SageVigiles

I love that truck, it would be a shame to see it go out of the area...

So much for Brotherhood, eh? What a crock, these guys are LITERALLY insulting the local PD's by saying the NYSP, FBI or (and I quote) "an independent agency with integrity" come in to do the investigation. What a slap in the face to these cops. Of course an outside agency should be doing the investigation, but that bit about integrity is just wrong. Best wishes on a speedy recovery to the Officers involved, you guys did good work, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Wow, awesome rig. And it was good to see you guys training on trench rescue. Too often rescue trucks are assumed to be the answer to everything, but it takes an actual rescue COMPANY (IE: Trained firefighters) to get the job done. Kudos to the PFD and best of luck with the new rig!!!

Good to see the PFD guys are training on the new rescue, all too often Rescues are big trucks with nobody knowing how to use them.

Sounds like a good shoot by the officer involved. Glad the Officers will all be okay.

Unfortunately I have Westchester County's Police Cadet competition that day...

So basically they are blaming the power company and the FD members for this, instead of terrible mismanagement by city government? Yeah, I pretty much expected that.

Abaduck, I wholeheartedly agree with you. I feel like the blame for this is going to get dumped on the FD, but its really not their fault. The county is telling them what to do, they don't have a choice in the matter. If this unincorporated area does not want to provide fire protection, the county should receive some form of funding to pay for it.

Lets remember, this is how the fire service STARTED, back when it was run by insurance companies.

Seems to me that Hooterville FD should stop relying on outside agencies to do their FAST work for them. You have to start your own FAST, calling for a department 3 towns away has never seemed like a good idea to me. I wholeheartedly agree with Wraftery. Start your own FAST, call for another department to fill in, and work from there. But you can't wait 20 minutes for a FAST.

Seth, I should have some better shots of that US Marshals Kenworth that I have yet to post from July. My Advisor has some too, I'll get them up soon.

It sickens me that it takes THIS to finally get the average citizen to realize what the fire services' needs are. Kudos to everyone who stood up and supported FFs Kelly and Ruggierio at this meeting, including the fire service and DPW guys having the stones to stand up to the administration. I just hope somebody gets held accountable for not giving these guys what they needed to get the job done safely.

Drafting with 2 suction lines is a pain, any more than that is damned near impossible.

I know Pat decently well through my work, he's a great guy and an administrative guru who definitely knows how the city operates. Should be interesting to see how contract negotiations go now... Best of luck Chief Egan!

Stewart is my favorite airport ever. Its rarely, if ever crowded, there is plenty of parking, security lines are quick, the traffic pattern isn't confusing, its great. I used to live near there years ago and in the Pre-9/11 years we would go watch the C-5s and C-130s take off and land there. Alot of fun for a 10 year old.

Rest in Peace Firefighters Kelly and Ruggiero. My thoughts and prayers are will all of the Brothers and Sisters at Tarrytown FD, as well as the families of these two men. What Companies were they with?

Antique, I totally agree with you. You could be a member for years, but professional development is the key to making good officers. And the bottom line is a lot of departments just don't have any. Listen, I agree the volunteer system of filling in rank spots is not optimal, but if you have young guys who care enough and who have the drive to fill the spots and do the job, then you make it work. As long as they have guidance from the right people, and as long as they are willing to work at it, that's making the best of a bad situation. And making the best of a bad situation is what we all do everyday, is it not?

Let me ask this, and no, I'm NOT asking because I have a problem with any of my officers: What about the reverse situation, how long is TOO LONG for an Officer to serve? We've all seen departments with Chiefs who have just been Chiefs for too long. They refuse to accept new technology, tactics or ways of doing things. Does your department have term limits? How long? Does it work? Which to you is worse? A very young 2nd Lieutenant or a Chief that's been in office for too long?

The Connecticut State Police have lost one of their own, Trooper First Class Kenneth Hall, Badge #1231, a 22-year veteran assigned to the Traffic Unit's Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Squad. TFC Hall was operating at a motor vehicle stop on Interstate 91 in Enfield, CT when his cruiser was struck by a Dodge pickup. He was extricated by the FD and transported to Bay State Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the suspect vehicle and a female passenger are listed in "extremely critical" condition. TFC Hall graduated twenty-two years ago... yesterday This is the THIRD Law Enforcement LODD this year in Connecticut due to careless or drunk drivers striking an Officer/Trooper. I don't know if New York has a "Move Over" law, but I know Connecticut does. I think the most important thing we can all take away from this is to EDUCATE the people in our jurisdictions that they need to SLOW DOWN and MOVE OVER when emergency and/or construction workers are on the roads. Its not just the law but it will keep us all safer. Below is the link from the WTNH article on the incident: Trooper Killed in Accident on I-91 Channel 8 is reporting that Hartford PD, among others, are driving Southbound on I-91 past the accident scene with lights and sirens going in honor of TFC Hall. Rest in Peace TFC Hall. My thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, friends, and of course his Brother and Sister Troopers during this tragic time. Please everyone, stay safe out there.

I would say it depends on the department, Company Officers have different responsibilities everywhere. Like in New Fairfield, for example. 2nd Lieutenants don't really do much other than organize truck checks. They aren't issued radios and RARELY get the opportunity to command a scene. Its more of an apprenticeship to a higher rank than anything.

So combat operations have ended in Iraq and the troops are headed either home or to Afghanistan. Some troops are remaining for training/advisory roles. Just wondering what your town/city/department does to welcome home returning heroes, if anything. In New Fairfield we typically meet the returning service member at the town line with their family and the PD provides an escort into the center of town with the FD taking part in the "procession." Anyone else do anything like this? Also, is there any talk of a ticker tape parade in NYC for the returning veterans? I think that would be something I would enjoy attending...

Roger that, he and my father are good friends, so since New Fairfield didn't want to go to the parade, I went with him. That was my old man riding on the back of the rig. Gavin has a nice collection of antiques. I especially love that old Mack walkin rescue.

Haha, sorry about that, I didn't remember what you look like. If you are who I think you are, you did help teach my Fire 1 class in Brookfield back in Spring of '07.

The parade went well, 129, I don't know if you saw the old Ridgefield Searchlight rig towards the front of the parade, but I was riding "officer" on that.

I must say, the idea of merging the Bomb Squad and HAZMAT teams sounds smart the way they presented it. The HAZMAT team would then be significantly more "all-hazard" capable, including having tactical response, decon, EOD, mass decon, etc all covered.