Bnechis

Both sprinklers and a pond can save more than they cost, but they both need to be rated. That means the sprinklers need to meet NFPA and be certified & the pond must have a minimum abount of water (often 30,000 gal) plus be certified as all weather (by an engineer).

Other big issues that no one talks about is: 1) what did you spec? many spec's push the manufacturer to build what should not be built, but they want the sale. 2) Does your spec consider the maintenance issues? 3) Did you properly inspect the rig at final & upon delivery? 4) do you have the will to refuse acceptance if the rig does not meet 100%. Many depts are so thrilled that the new "toy" is here, that they are willing to ignor issues.

Thanks. You want me to write "chevron" on the front also? You will just have to wait like everyone else. the pics will tell in 30 days

Correct. They are tied to the tank indicator on the pump panel. They give everyone at an incident the ability to see how much water is left. particularly useful for the officer to see at a car fire (to consider switching to foam) or when doing a blitz off the tank, the driver can see as he is running around (making connections, etc.)

Our biggest concern is with the financial stability of the vendor. If you cant get parts, then what? We are specing a number of different maintenance features into our rigs to try and reduce the down time and the cost that can be reduced, but all of those items can be spec'ed into anyones ability to build. We have tried to move as much as possable to a performance based spec, that anyone can build. I still see depts. that will buy X because we always have, even if X is the most expensive and the quality has turn to "waste". Another thing we've considered is that all of our rigs will hit or get hit during its life. I looked at a lot of rigs last week at Peirce and many have never considered that and a minor fender bender is going to cost them tons and will take the rig OOS for a long period to repair, and simple changes would solve that

Cheaper when you go thru tolls.

They claim 300 days....but it looks like they are closer to 225 for this engine. The rumor mill has it that you need to check the pump test very carefully on the PUC. If you ordered 1500 gpm, make sure you get 1500 gpm.

E-25 is setup as an engine & 1/2 service company (as per ISO). since the 1st due ladder to its area is L-13 and has a substantial drive. E-25 carries (beyond what other engines carry) a Fan, TIC, Little Giant Ladder and the new e-25 will also carry a 35' extension (in addition to the 24' & 14' roof) and a combi tool, plus additional hooks and generator

They stopped bidding. Now they are back. We didnt get away from them, they didn't want our biz. And since they sold no rigs in Westchester from 2002-2008 I guess they did not want anyone elses

I could use a couple of new T-shirts.....................Did I write that...bad hands..bad It will replace spare E-17 or be numbered E-18 (a previous spare)

Why would we put someone elses name on our rig? another 30 days till final pics. December & January trip to Appleton...when will someone build fire trucks in the Virgin Islands?

Yes. In reading NFPA 1901 we determined that "chevrons" were required on the back...............so we wrote "Chevron" (note its in White with red background). LOL

Same compliment as E-22 Last old timer retired to live in an assisted living facility on Devonshire

You were right, the people in Scarsdale...."hey whats that New Rochelle Fire Truck, Police car & Amb. doing at my house" I called SFD, SPD & SVAC. Sorry sir but you live in New Rochelle. "I do not.... the real estate agent told me it was Scarsdale and I paid $100,000 extra because of it"

Seth, Thanks for posting. I was unable to.

ISO requires (i.e. gives points) for spares. for every 1-7 engines & for every 1-7 trucks they want a spare.

A large section of your district is an ISO 9 (outside the village). A proven concept in improving the ISO 9 (for non hydrant) is standardized tankers. They must transport the same GPM and load/unload at the same rate. This is critical not just for ISO, but for firefighting.

So if you are a volunteer that recieves LOSAP you maybe in trouble? Interesting twist.

Using ESRI's network analysis (its a GIS program that evaluates respons time/distance) you can determine your area of coverage. This will show which station is closest to every street, and what the ISO reponse distances are from each station. Each rig and station can be turned on or off to determine what would occur with or without it. Additional stations can also be plugged in as needed Any professional consultant should be able to run this program and give you crystal clear maps documenting all of this.

Thanks, and I always thought Sr. was my dad...

My example should have made it clearer, having stricter codes, making buildings with sprinklers, with masonry instead of wood etc. changes your 4 digit insurance code (Not ISO) and will reduce your insurance costs.

No one in the fire service considers the the economics. All we ever talk about is saving lives and property. The public could care less about that as long as its not their life or property, but they do care about $$$$. Consider this: What is the cost of fire protection?...................Most people think its the FD's budget. The Water Supply System (worth 100's of millions) + The Fire Department + Building Construction & Code Enforcement + Fire Insurance These 4 components add up to the total cost of fire protection. If you spend more in one category another category drops, often the drop can be more than the additional cost. Example #1: Adding automatic fire sprinklers to single family dwelling causes the insurance premium to drop. Generally the savings equal the sprinkler cost after seven years. If the structure has a 30 year mortgage, the owner will have spent less for 23 years because of the sprinklers. Since most buildings last far longer, after the buildings 7th year its all savings. Example #2: Improving the fire department may cost millions, but the savings on the insurance often offsets the FD cost, sometimes by 5 to 10 times. Example #3: Failing to inspect your water supply to the AWWI (American Water Works Institute) standards may save the cost of hiring an inspector, But it can drop the insurance rating and cost the community millions of dollars. Even Ben Franklin understood the economics when he started the 1st VFD. He also started the 1st fire insurance company in America that same day. He was looking to make a buck from being a volunteer chief. Instead of me answering this, consider how many depts in westchester have rigs they can not properly staff? if you have 4 rigs and your average response is 8 members, would you be better off having 2 rigs with 4 FF's each and auto aid or 4 rigs with 2 ff's each (and auto aid?) ? Whats the cost of those additional rigs, plus station spaace, insurance, interest on bonds, etc.? Is a 4 man rig more effective, even with fewer rigs? does it fill up the scene as badly? Are we paying $500,000 or much more for a taxi to sit in stagging while its members pull hose from another under manned rig?

ROFLMAO. If PA is #50, then NYS is not far ahead. Even NYS Labor Law (as also required by the federal government) requires more training than we actually require of our volunteer firefighters. If all you did was complete OFPC's FF I the Dept of state says you maybe considered for interior, but state law (DOL) says you are not qualified to even respond on any calls. And how many ff's went thru prior to any testing other than can you fill out the little orange card that said you were present?

Just because they are career depts. does not mean the tax burden is that bad. In New Rochelle the average taxpayer pays less than the average in Bedford hills, plus no one has a better ISO rating in the county so we save our residence 56% on their home owners insurance, in addition to paying less for the service.

In NR: 1927......300 calls....200 career ff's & officers (disputed total personnel, actual # is lower but the FTE is this #, because of 72 hour work week) 1987......3,400 calls....186 career ff's & officers 2007......8,800 calls....164 career ff's & officers Note: our fire mutual aid into the city has not changed in the last 20 years, while mutual aid out has doubled. Our EMS mutual aid in went up from about 50 to 500/yr with about 5 out, then in 2007 we added a 3rd ALS Amb 12/7 (7a-7p) since then the mutuail aid in has dropped back to about 50 and up to about 20 out. Like it or not, I do not think that 95% of the departments have the financial resources to meet the increased demands and never will. That leaves 2 options: Mutual/Auto Aid or consolidation.