BFD1054

Date: 04-13-04 Time: 1437HRS (TOW) Location: 5 Grove St. c/s Westchester Ave. Frequency: 46.26 Units: Port Chester Full assignment. Car 2392 (Command). Original assignment was for (3) Engines, L31 & R40. Description: Working Fire, unknown type of structure at time of writing. Port Chester FD originally dispatched a full-assignment to box 57, 5 Grove St. for smoke in the structure. Writer: BFD1054 1435HRS-PCFD E62 requested for an additional Engine to the scene, 5 Grove St. for a working fire. 1442HRS-PCFD inquiring as to if PD is needed to assist in evacuation of building. 1444HRS-Car 2391 notified & en-route per request of Car 2392. 1446HRS-As per Car 2392, fire under control.

Date: 04-12-04 Time: 1559HRS (TOD) Location: Bloomer Rd. c/s June Rd. Frequencies: 46.26 (Dispatch/Ops), 46.14 (Ground Contact) Units: E148, R28, MA16, Car 2071 Description: 60-Control dispatched Croton Falls FD to Bloomer Rd, unknown location for an MVA/Roll-Over. Writer: BFD1054 1602HRS-Car 2071 10-17. 1603HRS-MA16, R28 10-17, Stat-Flight on s/b. 1604HRS-E148 10-17. 1605HRS-S. Salem Firefighter o/s confirming extrication will be needed. Stat-Flight to be launched. Per 2071, LZ will be N. Salem High School, rear field-hockey field. E148 to set up LZ, ground contact will be E148 on 46.14. Update on location, Bloomer Rd. & June Rd. 1611HRS-60-Control advising Stat-Flight approx. 3-4 minutes out. 1635HRS-R28 10-8/10-2. 1643HRS-E148 10-8/10-2. 1649HRS-MA16 10-8/10-2. 1650HRS-As per Car 2071, all Croton Falls units 10-8/10-2.

Yeah sorry TRUCK6018, that may have been a typo on my part, sorry about that.

To answer Remember585's question about Buchanan's old Mack (was actually 1st due, E161). I was at the firehouse last night talking with some people, some of whom have been around a long time. From what i was told, our old Mack was sold to a fire company somewhere in Florida. Well, someone had come to bring the rig to its new home, but unfortunately rolled the rig over several times, leaving it totalled! I believe the accident either occured in North Carolina or Florida, either way, he wasn't too far! There are some nice photos of this rig at parades and such around the firehouse, i will see if i can get my hands on one and scan it to share with all of you. But if you are ever in Buchanan Firehouse, walk around our meeting room and you can see the pictures! F.Y.I. - The reason for the Mack being assigned E161...E161 was the designated number for our first due apparatus & E162 was our 2nd Engine, until 1998. In 1998, when our Sutphen arrived, we still had E162 (1969 GMC/Young) & E161 was the 1991 Pierce Lance. The Pierce was and still is our 1st due, so it became E160, the Sutphen became E161 (rescue pumper, 2nd due) & the GMC/Young stayed E162. E162 has since been sold to Peekskills Columbian Engine Co. (our sister company) to be used as thier Muster truck.

This is the first i've heard about this today...may explain why everyone has been keying up my Nextel all day lol! (sleep is more important!). Anyway, i haven't heard who was aboard T10 at the time, but i know many of the guys from E119/T10, so i am glad to hear that there were no serious injuries! That is a monster of a truck, so just glad to hear everyone is okay and that there was nobody else involved. I hope a speedy recovery to all those involved!

WAS967, I started to write a post on Mohegans MVA, but wasn't to sure of the details, so i never posted it. This is what i have/can remember... Date: 04-08-04 Time: approx. 1730HRS Location: Taconic State Parkway (TSP) Northbound, South of Rt. 134. Units: Mohegan E252, E254, U40, 69B2, Cars 2262 & 2263, Yorktown VAC, Yorktown ALS & State Police. Description: KEI-603 Mohegan dispatched E252, E254, U40 & 69B2 to the TSP NB S. of Rt. 134 for a PIAA. Shortly thereafter, Car 2262 was 10-19 requesting ALS expedite, possible DOA. E254 was released shortly after his arrival. Units had some difficulty gaining access to the scene due to heavy traffic. Car 2262 had command and U40 was coordinating info with State Police. Again, i started the post, but wasn't sure of details (ie cause of DOA), so i opted not to post it. But this is the info i still have written down from last night, thought i'd share it!

