61MACKBR1

Thanks Barry for the explanation. Makes sense (I would also assume that the "Competition" would also take this as a sign that in order to stay "Competitive" in the marketplace, those manufacturers need to expand their product offerings to include such things as "Stainless Steel" and "Split Tilt" Cabs)

Along with FDNY, Mount Vernon FD has 2 - Ferrara's in service (Engine 3 & Engine 4). Is FDMV having issues with their 2 Ferrara's as well? (I am sure that YFD has looked extensively into the recent Maintenance History of the Ferrara Ultra (FDNY & FDMV) as part of their Bid Specification and review prior to award of the contract)

According to the Yonkers Board of Supply information pertaining to the bid on the 2 New Pumper/Engines, as indicated my post above, the Ferrara Dealer (Neville) won the bid and was the "Sole Bidder" for the request (don't understand why other Manufacturers, such as Smeal, Seagrave, Sutphen, etc, did not bid on this?)

Based upon Neville Apparatus Corporation being awarded the bid on the New Engine 303 and 313, I guess that they will be FERRARA rigs (1st for the Yonkers FD). It was listed in the City of Yonkers Board of Contract and Supply that Neville Apparatus was the "Sole Bidder" for the 2 new rigs and thus was awarded the contract. Interesting that other suppliers did not even want to bid on the 2 new units.

With the current Mutual Aid Plan in place, there is really nothing much any specific department can do, other than request that they (the responding Mutual Aid Department) be placed at the bottom of the list, for response. All this would do, would be to have those departments at the top of the responding list, having to travel from greater distances, for any/all Mutual Aid needs. (Imagine if Yonkers and the other departments hadn't responded as part of the mutual aid agreement, that person may have died). Sadly, politicians (like the Mayor of Mount Vernon) use the Mutual Aid agreement as a way to get out of budgeting for more manpower and apparatus. Taxpayers in Mount Vernon are basically caught between a rock and a hard place. On one side, they want their property and personal well being protected by the FDMV. On the other side, they don't want to press the Mount Vernon Mayor for the additional manpower/apparatus that the city needs to "Properly" protect the lives and property of the citizens of the City of Mount Vernon, in fear that their taxes would be raised to pay for this. Again, I go back to the concept of having a County Run "Regionalized" Fire Service. But, the "Home Rule" currently in place in the State of New York, is a major stumbling block from allow this concept to move forward.

Amazing !

Chief Flynn - I sent you a PM on these questions (Thanks in advance for the response) As it relates to the original intention of this thread - Great Job by the staff of the Yonkers Fire Department for a job well done. To everyone who responded to the thread (and to all the member of EMTBravo). "Stay Positive When Posting, Stay Professional When Posting, Be Thankful For Everyone Within The Service [be it Police, Fire and/or EMS}, Be Appreciative For The Input Provided, Be Respectful To All [no matter what their respective backgrounds and opinions are], and Remember to Check Your Egos At The Door before posting" If everyone follows this, we will all be the better for it.

Good Morning Chief Flynn: Just a few questions to a very respected Firefighter Professional in Westchester County: 1) I know that you were, for a Long Time, Captain on Rescue 1. Can you let me know what company you were assigned to when you first came out of the Fire Academy? 2) Are there plans to place the rig on Engine 313 (The oldest in service rig in the fleet)? 3) What are your thoughts and opinions related to the "studied" concept of Regionalizing the Fire Service, at minimum, in Southern Westchester County? Could a combined department of say, Yonkers, Mount Vernon, Eastchester, New Rochelle, Pelham and Pelham Manor work. Knowing the vast amount of Apparatus, Equipment, and Resources that both Yonkers and New Rochelle has, that could be shared under a Regional Department Concept, with departments that are currently less fortunate (ie: Mount Vernon) could serve to allow for a more effective and quicker deployment of resources, without any need of a Mutual Aid Program. Your thoughts on this? 4) Knowing that YFD, currently is running its Management Offices out of the offices next door to the SOD, does this building/location carry any pieces of memorabilia from the History of the Department? (What are the latest plans of ever coming up with a Yonkers Fire Department Museum, at least as close to what the Yonkers Police Department has)? Much thanks and appreciation Chief !!!

Barry - Can you explain to all of us that don't know, exactly what GML is (what legislative body governs this law?)? PS - I totally agree that taxpayers scream about rising taxes and a number of them look into cost saving measures. But sadly, either the vast majority don't pass their opinions onto their local politicians and/or their local politicians don't really care enough to want to bother to do something about it (either too much work on their part and/or too much political pressure from the outside, not to do anything about it).

