61MACKBR1

Link to letter drafted by Attorney retained by both YFD Union and Residents: http://yonkerstribune.typepad.com/files/warren-reiss-letter-re-ridge-hill-08152011-copy.pdf Also additional information below (as outlined in the Yonkers Tribune): Yonkers Firefighters Union (I.A.F.F. Local 628) has retained the services of legal counsel to represent them and a group of negatively impacted Yonkers residents in seeking to compel the City of Yonkers, Mayor Amicone, City Council President Chuck Lesnick, and Forest City Ratner to live up to the promises and assurances made during the approval of the Ridge Hill Village project. The City Council was the “Lead Agency” in the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”) for the Ridge Hill Village project and as part of their approvals for the project, the City Council adopted two (2) “Findings” Resolutions mandating, among other things, the establishment of one (1) additional Truck Company for the City of Yonkers (with 35% of the annual costs being attributable to the Ridge Hill Village project and the building of one (1) additional Fire House (with $3,000,000 of the construction costs to be paid for by Forest City Ratner). “To date, despite the opening of several entertainment and retail stores, and with more stores scheduled to open before September, absolutely nothing has been done to build the new Fire House or staff the Fire Company promised to the citizens of Yonkers” said Barry B. McGoey, president of the Yonkers Firefighter’s Union. “We have raised this issue on numerous occasions for at least the past three (3) years to the Mayor, the City Council President and the entire City Council. We were met with excuses and empty promises with Mayor Amicone blaming the Yonkers City Council for not appropriating money for the purchase of a suitable site for the fire house and the City Council blaming the Mayor for not identifying a parcel of land and negotiating a purchase price. It’s way past time for both the Mayor and the City Council to stop playing the blame game and to do their job.” In a blistering letter to all of the above parties, the attorney for the Yonkers Firefighters states that all parties involved “have completely and utterly failed to follow through on the necessary measures to ensure that Ridge Hill would not and will not adversely impact the City’s ability to provide adequate fire protection services.” The letter calls upon the City Council to enact legislation requiring: the City to immediately locate and acquire the necessary land for the Fire House; directing the City to commence design and construction of the Fire House as soon as feasible, and requiring Forest City Ratner to immediately fund a $3,000,000 escrow account to cover its share of the costs of that new Fire House. Alternatively, the City Council should revoke or rescind the approvals and zoning changes it made for the project. Local 628 President McGoey said “I have instructed our attorney to take all steps necessary to ensure that the mitigation measures promised in the SEQRA review and the resulting findings (the construction of a new Fire House and establishment of an additional Truck Company) are implemented and that the City and the developer deliver on the promises and assurances they made when they sought approval of this massive project. We have been joined by numerous residents of the surrounding area who were quite vocal in opposition to the project when it was proposed because of the negative impact it would have on them, including the drain on fire and emergency services. It was because of their legitimate fears that both the City and the developer agreed to provide the area with additional fire protection services. Indeed, the developer agreed to put up $3,000,000 towards the construction of a new Fire House in order to secure a (second) favorable vote from the City Council as Lead Agency.” McGoey continued, “We are hopeful that Forest City Ratner will join us in requesting that the City live up to the promised additional fire protection, not just for Ridge Hill Village, but also for the neighboring communities. Forest City Ratner has promised $3,000,000 towards the construction of a new Fire House, but it is the City’s obligation to design, plan, and build the Fire House. We expect Forest City Ratner to live up to every promise they made to the citizens of Yonkers, including the one that they would mitigate the negative impacts the project would have on fire protection services for the rest of Yonkers. As good neighbors and responsible developers we expect Forest City Ratner to join us and request that the City of Yonkers implement the mitigation measures outlined in the SEQRA Finding and construct a new Fire House and establish a new Truck Company.” McGoey concluded, “We are going to hold the City of Yonkers and Forest City Ratner to their promises. To do otherwise would endanger the safety and lives of the citizens of Yonkers and the residents of Ridge Hill, as well as the safety and lives of the Yonkers Firefighters.”

Just read where someone posted that the developer agreed within the contract for the Ridge Hill SIte Project to pay 3 millon dollars to build a new fire station as well as to pay and contribute 35% of the annual operating cost for the new fire company (New Ladder Company). I agree with this posted that this is a good deal for both the City of Yonkers as well as the residents of Yonkers. 3 Millon dollars plus an annual subsidy for an increase in fire protection should not be tossed away. This benefits the entire city not just Ridge Hill.