Date: 04-08-04 Time: 1503HRS Location: 287 Memorial Dr. Frequency: 46.26 Units: Valhalla R9, TL49, E84 Hawthorne E155, E156 Car 2194, Thornwood E89, Car 2471. Description: 60-Control dispatched Hawthorne & Valhalla FD's to 287 Memorial Dr. for a ruptured gas line. 60-Control advising workers on scene ruptured a gas line. 1509HRS-E155 advising odor of gas in the area, they have cordoned off the area, requesting Con Ed gas to the scene & to have thier crew expedite. E155 connecting to a hydrant. 1513HRS-R9 10-19, 60-Control advising that PD is requesting the FD to shut down the roadway between Brookline St. & Brighton Ave. 1523HRS-60-Control dispatching Hawthorne for additional manpower to the scene & Thornwood for 1 Engine to respond & stage at Brookline St. & Amsterdam Ave. 1536HRS-Signal 10-30 transmitted, Thornwood E89 & Car 2471 picking up/returning. 1540HRS-E84 10-8. 1544HRS-As per Car 2194, all units going 10-8/10-2. Writer: BFD1054

This is what News-12 had on this incident. I was just suprised/glad to see that nobody was seriously injured. It also goes to show that you never know what could happen anywhere/anytime and we need to be prepared for anything. http://www.news12.com/WC/topstories/article?id=104591

ocff75...i am not sure if FDVA Montrose will be hiring, but i figured i'd give you a few helpful hints. You must be a certified EMT to be hired, and if you have military time, it is definately a plus! You may also want to check with the FDVA-Castle Point in Dutchess to see if they are hiring!

Yeah Yonkers FD is definately the way to go!!! Not only is thier starting slary amazing, it seems as if it gets better every couple of years! I know like 2 years ago they started at like $55,000 and that was excellent! The cost of living has obviously continued to rise in Westchester, but you don't see any other FD or PD jobs paying even close to what Yonkers does! Yonkers PD even makes out pretty well as i understand, not as good as the FD, but still not bad. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that YFD's union is soo strong and they fight for thier guys to have these salaries! As i said, Yonkers FD is definately the way to go for a carrer firefighter, from the pay to the union, to just the job in general! Unfortunately, like others have said, its not easy to get on, by any means. I always joke and say if you're not related to Pagano, or you're father isn't Mayor Spencer and you don't live in Yonkers, you may as well save your $25 and don't even bother taking the exam! I do say that as a joke, but with some seriousness, of course. If your dream is to be a career firefighter, then by all means, go for it, you have to start somewhere and Yonkers has to hire somebody, right?

Thanks Task Force for getting back to us soo soon! Sounds/seems like Fort Worth has thier stuff together and know how to design a descent rig! I kind of figured the lights had to do with the tank level, it was the only thing that made sense lol! That is a really cool idea! You said Seth had talkied about this before...if i remember correctly, these lights are exclusive on General Safety rigs only, right? Anyway, thanks again! The pictures were awesome, as well as all the info you provided!

