jcoppola

understandable firm opinions about the cursing...keeping it clean is ok with me... Doin one heck of a job with the site Seth... Don't let the complaints drag you down! JC

Date: 8-17-2007 Time: 0950 Location: 28 Bryan Road (Rowayton) Frequency: 151.445 Units Operating: RFD, Norwalk E5, E2, E3 (RIT), T2, R2, Car 2 Description Of Incident: Heavy smoke on #2 floor of an Occupied Wood Frame. Lines in operation and searches being conducted. Writer: jcoppola 1010: Car 2 reports under control, Companies checking for extension and overhauling.

Date: 8-15-2007 Time: 19:03 Location: 3 Kitteridge Street Frequency: 151.445 Units Operating: E4, E1, T1, T2, R2, C2 Description Of Incident: Attic fire and extension to the walls. E1 laid feeder line. Box was handled by first alarm assignment. As of this time, units are in the process of returning to service. Writer: J. Coppola

Norwalk Police recently began rolling out radio cars with their new black/white/gold paint scheme. Check it out.

www.local830.org Administered by yours truly... Check it out.

Date: 08-12-2007 Time: 00:02 Location: Interstate 95 Northbound prior to Exit 17 Frequency: 151.445 Units Operating: Westport E4, R3, AC, Norwalk E3, R2, Car 2, Norwalk Medic 401, 404, Westport EMS, CSP, CSP Accident Investigation Team Description Of Incident: Motor vehicle over the embankment with the driver trapped. 2 passengers self-evacuated (1 toddler & 1 adult) Norwalk R2 & E3 gained access to the driver and Westport E4 & R3 stabilized and extricated as well. Writer: J. Coppola

E1 is moving along...should be delivered this month. Here are some updated shots from my contact at the factory in Wisconsin...

On a recent trip to York, Maine, I got some shots of the local department and some of thier apparatus. Just thought I would share them. I took quite a few, and I even got some from the other department in town, York Fire. Enjoy.

it looked like grease...

More from York Fire

As promised, I am posting pics of York (Maine) Fire Dept.'s 1980 ALF 85' Snorkel. It is still in service, although, the day I went there to shoot it, it wouldn't start...Nothing against York Fire, it was just one of those things. Anyway, I was told that before York Fire got it, it served as Burlington, Vermont Truck 1. It is a very unique looking rig. There are apparently no plans to replace it anytime soon, although they should replace the batteries...

I recently taught a cadet program for the Connecticut Fire Academy. About 20 different departments were represented. While I cannot remember exactly where they were from, my boss at the CFA probably can enlighten you on departments that have thier acts together on a cadet program. His name is Mark Salafia and he can be reached at 860-627-6363. Just ask for him from the operator. Joe C.

Thanks. The lighthouse is fully functional and is 100% automated. No one lives on the island since about 1980 when the Government took over the place, now the US Coast Gaurd is in charge of it. It is a 6 second 1 blink light visible for miles.

It was brought to my attention that a member of this network has information contrary to what I posted about the history of BFD Tower Ladder 45. He informed me that he has undisputeable proof that this rig served as TL-138 (Corona Tigers) in the FDNY and not TL-157. I guess I can't argue with facts, its just wierd because the day of the wetdown, several members from Ladder 157 attended to see the work that was done to restore it for BFD. One of the guys from that company gave us a copy of Fire Engineering with a cover shot of TL-157 working at multiple alarm fire in Brooklyn. It was given to my father and he gave it to me and I still have it in my collection...It is sad to come to the realization that the cover that I cherished for so many years is not what I originally though it was. Oh well...

Just for the heck of it, here's a shot of Cape Neddick Light, they were painting it the week I was there. I know it is not FD related, but it seems pertinent to the thread that I started...

2 more...this will be it from York Beach... York Village to follow. The Lighthouse on Cape Neddick appears on thier patch. It is the most frequently photographed lighthouse in the US. They made a float of it for parades and public relations events. The official name is Cape Neddick Light. Locals refer to it as "Nubble Light". you can visit their website at www.http://www.ybfire.org/ Joe C.

More from York Beach... I have some from the York Villiage FD, most likely to be posted Monday or Tuesday.

It really is...I think inches...they always have to spec stuff so that it just fits. I have a few other pictures on my camera that I did not upload yet showing their other engine and how tight that one is. They have a Ladder and a Peterbilt tanker in the new addition section with large clearance doors. It is a very neat firehouse, I go in there a lot. JC

The newer chevy is a 1980 Silverado 30 series. It was built by E-1 and it was the first apparatus I ever drove. JC

In these pictures, in the background, you can see old E43 which was a 1976 Mack MB-700 which we just got rid of when new 41 came in. Also, in the background on E41 is a 1962 Mack B-model which was also there when I was a JR. member...I am showing my age...

