billfitz

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Posts posted by billfitz

  1. Posted

    I don't think I mentioned the Yonkers Fire Dept. in my post- I thought I was talking about training and certifications - which I mentioned I am sure several members of the County Team have - I think the point I was trying to make is that good intentions do not translate into responding to a Tech Rescue incident within 30 minutes with enough trained and qualified personnel M-F, 8-5 when most dept's can't get an engine or ambulance out the door. When you can guarnatee a minumum of 30 First Responders on the scene trained and ready to go - to operate at a collapse incident within 30 minutes with the proper equipment and PPE then will talk. until then -

  2. Posted

    Here we go again - this will be construed as a Paid vs. vollie rant - but I would rather call it a case of the "emperor has no clothes" .

    A few weeks ago there was a Trench collapse in Eastchester where over 50 First responders (FF & Con Ed) responded. virtually ever FF on the scene was certified in Trench Collapse Operations. = The training records are documented and can be verified!

    The County Team while they may have a few trained members does not, will not and will never have the capability that they advertise (The emperor has no clothes) - every one is afraid to acknowledge the fact that it is not a viable team. This is an attempt to jump the gun and say they are in service to compete with other resources in the County and fly their flag!!! This is a dangerous perception. A team needs to be based on training and verifiable records - must have a track record - and not just good intentions!!!!!!!! While many people may have the best of intentions as a "First Response" group they will never have the capabilities that they advertise -

    Will everyone else out there be silent, buy a Tech Rescue hat and tee shirt and jump on the band wagon - for fear of saying "The Emperor has no clothes

  5. Posted

    Bullard has several recording options that all work off a similiar D ring handle with transmit capability built into the handle so it will work with any T3 camera

    1. stand alone receiver - provide your own monitor & recorder

    2. Mobile command Center receiver / recorder - (all in one box) monitor. reciver, recorder

    3. digital recorder built into handle and can be downloaded later

    We have all 3 options available to us but so far have only used them in training scenarios - I don't think many departments can spare the manpower to have someone monitoring camera transmisions during the initial fire attack. Not to say it would not be useful especially in HazMat - the entry team may have difficulty viewing while wearing CPC.

  6. Posted · Edited by billfitz

    I'm not looking to get into how much pay, seniority, etc.

    Home rule - may be a huge issue.

    Personalities, etc. who cares?

    I know these all play into the equation.

    BUT,

    Starting with an assumption, My assumption, for this conversation, that the fact that lower westchester is almost all paid departments, it would seem easier to start in lower Westchester to "regionalize".

    Let's just discuss if there really would be advantages and what they are. Or is smaller really better?

    I think it would be better to experiment in central Westchester - Tarrytown, Elmsford, Dobbs, Hastings, Sleepy Hollow & Ardsley - combining the resources of the volunteers would help with low turnout during weekdays - plus being that they are volunteers their would be no union contracts to deal with - they all volunteer - you could save millions with less firehouses & apparatus - One Chief - eliminate all the chiefs - all of the chief's cars - Another thing your right about who cares about the personalties I think this would be a great place to start! Why has no one thought of this before - BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!

  7. Posted

    Sutphen is gone - pickup is temporary - we have a Ford F-650 rack body w/ a liftgate and boom crane - this will be replacing the Sutphen as a Foam Carrier - it should be placed in service by the end of the year it will more than double the foam capabilty of the former which was auctioned off back in October with the Mack CF conversion Collapse unit

  8. Posted

    The Mack Shop conversion that was disposed of served us well but it was 20 years old - this new truck was specifically designed around the mission it will perform - one of our first USAR resources out the door with Squad 11 in conjunction with the Rescue-1 and what ever other resources that are necessary to create an initial USAR response. On board sytems & equipment include:

    25KW generator

    -2 x 200' cord reels

    185 CFM air compressor

    -2 x 100' 3/8" utility air reels

    -1 x 100' x 1" air reel

    Wilburt light tower

    On Spot Chains

    Portable winch - capable of being used on all 4 sides of apparatus

    Airshore USAR Kit

    Stanley Hydraulic tool System

    Lumber - trench panels, plywood, 6x6, 4x4, 2x4, 2x6, etc.