Seth, this was a little paragraph i added to the end of my post for the WP apartment fire a couple weeks ago lol! *IMO-This incident seemed to run quite smoothly (only from what i heard on the air). Given the number of angencies involved, i would like to commend 60 Control (Hap) & WP Comm., who are the unsung heros in these incidents. The two agencies worked very well together on making sure that there was sufficient manpower/units at the scene, as well as ensuring that the city of White Plains was covered sufficiently. Again, just my opinion. Last edited by BFD1054 on Mon Mar 15, 2004 12:54 pm; edited So, i think its safe to say i feel for dispatchers and definately appreciate them! Not only do they have a million things going on (phones, radios, computers) but they also have to deal with some people that just can't speak on a radio lol! As i have said, i was a trainee with WCPD, and as Mofire24 stated, its not an easy job, by any means! I also dispatched for Somers Fire/EMS pre Westchester EMS taking over. Man, i can remember still being in training and a certain supervisor asking me to work a shift, last minute of course! When i said i was still in training, the reply i received was, eh, i think you're ready! My first call was a 5-car MVA, i'll never forget that shift lol! But anyway, i definately give a lot of credit to all dispatchers, Fire, EMS & PD! Tommy, glad to see you're haning in there bro, WCPD dispatching was not easy, keep up the good work my man! And Big Daddy Muns (a.k.a. 642), you're sounding like a seasoned veteran. I guess it helps when you've been talking on a radio since you were like 14 lol! But to all our WCDES & WCPD dispatchers out there, keep up the good work, all of our lives may depend on it! Thank you all for listening and having patience!

I have an old Cobra SR-900 table-top scanner and a RadioShack Pro-70 portable. The Cobra is only a 16-channel and the Pro-70 is a 50. But i learned that i like the Cobra much better, and i don't care that much to hear 50 different channels scanning on the portable lol! The 16-channel Cobra is perfect for me, i have just enough fire and PD in it and thats all i need/want! I also use my Minitor IV to pick up a lot. My pager goes off of the Yorktown repeater i believe and i get great, clear reception! I was actually monitoring Mamo's fire the other night with my pager and it was perfect! I have also found that having too many channels is just annoying, if theres a big incident going on, i usually just lock the scanner on 1 or 2 channels anyway. The other thing that aggravates me is that my portable goes through batteries like crazy! But yeah, my old Cobra suits me just fine. I usually only have it on when i am playing playstation (i know, i'm a loser) or on the computer, so that if anything big comes in i can post it on the network and monitor it.

ALS, as usual, you've made some good points. As you said about 10-codes...you are still saying the words ten-seventeen or whatever. 10-17 looks much more brief on paper, but as you said, saying engine 101 responding and engine 101 ten-seventeen isn't much different. I don't think many people have ever thought of it that way! This is where i don't see the big difference in 10-codes and "plain talk." I just think there is a time for both and you must know how to talk on the radio the right way at the right time. It seems that some people, no matter what they are trying to say, important or not, they still "stumble" on the radio. There was adivce given earlier on collecting your thoughts/thinking before speaking and that should be applied to talking on the radio at all times! It may sound silly, but i feel that all proby firefighters should be taught how to properly use the radio. And i don't just mean so they know how to call a mayday or whatever, but even on the simple radio skills. As far as people getting excited on the radio, even announcing they're 10-8 and such, i definately hear ya! I learned a long time ago to not attempt to "guess" what the call is by the sound of the dispatcher/FF/officer's voice lol.

I definately agree with Seth on this one, those are sweet rigs! The first thing i noticed was the low, easy to reach cross-lays, that is definately beneficial to any firefighter! I don't know why other apparatus aren't designed that way :-k These rigs seem very firefighter friendly, always a good thing! I also like the light-tower, that is awesome! You almost can't even see it, very low profile. I don't know why more units don't have light towers, they are a nice feature, like Peekskills E133 has. I also like the location of the deluge gun on the rear of the rig! These engines look more like rescues, definately cool though! Just a few questions for ya TaskForce...... 1) does every FWFD Engine have a light tower? 2) What company designed these rigs? and 3) May be a dumb question, but i never knew what those lights (green, blue, yellow & red) were for on the sides of the rig (between the 2 cab doors), maybe you could answer that? i'd appreciate it! Seth, I too like the Forth Worth FD pieces that Code3 put out (i'm assuming thats what you were talking about lol), i know i put my order in for all three (E7, TR8 & Q9)!

