RES20CUE

One thing I already found out on the "Stat Board" is we need lives! Friday is the busiest day for viewing? Wow!

I guess it's Ossining Ladder 42- I just saw it in the "Sites worth visiting" page- hey, it's been a busy day!!! Allright- try this one- What Fire Departments/ Companies were organized from 1930 to 1940?

Seeing how this died about 8 months ago, I'll try to rekindle it- Who has the oldest Fire Department/ Company, continuously operating in Westchester?

Another Agility is going to be given this Saturday, 8/14.

Are you applying Mike??

I realize you were being sarcastic! Yes, the crew cab was around for a long time, but it wasn't heavily used until mandated in 1991. As far as the manufacturers go, the NFPA committees are also made up of Firefighters like you and me also, Not just manufacturers! I don't agree with you totally on the size of equipment and older community streets, I work in an older community and run through those streets without much of a problem, that comes back to the committee who spec the rigs and driver training. And yes, I said it, and say it again- It's safer!!! Ask anyone that has been involved in an accident in a newer rig, compared to a 25 year old rig, and see what they say. And if a Fire District can put money away, so can a municipality, because a Fire District is a branch of Municipal Govt. I'm not a politician or a law buff, so I'm not sure how it all works. I agree about the politicians- but that will never change!

No, NFPA will not pay for it! The Departments need to plan for the vehicles replacement. I know Departments that have a plan and budget, that they put away money every year towards the replacement of vehicles, and they replace them on schedule. I know other departments that have no plan, budget, or anything and go out to referendum to try to get a new rig when the old one won't start anymore! NFPA is there as a tool, it's not mandated, but some things sure make a lot of sense. Isn't OUR safety more important, than anyone elses? We put our butts on the line day in and day out, We should not have to do it on sub-standard equipment!

The new Engine 185 is right on track, we should be going back to KME in September for the In-Construction visit.

We talk about having the oldest apparatus in service- but is this really a good thing??? At several recent lectures I attended in Baltimore, as well as some articles I've read, several things were pointed out- 1) Any fire apparatus that is older than a 1979, should be retired, or in a museum! 2) Any apparatus that is older than a 1991, should be a Reserve piece, and should be refurbed to have as many updates to the 1991 revision of NFPA 1901. In 1991, NFPA 1901 increased the safety of our Firefighters greatly, an apparatus older than that , could be questionable in an accident. We don't see 25 year old police cars, garbage trucks, highway trucks, or school buses- why do we allow 25 year old fire engines and trucks to run front line??? Things to ponder about! Westchester is one of the "richest" counties in America- we shouldn't be reponding in ANTIQUES to emergencies.

Well, I'm back from a real exciting week in Montour Falls! :roll: I did my bridge over for the new SSO/FFI/FFII series as well as some other "good stuff". I also signed up for the Oct conference. Still have not heard anything on teaching at the county yet!!

Anyone out there received canvass letters yet? I know that the Town of Mamaroneck, Fairview and Scarsdale have sent them out. Any other departments hiring?

ah Police, sounds a little better, but obviously I was speaking about Fire Departments!

Any other details?? What stage of replacement- out to bid, planning, in contract? I guess it will be another Gowans-Knight? Spartan Gladiator- Classic or Evolution?

What?? Pleasantville and Briarcliff are all volunteer! Are they looking to take on career staff now? Details... Anybody out there from Briarcliff or Pleasantville who can confirm this? If this is true are you considering transfers???

The problem was that with the new Dept of Emergency Services, the position title was changed from County Fire Instructor to Emergency Services Instructor, but of course all of the paperwork we did still said CFI, so the county kicked it back. Anyway, they finally cashed my check, so I guess that's a good sign. Seeing how the August Instructors certification starts Monday, the new instructors will not be in there, unless they are going in another fashion (I'll be there, leaving tomorrow). That means that the other instructors (outside als, Hudson and myself- the only ones I know who got hired) will not be teaching until after the October Conference, and only if they can get in. I just got e-mailed the registration yesterday, so the reservations are starting! Good Luck to all the new instructors, hope to be working with you very shortly!!!!!

