firedude

Those laws are easily amended IF there's a drive to do so. Nobody is going to go out and do it unless they're being lobbied to and right now all the lobbying is AGAINST consolidation/regionalization.

On April 1st 2013, Scotland's 8 regional Fire & Rescue services were merged into a single national department. The 8 regional police services were also merged into a single national service.
The 8 regions were originally made up of many smaller depts. but during and after world war IIthey were merged.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21938388
Wow, 8 depts are too many for an entire nation so they are merging them into 1. We have 59 in just our county and they all believe that their community would not survive without them. Infact we have whole towns with 8 departments. What was most interesting is their reasoning for the merge, they wanted to save money, but most important they did not want to reduce services. All over America we see depts cutting staffing, cutting companies, cutting houses, cutting salaries and the number of volunteers dropping, but still no one is willing to merge to make sure the services delivered in the field remain strong? So this merger will save enough money to maintain every company, every station and the minimum manning on an engine will remain at 6 (1 officer, 1 driver & 4 firefighters).We really need to rethink how we do this and why we do this.

All the Parades (and other Fire Dept Events) that I am aware of have already been posted to the Emtbravo.net calendar.
A few upcoming Parades:
Bedford Hills:
Saturday May 18th
Pleasantville:
Friday May 31st
Yorktown:
Wednesday June 26th
Mamaroneck
Tuesday July 2nd
Mahopac:
Thursday July 11th
South Salem:
Wednesday August 7th
WCVFA (To be held in Rye Brook/Port Chester this year)
Sunday September 22nd

All the Parades (and other Fire Dept Events) that I am aware of have already been posted to the Emtbravo.net calendar.
A few upcoming Parades:
Bedford Hills:
Saturday May 18th
Pleasantville:
Friday May 31st
Yorktown:
Wednesday June 26th
Mamaroneck
Tuesday July 2nd
Mahopac:
Thursday July 11th
South Salem:
Wednesday August 7th
WCVFA (To be held in Rye Brook/Port Chester this year)
Sunday September 22nd

maybe these ones will be a little clearer on the site

New M2 for WCPD. Hope it serves them well. This one isn't the exact same thing as the 1st SAFE boat, but very similar. I believe this replaced one of the Whalers.
Seen here operating at a minor boat accident yesterday 5/4/13

Three structures burning on Beechwood Avenue.

NycNewsguy video.

235 Lake Shore Drive in Mount Pleasant

Shot I got

Back in 2011/2012 there was a lot of speculation on the web about the new ambulance FDNY EMS was in the process of buying. It was a Dodge/Wheeled Coach with a 4 door cab. I recall reading somewhere that FDNY was going to purchase up to 285 of them. I know they started to take delivery, and then it seemed like they stopped. Was there some type of problems with them, or was the design found to be deficient in some area. I have only seen a few on the street of NY. Here is a photo I got of one today at EMS Station 15, just a few blocks from the 5 Alarm fire on White Plains Road in the Bronx.

EMS Station 15, ex quarters of Engine 63

Why I try only comment on Police issues,there is a few things that need to addressed here:
1-Ballistic vests will not protect anyone from a .223cal round as was used in W.Webster
2-Vests serve zero protection from an explosive,and dosen't help with projectiles such as the case in Boston.
3-If there's a need for EMS to wear vests,because of the dangers of the job,than the EMS providers shouldn't be in any area until PD deems it safe.
4-EMS uniforms,are looking like more PD uniform's,especially with all the stitching and back panels,which is not a good idea,and can be unsafe.I have seen people walk up to them on Job's thinking they were the PD. NOT GOOD....
While I'm all for protection of everyone on a scene,I think EMS wearing PPE on calls especially MVA's is probably money better spent,I can telll you from over 30 years on the Job,a vest is not the answer to the problem,bottomline,if it isn't safe,you shouldn't be there.
So,I'm not sure of the justification for buying the vests???

Eng 38 on the hydrant, with a RAC set up in front of it

Squad 61

Field Comm Unit

Rescue 3

Air Recon Chief with NYPD Aviation

Tower Ladder 41 working from East 225 Street

Tower Ladder 31 working the East 226 St corner. Con Ed was working in the street prior to the alarm, and continued on.

Ladder 61 and Tower Ladder 51 operate under the elevated subway

Ladder 56 bringing a line to the roof

More Photo

More Photo

Bored On A Wednesday When For A Ride

As usual, work interfered with buffing a fire, and I got there around 0820, almost 2 hours into the fire. Looking north from the Gun Hill Road #2 subway platform

Date: 5/2/13
Time: 00:35
Incident Type: Working fire in OMD
District: Port Chester
Location: 241 South Regent Street
PCFD Units: 2392 (IC), E58, E61, E63, E64, L31, R40
TMFD Units: 2231, R6
PC*R*RB-EMS Units: 77A1
WCDES Units: Bat 15, C&O Zone 2
Frequencies: 46.06 / 46.26 / 33.96 / EMS 15 / Fire 15
Weather Conditions: Cool, Clear
Reporters: Using All Hands

Description: Working fire on third floor of a three-story multi-family dwelling.
00:37 - E61 on scene transmitting 10-75. E60 & E62 on standby.
00:46 - 2392 requesting a FAST to scene. Town of Mamaroneck dispatched.
00:47 - Bat 15 dispatched.
00:49 - Command reports possible subject still in building on top floor near B/C side.
00:51 - 2231, R6 w/ FAST responding.
00:58 - 2392 reports main body of fire knocked down, checking for extension, searches underway, using all hands. 60 Control advising duration of box 15 minutes.
01:03 - TMFD FAST on scene.
01:04 - 2392 requesting C&O Team.
01:14 - 2392 placing fire under control. Bat 15 on location.

We had a pretty successful weekend. We had a good turn out of members from the department as well as the public. We secured 6 potential new members for the department and the Ladies Auxiliary secured 3 potential new members. A great weekend was had by all who came out.

Ex-Putnam Lake
Ford/Gowans Knight

Ex-FDNY Ladder 124 "Tonka Truck"
1997 Seagrave 75'
Looks like it finished its career as a spare at Ladder 51, now the latest to enter Brookfield

Here's some more from REMA Day: