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RWC130 found the Ladder 45 for sale.....The old one, that is.....looks like this used fire apparatus dealer sunk some serious money into it. http://www.company-two.com/truckpages/89pierce.htm

City Of Stamford Police Officer Exam Filing Period Ends: 2/18/04 Written Exam: 3/20/04 (50%) Physcial Agilty:5/15/04 Oral Exam: Week Of 06/14/04(%50) Salary: Starting $47,042 Requirments: 60 College Credits (May be reduced for Military or Police Experience) Fees: $30 written, $40 agility Application and more information: http://www.cityofstamford.org/HumanResourc...liceOfficer.htm

If it's a daytime call, where resources are already limited or may be tied up elsehwere, yes it can be a problem as it strikes out several firefighters and equipment in your own community, as well as lowers first-due arrival times. It's nice to have that extra there, but only if that extra is available without costing elswhere. #1. Although it cuts out the "middleman", I notice HFD contacted DFPD directly instead of requesting mutual aid through 60 Control. Although this does save a small amount of time at this point, it costs time later. I feel 60 Control should be notified when units are responding mutual aid. That way, when Hasting's FD Chief gets on the air to request further units, they (Dispatchers) have a clue as to what's going on and where, and times not lost during that request over the air. It also gives the dispatchers a better picture of resource allocation, that way if Irvington or Ardsley strikes a job, they know that Hastings and Dobbs Ferry are already tied up, and to go with the next line MA. #2 I also noticed that PD requested right away without FD request. Is this Hasting's normal protocol to dispatch FAST upon receipt of a structure-type response, or was this done due to the winter-weather conditions that would have signifcantly delayed a normal response?

http://www.pop-upflashingcones.com/popup1.htm Just came across this device online from a Ron Moore article (Firehouse Magazine, "University Of Extrication") . Seems like a good choice for those fire apparatus that dont have room for cones, or (grrr) are worried about how cones "will look" if mounted on the exterior. These will even fit in the chiefs vehicle. Big flashy lights don't always equal all out protection, and neither do these, but coupled with appropriate apparatus placement/ positioning, these can give drivers warning earlier which may help to prevent some situations. I beleive there is a law too, a Federal DOT one, that requires cones when operating on an Interstate. Also, related to this topic, an article by Ron Moore regarding Highway safety and apparatus positioning: http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/a...onId=19&id=1034 And a webiste focused on Fire/EMS/PD Highway operations and safety: http://www.respondersafety.com/

Wouldn't this be putting "all their eggs in one basket"? Their dispatching operations are certainly fragmented, and most FDNY Fire Alarm Offices are in a need of a major overhaul and upgrade, but I don't feel Fire/EMS/PD dispatch consolidation (For NYC) is the best way to go. Their are certain benefits to the concept, but I think that having one Fire/EMS dispatch center for each borough is the best idea. The dispatchers know the area,apparatus, and crews better, and if one dispatch center goes down or is incapacitated, the other can pick up the slack.

I wonder if fear of political reprocussions or other untoward actions on the part of the FD could have played a factor in this?

The number of buses a VAC has depends on many variables. How many calls do they run,distance to MA, how big is their district, etc. I think if a VAC has one ambulance, that can be enough provided they have mutual aid within a reasonable distance willing to cover them if their vehicle goes down. On one hand, for 1 ambulance corps (I believe in Westchester County, it's Pound Ridge, Ardsley, and Verplank) the amount of calls they run and the amount of membership they have, I doubt it would be very economical to purchase, run, maintain, house, fuel etc a second ambulance. Maybe a first responder vehicle, such as an old PD car would be more feasible way to respond quicker while having no amb and awaiting MA transport units while the primary ambulance is OOS or unavailable. One the other hand, It would be a nice feature to have a back-up ambulance, even if it's a used Type II, but not critical. After all, look at some of the back-up apparatus FD's and PD's in this county are privledged to have. And , if that VAC gets into an MVA and they have to wait for a long period for a new bus, it's nice to have your own backup, but then again it's always possible to get a loaner ambulance. It would be nice if the county could maintain a "spare pool" of Fire and EMS apparatus for dept's, like other counties, but I seriously doubt that will ever happen and it's a whole nother topic. And, most importantly, before any VAC or ambulance service considers purchasing a second ambulance,they need to be able to staff that one ambulance 24/7 first and foremost before a second vehicle is considered. After all, what goods a second ambulance if you can't staff it?