For those interested there is a Fire Officer II class offered at Camp Smith from 8/16 to 8/20. This was not well published. It is not listed on the OFPC web site either, but it is scheduled. The national Fire Officer I and II test will be offered @ Camp Smith on the 20th. The course only has 2 people signed up as of yesterday (7/26), and will be cancelled unless they have 10 people. Anyone interested, sign up ASAP.

The info I received yesterday, is that it will not be repaired. Pretty major electrical damage to the unit. Part of the bad news is that the county is self-insured so no insurance money for it for the new Field Comm Unit.

Pic 1- If 38 Engine is arriving on the 2nd Alarm, chances are that the apparatus was not needed, and it is there for manpower and equipment. I'm not sure how FDNY operates as far as it's MPO's go, but in most places, if the Engine Company needs to go to work, and the apparatus is not being utilized, the MPO is part of that crew and the rig is "abandoned". If this is the case, the Engine should have parked out of the way, and not blocking that hydrant, in case something went wrong and that hydrant is needed. Also what about that Battalion car? If it was just driving thru, that's fine, but if it's parked there, now that entire side of the street is blocked for additional units entering, or the possiblity of EMS exiting with an injured brother! Apparatus placement is always key on the fireground. Pic 2- I guess they felt that the tank water was sufficient. I don't know, but I was always taught in a hydrant area, the booster tank is a start until you hook up the hydrant, then ensure your tank stays full in case something goes bad! Always think about Murphy! Murphy arrives on most scenes before we do!

On tonight's News 12 reports, they reported on a new Adopt-a-Waterway program. It's ironic that on the same day the program is launched, that a Gasoline Tanker rolls and spills it's load into Westchester Waterways!! Any FD want to adopt the Croton River? Maybe the Croton Big House would be interested, huh-Muns? :-P

I thought it was pretty good, putting the gear and vehicles aside. Anyone that has spent anytime around firehouses, especially on the career side, when you're together for 24 hours at a shot, will attest that "the firehouse BS and Pranks" were pretty acurate. The comedy side puts a good twist to the serious side of it all. I will stay tuned, at least for now!

I keep on hearing that the radio's will start to be installed in apparatus in August and September this year? This update doesn't say timelines. Does anyone know what's really going on????

As most of us know- the 2004 Firehouse Expo is this week in Baltimore, MD. The pre-conference training starts Tuesday 7/13. The actual expo starts Thursday 7/15 and ends Saturday 7/17 The parade and flea market is on Sunday 7/18 again. I'm leaving tomorrow for the pre-conference training, so see you there!!

On 4/13/04, at the Somers Fire District meeting, the vote was passed to accept bids for our new Heavy Rescue Truck. Bids are due back in June. It's been a long time in coming, the committee worked about 2 years on this rig! =D>

Will "WE" ever learn??????? #-o New York Firefighter Charged With DWI After Crashing Fire Truck Enroute To Fire A volunteer firefighter in the Village of Lancaster is charged with DWI after crashing his fire truck on the way to a fire call. Police say 34 year old Christopher Long was drunk when he slammed head-on into a pickup truck that had pulled over to yield the right of way Sunday night. The driver of the pickup and a passenger were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Long will appear back in court July 13th.

Absolutely, once you arrive and find you have something more than a routine Annoying Auto Alarm, you should move to an alternate channel. Even if it's not the new UHF system- 46.14 and 46.42 have been around in Westchester for a long time. Also 46.30 is a state-wide fireground channel, even if you can't afford to start buying the UHF radios- use the other low-band channels! The UHF fireground frequencies work well, but if you have a 4-mile long diesel spill, it doesn't work! I started on UHF ch. 1, but was forced to switch to 46.14 to be able to talk to everyone from the start to the end and in between. What is going to happen in a situation like this on the new system?