AndyC3J

If you'd be so kind as to provide the wetdown date when confirmed....I'd LOVE to come get some pics of that! Geez, just when I thought the season was hours away from ending.......

The first black over red apparatus in Orange County has entered service. The Howells Fire District surprised everyone (including a few of their own members) by changing the color scheme on their new 2005 Spartan/Crimson pumper-tanker. The new apparatus, delivered last Friday, is black over red, and looks AWESOME! Bigger surprises were yet to come. Word spread quickly through the crowd that had gathered to welcome the new delivery that the rest of the fleet would soon be repainted to match! The brush truck has been done, and one engine is in the process, with it's "debut" scheduled for the City of Middletown's annual parade on September 10th. When asked about the possibility of a quadruple wetdown to re-dedicate the whole department, one assistant chief said "That'd be SWEET!". Others weren't all that excited about it. Time will tell. While the new development here was indeed a surprise, the emergence of that particular color scheme in the area was inevitable. Middletown's new KME engine, due in later this year, is rumored to be black and red as well.

Howells Engine 113 is back in service as of last night, so I guess the re-painting is all complete. FYI....the apparatus bay doors are now half and half as well!

When you say "No IM Lingo" in addition to bad spelling, etc., does that include the basic "LOL" and/or "ROTFLMAO", or just jibberish like "R U going 2 C Thornwood's new engine nxt week"?

I guess Spring Valley's opinions of 17-Tower have changed now that they've had it a while.

What's wrong with Pierce's photo? It's TONS better than their shot of the new Boston towers. Just out of curiosity, is it a joke between two members, or does Thornwood FD not want the pic posted at all?

That might some day be a problem on Long Island, but there are parts of the state, like up here in little ol' Orange County, where it already IS a problem. Quite a few companies in this neck of the woods for whom assembling a crew during daylight hours is asking for a small miracle. A recent article in the paper stated that one rural department only had nine active members on the roster, and most of them work outside the district. Anyone who's ever seen a parade in Long Island knows they aren't hurting for membership yet. I saw three or four of 'em this summer, and let me tell you, there were some departments down there who had more men in line of march than some Orange County departments have overall members. Some of them pretty near doubled that number, even. How many of those guys are around during the day, I have no idea, but with a membership that large, I can't help but think they don't have much trouble getting an engine out at any given time. It doesn't matter what part of the state you talk about, that whole issue is one that will soon be a huge problem everywhere as long as the cost of living continues to spiral out of control and force people to commute farther away from home in search of a liveable wage, or worse yet, be driven out of the area altogether in search of an affordable place to live.

I'm sure somebody will.......if it ever stops RAINING!!!!

NICE!!! Geez, the way you were describing it, I was expecting to see one of those rear-mount pump jobs that look like heavy rescues. What's the reason for the roll-up over the pump panel? Definitely an interesting touch.

Middletown has a KME engine on order to replace Engine 5, ETA of delivery....?

In the thread(s) about Harrison's new engine, somebody posted that the wetdown will be October 2nd. Haven't heard anything else about it yet, and if the weather remains nice, I'd like to attend. If I may safely assume the "public" is invited (unlike Rockland County) can somebody please give the start time, as well as an address of the location and/or directions (from 287)? Also, will shirts and/or mugs be sold? Thanks in advance for any help.

Yeah, that's what the website says, Long Pond Rd. Not 100% sure I will be there, but it is definitely on my mind. Got quite a few other things going on that day. Waiting to see what the weather and money situations look like. Would be nice, though.

Cool, thanks. I did see that.

Does Crane Rd. go by another name, like a route number maybe? Looking all over the new and un-improved Mapquest, and can't find it. Mahopac's site gives yet another road name, too, but no street address.

Cool, thanks. Thought I missed out. Guess the original plan didn't come to be?

New City (Rockland) is Oct. 9 from 11-3. http://www.newcityfire.org

My sincerest condolences to the Arena family for thier loss. Rest in peace, Jimmyboy.

Someone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

If you're up for a road trip, there's usually one in Farmingdale (Long Island) on the Sunday evening of that weekend. Decent amount of apparatus in it.

FOAM = ORADELL

No offense taken.....seen the "freeloading" type a time or two over the years. Ranks right up there with the kids who look like standing in front of the hose line was their bath for that day...LOL! (even better when somebody gets creative and dumps a bottle of Joy in their tank!)

Also found out yesterday that Warwick's Excelsior Hose Co. may be going black/red on the replacement for their '88 Mack. Time will tell, I guess.

Yeah, that's what Rockland departments do. Only, a shirt doesn't cut it.....no ID, no entry. NEVER had that problem here in Orange Co. or anywhere in New Jersey in the five years that I've been doing this sort of thing. Never been to one in Westchester or Long Island, so not sure how they work. If a camera-carrying "nobody" like me would be welcome there, I'd love to go. Don't want to make that long of a trip just to be turned away at the door (after snapping a few pics, of course!). That's my reason for going....taking pics. The food is just a nice bonus, certainly not a requirement, and I'll gladly drop a few $$$ on a shirt, if I like it.

113 was just announced OOS as I am typing this. I am guessing it's going to be painted, and I am crossing fingers that it'll be back in time for the wetdown on Oct. 16th.

Geez.....good thing he didn't challenge anyone to a game of "Pull My Finger" !