The developers did indeed agree to build a New Fire House in order that the city could add an additional "Fire Company" to assist in providing Fire Department Support and Fire Supression at the Ridge Hill Site (Many people don't realize that it is not only fire supression that is involved, but First Responder Support as well). Ridge Hill does pose response tmie issues, based upon the current locations of the neareset firs stations (Station 10, Station 11, Station 12 and Station 14). There was talk that the city was looking at the King Fence property to use as the site to build a new firehouse (Speculation was that a New Fire Station 10 would be built, to house the current Engine 310 as well as to house a New Ladder Company (Ladder 77?) to support Ridge HIll Amazingly, with the Ridge Hill Complex almost set for completion, the developer has not yet come to the table with the City Executives (Ammicone, etc, etc) to get the New Fire House built and the new fire company in place, to conincide with the completion of Ridge Hill. Why doe certain promises and committments alwasys get delayed and pushed aside? (All it is going to take is someone to have a Heart Attack at one of the Ridge Hill Stores, and because of the current extended response time delays, YFD is unable to get there in time to help. Then, at that time, the "You know what" whill hit the fan.

http://www.lohud.com/article/20110725/NEWS02/107250355/14-families-displaced-2-firefighters-injured-Yonkers-apartment-building-blaze?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage

Ah - YFD Engine 1 was very modern back in 1971 - LOL

TR54 - Any more photos to share from this 1971 Parade?

TERRIFIC !!! Can't wait to see the additional photos. Would truly enjoy seeing some photos of the YFD Rigs from 1971 from the parade (ie: White Cab Truck 1, Old Rescue 1, ALF Engine 2, Mack C Engine 1 and Engine 4, as well as possibly some of the Old Ward LaFrance Engine Companies)

Yes, you are correct. It is the Old Yonkers Fire Station 8 on Warburon Avenue

OK - Here's one for you to try to identify?

Tradition means respect for those who have served before you as well as respect for those who are now new to the service. Remember, respect is a "two way street" and it goes both ways. Saluting an officer or retired officer (Police, EMS and Fireservice AS well as Military) should be common practice (sadly this has gone by the wasteside by many). Some traditions need to go, such as hazings, as it no longer has a productive place in the service. However, some need to come back, such as Uniformed Police Officers wearing formal policeman hats

As you can read in Seth's attachment, YFD Local 628 proposed back in 2008, in relationship to BOTH the Ridge Hill Project as well as the Downtown Development, that the city add 3 additional Engine Companies and 2 Ladder Companies, to adequately protect the city. This would, accordingly the report, place a New Engine Company at Station 1 (Engine 301 ?), a New Ladder Company at Station 10 (which obviously means that a New Station 10 would have to be built to accomodate 2 bays, 1 for Engine 310 and 1 for the New Ladder Company [Ladder 76 ?]. They are also proposing that a New Ladder Company be placed at Station 3 [Ladder 77 ?], as well as an Additional New Engine Company at Station 11 (Engine 302 ?). Given all of this, if it would ever (and we all know that MONEY and POLITICS are the ONLY factors involved) happen, and seeing that with the New Downtown Development calls for a New 6 Bay Firestation (If Station 11 gets the additional Engine Company, this would require the relocation of the Collapse Rig). So, I would figure that the New Fire Headquarters (Station 1) would house Ladder 71, Engine 301, Safety Battalion, Rescue 1, and the Collapse Rig (of course Chief Fitz would be the one who decides what apparatus are placed where)

Sadly, you are correct and actions should be taken rather than simply having discussions regarding this on this forum. It is also important to note that there are members of EMTBravo.net community who are "Appointed Officials" who should be doing something about it. (Sadly, I think that the "Home Rule" is sometimes used and if pursued, many Fire District Leaders want the larger percentage of say in how their Fire District is used and/or impacted in such cases. This subject/discussion runs right into the Mutual Aid discussions that have been bantered back n' forth on this forum for years. Until we can get State Legislation to rule out the "Home Rule" and get rid of all of this Paid vs. Volunteer non-sense and have everyone on the same playing field, nothing will get done.

Chief Fitz - I don't think that you and YFD need any help or rigs from the Providence Fire Department to run a drill in Southern Westchester (maybe Mount Vernon, but thats another subject), but I will be sure to pass along your question to the PFD Fire Commissioner when I see him - LOL

Why not pick a date (Maybe a Saturday) and plan out a Full Scale MCI Drill, say held at Yonkers Raceway, with all EMS, VAC, Fire Agencies, say in the Southern End of Westchester (to start) participating (Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Pelham, Pelham Manor, Eastchester, Scarsdale, Hartsdale, Dobbs Ferry, Mamaroneck, etc, etc) in cooperation with all of the Local Hospitals in the area as wellas Jacobi and WCMC. Then you oould plan something similiar to this in the Central Portion of the County and then again up in the Northern End of the County. The only way to getting where you want to go is to START somewhere.

Part of the original agreement from the developer was to "assist" in the establishment of an New Fire Company within the Yonkers Fire Department to assist in covering the New Ridge Hill Development. Not getting a 100% committment from the developer meant that the City of Yonkers would have to come up with some of the funding/cost for this. As many people know, given all of the financial issues surrounding the city over the past several years, coming up with the matching funding for this has been a slow process. I have heard that some property along the King Fence Propery in Yonkers, is being considered for construction of a New Fire House (New Station 10?) to help assist in covering the New Ridge Hill Development (Original plan called for a New Fire Company [New Ladder Company 77 ?] for Ridge Hill, so maybe with a New House it may house both an Engine Company (310) and Ladder Company (77) but no one really knows at this time)

