FDNY using Ryder rental truck as Rescue 2 support unit

[TRUCK6018 50]

Fire union: No way to Ryde®

By DEBORAH S. MORRIS

Staff Writer

August 8, 2004

Fire union officials are outraged that a rental truck is being used to replace an official rescue vehicle that backs up an elite fire unit in Brooklyn and parts of Queens.

Stephen Cassidy, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, said the white Ryder truck is not equipped with flashing lights, sirens or even a two-way radio, and compromises the safety of firefighters and the public.

"How is it possible the city of New York does not have the resources to supply this kind of key equipment?" Cassidy asked.

"This mayor has slashed the budget to a place that we can't do what we need to do, to protect the public. It's a slap in the face and citizens should be outraged," he said.

According to Frank Gribbon, spokesman for the Fire Department, the rental truck will only be in use for about two months, until a new truck on order arrives. He said the truck is used primarily to carry tools and lumber in building-collapse emergencies.

"This is not a response vehicle. It's a support unit. Their role is to come in once an assessment has been made," Gribbon said.

The box truck emblazoned with the word Ryder, with FDNY decals placed above that logo, was being put into service yesterday at Ladder Company No. 132 in Brooklyn where it will be housed. The truck will serve Rescue 2, which responds to high-end emergencies, such as hazmat incidents and building collapses. The official vehicle was loaned to a unit in Manhattan sometime last week, according to Gribbon.

Cassidy said firefighters were disgusted that they have the training but not the right equipment, but that would not stop them from doing their job.

"My firefighters are still going to risk their lives because that is what they do for the city of New York," Cassidy said.

He added he was concerned for police officers as well. "You put two people in firefighter gear in a white box truck, send them driving around New York City, they become a target for police," he said, adding police would only be doing their job in trying to stop the truck, but could unwittingly delay lifesaving help.

But Gribbon said that would not be an issue.

"The vehicle is not just going to be driving around unescorted. It will be two pieces responding together. The Police Department has been provided with information. This is a temporary measure. The fact of the matter is this is increasing our capabilities of responding to a structural collapse."

Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.

[x635 4,066]

That's wierd they are using a Ryder truck....you'd think there have to be at least one vehicle in the FDNY or NYC fleet that would fit that purpose.

[tbendick 27]

[EJS1810 7]

So where did the rig they( Collapse 2) origianly had go? Is this something to do with "Bright Orange Alert" and the RNC?

[Guest DFFD227]

I heard it was given to Manhattan for now.

[DMA327 12]

I think that Ryder Truck makes for a fine collapse vehicle for any department. They have basically the sames type of vehicle in a fire department in New Jersey which works fine for them. I don't get why everyone is complaining. It has plenty of space in it for plenty of collapse supplies. If they throw a radio system in it for now and a few lights and a siren, i don't see any problem with using that truck as a support vehicle for collapse emergencies. People are getting alittle picky LOL

[1075thebox 1]

Boo-hoo.

I would be more then happy to have that truck. I belong to a Department that could use 2 or 3 support vehicles, but due to caveman thinking on the village board - we'll never see it.

And I quote one of these wizards, "We've always had 3 pumpers, why do we need a 4th?" Despite a growing community and longer turnaround times from service......

Duh. ](*,)

[tbendick 27]

Rescue Collapse unit 2 has been moved to Ladder 25 in Manhattan. The rental went to Brooklyn and FDNY has ordered to new Collapse units.

The problem the union has with the rental is that it went in service with no lights or anything and the ryder decals were left on. The first day they drove it to Brooklyn, PD stop it.

We had this kind of problem after 9/11. When the city brought in new vehicles, they didn't paint or do anything to them. They put on magnets, well FBI didn't like that idea. Was a safety issue and made the department paste them on.

[DMA327 12]

I can see that being a problem because anyone could put magnets on the side of a truck, but i just don't get why people would be so angry and say the truck doesnt fit needs. It's just something for the meantime until they have a truck in service. It doesn't need to fit needs, it needs to fit wood. So paste on the decals put in some lights and a siren and be done with it

[tbendick 27]

The union issue has nothing to due with the truck..