Apparently, Firefighters in Pittsburgh still ride the tailboards. Can I safely say this practice is obsolete in Westchester now?

DFFD227- To clear it up- Greenburgh Police in the villages sends one civilian Paramedic in a flycar. 75, the flycar out of DFH, only covers the villages and is back up to the town. For calls in the town, the BLS ambulance is staffed by one Police Officer EMT, and there is an ambulance staffed by a civilan paramedic. With these, a police sector officer usually meets the ambulance at the scene and drives, or one of the firefighter drives. Also, usually the Police Officer Paramedics staff the Paramedic Expeditons when available for town coverage. . Usually police officers in smaller towns respond to try and lend a hand or take a report as may be their protocol. Some are first responders and carry defib units. As for engines being dispatched "to get there quicker", it's basically to intiate care quicker and reduce downtime. Your brain begins to die within 4-6 minutes without oxygen. If the FD engine or other first responder can get there quicker, intiate ventilations to provide oxygen to the blood, provide chest compressions to circulate that blood to the brain, and defib the heart that may be beating in a chaotic fashion that hinders its pumping abilty, the sooner all that can be done, coupled with appropriate ALS care, the greater the patients chances at survival are. Also, as an EMS provider, it's nice to have those extra set of hands sometimes to carry equipment, patients, do CPR,etc Me personally though ,the less the better unless its a critical patient. If I was having chest pain, I wouldnt want 20 people milling around my place. And nothing against FF's, but on EMS calls, no reason to wear bunker gear inside the patients house for a number of obvious reasons. Now, can we try to stay on or near the topic with the CPR machine thingy, lol?

BumpTTT......Anybody got the above question?

TIC's can be useful for PD and EMS applications as well. Searching for perps (I think I saw on Cops a few times some helicopters actually use this technology), locating the position of barricaded perps, as well (EMS and PD-wise) as looking for ejected vicitms and missing children.

Great shot in today's Journal News of Carmel's new(er) Tower Ladder operating at a fire yesterday: http://www.thejournalnews.com/dailygallery...4/images/10.jpg

MoFire24, I didn't forget. You're absolutely right!!!

All I want is a letter explaining the delay. 10 months is a little ridiculous, at least can I find out my score, dont care about the ranking right now,lol. BTW, Doesn't the county have to conduct the agilty test before they certify the list as well? And to go on a little mini-rant here. Next time I file, I'd like to be able to do it online .And the fee should be $25 for Westchester residents, $50 for everybody else lol. Stop trying to make money off me, I pay(ed) my taxes as a county resident. At least it's not Nassau PD's $100 for the PD test. Maybe I will go on welfare, then all of you have to pay for me to take the test,lol!

Just a little further insight regarding the run card system: I do like the concept. It's not without it's own issues though. There once was a system named Filepro. It was the old 60 Control "CAD" that is basically the system you are describing. The CAD system before this, it was the backup CAD. There was also hard-copy sheets of (standard, not street specific) deparment run cards placed in binders. Both these systems were taken out of service recently. The problem is, the county does not or cannot fund for more people to staff the CAD office of 60 Control.There's only one Lt. that currently staffs that office full time, and it is a difficult, time consuming, complicated, and laborous job for one person to maintain the primary CAD system, amongst other duties, which is neccasary to keep times, etc. Take into mind,as well, the extremly complicated setup of Westchester systems, and the never ending flow of changes, error reports, street modifications etc etc that the CAD person has to deal with. Also, from a dispatchers perspective, it's also easier and saves time to keep things streamlined in one system. The CAD is also much more than mutual aid as well, it is a legal record of operations, EMD system, etc. The CAD is efficent and can knock off many of the task mentioned here with ease. The problem is, the county needs to pay for an appropriate amount of staff to support the CAD "behind the scenes" operations. That staff should also be available to train the dispatchers when an upgrade is made, so they can make the most out of the CAD. On the flip side, Dispatchers and related should have more input into MA assignments, since they deal with it on a daily basis, but thats a whole 'nother issue. Also, legislators are reactive. If this system was implemented, and let's say worked, that'll just justify spending even less on the current CAD system and operations. IMO, You're never going to have a decent mutual aid system or mutual aid dispatch system until people adopt the same or similar ways of doing things

I like that one too, lol.

