Alpinerunner

The Westchester County helicopter was requested for illumination but declined the mission because of wind conditions. The Bell 407 is a great helicopter but with the wind (40+ knots) coming over a ridgeline it was not a good environment for a light helicopter like that to attempt a rescue. State Police helicopters (based less than 5 miles away at Stewart) are also hoist equipped and they have three different airframes to choose from, Bell 407 (not a good choice), Bell 430 (twin engine medium duty aircraft), and a Huey (which may or may not be hoist equipped).
The NYPD Air-Sea Rescue aircraft will go virtually anywhere because of their agreement with the US Coast Guard and capabilities of their personnel an aircraft.
I'm not sure what you mean by "rigged for the mission intended" but the NYSP aircraft do have hoist capabilities. It is interesting that they were just doing hoist training last week but didn't complete this mission. There must have been some reason for that which we're not aware of.
According to the NYPD, they used a horse collar for the two cadets and the ESU member that was lowered to them wears a hoist/rappel harness. The collar cinches around the victim so it is very difficult to slip out. It sounds like the State Police were there and provided illumination for the NYPD.
The weather at Stewart Airport just a few miles north of the incident had sustained winds of 15-25 knots with gusts to 35-45 knots so it was absolutely an incredible feat to hover at the mountain where winds are notoriously faster and more turbulent. Kudos to the NYPD, this was a rescue that not alot of other agencies could have successfully pulled off.
Why this was done and a ground rescue was not performed - the NYPD rescued these recruits after midnight, more than six hours after they became trapped on the cliff and after other measures failed or were deemed too risky to attempt. Conditions were bad and the use of a helicopter was determined to be the best option to expeditiously resolve the incident.
The NYPD doesn't just "do" these types of rescues. They (management, pilot and crew, ESU members) measure the potential risk, the availability of other options, and the capabilities of crew and equipment. After that risk assessment the hoist rescue was chosen as the option of choice. WIth that said, I'm satisfied that it was the best option given the circumstances.
Finally, where does it say that these cadets were rappelling or were attached to ropes? It says they were "separated from their squad" during a training exercise. There's no mention of ropes at all.

So what you're basically saying is that these 2 cadets should have self rescued after being exposed to severe hypothermia for an extended period of time?
If you really have any high angle experience you'd know just how physically taxing rope ascension is. With the onset of hypothermia you lose much of your strength, manual dexterity and your mental capacity begins to diminish. You're the ONLY person I know that can operate after prolonged exposure to such conditions.
What do you do at a working job with people trapped? Do you shout instuctions to them from the street on how they should get off the fire floor because you're afraid you'll get burned?
Gotta love the Internetz lol

It's a confusing article. It starts out with this "political bantering" comment. Where did that take place, in the firehouse amongst the members? Did they get into a heated political argument, because towards the end of the story the firefighter in question says he was so distraught that he felt he couldn't perform his duties, so he went home sick. He also said he voted for Giffords.
He also retired apparently. So he's gone.
Not much of a story here really, much ado about nothing in my opinion.

Early motorized tiller pulling out of Station #1

1938 Ladder truck (brand new) during 250th New Rochelle Anniversary Parade

1938 Ladder truck
Photo Credit John Magiure (The Midnight Voice of KEF-9340

The county and other places has spent oodles of grant money on equipment and toys and big vehicles that they can't staff.
And because they cant staff them they dont like to talk about them. Youd think theyd be out there parading these resources around but because they have no plan to staff them and deploy them when they're needed its embarrassing to them.
And because the four cities that account for most of the population dont need a lot of help and try to hold the county accountable, the County doesnt want to get caught claiming to have resources that it doesnt really have when one of the cities needs them.
And as a political appointee the boss there has to tread lightly or face the unemployment line.
Try calling your legislator and ask them what these trailers can do. DES has to answer to them.

