nfd2004

Although I didn"t know him, your Uncle Mike sounds like he was a Great Guy. He certainly played a major role in protecting the public with his police and fire service. On this anniversary, we need to remember what your Uncle did. For that, "we thank him". And we sometimes need to be reminded of what others have done similiar to what your Uncle Mike did. We should NEVER forget any of them, or their families. He is no doubt up there somewhere with all the others that have given up so much for us. "Thank You Lt. Michael Neuner".

Well, Guess that about covers it for the Ct., and part of Mass Area. Not much more we can add to that. (Alarmroom, I think I still have all the Alarm Room Newsletters from when those cities were really burning and some of those cities had just put those tillers in service. The years just flew by). Yes, that"s the guy I was talking about.

IZZY, that 62 Seagrave in Norwich was replaced by a 79 (?) ALF Tiller that ran out of the old hqs on Chestnut St. The 62 Seagrave Tiller was a Reserve at that time as Ladder 2, before getting the rearmount from Taftville. Also, I believe in Connecticut, Meriden ran an ALF Tiller years back. Stamford had a classic Tiller as Ladder 1. It had a Mack "R" Model Tractor. I think there is a member of this site who is a retired Hartford Firefighter. Years ago he published a book called "Tillers of Connecticut". He goes by the name "Alarmroom". I think.

Regarding Orange, Ct my question is "Do they have a full time career 24/7 Fire Dept". If not, then Yes, maybe it does make sense for the Police to respond as First Responders to EMS Calls. But I guess my point is I feel that any town or city that has full time career firefighters, they should be the ones to respond. Believe me, I have full confidence in the Police Dept doing EMS calls, its just that they have alot of others things to take care of. Somehow, I just couldn"t picture a City like Hartford sending a police car to every EMS call. There"s just not enough cops now. And I have a feeling they (Hartford P.D.) would agree. So I think it boils down to whether or not a town has a full time career fire dept.

First let me say, they are some great photos. I wish I knew how to post photos on a computer because I have about 30 years worth of fire appartus photos. Plenty of tillers too. But, that doesn"t get the job done. Anyway, "MJP399" asked what the benefits are of using a Tiller. These Tiller Ladders would get you into narrow streets that even Engines had trouble pulling into. If you had the right driver, and tillerman, you could get anyplace that the tractor could get in. As far as having two drivers needed, I can"t say this is true now, BUT, where I was ONLY the front driver needed a drivers license. The reason that it was like that as I understand it is, The Front Driver had all control of the truck while it was moving. (Brakes, speed, steering etc). So the Tillerman didn"t even need a drivers license. There is NO WAY that the average rearmount or ladder tower would ever get into some of the streets these Tillers can. And let me say, Its a lot easier to pull into the street, and set up the aerial to the roof, than park at the corner and Carry Ground Ladders down the street. And that doesn"t count the time involved if somebody is trapped waiting for that 35 ft ground ladder, or the engine crew is waiting to get the roof opened to stretch their line. As cities lost Tillers, they lost a valuable piece of equipment.

Somebody mentioned New Haven, Ct. I believe there is two. Truck 2 on Howard Ave., and Truck 4 on Groffe St, off Dixwell. The City of New London, Ct has one, Ladder 25 on Broad St. I think all are Seagraves, and some beautiful rigs. A collector in the Taftville Section of Norwich, Ct has a 1962 (?) Seagrave Tiller parked in his yard. The rig is in beautiful shape and I believe he bought it from the City of Norwich for $5,000, if I remember correctly. Its an open cab, and had recently been repowered and painted with a new diseal engine and auto trans. He keeps it covered in his back yard.

rwc130, I can"t really agree with the police doing EMS calls. Yes, they are on patrol but they are also busy doing police work. Sometimes doing follow ups on calls, or going to other minor calls. If a police car is on the road, it doesn"t always mean, they are available to respond to a call. In most cities, the police are pretty much too occupied to be chasing medical calls. In the small city I live in, I often hear police calls being delayed because everybody is tied up. And also, don"t forget about decomination time to remove blood or body fluids. In a smaller town, where there is no full time fire dept, and not as much police activity, maybe then have the Police be First Responders. I"m not familiar with Peekskill, but I would guess the Police there has enough to do without getting involved with EMS.

"1210671", Thanks for that info. I appreciate it.

I am very sorry that I hadn"t mentioned the Boston Vendome Fire which occurred on June 17th and took the lives of nine Boston Firefighters. It happened in 1972, and as I remember the fire was pretty much under control, when the entire building collapsed killing those nine firefighters. I remember seeing a picture of a ladder truck buried under bricks and debrie. I think it was Ladder 15. We should NEVER forget the Boston 9, and the Charleston 9, and their families. A very sad time for both depts and their families.

Just about Every City in the northeast is going through diffucult money problems in this economy. But to see a Pickup truck replacing a 100 Ft ladder truck is pushing it a little too far. I wouldn"t want to be the guy trapped up on the 5th floor window, looking down on a pickup truck with firefighters yelling to me to wait, "Don"t Jump". Is it okay for "you" to be the one trapped on that floor. I"m sorry. No way should a City like Buffalo have its citizens depending on that. And I can"t speak for the Buffalo Firefighters, but "NO WAY" would we as firefighters allow that in the City I retired from. And believe me, it was no Buffalo. I somehow can"t believe the Buffalo Fire Fighters would allow this without some type of protest. For their own safety and the safety of the citizens. If I visit Bufallo soon, I"ll make sure my wife and I are NOT above the third floor.

What"s next ??? A wheelbarrel and a garden hose. You got to be really kidding me. A city the size of Buffalo and thats what they get for a fire response. Maybe the Mayor should ride in a Go Cart instead of a Limo.

A Milford, Ct police car was involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident when returning from a mutual aid call to the City of West Haven, Ct for a large disturbance. The accident took place about 3 AM in Orange, Ct. It is reported that two civilians were killed when they apparently pulled out in front of the Milford Police Car. The police officer was treated for his injuries. Connecticut State Police are investigating. http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-fatal...0,1907602.story

Sadly, The Connecticut State Police investigation states that the Milford Police officer was speeding while returning from the call.

Although I didn"t know him myself, I had heard about him. Certainly a Great Firefighter and Role Model. You have not been forgotten.

Its a little late, but I heardabout this fire when it happened. But didn"t really realize what they had, only that one of the members got hurt. Hope he"s doing better. And thanks for the pictures.

I am a retired fire captain from a small city in Eastern Ct. (Norwich). I have been a buff since about 1968. My father was a Firefighter in Bridgeport, Ct so I guess it was just in the blood. I enjoy buffing large citys espically FDNY and Providence, RI. Also interested in Police and EMS. I enjoy reading the various threads and viewing the pictures put on this site. Thank You.