If you read about the recent accounts of the exact same issues being faced by other areas within the United States, looking at County-Wide Consolisation of Fire, EMS, and Police Services, you will see that the Tax Payers are "Fed Up" with rising taxes and are "Forcing" Politicians to put aside their political affiliations with Unions and Other Groups, who have been and continue to be extremely opposed to any thought of consolidation of services, and have or are now strongly considering going the route of consolidation of services. Reading up on some of the things that Gov. Cuomo as well as County Administrator Asterino are looking at, "County-Wide" consolidation might be something that could happen sooner rather than later, despite the strong opposition by Union Leaders and Fire/Police/EMS Commissioners. Yogi Berra might have said "It ain't over until the fat lady sings", but I think that the Taxpayers in Westchester County are singing "Loud and Clear" to the Goverenor, the County Administrator, and other politicians that they are fed up and can't pay anymore additional taxes and refuse to do so. As I have said here before, seeing what has worked extremely well in both Baltimore County, Maryland and Gwinnett County, Georgia, both very similir to the demographics and geographics of Westchester County, all Fire, Police and EMS Services in each of these counties are consolidated and run by the COUNTY and not by any individual city, town or village, thus the same could also work across the entire County of Westchester.

Totally Agree. Bottom line is that FDNY (and NYC) were and are prepared for such a massive incident. On the other hand, Westchester County, under a unified (Paid/Volly) Mutual Aide Program, is under-trained and most likely not very well prepared as a "COUNTY" to properly respond to such an event. MORE COUNTY WIDE/MUTUAL AID (Paid and Volly combined) TRAINING IS NECESSARY (especially in the Southern End of the County) to be prepare for such an event. As Barry out of NRFD has said, people need to listen and start working on putting this all together and START COUNTY-WIDE MUTUAL AID DISASTER TRAINING DRILLS IMMEDIATELY. (Its not necessary the quality of the individual parts, but the effectiveness of the sum of the parts as a whole that makes an effective plan work)

When was the last time that a Westchester County Mutual Aid Disaster Training Exercise was conducted, specifically in the Southern Westchester County Area, utilizing both Paid and Volunteer Staffs? (ie: Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Eastchester, Pelham, Pelham Manor, Hastings, Dobbs Ferry, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, etc) Just my opinion, but having a strong unified "Regionalized" plan for Westcheter County to mobilize and respond to such an event, as the tragedy this past weekend, is criticaly needed. Some cities in Westchester are properly equiped and trained for such response (ie: Yonkers, etc), but should a major disaster occur say in an area outside of those big cities, unless the "COUNTY" is able "QUICKLY" mobilize and properly respond to such an event, I fear that areas of the county will suffer.

Historic? Could be ! This might be the beginning of PD, FD, and EMS mergers into a County Run and Managed Force, to cut allot of overhead expesnes that if County Run Department could help elliminate, thus saving taxpayers allot of money.

Excellent Article in todays LoHud.com from Chief Flynn pertaining to the use of Turkey Fryers. Not only is it dangerous, if not used properly (by someone who knows EXACTLY what they are doing), but could be disasterous. I have heard about many many people who have DUMPED a "Frozen Turkey" into a Deep Fryer, and finding the turkey (and frier) exploding, causing serious injury and damage. Please be careful this holiday season http://www.lohud.com/article/20101124/NEWS02/11240380/Yonkers-Fire-Department-warning-on-turkey-fryers

Sounds like a combination of the current Federal Siren and an Industrial Hamilton Beach Blender. But, with the lower frequencies and bass rumble, it will no doubt get the attention of drivers who are listening to "Heavy Bass" and "Loud" music in their cars. Imagine if the Fire Department goes with it, combining it with a Loud Air Horn? It could literally lift a car off the road.

Go to this site: http://www.fdnytrucks.com/files/html/otherstates/Westchester/Mount%20Vernon.htm

Other than New Rochelle FD's entire fleet (Engine 21, 22, 23, 24, & 25, Ladder 11, 12, 13 and Rescue 4) does anyone know what other neighboring fire departments were brought in to assist in this 5 Alarm Fire? (Mount Vernon? Yonkers? Pelham? Eastchester? Mamaroneck?, etc, etc)

Would love to see (again) those Classic Rigs of the 1950's and 1960's from the Yonkers Fire Department (Joe Pinto and Mike Martinelli both have a great collections of old YFD Photos from this period - Like the 1967/1968 Mack C's (Engine 1 & 4), the 1961 Ward LaFrances (Engines 1,3, & 8), the 1968 ALF Closed Cab Truck 2, the 1971 ALF Closed Cab "WHITE" ALF (Truck 1), the "Great" 1961 Mack B Rescue 1 (in its variouse incarnations [single Bubble Gum Flasher on top, to the later version with the White Bank of Rotary Flashers on top]. to the Series of late 1950's Ward LaFrance (Engine 1, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 13 (13 i believe was the old Engine 1), and the 1950's ALF's (Engine 3, 12, and 14), and the 1950 ALF Mid Mounts (Truck 3, 5, 6 and 7). Even more rare would be the old Yonkers Civil Defense Rigs, if they could also be posted again for everyone to see.

Thanks R1