TRUCK6018

You can expect the day kicking off at 0900 with an apparatus parade, followed by the opening cerimonies and all day flea market. Field events include arena pumping, tug of war, water barrel, and ladder climb, just to name a few. The day is supposed to end at 1700 with the trophies being presented. The last couple of years it's been closer to 1800.

Better not let J.M. get to it and paint the rims gold! Looking foward to seeing it at the upcoming function. What's going to happen with the Mack?

Another good outlet to find almost anything the average buff would ever need and can shop from the comfort of his or her home is the P & R Products Company: www.thefirestore.com

That would be Matt. He's not just a salesman but owner. Here's the website: www.aaaemergency.com

Hate to break the news to you, there is no authority to having a blue light. So the few that do pay attention to it, and the even fewer of those that yield, what's the difference?

Maybe a secondary alert system, such as siren or horns might help. :-k

We still use them but have cut back significantly over the years on their use. They get set off mainly for physical fires. We do not set them off for minor alarms. We recently had a problem that the radios were not opening up the pagers and the sirens were the only way some knew there was an alarm. So yes, the "tradition" of it all is very useful. We also keep them around as a secondary means of alerting as required by ISO.

I agree with everyone here that says leave it. I think the solution to the complainers is to give them an application to join since they're up already. Then ,hopefully, these NIMBYs can see what it's like not just to get awoken at 2 in the morning but to also get up break your a$$ fighting the fire, then have enough time to go home, take a shower and go right to work.

What's a Tranker??? 8)

We had the Curtis-Wright Powerhawk for a demo earlier in the week. While it doesn't have the power that Amkus, Hurst or Lukas have. It works great for vehicle extrication. Not a bad pick for a secondary or back-up tool.

His feet did. The firewall had to be cut from around his ankles.

We also have a cutters edge, k-12, quick vent (2), and recipricating saws(3). As CG said, each has it's place. Will a K-12 work opening a roof (ordinary construction)? Absolutely. I personally perfer a cutters edge or quick vent. Concrete cutting or metal, such as roll down gates or rebar - K-12 all the way. Indoor op's or vehicle extrication - recip saw The recip saws are versitle as you have your choice of blades. Metel or wood cutting with different pitches. The newer recip saws you also have your choice on voltages. We have an old Milwalkee 110v. With this you're limited to having electric nearby. We also have two Dewalt 24v portables. While the 24v may be more than what is needed for most operations, we chose this because of a 110v adaptor so it can be pluged in for extended operations. Daday, you may remember (if you were there) the extrication involving a law enforcement vehcile during the summer of 1999 on Rrt 202 by the stone house (Yes, the one after your all day brush fire). In order to free the patient, the recip saw was used extensively. When the blade wore, we had another saw all ready to go and kept rotating back and forth. For those who are asking, why not hurst tool cutters? It was the fire wall of the vehicle that had to be removed from around the pt's lower extremities. In closing, I can not answer which is preferable as each has it's job and place. A good arsenal in your tool box will let you chose the best for the job when needed.

Maybe the town should look at some of the bigger problems at the intersection. Such as, only 2 stop signs at a three way intersection. Or possibly having the bike path as close as it is creating an additional hazard. Simple solution to it all, putting a traffic light up with a control in the firehouse so the rigs can safely back in with out the idiot drivers swerving around them. I'm sure the biggest complainers are only distracted by it because it's one more thing they're trying to do while driving, talking on their cell phone and reading the paper.

No offense taken (I think). :-k Besides, if I did take offense, would you care??? I didn't think so. Tradition should not get in the way of progress. I don't think any one can deny there is a problem with 46.260. If someone thinks there is no problem, they need to get their head out of the sand! There are departments that have recognized the problem and did something about it, most recently being Mohegan VAC. Well, only one Northern Westchester department to go!!! Hopefully, the new state of the art, trucked system will eliviate some of the headaches. On the other side of the coin, I'm also confident it won't as that one Nothern Westchester department already runs their EMS operations on a separate frequency. Even if the system goes online without a hitch (one can always hope), it will not prevent Dept A dispatched by PD, Dept B self dispatched and Dept C dispatched by county. In the end when all three hit the tones at once, no one is going to hear a darn thing.

Wish to comply with what??? There is nothing anywhere that says Westchester agencies MUST be dispatched by 60. I agree, all the way around it would make it easier for all involved but if there's nothing that says it's mandatory. In fact, there are agencies that have been licenced on 46.260 alot longer than 60 Control. Why should those agencies find a new frequency. Let 60 find one. Of course that would be unreasonable, just trying to make a point.

Not being involved with a local VAC I can answer this question first hand but here we go anyway.... When there's a motor vehicle accident in some areas of the county covered by a separate VAC, does the FD always respond? From what I understand, the answer is no. The FD only gets toned out if there's entrapment or fluids involved. If every ambulance in the county carried extrication equiptment it could be good but let me ask this.... The VAC gets called for an MVA with entrapment. The ambulance responds with a crew of three (driver, tech and attendant). The ambulance is also fully equipted with a hurst tool. Now the question. How can a crew of three effectivly preform patient care along with packaging while cutting the car and mitigating any other hazards that might be involved? Then, once the patient is removed from the vehicle, boarded, collared and loaded, who's going to pick up the tool, cribbing and such? It seems like overall, you would be taking away from patient care to preform the other funcitons.

In addition to the '58 Seagrave, we also have a 1966 International brush truck that is still in active service. Prior to 2001, we had a '75 Oren pumper (former E180)and 1950 ALF ladder (former L18) that were both in front line service traded in for their respective replacements.

Ok, I understand the game with being "in service" with the county to keep the number. Our old 1949 Ward La France was "in service" until 2001 when it went to the American Museum of Firefighting in Hudson. Although Rye's Maxim may still respond to alarms, it's been refurbed. We all know Yorktown's Maxim and Katonah's ALF doesn't respond to anything. So I ask this: What is the oldest apparatus in Westchester in original condition, that still responds to alarms? As already stated, Somers E182, 1958 Seagrave fits the bill. Anything else?

Yes Ed, Eng 182 is still in service and does see an occasional front line stint every now and then. While it may not get to where you have to go as quick as todays pumpers, it still pumps like a champ. In fact, at recent pump testings, it out pumped one of the 2001 Seagraves!

For anyone too cheap to shell out the ten bucks, you can go to the 9-11 Commission webpage and download it. www.9-11commission.gov

Okay... have to ask. What the heck does that mean? It "bumps" the topic to the top of the list.

My take on these trailers is that a "standard" command (chief's) vehicle would not likely be able to tow them. By standard I would say a 1/2 ton Chevy Tahoe or Ford Explorer. Based on the size and weight of the trailers, I wouldn't try to tow one with anything under a 1 ton, provided it has an adequate hitch and receiver. It is a requirement to submit a plan to the county, in writing, on how the trailer will be towed. The county does stipulate that the vehicle in question must be available 24/7 to tow it. So again, a "standard" command vehicle would most likely be out of the question.

I do believe you're right about that too.

If memory serves me correctly, there was a suspension available with a more forgiving ride. The draw back was it couldn't "kneel" like the present one's do. That was the reasoning in going with the end result. The new 80B3 is in the works and will likely be a PL Custom very similar to 80B2.

I was also thinking about the hydrant. I was hoping there's another hydrant just up the street they layed in on. Another observation is only one line streched. Even if it's a small fire, a back-up line should be in place.