Out and About...3 States, 4 Days...

[JBE 328]

I've been on vacation for the past few weeks, and in that time I have done a little bit of travelling. My wife, sister, and myself went out to Vegas the week of the 24th for a little bit of rest, relaxation, gambling, and of course, buffing.

Just as soon as I rented the car, what do I see next door, but the Clark County Fire Training Center. For some of you unfamiliar with Las Vegas, Clark County covers the Strip. Here's the new Truck 17 being tested out before being sent to the field.

This is one of the new CBRN Engines, I am presuming this is like an FDNY Squad or one of the Engines trained as a Haz Mat Tech.

This is their Mobile Command Center.

The following morning, my sister and I headed up to California to show her the sights. This is my 10th time out there in about 6 years, so I kinda just played tour guide. First stop, Venice Beach. The area off the beach is protected by LAFD Station 63, but the beach is covered by the LA County Lifeguards.

I took my sister through Hollywood, to the usual tourist traps and got some pretty good shots of the Rock Walk over at Guitar Center on Sunset. The next day, I dropped my sister off at Disney and headed over to Carson for the obligatory FS127 shots.

If you look closely, the lettering on the house has been changed to reflect the standard county look.

Here's Engine 127, brand new KME. Station 127 is a Light Force. They are technically considered a Truck company, but cross staff the engine. It's a boss and I believe 4 or 5 FF's. One drives the Engine.

Here's Quint 127. I remember the old Crown Snorkel from Emergency! and I've seen pictures of the TL they had after this. I also remember seeing this rig for the first time and nearly crying, wondering where the bucket went.

Next stop, LA County Dispatch and Academy. I picked my sister up and headed up the 5 to Eastern Avenue. LA County has their dispatch office, fire academy, and shops, along with FS1 all in the same area. Although, the shops is a block or two south with FS1.

Here's an old WLF being used for training.

Next up, a new KME awaiting assignment.

More coming.

[JBE 328]

I ran upstairs and headed over to FCCF(Fire Command and Control Facility) and shot the breeze with a few of my pals there. I was somewhat dismayed to find out that if I had taken the job with LA, I would have started last week. But hey, the pay cut and cost of living weren't as enticing as I wanted. Here's me and Supervising Dispatcher Al Jackson. As you can see, our work attire differs quite a bit.

This is Bernard Peters. He's working the north end of the county, one of those areas being Battalion 6. Battalion 6 is one of X635's favorite destinations.

In NYC, when the computer crashes, we use plastic chips to track units and incidents. It's called the status board. Here is the LA County equivalent. Battalion 1 covers West Hollywood, Universal Studios(FS51) Marina Del Rey(FS110) and two other stations. Battalion 7 covers Carson, which borders Long Beach.

We bid adieu to LA and headed back to Vegas. A little more than 4 hours in the car, gotta love driving through the desert and 70 MPH Speed limits. I rested up and left my wife to the casinos and it was off to the races for me. First stop, Clark County Station 11. They cover the south end of the Strip and the famous Welcome to Las Vegas sign.(It's actually about 300 feet diagonal of the firehouse) Here's Engine 11.

Truck 11, driving a spare.

Next stop, Clark County Station 18.

Edited March 12, 2007 by JBE

[JBE 328]

I drove up to Clark County Station 18. These guys protect most of the strip. They run two engines, a truck and three buses, and a Battalion. Here's Engine 66, which just happened to be there for a meeting with the Battalion.

Engines 18 and 218.

Truck and Rescue 18. Here's something that confuses me. Why have such a big bus, if you don't transport??

Next stop, LVFR Station 1. This building also houses the dispatch office and admin offices. They are looking for dispatchers, $40,000 to start with the opportunity to hit 6 figures with OT. Supervising Dispatchers top out at $106,000.

Station 1 runs two engines, a truck, three buses and I believe Mask Service.

This is Engine 201, which I shot for a Code 3 re decal job I am working on.

Rescue 201. After 2100 the ambulances are turned out by phone. How nice.

After returning to NY last Monday, I took my sister home and got myself ready for the next trip. This time solo, and on the road. It's off to Florida for me.

[JBE 328]

From the Brooklyn Dispatchers office to Fort Lauderdale in just over 18 hours, and I was still picking up WCBS AM as far south as Jacksonville. About a gallon of Gatorade, Pepsi, and a ton of Aspirin later(rassum frassum sinus headaches), I arrived in Florida to get a little taste of what FF Martin calls "The death march". First stop Fort Lauderdale Station 2. They run Engines 2, 8, Ladder 2, Rescues 2 and 8. The houses were combined, and this place is HUGE.

For those of you who know him, there's FF Martin wandering into my shot!!!

Engine 2.

Ladder 2.

We then headed over to the Broward County Shops. Not much to shoot except for Old Puff. This was a foam rig stationed over at Port Everglades. I've been in PE a few times back when I was in the CG. Puff was recently retired after over 30 years of service.

Next stop, Miami Dade. For all you Lime Green fans out there, get your drool rags ready!!!

[JBE 328]

OK, let's see if I can fit this all into one post.