    Full length awnings each side of body

    slide & drop down equipment trays

    Chop saw mounted on rollout tray

    numerous electric & cordless tools

    Hand tools

    more!

  11. Posted

    It will be kept outside & dry - in the event we need it - we would generally have 3-4 hours before the water towers were empty if pumps failed - also it only takes 5 minutes to fillup from a hydrant with a 3 1/2" line. We have already used it to standby at Ridge Hill when they had to do a main shutdown for repairs -

  12. Posted

    As mentioned previously this would act as a supplement to booster tanks until a relay is established - there is no quick dump valve or pool involved we would supply this tanker via hard suction to the suction intake on a pumper with the assistance of an on board diesel pump on the tanker - utilizing the tankers pump and the pumpers pump with hard suction we can supply 500 GPM for up to 10 minutes while establishing a reliable water source from a hydrant - The tanker is automatically vented when opening the main supply valve. This is not currently setup to do a shuttle operation

  14. Posted

    5000 gallon capacity - built specifically as a water tanker - there have been many articles written recently about converting fuel tankers into water tankers - the greatest danger is the difference in specific gravity between water & fuel oil/gasoline - water is much heavier and would most likely exceed the original GVW design capacity of the truck/trailer

  15. Posted

    There has been several times in the last five years alone where we have lost water to a large section of the city for one reason or the other (keep in mind while we do have hydrants - some areas are over 100 years old) - in some cases scheduled valve shutdowns for maintenace or electrical failures at pump stations have left areas w/o water that would have required a rely of over 4000' - Several battalion Chief's suggested looking into a tanker for these occassions - so when the oppurtunity came up to pick up a 1998 stainless steel water tanker from military surplus for $1500 it was impossible to pass up - as X635 mentioned we already had the tractors as part of our fleet so the investment was minimal for practically a brand new tanker!

  17. Posted

    CF Mack Conversion was junked last month = it was a 1988 Mack CF - we are awaiting delivery (end of this month) of a Hackney/Mack Tandem - Heavy Rescue/Collapse Unit. The USAR TT is not only a local resource bit a regional resource - The Collapse Rescue will be the first response unit out of Station 11 with the crew from Squad11. more to follow upon delivery on Collapse Rescue.

  19. Posted

    FYI - Mack Tractor - The tandem axle Mack Granite Tractor was purchased primarily for the FireBlast Live Burn Trailer but can do double duty pulling the 5000 gallon water tender or the USAR Trailer if needed.

    FYI USAR Tractor Trailer - We are not a FEMA team thus we don't need to coordinate with FEMA we are a Local/Regional Response Unit.

    Equipment Highlights:

    Stanley Hydraulic tool System

    Partner Hydraulic tool system

    185 CFM PTO BOSS air compressor

    Hydraulic Rescue Tools - 220V Electric, Gasoline trimo power units as well as battery back pack pack

    USAR Set of AIRSHORE rescue struts

    35KW - Diesel Generator

    4 - 200' cord reel w/ 20 amp 110v power boxes

    2 - Utility 100' air reels

    2 - Wilburt Night Scan telescoping light towers

    2 - Awnings

    Searchsystems - Cable probe, Seachcams, Entry Link, Delsar life detector

    Lumber - 2x4, 4x4, plywood, 2x6, 2,10, 6x6

    Torches - oxygasoline, acetylene

    2 - Complete sets paratech USAR high pressure airbags

    3 - Complete sets Vetter Low pressure airbags

    Scene lights both sides

    2 - tripod lights front of trailer

    portable winch w/ recivers mounted both sides of trailer

    Winch mounted front bumper of tractor

    Numerous hand tools

    Numerous Power & cordless tools

    Gasoline Ring saws (Partner)

    Rigging - Griphoists etc

    Plus a lot more!