jcoppola

Sorry for the delay...E1 has been in for over a week but I have been on vacation and unable to get shots of it. These are courtesy of my apparatus maintenance guys.

Another note...Norwalk Police also changed thier color scheme to black/white/gold on their crown vics this year...a trifecta!

Thanks Seth! The pictures came out really nice! I put an email out to all of our members linking them to the shots.

I have to be honest, my expectations were particularly low of the engine, as I am a huge fan of Pierce and Seagraves, but I am pleasantly suprised, I think it looks good. The bell was an idea of an old-timer that was on the apparatus committee. He has deep roots in his volunteer company, and having come from one myself, I can see where his thinking was when he pushed for a bell...it brings a little tradition to an era where technology is what it is all about.

It should be in service soon, as old E1 is a mess. The thing that I think is not right is the bell...I couldn't tell you where that idea came from!

The best way I can say it, and without offending any old timers from my job, over the past few years, "traditionalists" have become key decision makers in Norwalk. This included a push to go back to black turnout gear, leather helmets and finally red trucks. I have mixed opinions on the red, as the rest of our fleet will remain white and will only change thru attrition. Don't rule out a tiller in Norwalk...these "traditionalists" are making that push currently and we are in the chief of operations' ear about it and he is listening! Next on the slate for replacement is first Rescue 2 then the year after Ladder 1, (both to be ordered in the new color scheme).

I like the idea alot. It gives the IC good flexibility in decisioin making. Since E6 is kind of an "extra" engine or a "Squad", it makes sense to have it be a quint. I also find it nice that SFRD has 4 year old spares. Our spares in Norwalk are real "beaters", old refurbed macks. Engine 1 is about to go into spare status as new engine 1 has arrived.

Tanker 8 looks nice...good job on the spec. Looking forward to seeing it at fires!

FYI: Norwalk Firefighters Association Local 830 will be hosting its 7th Annual Benefit Golf Tournament on Tuesday, September 25th, 2007 at Whitney Farms Golf Course in Monroe. Registration begins at 11:00 AM and the cost is $150.00 per player. We still have room available for foursomes so if interested, check out our website (www.local830.org) for details and show up with clubs and a thirst and we promise it will be a fun day. Joe Coppola Local 830 Secretary

I have no problem with quints until they are used by career departments as manpower killers. Administrators may ask; why do I need an engine AND a truck both staffed when I can have one truck do the job of 2? The problem is, one apparatus cannot do all primary fireground tasks of stretching in and search, rescue or vent. If a truck is a ladder company, it should assume that posture at a fire. It doesn't really matter what they are riding to the fire. Norwalk uses ladder trucks equipped with pumps and water and a small compliment of hose. It works well for us, because all the shift commanders use them stricly as ladder companies and expect all the jobs to be done customary of a truck co. It is also an added bonus to be able to be fed from a hydrant and create your own pressure for ladder pipes. In my opinion, they work well for volunteer companies because they may be getting manpower coming in via their own vehicles and ALL the equipment that would be needed is there for them. Norwalk is trying to get funding for a sixth station. We have 2 staffed trucks, both equipped with some engine stuff and 1 is a true "quint" that operates as a truck company exclusively. In the past we have heard master plans to staff the sixth station with the quint and leaving the Broad River firehouse with just an engine and only having 1 true ladder company in the city. This all ended when a consultant came in and said that our city needs a third staffed truck, an additional staffed engine and a fully manned rescue company. Our chief is even in favor of adding an engine to that 6th station instead of sending the quint there. From a union perspective, we would ONLY support new hires, not splitting up companies. We would win that arguement based on firefighter safety alone! So, with quints, we just have to make sure they are used to our best benefit, NOT those who count the beans...

NFD Crane 1. The chassis is old NFD Engine 4, a Sutphen/Pemfab. It was taken out of service about 5 years ago and the NFD shop outfitted the rig with a boom donated by Rings End Lumber. The boom served as a lumber hoist on a flatbed. It was used today to hoist new fire doors and shutters on the NFD training tower, which is currently undergoing a total renovation.