Date: 03-28-04 Time: approx. 2100HRS (TOD) Location: East Main St. (Route 6) & the Bear Mountain Parkway Frequencies: 46.26 (Disp.) & 46.14 (ops, ground contact) Units: E255, E257, U40, 69B2, 69B3, Cars 2261, 2262 & 39M1 Description: KEI-603 Mohegan dispatched E255, E257, U40 & Mohegan VAC to E. Main St. & the BMP for an MVA w/injuries, as per State Police, injuries reported. 2114HRS-Car 2261 reporting serious MVA, as per medic o/s, requesting Stat-Flight be put on stand-by. 2122HRS-Car 2261 requesting AIR-2 to the scene, as per 60-Control, AIR-2 has lifted. Per Car 2261, LZ will be on the roadway, Rte. 6 & the BMP, contact will be on 46.14. 2125HRS-60-Control requesting update for AIR-2, per Car 2261, approx. 35 year-old-male struck by a vehicle, positive loss of consciousness (LOC). approx. 2140HRS-60-Control & Car 2261 having difficulty raising AIR-2, operations back to 46.42. 2142HRS-AIR-2 hovering the scene, awaiting directions from Car 2261, Car 2261 advising AIR-2 to land on the roadway behind the ambulance, ambulance is there to mark overhead wires. 2144HRS-Air-2 advising Car 2261 that there are too many overhead wires/trees, advising shopping center to the east (Shop-Rite), for a possible LZ. 2146HRS-As per Car 2261, AIR-2 to land at heli-pad at Hudson Valley Hospital Center (Rte. 202), ambulance will meet them there. 2204HRS-E255 10-8. 2206HRS-Signal 10-30, road still closed until further notice. 2219HRS-E257 10-8/10-2. 2121HRS-U40 10-8, E254 back in station 3. (E254 was re-located to Sta. 1, HQ to cover).

ahh thanks DFFD227, that explains why they were originally talking about stretching a line, possibly a tank involved. I am monitoring both the Mohegan and Mamo' jobs, have 2 scanners and my pager on, doin the best i can lol. I must apologize to, i wanted to go grab some photos of the Mohegan job. But i thought it was AIR-1 out of WMC, so i figured they may be there and gone by the time i got up there lol, plus i feel like crap #-o . When i heard it was AIR-2 i was pissed, cause i definately could have made it up there! ](*,)

As you all may know, this past January, we (Buchanan), placed into service our new Utility-12 (2003 E-One) Cascade/light support Unit. This rig replaced out 1955 Chevrolet Cascade/Utility unit. This rig originally served as a pumper for the BFD, and later re-furbished into a cascade unit. Tomorrow, Sunday March 28, will be the last ride for "the red-flyer." The rig will be driven by BFD members, along w/our bus and members, to Hudson, New York, where it will rest at the NYS Fireman's Museum. Our members will bid a fine farewell to the rig and join the residents of the NYS Firemans home for a nice dinner. This rig will surely be missed by all members of the Buchanan Engine Company. It served us well for the long period of time that it was in-service. The rig had some proud, memerable moments, including responding to the tanker explosion in White Plains, as well as responding to NYC to assist the FDNY after the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks. I will hopefully have pictures of the 1955 & 2003 to share with all of you in the near future.

Home page of the Buchanan Engine Co. #1 inc. www.buchananfd.org

Damn Chris, sounds like the "fire bug" has hit Mohegan. It seems as tough every time i read this forum, Mohegan had another worker! You guys always do a hell of a job though, so bravo to Mohegans bravest! Now if only you guys would call us to come and play, even for U12!

***Spaghetti Dinner*** Date: Saturday, March 20 Time: 6:00pm Location: Buchanan Firehouse, 3159 Albany Post Rd. On Saturday, March 20th, the members of the Buchanan Engine Company will be holding a spaghetti dinner to benefit the victims of the January 18 structure fire at 142 Bannon Ave. (Bannon Avenue Apartments). All proceeds will go to the victims, including Buchanan Firefighter Gerry Grant, who lost everything in the fire. Ticket prices are as follows: $15 for adults $5 for children under 12 50/50 Raffle tickets will also be sold for $5 each This will be a fun night with good food and friends and even better, it is for a great cause! Many people lost everything that night and there were many young children living there, so any contribution would be greatly appreciated!!! For tickets, call (914)737-0334 and leave a message for Bobby Outhouse w/number of tickets you are requesting and a call-back number. *Also, a car wash will be held April 3 @ the Cortlandt Community Ambulance Corps, Kings Ferry Rd./Albany Post Rd., Montrose to benefit the fire victims! Keep your eyes open for further info! Thank you, Michael Swankie (BFD1054) 2nd Lt. Buchanan FD