In case anyone was wondering about this story, the District removed the logo. The Chiefs office has had some very good dialogue with certain members of the community, we were even invited (the FD) to lead the pledge of allegiance during the Black History Month community awards ceremony this month, which we did.
Another Dept. has contacted us, they to have a company known as the "Rebels". After seeing what we went through they are removing anything that could be deemed offensive from their rig/quarters.
So some good has come from this incident.
Some lessons learned...be prepared for anything, think before you speak to the media especially if you are confronted without warning, never use the term "no comment" and have a Public Information Officer ready to release a statement as soon as possible.
Be safe all!

I viewed the video and I have to say that this one is a real stretch. Everyone is jumping to conclusions about what "looks like" and "seems to be" a Confederate Flag. Are they the same people who insinuated that the late Joe Camel "appeared to be" phallic in design? I'm currently down South and I see lots of Confederate Flags, it's just part of the culture. There is no Confederate Flag depicted here. Just another non-story that was picked up for no good reason.

A CHANGE IN THE FIRE SERVICE?!?!?!

As a new Captain my long term goal for this year is to increase the training standards of our department and maybe even get the word out to our fire coordinators and instructors to make the training requirements mandatory. Im tired of hearing fellow volunteers using the same excuse over and over..."Im only a volunteer with a family and FT Job responsibilities." Well than you need to evaluate your situation and make changes; either leave the department or find the time to train because fire kills us just as fast and the people we serve deserve all the same levels of protection that our career brothers and sisters provide. They deserve more than a truck full of untrained well intentioned people with big hearts...they need the same people but with the right training.
I have a wife and young daughter, four years old, and they both support me. They know that if I dont have the training I could get hurt or even worse...makes sense, doesnt it?? They want me to come home than I have to know what Im doing.
I work, and go to school FT yet still make it to drills and classes.
My only question, to all of you with experience in this matter, is how do I get the point across without being too aggressive and making them all burry their heads in the sand? Any good advice for an unseasoned officer to carry out my goal? Any advice would be appreciated and thanks for the information on the training requirements, good stuff.
Stay Safe everyone.

Huguenot Engine Co#1 Fire Station on Lawton Street. c.1880
Building burn to the ground while company was out of quarrters on another incident.
The Fire Bell was Found in the Basement and was saved.

Huguenot Engine Co#1 Replacment House
Was Torn down in 1890 to clear land for new Police Station. Company relocated to new Fire Headquaters on Church Street.
Police Station was torn down in the 1960's. Was a park and now the parking lot for the Library.
The Bell is currently located infront of Station #1 (Harrison Street) as part of the UFFA memorial.

We all have staffing issues. Did any other dept. respond to the scene other then WP and Larchmont? I can't really tell from the pics and video. I would assume you needed a number of engines to lay line to all the elevated water towers as well as to protect exposures. Great stop to the guys of NRFD. Could have lost the whole block on that one.

SIGNMAN and myself made a trip to Washington CT this morning to check out their new Engine 3, Specs are as follows: 2008 International 7400 Series 2 Door Cab, 4 wheel drive (Washington already had thechassis as they were originally going to remount an exsisting body onto this chassis) Max Force 330 HP Chassis equipped with: 1,250 GPM Hale HFM Front Mount Pump, 750 Gallon Pro-Poly Tank, 2 SCBA Seats, Super Single Wheel and Tire Package, Ziamatic Electric Ladder Rack, 6 Storage Compartments, 6" Intake, 5" LDH Discharge, 5,000 Watt Gas Generator, 2,500' of 5" Supply Hose, Two 1-3/4" Crosslays LED warning lights. a 100 pound speedy dry hopper which has a fill door under the ladders. It is 26' 10" in length and 9' 7" high.
Here are the production pictures and some provided by Firematic Supply
http://www.emtbravo....elivered-11711/

more....

Lately it's nice for us to get a little positive press...even if it's a tragedy for someone else. Shows good work.....and stops the propaganda pension related stories for 24hrs!

