Billy

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Posts posted by Billy

  1. Posted

    Wow. I remember my old man in one of those light blue radio cars.

    One was a'64 and the other '65. I was wondering if NYPD used that paint scheme in those years? I am not sure how accurate the cars are?

  4. Posted

    After graduating PA school on the 11th, I took a small trip to Bermuda. Definitely needed a getaway to lay low and relax after studying my butt off these past couple years. While I was down there I stopped by the local FD and grabbed a couple quick shots. I was pressed for time so I wasn't there long. One FF came out and was very happy to talk to me and show me the rig, very nice guy. Anyways - just thought i'd share.

    This station only had one rig at the time. I asked a little bit about what they usually see on a regular basis. Per the FF, they mostly respond to MVAs and MCA. I was told there is at least one fatal a week on the island with all the small streets and motorcycle/scooter drivers. Mix a little EToH, cell phones, speed and you get the picture. As for structure fires, he told me it is usually a room and contents type deal. Home construction on the island is usually a noncombustible type material and limestone roofs. All roof's are Limestone as they use it to catch rain water for home use.

    I didn't have time to get into all the gear/tools/whatnot so here's what I grabbed.

    Bermuda Fire Service - Port Royal Station (main headquarters are located in Hamilton Bermuda, didn't make it there)

    station.jpg

    200? Spartan/Dependable - 25' long, I believe he said 60 gallons of foam and 2 maybe 300 gallons of water. I can't remember exactly. :huh:

    truck1.jpg

    truck2.jpg

    Police/Rescue boat I saw in Dockyard - I wasn't able to get a better shot than this one.

    policeboat.jpg

    Enjoy

    Mike

    Awseome pics! Thanks for showing them.

  5. Posted

    Hi all,

    I've decided to reorganize my scanner's bank of frequencies because it has become too cluttered and I can no longer find what I am looking for. I am basically going to delete most of what is there and start over.

    I have heard that the listed frequencies on RadioReference are not that accurate, so I am coming to you guys and asking for your assistance.

    When you click on the following link, you will be led to an editable chart of locations that I would like the frequencies for: https://docs.google....1PDi9otFzo/edit

    Please type in the frequencies that you know for certain as well as any details that are not included in the initial chart setup (i.e. if its a paging or operations frequency only, etc.) Let me know if you have any questions.

    Happy buffing!!

    In my experience there is no reason for you do doubt the accuracy of RadioReference. I am not aware of any major issues with their database. Also, if it still exists there was a simple database of frequencies on EMTBRAVO that would probably give you all the info you are looking for.

  9. Posted

    Greetings all from always sunny Kandahar Afghanistan.

    So it's been awhile since I reported in, due in no small part to the fact that I wasn't here for 3 1/2 months. Yes I had an extended leave for some minor surgeries that have since healed. So here I am on day three back in the sandbox.

    First thing I noticed is that I now have a roommate. Yes my wonderfully blissfull life as the sole occupant of room A-77 is over. My new "guest" is Aruna and he hails from Sri Lanka. What is unusal about our arrangement is that, unlike everyone else, we are off the same time. You see everyone has a roommate but everyone's elses works opposing shifts, so in fact they are the masters of their own domain..all 100 square feet of it, on their days off. I on the other hand, through the blessing of fortune, have been moved onto red shift for temporary duty, which also happens to be Aruna's normal shift, thus we are together 24/7. Now while some might find this troublesome, I have taken the approach that it is a learning experience. Yes I am learning patience, a virtue I sadly do not possess in any quantity worth mentioning. I'm also learning to move very stealthily. You see I'm something of an insomniac. To bed at 12 or 1 up at 3:30 - 4. Now when I lived alone it was no big deal..get up, jump on skype and call the wife and kids 8 1/2 hours behind in the States, call on some friends nearby working the overnight, do the three Ss...you know sh**, shower and shave, and maybe even get a little morning wood "relief" with the help of some internet visual aids all before heading off to work. Well all but the Ss are bit hard to do with a guy sleeping a mere 5 feet away. So I've become quite the stealthy one...like a ninja slipping silently in and out of the room. And Aruna's a real good sport too but one who is not without a few quirks of his own. Chief among them was his belief that's what's mine is his, most notably my cell phone and bath items such as soap. But we've worked that out..I gave him the phone as I really don't use it, plus at 60 buck a fill up (about twice a week on average) it gets a bit costly just to yap about nothing with people I really don't want to talk to anyway. As for the bath items, scale and everything else, well let's just say he's now fully aware that those are hands off without permission.

