Remember585

Croton-on-Hudosn Fire Department (As of 1/1/08) Chief 2081 - Arthur Roosa Jr. 1st Asst. Chief 2082 - Phil Dinkler 2nd Asst. Chief 2083 - John Munson Captain E118 - Matt Mansfield Captain E119 - Chris Colombo Captain E120 - Dan Vlad Captain R18 - Gary Diggs 1st Lt E118 - Fran Gennarelli 1st Lt E119 - Dave Rinaldi 1st Lt E120 - Steve Lesnick 1st Lt TL44 - Rocco Cusano 1st Lt R18 - John Delaney 2nd Lt E118 - Rob O'leary 2nd Lt E119 - Art Roosa III 2nd Lt E120 - Spencer Grant 2nd Lt TL44 - Mark Dickey 2nd Lt R18 - Anita Dominello Good luck to my CFD Officers as well as the rest of you out there!

Minitor V's are pager, Sabers are two-way radios. Most departments have switched to what seems like Motorola HT1000 or HT1250 portable radios and it seems like most are using Kenwood mobiles for low-band communications. Of course, though, there is all kinds of radios out there so there will be dozens of answers to this question!

As stated already, each Department submits an Mutual Aid Card to 60 Control, usually each year. It states the Chief's preferences for Engines, Ladders, Tankers & Rescues. I think they go as deep as your first six preferences. The best thing any department can do is create the Greater Alarm Plans. On this level you get 1 & 1 for coverage, on a 2nd alarm you get another 1 & 1, etc. etc. There's also a "pick list" for FAS Teams too. Hope this helps.

I hope you get more then the bars you earned, but a fat paycheck and a huge apology from Mayor Bowtie. People deserve what they've earned, and you've sure as hell earned it JC!

Date: 12/30/07 Time: 02:20 Location: 2 Lawrence Street X Sherman Ave Frequency: 154.145, 33.96, Fire 18 Units Operating: FDMV All-Hands Description Of Incident: Fully involved 2 1/2 story stucco dwelling. Writer: Remember585, Truck4 0220hrs- Reported structure fire, PD on scene confirming, reporting heavy fire showing. Dispatch adding E-5 for FAST. 0223hrs- E-6 on scene, rpts 10-26. 0330hrs- B/C transmitting 2nd Alarm. 0336hrs- M/A New Rochelle E-22, L-12 to cover Station #3.

I don't know if this helps - but here is their website: Chappaqua FD

I've seen that done a few times, not a bad idea. Could you imagine how funny it would be to watch some buckets trying to do the same thing? Jeesh!

That was an interesting little piece of history, thanks Captain Barry! In Westchester, the "10-75," "2nd Alarm," "3rd Alarm," "4th Alarm" and "5th Alarm" levels in the CAD are programmed per each Deparment's own policies. Some departments haven't even developed a "10-75" still, but that's a whole different story. Off the top of my head I can say that most departments have a 10-75, a good portion has 2nd alarms and a small number of departments have 3rd - 5th alarms. Here's a piece of info to all that I think may be a secret to many. Even if your FD isn't primarily dispatched by 60 Control, you can still set up your greater alarm plans. I know Elmsford, Irvington and us (Croton) have done this, and we still get dispatched by our Police Departments. Our 2nd Alarm (In addition to the first alarm): Additional Engine Additional Truck (except in non-hydrant area where aerials can't get in). Additional Tanker Additional FAST Salvation Army or Red Cross canteen Believe me when I say this, TAKE THE TIME AND MAKE A GREATER ALARM PLAN AND GIVE IT TO 60 CONTROL! IT MAKES LIFE A HELLUVA LOT EASIER FOR THE IC!!!! Since we developed our plans (a little over 2 years ago) we have had a handful of "10-75" incidents and a couple "2nd Alarms." It sure beats calling on the radio and asking for an engine from here, a ladder from here, a tanker from here, etc. Plus, if you have preset alarm plans, and you share them with the Mutual Aid you're using in it, they generally know they're going to be called and start making their way to their firehouse.

I just hope wherever you go has a spelling and grammar course... It's OK, you probably go to Fox Lane which explains it all....

Sorry guys, I saw "Hummer Hope" and totally thought it was about something else...

Why do any of you carry a water can in your cars? I can see a Dry-Chem for your own vehicle (God forbid) but a PWC?

For the damn heat to get fixed at work so we don't sweat our asses off all night!