Very excited about the Super Bowl this year!! Real Super Bowl fever going on up here. and since I'm a Patriots fan to begin with, I'm going with the Patriots who will be creaming the Panthers this year!!! Some people are saying the Panthers are the New England of two years ago, but I say nope. LOL.

Another little thing: When requesting a mutual aid rig......you should be able to expect to get a rig that is appropriately staffed with trained (and competent) personel. That should be a standard. Any department countywide should be reasonably interoperable with each other despite personalities. For example, if you request a truck, you should get a rig with 4 interior structural firefighters (not 3 or not 15) and ONE officer, all trained, proficient, and in shape to do truckwork. Same thing if you request an engine, tanker, etc. Ideally, IMO, all should arrive on the same vehicle, at the same time for accountability purposes as well.

If you're looking to purchase some CD's or tapes of audio, try here http://www.fire-police-ems.com/misc/5062.shtml I don't know of any free sites that offers recorded audio of FDNY incidents. If you listen to thebravest.com or the scanner long enough, I'm sure you'll pickup a job that you can record. Here is a site that does offer recorded audio of some major national incidents, including 9-11 an LAPD shootout, a major plane crash, and some other high profile incidents. Some pretty interesting (and scary) clips. http://www.qsl.net/n6uru/audiolinks.htm

Not at all, just cross-refrenced it because it sorta had to do with mutual aid.........because I know from experience when it comes to mutual aid incidents, when something goes wrong with mutual aid they (the requesters) tend to blame the dispatchers, and when something goes right they take the credit. Alot of times when mutual aid decisions are made in a communications center, the field personel cannot see the whole picture, i.e. the appartus requested/preferred may be out of service or on another call, etc. The dispatcher or dispatch supervisor is not given enough by the chiefs in some cases to use his/her best discretion as to who to dispatch, and some are afraid to dispatch the next line, as it may infuriate that particular chief, even though it may be the next line.......which leads to the question "Who do you want Chief?"...and that all comes back to my first statement, when something goes wrong, who gets blamed. It's hard for one mind to keep track of so many different factors that determine mutual aid in this county. Line/running cards are a decent alternative, but politics,geography, staffing and the unique setups in Westchester come into play with these too. I personally think with mutual aid,and in some cases, first response, it should be closest avaialble unit, determined by AVL, which the CAD has the capability to do. It's just the politics that will make that just a dream.

Check out this video, it's pretty funny how these clowns try to get this car out of a snowbank, the end of the clip is the funniest: http://media.ebaumsworld.com/snowtow.wmv My question would be, why didnt they just drive/push the thing foward!!!

I beleive some of the info that came over the "buff pagers" was incorrect/late.

Great game! I have no fingernails left, lol. Go Pats!!! I do feel bad for the Panthers though, they did play a great game as well as deserved it just as much. Some comments: The halftime show absolutely sucked, even with the "peep show". Get some real talent in there, instead of the MTV produced teeny pop crud they had this year. A disgrace, especially considering all the music talent they have down their in Texas. The streaker was hilarious. He was interviewed on the radio this afternoon, pretty funny guy. Apparently, he is a regular streaker, having done it at Wimbelton etc, and stated streaking the Super Bowl was his "holy grail". The bad part was, as every time a Boston team wins OR loses a game: Boston fans are insane. The unrest that went on in the city last night was insane, especially in Kenmore Square, which is near BU. Students were lighting fires in the street and jumping over them, climbing up on light stantions, hundreds of acts of vandalism. A TV crew had to abandon their van during a live broadcast. Similar acts went on near Northeastern Univ/Huntington Ave. In that area, a car driven by a drunk driver plowed into a crowd injuring several pedestrians and police officers, and killing a 21 year old male. In the Allston area, which is a big college area as well, Boston Fire had to hose down a large crowd (temps were 20ish) to get them to disperse after several hours. Most of the "troublemakers" were out of town college kids :roll:

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