    But there is another part of the learning experience and it is one that for me has real meaning. Aruna's a Buddhist, I'm Roman Catholic which as lead to some enlightening discussions for both of us. We are also culturally very different as well in our views of the world, marriage and just about everything else save one...family. Both him and I (and every other family man here for that matter) has the same view on the importance of family and yes even our extended firehouse families too. So time spent with my new roomie has again offered me the opportunity I relish most..to learn about other cultures and peoples and diminsh my own ignorance in the process. I guess things really do happen for a reason.

    As far as the work goes well I've only done one shift on red. Good bunch of guys, just not my bunch of guys, but it's all good. First day back saw us moving a good deal for us though. 11 runs yesterday the first of which, 3 minutes into the shift, was a semi trailer of electronics cooking good. That killed the better part of an hour with clean up and all. Then a series of smells and bells, an MVA with injuries and a small generator fire at the Boardwalk. A nice leisurely lunch of chicken curry, rice and salad followed and then some more smells and bells. High point of the day a smoky two room job just before dinner held with no real extension to the rooms involved upon arrival. And the capper of the day another generator at the boadwalk just before midnight. I should just point out that yesterday was a balmy 108 by 2 pm with evening temps hovering around 90....which like all things here carries a silver lining. Temps like that do wonders for dieting... :D

    So all things considered a great first shift back and a good first couple of days back in Crapahar after a very extended and enjoyable leave.

    Stay Safe all and thanks for all you all do back home

    Cogs

    Thanks for the update and stay safe. Good luck with your new roommate....sounds like a bit of a challenge!
    FFPCogs likes this

  10. Posted · Edited by Billy

    For those of you who have been around long enough to know him, radio legend Pete Fornatale died earlier today at 66. He was a fixture at WNEW and also Fordham's WFUV up until his sudden illness. There aren't too many like him left.

    RIP Pete.

  12. Posted

    Sorry I shouldn't expect someone to know their job or the locale they work, or the fact that saying you would need to access this point from either 9a entrance to the TSP or from P'ville road. Same thing happens when you call NYC 911, you get some dope who asks you for an exit number, sorry, 233 st is not exact enough for you? Yet another reason I usually never call to initiate help for people. And just note that the prior times calling all the MEN I spoke to were professional as could be!

    Dude I think you should just give up now and not say anymore...you're not making things better.... :huh:

    INIT915, newsbuff, peterose313 and 1 other like this

  18. Posted

    Date: 08/28/11

    Time:18:45

    Location: Croton River east of Hudson River (between Croton Dam and Hudson)

    Frequency: 155.550,

    Units Operating: WCPD,Croton PD, NYSP, NYPD air-sea rescue helicopter, Croton EMS, Ossining ALS, Westchester County TRT Swift Water Rescue Unit

    Weather Conditions: very windy

    Description Of Incident: Overturned inflatable raft with 5 persons in the water. Croton FD boat capsized attempting rescue in fast moving water (estimated to be about 40 MPH). FD personnel and civilian victims rescued downstream near railroad trestle at Hudson River. One civilian victim in cardiac arrest and pronounced at Phelps hospital. Final civilian victim held onto tree branch for two hours before becoming exhausted and falling into water. Rescued by swift water rescue personnel. Aviation assets limited due to high winds and terrain.

    Reporters: Billy et al

    Writer: Billy

    x129K likes this

  21. Posted

    Don't these issues also have to be solved on the governmental and community level as well? Any major changes in a community's emergency services would have to be approved and voted on by assorted Town councils and people in the fire districts. And there is where the problem truly is because, of course, no one wants to give up what they have and would rather maintain the status quo.....t's pretty much fear of the unknown.