Back in the 1950's and 1960's, local Fire Departments, such as Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and, yes, even Yonkers, had more fire companies than they do today, to protect the lives and property of the citizens of these locals (as well as the others in Westchester County). Yes, those were the "Good Old Days" However, this is now 2014, where monies and funding are extremely tight and local municipalities are cutting back and back and back (almost to the hairy edge and in some opinions over it). Local Fire Protection in many cities are being question (while lives and property are being jeopardized). Local Taxpayers will ultimately get to a breaking point (if they haven't already gotten there) where they will request that their local politicians fight in Albany to abolish the "Home Rule" and request State Legislators to look at County Consolidation throughout the state. Other states in the United States do not have the "Home Rule". This rule only serves to only benefit the few and mostly doesn't benefit the taxpayers in the long run. Just my opinion, without bashing anyone else's right to their opinion.

Can you say "Countywide Unified Fire Department"?

Does anyone have the alarm breakdown from yesterday's Yonkers 4 Alarm Fire?

R1Smokeeater said it exactly as the current dispatching of a Major Alarm Fire in the City of Yonkers is handled. In the case of Thursday's event. all front line YFD apparatus was dispatched to the scene, as part of the 4 alarms. In addition, New Rochelle sent 1 engine (apparently that was the only apparatus that NRFD could send on M/A) and Eastchester sent TL17. Also, Mount Vernon sent 1/1 (Ladder 2 and a Engine Company) and I believe Greenville sent an Engine Company. As R1Smokeeater indicated, based on YFD protocol, in these multi-alarm fires, they (YFD) calls in off duty personnel to man "Reserve Rigs" to take over covering YFD Stations and to allow Mutual Aid Companies to be released from the City. I don't believe that any other city in Westchester County has such a program, where "Reserve Rigs" are available to be manned by Off Duty Personnel. YFD has, as part of their continual upgrading of Front Line Apparatus, has been able to place these former front line rigs into Reserve Status or Spare Status. Yonkers FD having the ability to have 10 Front Line Engine Companies (303, 304, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 312, 313, 314), 1 Squad Company (11), 4 Ladder Companies (70, 72, 73, 74), 2 Tower Ladders (71, 75) and a Rescue Company (R1), along with 3 Spare Engine Companies (300, 305, 317), 2 Spare Ladder Companies (76, 78), 1 Spare Tower Ladder (80), 1 Spare Squad (21), and 1 Spare Rescue (R2), ALONG with 3 Reserve Engine Companies (316, 318, 319), 2 Reserve Ladder Compannies (77, 79), and 1 Reserve Tower Ladder (81). YFD also has a various assortment of Special Operations Apparatus/Equipment, that are available dependent upon the needs and requirements of the department. Many have said that YFD's Reserve and Spare Apparatus Fleet is better than some other cities in Westchester County's Front Line Apparatus. As it relates to what departments are requested to come to Yonkers to cover as part of Mutual Aid is based upon the list provided to 60 Control and the County. "Recent History" has indicated that New Rochelle, Eastchester, Mount Vernon and Fairview are the first to be called into Yonkers (This is based upon agreements made with those cities fire departments). There has only been a handful of incidents in recent history that other outside departments have come into Yonkers to either cover stations or assist in battling fires. The Bronx River Road job was one that FDNY was asked to come in and assist with (I don't see FDNY manning stations, but I could see FDNY being asked to assist with fighting a fire). White Plains FD, I believe has been asked on a rare occasion to come in and help as part of Mutual Aid. I believe that Yonkers is on the list to go into New Rochelle to help as part of Mutual Aid. I don't believe (and I maybe incorect) that Yonkers is on the list to go into Mount Vernon as part of Mutual Aid. Maybe others (people from within YFD) can ellaborate on this more

Barry - Could not have said it any better. Until "EVERYONE" in the County of Westchester wakes up and realizes that there is a more cost effective way to "safely" ensure that lives and property could be protected by a Centralized County-Run Fire Department, then taxpayers will continue to dish out more money for apparatus that are not effectively being used or deployed. I will continue to say it on EMTBravo.net. A County-Run Fire Department would elliminate any of the Mutual Aide issues that continue to effect many communities in the county (ie: recent issues in Mount Vernon for example). How can this be done? Many things (administratively and politically) would have to fall into place. The biggest hurdle is the "Home Rule" that would need to be abolished in New York State. There is no need to have, as Barry has said "3 Engines, a Tower Ladder and a Rescue" in small villages and towns, where those communites (From Purchase to Ardsley - From Hastings to Cold Springs) could have the resources already available right inside the county, from some of the bigger cities (Yonkers, New Rochelle, White Plains, etc) Strategically placed apparatus, manned by full time personnel, throughout the county would be the most effective way to have a County Run Fire Department.

Must have been another busy day for the boys of FDMV. Eastchster Ladder 15 appears to be the first due Ladder at this scene (with the Eastchester Chief Car also there). Engine 4 loosks to be the first Engine Company on the scene. Eastchester guys are certainly getting a work out recently with all of the jobs in Mount Vernon that they have been responding to.(Must have been another fire some where else in Mount Vernon when this alarm was called in). Maybe more reason (again) for "COUNTY-WIDE FIRE CONSOLIDATION" ?