Miami-Dade Station 8. They run Engine and Rescue 8, and Engine 63, a Haz Mat Tech Engine.

Engine 63's patch and grill.

Next up, Engine 58 on the Tamiami Trail. This station, according to FF Martin, is near where that ValuJet went down a number of years ago.

Now, it's off to Miami Beach.

[JBE 328]

Miami Beach Engine 4, and a spare TL which saw service as Truck 3.

We headed over to the shops and Station 1, and found Engine and Truck 1.

Lots of construction going on over there, so it was a little crowded.

We returned to Fort Lauderdale and stopped by Station 13. The house is scuba trained, as shown by Ladder 13's dive flag.

Lucky for us, Engine 29 was heading by as well.

Last stop in Lauderdale, Engine 49. They run the fireboat out of here, so it was a treat to get a shot of that.

I bid FF Martin adieu and called it a night after another trip to Denny's. The next morning I decided to head back home and make a couple of stops on the way. Palm Beach Gardens and Port St. Lucie.

[JBE 328]

My grandfather (RIP) got me a patch from Palm Beach Gardens many years ago, so I decided to check them out on the way home. Now, I have never been big on the lime rigs, and that's because no matter what color they are, someone will crash it, or into it. But, in Palm Beach Gardens there is one saving grace, and it isn't the Roto-Rays, either. EVERYBODY has a Q, including the chiefs!!!

Here's Engine 2. They are called a Rescue Engine, so I am presuming they are a little like the Squads here.

Truck 1.

My next stop was Port St. Lucie, Spring Training home of my beloved Mets.

This is Station 14, first in to where the Mets play. It's a Quint, a Foam Truck, Safety Chief, and Special Operations 14, the Technical Rescue Team.

Quint 14.

I got this shot of the Safety Chief over at Tradition Field, and took in a Mets game while I was there.

After all of this I figured it was time to head back to chilly, windy New York City.

Here's my diary of each state as I passed through.

[JBE 328]

I guess they don't want to put a Welcome to NY sign off the Outerbridge Crossing, so I suppose this will have to do.

[JBE 328]

And finally, 10-84 and 10-9 at Queens Box 1782.

A big thank you to the following Departments, Clark County, Fort Lauderdale, LA County, Las Vegas Fire/Rescue, Miami-Dade, Miami Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Port St. Lucie.

An even bigger thank you to FF Martin for his help, even if I did pay for dinner. Mark Carr for hooking me up with PBG and to the Coral Gables and Palm Beach Gardens PD's for being good sports and allowing me to continue a tradition I started with the NYPD in 1991 in front of the Hard Rock Cafe.

And to Teena, our waitress at Denny's. Hey honey, I said heavy on the lemon, not morbidly obese. (Two lemons worth of slices ringing the top of my Diet Coke)

I hope you enjoy my little trip as much as I enjoyed sharing it. As always, if you want copies of these pictures, PM me. I don't want to have to start watermarking this stuff.

Edited March 12, 2007 by JBE

[goon16 155]

great pics

[Guest]

wow, thats a lot of Quantum chassis. Great pics!

[x242Steve 1]

JBE-

How do those bay doors work at Ft. Lauderdale Station 2?

It looks like they accordion... or are they just well-painted overhead doors?

[JustSomeGuy 0]

Great Pics! Thank you for sharing them with us.

[JBE 328]

I believe they accordian.

[x635 4,066]

Jimmy

Gret photos from what seems like a great and lucky trip!

[x134 46]

wow, thats a lot of Quantum chassis.  Great pics!

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I was going to say the same thing.

[sr71 1]

what kind of siren/speaker is that on the miami beach rigs?

[Guest]

Really Cool & Interesting pictures. Nice Job!

[JBE 328]

I'm gonna take a stab at it and say it's a Whelen.

[sr71 1]

I'm gonna take a stab at it and say it's a Whelen.

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ok, thanks JBE!!

[JBE 328]

I wouldn't necessarily have called this trip lucky. I did lose my shirt in Vegas, and I don't normally gamble.(Rassum Frassum Bally's Texas Hold em tables!!!!) I have the picture to prove it, but I think it would be a little umm, inappropriate for these forums. Don't get me wrong, I had a blast doing this and even more fun editing pix to put up for you guys.

If anything, I am lucky to have been able to make friends over the years and establish a few hooks here and there to keep my trips interesting. I'm in the preliminary stages of planning an LA buff trip for some of my FDNY cohorts later on this year, but with schedules, salaries and other concerns, it may prove rather difficult to do. I've got a number of ideas of places to hit, it's just a matter of firming things up with the right people and getting a group together.

Edited March 13, 2007 by JBE

[RescueKujo 130]

JBE-How far along was construction on the new LACoFD Command Center? Just wondering, as due to the construction the LA Area Burn Run ends at FS 118 this year, instead of HQ. Thanks DK

Edited March 13, 2007 by RescueKujo

[TR54 239]

Great photos Thanks for sharing !

[JBE 328]

JBE-How far along was construction on the new LACoFD Command Center? Just wondering, as due to the construction the LA Area Burn Run ends at FS 118 this year, instead of HQ. Thanks DK

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Sorry, buddy, didn't ask.