x635

FULL ARTICLE: http://cw39.com/2017/01/16/dogs-sniff-out-cancer-in-san-antoino-firefighters/

Here's some video of the collapse....it's eerily like what happened on 9/11 in it's own way.

Why doesn't the Town Of Greenwich put public safety first, and prioritize their needs? One of the wealthiest communities in the entire nation, yet they seemingly relentlessly break emergency services chops over funding different things, delaying projects for as long as they can and cheaps out when they do. They can't even give GEMS a long term contract, and doesn't want to fund a new headquarters because "They're not sure they'll even be around after 2019", when the current 5 year contract expires. By the way GEMS operates, they seemingly save Greenwich millions by trying to fundraise on their own. http://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Greenwich-EMS-urged-to-look-to-private-donors-for-10866933.php?cmpid=fbsocialflow

With all of the education on situations like this, why is this still happening? FULL ARTICLE: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/01/18/three-utility-workers-descend-to-their-deaths-in-florida-manhole-overcome-by-fumes/?utm_term=.ac462c87fa80

Hasting FD former Engine 44 up for sale: https://www.firetruckmall.com/AvailableTruck/08614/1991-Pierce-Lance-Custom-Pumper

It was operating at a fire scene, and resulted in an LODD of Fireman Thomas C. Collier, Jr, of LAFD Snorkel Company 3. He was in the bucket at approx. 85 ft. Here's some more info on that: http://www.lafire.com/lastalarm_file/1970-0705_Collier/ThomasColllier.htm HU3, was "Heavy Utility 3", now known as "Heavy Rescue 56". It's a heavy duty wrecker used for rescue operations, USAR, and department fleet issues. First due is the entire city. This link is the modern day version: http://www.lafd.org/news/lafd-takes-delivery-new-50-ton-heavy-rescue

Date: 1-17-16 Time: 13:42 Location: 13 Custis Ave C/S Washington Ave N and Hillandale Ave District: North White Plains Battalion: 19 Channel: Fire 19 Weather: 40F, rain Units: North White Plains FD Ladder 47, Engine 74, Rescue 33, Car 2322 Valhalla FD Tower Ladder 49, Car 2481 Thornwood FD Rescue 75 (FAST), Car 2471 West Harrison FD Engine 265 Valhalla EMS 82-B-3 North Castle PD Car 30 WCDES County Car 4, Cause And Origin Zone 5 Writer: x635 Description: Reported electrical outlet on fire in bathroom. 13:48 Car 2481 on location, 10-75 13:52 Car 2481 reporting 1 line stretched and operating 14:36 Car 2322 placing fire under control

In Westchester, Bedford Hills had a Snorkel which was replaced by the current TL-57. I believe Verplank and Mount Vernon had ones as well, if I remember correctly. Chicago just took delivery of some new Snorkels as a second piece to their Rescue squads. (Click here for photos), Since they were made by Rosenbauer, they technically aren't "Snorkels" As for Los Angeles, this is what happened to one of their Snorkels: (Click here for photos) Here's some photos of the newest generation, which I think is a pretty cool truck (Click here for photos) I don't know of any that still exist in our area, but if Smeal (who got the rights to the trade names and engineering documents purchased when they were auctioning off ALF) markets their product correct, I would assume we see some Snorkels start to reappear. In some situations, it's nice to have a compact unit with an articulating boom. Here's some photos of the newest generation Snorkel. (Click here for photos)

http://publicsafety.westchestergov.com/become-a-park-ranger

Oh yeah, and a diesel engine for the F-150 as well. http://www.equipmentworld.com/ford-bringing-back-michigan-built-ranger-pickup-bronco-suv/

http://nypost.com/2017/01/10/paralyzed-nypd-hero-steven-mcdonald-dies-at-59/

International Navistar and Viking-Cives (the plow and body manufacturer) has won a three year contract with NYS*DOT to provide them with International Workstar chassis Class 8 dump trucks, a mix of single and dual axles with winged plow setups and integrated dump body sander. These will replace the older Internationals in the fleet as well as some of the Mack Granites with Henderson bodies. They contain the stupid barely visible new logos on the doors.

Here's another new style for NYS DOT. New York State DOT 165016 2016 International Workstar All Wheel Drive Interchangeable hook lift body. Comes with spreader body (mounted on a flatbed body), and dump body standard.

Cablevision has a new owner, an international company named Altice. http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/columnists/phil-reisman/2016/10/07/reisman-news-12-westchester-cost-cutting/91742150/

Just saw an advertisement that Joe Rao will now be with the Verizon FiOS News 1 weather team.

Went over the Whitestone Bridge this morning. Where the Bridge and Tunnel PD cars are usually parked, were several State Police cars, some still covered in snow. The dump trucks were covered in snow, and I didn't see a Bridge Patrol wrecker on duty either.

Reviewing my photos the other day regarding the blacked out NYS Mack Granite that I posted to this group, I noticed the truck behind it was one of the older Internationals. Sorry for the crappy shot, but it's better then nothing.

The last Westchester firefighter exam was ridiculously easy, resulting in over 300 candidates achieving 100%. The test was 50 questions, and most of the test was reading comprehension. When I took the test that got me on the job in the early 00's, there was a variety of question, including math that correlated to pump operations, mechanical aptitude, and following orders. There were well over 100 questions on that exam. It seem like exams are designed nowadays to allow people to pass, for a probable multitude of reasons. It used to be the exam was designed to get the best candidates for the job, now it's designed to give everybody passing scores. With more and more college educated people that are taking these basic grade school exams, it's making it even harder for people to have an edge on getting the job. A lot of people taking these exams don't even know how to use a screwdriver yet are getting 100's, and I'm serious about that. I have no problem with departments trying to increase their diversity, but with the way they do it. It should be done with recruiting efforts, public education, and prep courses, not by dumbing down tests.

Just curious how many runs did your department do in 2016?

Ardsley had 300.

This is what I was talking about earlier. Saw one while sitting in traffic today at the Whitestone Bridge operations facility.. The seal on the door is just the generic New York State logo. No agency specified anywhere, except for the license plate, which is an MTA plate. And obviously a repaint of a former NYS*DOT 2006 Mack Granite/Henderson.

Interesting article from FireLawBlog.com ARTICLE: http://www.firelawblog.com/2017/01/03/chicken-cross-street-9-million/

WOW! Oh, if only in our area some departments looked at the issue...which is reality.....the way this union does. The issues they bring up are EXACTLY the same issues a lot of departments face here. STATEMENT: http://www.hermosabch.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=8226

Date: 1-1-17 Time: 1100 Location: 903 Saw Mill River Rd in area of Homefield Bowl District: Yonkers Battalion: 2 & YPD Pct. 1 Channel: Yonkers PD/Yonkers FD Weather: 44F, sunny Units: Yonkers PD ESU reources, Patrol, Detective Yonkers FD Engine 310, Ladder 75, Batt 2 WCPD Bomb Squad Empress EMS Medic 32, Supervisor Writer: x635 Description: Possible IED found. Bomb Squad requested. Appeared to be an M80 in a bucket of cement that exploded dispensing shrapnel in area...no injuries reported. No further at this time