The issues are:

No lights

No Siren

No Radio.

Large Ryder truck markings.

If they remove the ryder logos and throw on a light bar, put in a siren and add a old radio, I think this would make the union happy.

The Department states that the truck will be escourted to the scene by the assigned unit. However, escourts are agaisnt FDNY Policy due to the dangers. All FDNY vehicles must remain a distance of 300'. This way when the Joe Q driver sees the first truck go past and cuts in he doesn't hit the second.

[mfc2257 464]

Get over it. It's a support vehicle. Order a red dash light for it sot that it can clear routine traffic and be done.

How many rural departments are doing just fine with "run whatcha got" apparatus. There's nothing in the fleet available so they solved the problem.

Function comes before form in the fire service.

[tbendick 27]

Get over it. It's a support vehicle. Order a red dash light for it sot that it can clear routine traffic and be done.

That is all that being asked. The FDNY Shops can do some great work on rigs and has built some great stuff.. Take an extra day or two and just setup the rig. There is no reason the FDNY has to just throw something together like this. Not asking for new rig, just place a light bar, add a siren, and cover the ryder logo.

On April 17, 1995, McVeigh rented a Ryder truck and then McVeigh and Nichols loaded the Ryder truck with approximately 5,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate fertilizer. On the morning of April 19th, McVeigh drove the Ryder truck to the Murrah Federal Building, lit the bomb's fuse, parked in front of the building, left the keys inside the truck and locked the door.

On February 23, 1993, Salameh rented a yellow Ryder Ford Econoline cargo van.

On February 26, 1993 At approximately 12: 18 p.m., the bomb in the Ryder van exploded, killing six people inside the World Trade Center Complex.

[x635 4,066]

tbendick-

Is this a replacment unit for the International or another rented truck???

http://www.nycfire.net/gallery/fdny/DSC07418

[tbendick 27]

It's another one.. I have counted 3 so far.. I think there might be a total around 4 of them.

[Guest irishfire]

all they have to do is find a old light bar and siren for now place it on the truck and get hand radios for the truck and take the ryders off or cover them upand you go a white fire truck with lots a room in the back for the tools. It is better than not having a truck at all.

What are they supposted to do call a cab to respond to a call.

[COMMANDCHIEF 4]

The actual rig is in MAnhattan for the RNC. They have "Hammer teams" that are deployed at events, and they just need too many of them at the same time. It will be returned soon I'm sure. If I'm not mistaken, don't we use commercial beer trucks as heavy rescues?

Cassidy needs to save his energy to address more serious issues .

[tbendick 27]

The actual rig is in MAnhattan for the RNC.

One of the two real Collapse units are in Manhattan

They have "Hammer teams" that are deployed at events, and they just need too many of them at the same time.

Hammer teams have nothing to do with the Ryder trucks.. FDNY Hazmat has a ton of trucks to use as Hammer teams..

It will be returned soon I'm sure. If I'm not mistaken, don't we use commercial beer trucks as heavy rescues? 

It could be a few months till it is placed back in normal service.

As far as the beer truck. havn't seen any fire departments that left all the beer logos on them..

[COMMANDCHIEF 4]

TBENDICK: I don't know how to do all the cut and paste stuff so I will just write it out. I didn't mean the beer trucks with the ads still on them. I'm talking about the rollup door style. They raffel one just about every year at the Firehouse Expo.

[tbendick 27]

I don't know how to do all the cut and paste stuff so I will just write it out. I didn't mean the beer trucks with the ads still on them. I'm talking about the rollup door style. They raffel one just about every year at the Firehouse Expo.

Thats cool and all. Yonkers FD just set one up.. There are plenty of them around, however that don't still say "XXXX Light Beer" on them. The city could have just done a little more with this situation and know one would have a problem... O well what you going do..