Date: 12/23/07 Time: 20:35 - 00:30 Location: South Riverside Avenue just south of Croton Point Avenue Frequency: 46.26 / 460.3250 Units Operating: 2081, 2083, 2087, 20813, E120, E119, TL44, R18 Description Of Incident: Primary wire down causing ignition of underground gas main. Writer: Remember585 (O/S) At 20:35 E120 & R18 were dispatched for a wire down and burning at this location. A few minutes later, a commercial alarm was received south of this location. While units were arriving at both incidents, 60 Control dispatched units to a manhole fire at the Shoprite Shopping Center (same block). The first arriving command unit, Deputy Chief 20813, soon realized what appeared to be a gas-fed fire and requested a 2nd Engine (E119) to the scene. Apparatus remained on location monitoring the downed power line which ignited a fire from a 12" gas main. Flames were in excess of 25-30 feet at times, and were threatening a nearby excavating machine at E/T Equipment Center. Per Con Ed, E119 stretched a 1 3/4" line to protect the tractor until someone came and moved it. A Unified Command Post between Con Edison Gas, Con Edison Electric, Con Edison Emergency Management, Croton Fire & Croton Police was established and all units took up around 00:30. Engine 118 was relocated to Station 3 (Harmon) as a precaution and to handle any other incidents that came in. *I believe some video footage will be on News 12 in the morning.*

Nice work WCPD! Keep these jackholes off the road!

Hey Hudson, how are you going to pull a boat with your weenie wagon already in tow??

Honestly, those look like three of the nicest buildings in Mount Vernon!!!!

Same thing goes for white/clear lights too - keep them in the front, not in the rear.

What plans are there for L22?

Wow, this has been here a week and no replies? Someone's gotta know something!

I agree with Captain Benz and Al, there is way too much duplication of crap in Westchester. Some departments have more apparatus then they have people that can actually get them out. Other departments don't have equipment they need but plenty of people that could use it. Each Department should sit down, review it's current operations, do a little forcasting into the future and come up with a realisitic plan of how to guarantee the best service to their community. Although we've never had formal discussions on the topic, we've without a doubt sat down many times and talked about ways we can improve ourselves. We now go out the door with three engines with a total of 2750 gallons of water, a tanker with 3300 gallons and a quint with 300 gallons of water. 30 years ago we responded with just 1500 gallons! We use LDH instead of 3" as a supply line, we have bigger pumps and we are better trained then ever, and I think it is evident in how well we do our jobs. We're always discouraged when we have fires in the outlying areas that take us 10-15 minutes to get to and all we can do is work defensively. We have automatic First alarm assignments bringing an additional 3 tankers, a cascade and a FAST for all fires in our non-hydrant areas. For hydrant areas, a FAST and a cascade unit - that's it. Other then those two things we can't provide for ourselves we are a self-sufficent department that can hold it's own (a majority of the time) and still puts out 10-12 people during the day for MINOR CALLS. If our manpower started to nose dive or if our response times got too long, we would appraoch it like we always do with the mentality that we are their for the community and not our own egos. And I think that's how 90-95% of our county looks at it, and those that don't do anything to improve their response times and numbers should wake up and do something before it costs someone their life. Putting the soap box back now, thanks.

It was on News12 earlier this year I believe. The departments invovled that I remember were: Mount Vernon New Rochelle Pelham Pelham Manor Eastchester Scarsdale Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

Just to clarify, Westchester does not have a Centralized Dispatch Center. Right now, in addition to 60 Control there are 18 other points of dispatch. And that's just FIRE. EMS is a whole different story. Like it has been said, changing tax lines / districts is nearly impossible around here, but setting up dual responses and automatic aid is easy to accomplish and is in place in many instances. It just needs to be done in some others.

Remember585 Because nobody should ever forget. And because it has made me open my eyes and realize that bad things can and will happen, and that we should all do whatever we can to avoid them. Train as your life depends on it and always look out for your brothers & sisters.

Is that what Vaseline is truly for? I learn something new everyday...

Date: 12/18/07 Time: 12:30 Location: 815 Route 35 (Cross of Cross Meadow Lane) (Fire not too far from Four Winds Hospital) Frequency: 46.26 / Fire 13 / Fireground 4 SSFD Units Operating: 2452, 2453, E167, E168, T2, R21 Katonah Units: 2211, 2212, T6, U8 Bedford Hills Units: 2031, 2032, 2033, TL57 (FAST) Croton Falls Units: 2072, E149, T8 Mount Kisco Units: 2284, U13 (FAST) Goldens Bridge Units: 2141, T1 Pound Ridge Units: 2402, E112, E113 EMS: Lewisboro VAC, 45M3 WCDES: Battalion 13, C&O Zone 5 w/ 1405 Other: NYSP, Lewisboro PD, NYSEG, NYSDOT RELOCATED UNITS: Vista 2563, E142 to South Salem FD HQ Brewster 11-2-5 to Croton Falls FD HQ (Somers dispatched and unable to fill out a crew). Katonah E117 to Goldens Bridge FD HQ Description Of Incident: Working fire in 2 story balloon frame dwelling. Original dispatch for a chimney fire. Writer: Remember585 13:08 - Bat 13 reports 3 L/S/O, TL57 going to work, probable will hold. 13:33 - Command placing fire under control. 14:00 - Mutual Aid units being released.