YFD Special Operations has a "EMS Trailer" that is used for Medical Emergency Response. Maybe this Chevy Silverado will be used to "Tow" the YFD Special Operations EMS Trailer" Does anyone within YFD know what the exact purpose of this YFD EMS Truck is?

I would suspect that 100% of the people out there (and especially everyone logged into EMTBravo.net) would say that the members of the FDMV Staff, who responded to this incident, gave it 110% and then some. I would also suspect that every member of the FDMV is saddened that lives were lost. It is NOT the fault of the members that this tragedy occurred. Better Building Code Enforcement, More Staffing within the FDMV (Cannot have the 5 Engine Companies {with 1 possibly OOS at the time of the alarm}, 3 Ladder Companies and 1 "Part Time" Rescue Company in a city with the population in 2013 that Mount Vernon has vs. the 6 Engine Companies, 4 Ladder Companies, 1 "Full Time" Rescue Company and a Foam Unit that was in existance some 40 years ago) and a Mayor who will stand up and put the safety of the citizens of the City of Mount Vernon ahead of anythng else, is the answers that will go a long way in preventing such a tragic event in the future (NOTE: no matter how many safety measures you could have in place, "people" will still do silly things that cause fires and emergency events. It is how a city can "best" prepare to deal with such events that count)

Chief: Could not have said it any better. Back in the late 1950's and into the 1960's (and very early 1970's), FDMV was considered by many in the county to be one of the Elite Fire Departments in Westchester County. One of my uncles (Bill Durr) was a volunteer in the Mount Vernon FD for many many years. You had Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, Engine 4, Engine 5, Engine 6 (Spare Engine 7), Snorkel 1, Truck 2, Truck 3, Truck 4, Rescue 1, and Foam 1. Why has the city allowed the department to deteroriate to the level it is today?

Barry: Yes, I agree TOTALLY that the New York State "Home Rule" needs to be ABOLOISHED and allow consolidation of services to have a more "effective" county-wide/run fire service, with no issues on who goes where and ensuring that every location in the county is "adequately" covered. Until such time, more lives and property will be at risk. Other states in our country have "County Run" FIre/EMS Services (Police too) that effectively serve the public (ie: Baltimore County, MD, Gwineett County, Georgia)

Extremely sad situation in Mount Vernon. And, YES, allot of this could have been prevented by having more frequent Building Inspections (by having more Building Inspectors) AND having a "Properly" Staffed Fire Department (and someone needs to ask Mayor Davis, the FDMV Fire Commissioner and EVEN County Administrator Rob Asterino the HARD QUESTIONS, such as why is one of the Engine Companies out at the Oak Street Fire House (either Engine 2 or Engine 4) OUT OF SERVICE more times than IN SERVICE? Why is Rescue 1 OUT OF SERVICE more times than IN SERVICE? Why is the Departmental Staffing Levels (Engine 2, 3, 4, 5; Ladder 1, 2,, 3 and Rescue 1) much different than the 1970 Levels (of Engine 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; Snorkel 1, Ladder 2, 3, & 4, Rescue 1 and Foam 1)? Is this a simple case of ECONOMICS? If so, then the COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY needs to look very very hard into why the COUNTY allows for the City of Mount Vernon, who is part of the County of Westchester, to allow what is clearly, improper Fire Department Staffing Levels to continue to happen. Heck, YONKERS AND NEW ROCHELLE basically no longer want to go into Mount Vernon to assist unless it is clearly a DISASTER SITUATION. Sadly in this case, lives perished and thus this should be considered as a "DISASTER" Sorry folks, I know that I am beating a DEAD HORSE in this comment, but it is about time that we put aside the egos and people more concerned about "Control Over Their Local Department" rather than SAVING LIVES and TAX PAYERS DOLLARS, and begin the process of a CONSOLIDATED COUNTY RUN FIRE DEPARTMENT, that covers the ENTIRE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER (and there should be NO EXCEPTIONS {Yonkers, New Rochelle and White Plains must be included in this County Run Fire Department}. You could staff the entire county department with current firefighters and officers EASILY. Ok, Mr. Asterino - We are waiting for your comments !!!

"Can everyone say "Consolidation of Police, Fire, and EMS" eventually becoming a reality in Westchester County? I suspect that this is just the beginning (dollars saved vs. Jurisdictional Egos and Politics)

One of 3 Mack C Rescues of "Similiar Vintage" that I am aware of in our area (Croton on the Hudson, Mount Vernon (NY) and Hempstead Long Island)

I, too agree, that there is no need to bash anyone on this forum, especally Barry from NRFD. He has been a proponent for improving the Fire Service in Westchester County. However, I will agree with the original poster that "County Consolidation" of Fire Services throughout Westchester County would put the county on the National Map as being one of the best. Sadly, in order for this to ever get off the ground, egos (both within the Paid and Volunteer Departmenets) and Political Red-Tape (Government and Unions) would have to put aside, for the sake of "John and Jane Doe Taxpayer" who would be the ones who would beneft the most from a Combined Countywide Department. One still can wish !!!

OUTSTANDING JOB !!!