Date: 09-08-2007 Time: 22:26 Location: 338 Sunrise Hill Road, Sunrise Hill Condos Frequency: 151.445 Units Operating: E1, T1, E4, R2, Car 2, T2 (RIT Company), NFD Inspection Division Description Of Incident: Basement fire with minor extension into adjacent units. Writer: J. Coppola

Our training tower is located on South Smith Street, adjacent to the DPW garage and the Police Mechanical garage. The city earmarked some funds to replace all the concrete in the burn rooms and install fire shutters and doors. When complete, it will be one of the best Class-A burn towers in our area. It always had a reputation as getting extremely hot during live fire exercises, I learned this the hard way about 20 years ago in a FF2 class conducted by Captain Bob "Rex" Morris (FDNY R-1).

Not as of yet, but is is a resource that we have available. Hopefully we can get some people trained on it so we can use it at trench calls or wrecks on the thru-way. It is equipped with a full compliment of rigging equipment so it has many, many applications. It is also listed as a resource to Fairfield County Hazmat, as the decal on the side indicates.

Our guys all know how lucky we are to have Scott Plank & his asst. Alan Dipietro. They really do a great job, they are known all over the state as great mechanics and even better fabricators of new and interesting equipment. They were even featured in a special edition of Fire Apparatus Journal. If you want a back-copy, go to our website under stations and click apparatus maintenance division and the link is there. For those who don't know, they made us a technical rescue rig from a pumper and put a box on the back of a 1980 ALF. We still use it today as an in-service tech rescue. Also, they took a donated rescue box from New Canaan and put it on a pump chassis similar to the crane (old E3) and now it is a backup rescue when our frontline rig goes for service. Some guys from FDNY have been known to trek up the turnpike to see Scott and Al when they are in need of a little "extra" assistance with a broken tool or a new tool idea. Stay safe all! JC

One side note...The truck also serves as a backup apparatus to NFD's tractor-drawn hazmat unit. It is equipped with both a "fifth wheel" and a pintle hitch to pull Norwalk's State of CT Mass Decon Unit. Enjoy... JC

Let us not forget the most monumental choke of all time...Redsox coming back from 3 games down to oust the Stankees from the playoffs in, ummm... was it 04? Anyway...that cannot be erased. So the mets are a choke team, I'll accept that and continue to be a fan, but I wouldn't want to own the biggest choke in professional sports history! Thanks and be safe...

ummmmm...can someone tell me why this is important? HAHA!!! METS ARE NY'S TEAM THIS YEAR...

Date: 8-30-2007 Time: 19:35 Location: 22 June Avenue Frequency: 151.445 Units Operating: E1, T1, E2, T2 (RIT), R2, Car 2, Norwalk EMS Medic, Fire Marshal, Fire Inspector, Safety Officer Deputy Chief, Norwalk Police. Chief of Department and Asst. Chief notified via telephone. Description Of Incident: Working fire showing on arrival from the C side (REAR) of a 2 story wood frame house. On the initial dispatch, it was reported that there were occupants trapped. En route, companies were advised that the house was clear of occupants. Fire damage was heavy on the fire floor and smoke/water damage was throughout. Fire has been knocked down and all hands are on scene checking for extension and overhauling. Writer: J. Coppola Update: 1 NFD member was transported to Norwalk Hospital with injuries sustained from a trip and fall down stairs exiting the structure in full PPE and SCBA. His condition is unknown at this time.

This is unbelievable...and I am sure many already know. Bridgeport PD recently rolled out an entire fleet of 2007 Dodge Charger Patrol Cars. I read it in today's CT Post. They had a blessing of them by their chaplain yesterday and they commissioned the fleet. The paper said they bought and commissioend 70 cars, all at the same time. I will keep an eye out for them so I can post a picture, the one in the Post looked good, it seems that the Chargers are definitely the wave of the future for PD Packages. Just another cop-car buff... JC

Oh, one more thing, PLEASE tell me that the new resuce has a Q2B and not just electronic cop-car sirens...We need to keep tradition. Joe

Seth, They are black and whites. I will get some pictures ASAP.

I guess it is nice, but...I like the mack better.... All this HME Aherens Fox stuff in stamford is depressing. Good Luck w/it TOR! JC

Everyone, Just in case you were looking, West HArtford is taking applications for exam. Check this site: http://www.westhartford.org/TownServices/T...fighter2007.pdf JVC

One has to question the prudency of buying 2 identical engines for a department that has a relatively light call load...couldn't those funds be used on other important department needs?