Check these out, these were in my collection that I just found... The chevy is a 1978??? E-One The older looking rescue is a dodge, I think from the 60's The pump is a 1969 mack C-700 open top...I rode this baby to many calls as a probie. As a matter of fact, the first time I ever had to lay a double-feeder, I did it on old E41

Holy %$#@! Belltown pictures on EMT Bravo... This was my vollie dept. back in the day. The Aerialscope is a 1972 Mack CF-900 that was assigned as TL 157 in Brooklyn. BFD bought it and had it refurbed by Baker in Virginia. After about 20 years of pretty active use, it was rusting to all hell so we found a company called Interstate Truck who had a brand new in the crate CF cab sitting in their shop in Haggerstown, VA. We hopped on it and had the truck totally repowered and refurbed with an automatic transmission and all new hydraulics to the boom. It was also enclosed at that time. Funny story...I went to Haggerstown with some other members to drive it back and the idiots did not put a new cooling system in the bigger motor so it overheated and we had to have it towed back to their shop after about an hour of travel back to CT. Anyway, we used it for many more years and again, the thing starting rusting and generally falling apart. Interstate did a very expensive band aid job, thats it. Recently, Belltown sent the truck out again, I think to Saulsbury to have all the boom hydraulics done again, to the tune of over 50K. They also did some body work on the truck etc. to get it back to being NFPA compliant. It is still in service and rolling to calls in the north districts of Stamford. I know this truck inside and out, it is my favorite fire apparatus bar none. When they finally sell it, I really hope that I have a place to store it so I can buy it! The pump is a 1982 Mack CF-900 built by Rescue Systems International (RSI) which is now out of business. E-42 is a real gem...smooth to drive and great to pump. It is a second due piece for BFD now, they recently (2004) bought a Spartan-Smeal (JUNK! JUNK! JUNK!) that is their 1st due rig for in district box alarms and EMS/Rescue. It has a 1000 GPM Waterous pump and a 750 Gal. tank on it. I had just joined BFD when it came in in 1986. Stamford bought a few RSI Macks that year, Springdale E-53, Stamford E1 and E4 were RSI CF's too. They were ok I guess, no major problems. BFD's other rigs in the fleet are R44 which is a 1994? Marion walk in box on a International Chassis (pretty nice rig, although I was on the truck committee and I was fighting for a Mack MR type like Noroton Heights' nice looking rescue (R25). We were always a Mack house, until they bought the sh$%box from Smeal...ruined a good thing... Anyway, I will look through my collection and scan some older stuff from BFD, I have a lot, as I am 3rd generation in this place, good stuff was passed down. Hope this helps to enlighten you all... Joe C.

I realize that they have a contract with the company to continue buying that stuff. I came from Belltown in Stamford and back in the day when I was active, we used to buy all of our apparatus with fund drive money, hence the great looking Mack fleet that we used to have. Unfortunately, a few years ago, that tradition was broken when BFD bought a Spartan SCHMEAL????, again, MORE JUNK. They still have my favorite truck ever, a FDNY refurbed Mack/Baker Aerialscope 75'. It is still in service and I can proudly say that I wheeled it to several good jobs, and it was a real fun truck to drive, spot and operate. As soon as the local governement gets involved with buying something as traditional as a fire truck, there is no stopping them from going low bid... If it seems that I have strong opinions about this kind of thing, I do, I am a traditionalist in this business. Joe C.

Date: 7-30-2007 Time: 10:00 Location: 22 Southwind Drive Frequency: 151.445 Units Operating: Station 2 & 1 Units (T1 RIT) Description Of Incident: Heavy smoke from a wood frame residence. Companies stretching in. Writer: jcoppola

Can anyone shed any light on if the depts. in Stamford like the "cookie-cutter" stuff they are buying? I spoke to a good friend from Stamford Fire who said that those HME Aherens-Fox's are junk, and to be painfully honest, they look like junk...TOR has a nice looking fleet and this rescue REALLY suprised me, I think that they had no choice though...I think Stamford is going low-bidder for the Vollies and the Career station truck purchases. Please don't interpret this as a bash against TOR or Stamford in general, its just too bad that this is where the apparatus purchasing is going for a town/city that turned out so many nice looking apparatus over the years, and keep in mind, that this post is coming from someone who's department buys Spartan/Marion (speaking of Junk!!!) Just my .02 cents