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/bronx/paramedics_rescue_toddler_from_bronx_eV7tWP92GbOi6QtJjERTYO?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4d532bb8bae2b71b%2C0
http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/events/2011/020911b.shtml
Great job to all the members who saved a family and a gave a Mother and Child a chance at a future! On a side note EMT Poliakoff and I were partners for a while at work. He is a standup guy, I am happy he was able to make a huge difference,

Thanks for posting the links. Sounds like a great job by F.D.N.Y.'s EMT's & Firefighters.
BTW: How does F.D.N.Y. continue to do such a great job when they don't equip any of their ambulances or fire apparatus with 'Roto-Ray's' ??? LOL

The guy gets an A+++ for quick thinking and execution of his plan.
I can only picture in my mind the pump operators class this guy could teach.. "Heavy wet snow put thru a 13HP snowblower with 32 inch cutting path, with a throwing radius of 20-25 feet will put out a room and contensts fire if the room is approximatley 10x15 feet.........."

I have been on both sides of this issue.
It boils down to cooperation, working together and using common sense.
Tall orders for some!!!

This was my thought as well. I mean it can't get THAT soft so close to where the pillars are. Another thought is going from underneath and cutting a hole in the floor, assuming the ground is better there. Also, if the ground is very soft you can use something stable to put the ladder on. If the truck is there you can use the jack pads, maybe a large high pressure airbag (uninflated of course), or plywood if you carry it. You will have to get creative.
I don't think any type of tower or stick is useful due to access, unless you're talking about getting crazy and repelling off the tip behind the building.

You arrive at this building which is becoming well involved from what you can see in the front and sides. There are two people trapped in a back office by a window by the flames. Their only exit is the back windows:

But you have one complication:

Get a ground ladder? Don't think so. The back is wet marshland that will sink you to your hips.

Another problem to consider is that the floors in this building are somewhat thin. So, how would you handle this rescue?

Ask Derek Jeter to play on your softball team see what his union says

Date: 2/1/2011
Time: 21:09
Location: 184-186 Bridgeport ave, house on corner of BPT ave and Sullivan rd
Frequency: 33.86
Units Operating: SFD companies 1, 3, and 4. SEMS, SPD, DOT for sand. Nichols FD, Derby FD
Weather Conditions: hail/rain
Description Of Incident:
companies 1, 3, and 4 for the "fully involved" structure fire at address above. First units in confirmed worker with fire on the first floor of a 2.5 story balloon frame, heavy smoke conditions on 2nd floor. E2 grabbing a plug and going to work. E32 with another line to the front door. E35 to feed E32. homeowners evacuated, but cats (4) are still inside. one cat rescued from "C" side, another escaped, unable to find remaining 2 cats. Derby FD to cover station 1, Nichols FD to cover station 3. first floor had heavy fire, especially in bedroom. 2nd floor heavy smoke, no fire. interior reported house has 2 separate attics, no fire in either. bulk of fire was k/d in about 10 minutes of arrival, crews opening up walls/ceilings, hitting hot spots. no further fire found. Crews with lighting to search for remaining 2 cats, but none found. DOT to sand road.
photos from keith at fireground images:
Shelton Fire
Reporters:
Writer:

Or your exhaust whistle! Bub Rubb and Lil Sis? "The whistles go woooo-woooooo. But it's only in the mo'nin, when we up cookin breakfis" Anyone?

Fun day? One of our brothers transmitted a MAYDAY (correct me if I am wrong) and was injured. How's that a fun day?
Brothers - if you read BFD1054's Incident Alert for this job, one of our own needed help within TEN MINUTES AFTER ARRIVAL! This is not uncommon and we need to ensure we have guys on the scene while we're making that initial push that can help us out if s*** hits the fan.
Bad s*** happens quicker than we can expect, and we need to absorb this information and prepare ourselves.
I hope the brother has a fast and full recovery.

Here are some pictures I took at last Sunday's MVA w/Pin I/F/O 222 Main Street in Mt. Kisco. The man driving this pickup truck damaged approximately 10 parked vehicles on Green St and Main Street before he finally rolled his truck over in the middle of Main Street. Luckily there were no other people injured in this accident. Driver was transported to Westchester Medical Center as a precaution.