's out there taking photos or videos of an incident. In this case as the civilian was being put into the ambulance (parked behind this vehicle) a small rescue truck was about to arrive. When that happened the incident was over and before that small rescue truck had arrived, the driver of the pick up truck said on a portable radio; "Squad 36 you can return".
  There are other reports of such activity as well.
  This could really go sour if something were to go wrong (accident etc) prior to the actual arrival of any piece of fire apparatus.
 
 I am very happy to see that so much progress has been gained over the past two years. It has certainly been a very tough journey. But it's well worth it. To get four out of five depts. to understand and cooperate is something that the Fire Chiefs of East Great Plains, Taftville, Occum, and Laurel Hill should be very proud of. They have taken a serious look at the priorities of their own members, as well as the civilians they are assigned to protect.
  But why not 100 %. What is the issue with the other 20 % ? Is everybody else wrong ?
 
   TO BE CONTINUED..........as part 2 of 2.
 
 
 

 

*The whole parade on video*
 
Freeport (20:00 min mark Part 1) 170 guys in march 
2nd Best Overall - Valley Stream FD (start of Part 2)
 
 
 

Time for another Progress Report. I must say that things have GREATLY IMPROVED since New Years Eve, 2017. I had another meeting with the Norwich City Manager on Wednesday August 16th. Here is an email that I sent out to individuals on how that meeting went, including two members of the Yantic FD.
 
 QUOTE -
  On Wednesday afternoon, August 16, 2017, I met for the second time since January with the Norwich City Manager, Mr John Salomone. Of course this was in regards to my campaign to take on the issue of the Norwich Fire Dept responding to the Town area known as the TCD. I would like to share with you and the members of the Yantic FD, some of the highlights of that meeting. I am also sending a copy of this to City Manager John Salamone, City Council member/Safety Committee - Bill Nash, and City Council member Jerry Martin for taking a special interest in hearing my side of the story. They do a very difficult and thankless job. I've told them many times, "They never have to worry about me wanting to take it over". I would like them to know that there has been much progress made, so their efforts have not been in vain. THANK YOU.
 
 1) Both the City Manager and I AGREED that there has been much improvement since the beginning of the year starting with a fire on New Years Eve in the East Great Plains Fire District. Since that time, there have been a total of six incidents throughout the TCD area which required additional resources beyond the first due response area. Of the six, five brought out the Norwich Fire Dept.
    1a) Three involved the East Great Plains area
    2a) One involved the Taftville area.
  The other two involved the Yantic Fire District area.
    3a) In one case I am told the Norwich FD only responded because the Mohegan Sun Tribal Dept (FAST CO) was busy elsewhere.
    4a) The other, The Norwich FD did NOT respond. But instead the EGP and Colchester FDs responded. I learned that the fact that Colchester FD was requested from "14 miles away", Yantic Fire Commanders have come under criticism by city officials and even citizens with no ties to the fire service.
 
  We both agree that the focus seems to be mainly on some of the leadership within the Yantic FD. Those leaders are burying themselves within their own peers throughout the city. Even those outside the city are asking questions about it. I am being told by several individuals , including a few council members, that even some of the younger members of the Yantic FD want to work more closely with the Norwich FD.
 
 2) The city manager read an email to me he received regarding a joint drill that apparently was organized by one of the younger Lts within the Yantic FD. The email was written to the city manager by Norwich Fire Chief Scandariato, expressing his appreciation to this younger member for helping to set up this joint drill involving the Yantic FD and the Norwich FD. Of course some of the older Yantic leaders boycotted that drill.
 
 3) With the Yantic issue in mind, I presented the case of a very recent structure fire on Orchard St in the Norwich FD district. In that case , NFD requested the Taftville FD and Mohegan Tribe FD as the FAST CO. What if the Fire Commander of that incident had requested perhaps the Bozrah FD or Colchester FD (14 miles away) instead. Would that be acceptable ?
 
 4) I also presented the "What if" case of a passerby reporting smoke coming from a house in the Yantic FD district. Yantic request EGP and Taftville. They then realize that there is a serious fire condition in that house. Additional help is requested from Bozrah and Colchester. As the fire is knocked down, it now becomes known that there is not one, BUT, FIVE members of a family that perished. This becomes a National News story with the major TV channels covering this. Those reporters now learn that there were TWO staffed firehouses much closer that never responded. What does the city officials or fire commanders tell the news media then ?
 
  In the PREVIOUS year there were at least SIX incidents throughout the city which required the  response of an additional department in the TCD area. Even though the Norwich Fire Dept was staffed and closer, NOT ONCE did they respond.
 
 For the last 2 1/2 years, I have taken on this job at my own free will. It hasn't been easy at all. But I am in the perfect position to try and do something about it. I have talked with people, text. called, and emailed. I have come under fire through face book slander by some. I have even come under fire by some of my own peers. In the long run, I certainly think it's been worth it. I think there is no doubt an improvement. It's not over yet. But I'm seeing and hearing that some of the leadership within the Yantic FD is being laughed at by their own peers throughout the area. Either those types of leaders change or their days are most likely numbered.
  END of Quote.
 
 I also shared this with two members of the Yantic FD and I understand it was read at one of their meetings.
 
 I also sent an earlier email to them as well based on a few very interesting facts that perhaps some did not know. Soon I'll post that as well.

 

The Fairchester Hose Haulers of the Hudson Valley will be hosting an open house August 12 & 13 from 10am-4pm at Andy Leider's truck house, 2618 Rte. 302, Middletown,NY. See over 200 antique fire apparatus. 
 
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website  www.Fairchesterhosehaulers.com

Latest on Englewood Cliffs Pierce Velocity Pumper it will become EC1 & Its due by the end of the year The Hahn EC 3 is being traded in to Pierce