Just to share some info on the benefit dinner we held....we were able to raise $4,000 for the victims, plus the BFD may very well add in the area of $2,000 to that donation. The night was an all around success and everyone enjoyed themselves. Hopefully the money can at least start to help the victims get back on thier feet!

*** Car-wash to benefit Buchanan Fire victims *** Date: Saturday, April 3 Time: 9:30am - ? Location: Cortlandt Community Ambulance Corps., 6 Kings Ferry Rd. c/s Albany Post Rd. (across from Montrose FD). On Saturday, April 3, the Cortlandt Community Ambulance Corps will be hosting a car wash to benefit the victims of the Bannon Avenue Apartments fire. The Ambulance Corps will be assisted by members of the Buchanan, Montrose & Verplanck Fire Departments. I personally ask all members of this Network to try and attend, but also spread the word as much as possible. Not only will you be getting your car washed, but more importantly, you will be helping raise money for families (33 people, many young children) that were left homeless and lost most of thier possessions in this terrible & deadly fire. The members of the local volunteer agencies are doing all we can to help, so any of you who can be there will certainly be helping as well! For those of you who were unable to attend the benefit dinner, this is a great, easy way to make a donation! Thank you, Michael Swankie 2nd Lt. Buchanan FD

Mofire24, i am sure that you are not the only one who was wondering this, but no, there will be no hot chicks in bikinis, sorry :sad: Now that i have deterred everyone from attending... Not to hurt anyones feelings, but there are not many females in our local depts, and the ones that are...well, just not my type. I remember the Hen Hud cheerleaders used to do a car wash at Montrose FD to benefit thier "team" or whatever, and they used to make a hell of a lot of money. Funny thing is, it was mostly male customers, wonder why? :-k Now if only we can do as good as they did, that'd be great. In all seriousness, this is for a great cause, and we hope to do real well so that the victims can really benefit! Hope some of you can make it, and again, spread the word! Thanks!!!!

Finally glad to see the whole bickering thing coming to an end! I don't have much to say about Yonkers FD as far as a 2nd rescue co, because i do not know much about the YFD, nor do i live close to Yonkers. DFFD227, you are totally intitled to your opinion, as is everyone else. Just remember that everyone else may have a different one! I do give you credit for standing by your opinion though! Seth made some great points and gave some great advice, so take some of it in! I have about 6 years in the fire department, which isn't all that long, but i have seen/heard/learned enough in that time. I too was very strong-minded and opened my mouth alot and sometimes got into trouble because of it. I recently became a Lieutenant in my dept. and the best advise that i was given by fellow and ex officers was to "shut your mouth, open your ears and learn form other officers, including thier mistakes!" You gave your personal opinion, which is great, everyone is encouraged to do so, wheather you be volunteer, career (i dislike the term "professional lol), junior or whatever. But i can totally see where ALS is coming from, and i'm sure you do to a bit! He makes an excellent point, there should be no price tag on life safety, wheather it be a firefighters or the public. His whole "expenditure/investment" statement was right on key. Of course taxpayers are going to see things as costly, nobody wants thier taxes to go up! Taxpayers, especially those who know little about the fire service, will always fight large purchases by FDs and PDs, thats just the way it goes. As far as Yonkers goes...if they (the FD) feels that a second Rescue Co. is truly neccesary to cut down on response times, hence making the YO' safer, then so be it. From what i know about the YFD, they seem to be a very well organized, well trained and professional department, so i'm sure they know what they do and don't need. Again, it all comes down to life-safety, bottom line! Cost should never be an issue in these cases, but it always gets factored in, and unfortunatley, we will always have to put up with it!