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You get it? 300 lb pissed off dude "Hey bud, you need to come with me ok?" " Sure officer, no problem. I'd put my hands behind my back but I'm to big to handcuffed in the rear unless you have two sets of cuffs handy" Pick a scenario. Tasers? Not an option on Staten Island. Shoot the perp? Not a good idea. Maybe wait for K9, but thats inhumane. What's the answer? No matter what you do, you lose. Yes let's put cameras on all our officers, that will solve everything. How about holding each and every citizen responsible for their actions to in include showing their ass on a public sidewalk, street etc. LEOs aren'tperfect and there's some bad apples out there but the morales of society suck and it's out of control.

One: They hang tough, stand firm and do their jobs, steadfastly working to build a better department from within, one more concerned with firematics than social activities
Two: They move on to another department more in tune with their own personal training and duty philosophies and thereafter they flourish
Three; They tuck their tails between their legs and quit

Remembering....

LIEUTENANT MICHAEL E. NEUNER, SR.

Brewster Fire Department #585
Peekskill Police Department #27

Michael died as a result of injuries sustained while operating at a
Structure Fire on June 22, 1997 with the Brewster Fire Department
(Putnam County) New York.
REMEMBER 585!
Photo of PO Neuner on duty with Peekskill PD patrolling the downtown.

I copy and pasted this topic I started on another site.
Sites like this are useful in may ways and one of the most rewarding is in the sharing of information such as tactics, equipment and the like. Now there are a few things that I really enjoy in life beyond my family, which I love immeasurably, among these are fighting fires, yeah I really do LOVE fighting fires, playing music and cooking (and eating too of course). So I got to thinking I'm sure there are alot of other firehouse chefs among our contributors here and if any of you are anything like me I'm sure you're always in search of an idea for a good meal with the crew (or your family and friends) to break the mealtime monotony. To that end I thought I'd start this thread as a place to share recipes and broaden our culinary horizons, (and those of our fellow FFs who enjoy the fruits of our firehouse kitchen labors)...after all who doesn't like a good meal!!

To get the ball rolling I'm offering up one of my more recent concoctions inspired by my time in the sandbox which I call Harissa grilled chicken with rice and cucumber/tomatoe salad. The following recipe may seem a bit labor intensive but trust me it's a piece of cake and delicious. I've amended it to serve four and it takes about 1 1/2 hours total to prepare and serve. I should warn you that all of the measurements below are approximate, (I don't often measure anything when I cook), so adjust as necessary for your own taste.

Ok so here goes:

Ingredients:

For the harissa:

3 red bell peppers cut in half and seeded (reserve 1/4 of one pepper for the rice)
1 jalapeno pepper cut in half and seeded
1 poblano pepper cut in half and seeded
1 habanero pepper cut in half and seeded (this is only for those who like the heat in their food as well as on the fireground)
1 Tbsp olive oil
juice of half a lemon
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp tumeric
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp coarse ground black pepper
3 Tbsp fresh mint
2 Tbsp scallion tops roughly chopped
5 cloves garlic

To prepare the harissa:
Roast all the peppers under the broiler (or grill them) until the skins have blackened. Remove from heat place in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap and let cool. Once cooled remove the skins and discard them. Place pepper flesh and all the remaining ingredients in a food processor and pulse grind until a paste is formed and all the ingredients are thoroughly combined (about 10 -12 pulses). Let sit for at least 1/2 hour (harissa will hold for about 3 weeks in the fridge so this step can be done at home and held until you're ready to use it)

For the Chicken:

1 pkg (8) chicken thighs (skin on if you can bone them, skinless if you can't or are trying to eat healthier)
1Tbsp olive oil
juice of half a lemon

To prep the chicken:
Remove bones from chicken thighs and discard. Place boned chicken in a large bowl (or container) add olive oil, lemon juice and harissa. Mix marinade on chicken to coat all pieces evenly and let sit in the fridge for at least 1 hour (more if possible).

ps. I use thighs for this recipe because they are more flavorful and stay moist. You can substitute whichever cuts you like

For the salad:

1 seedless cucumber cubed (about 1/2")
3 plum tomatoes cubed (same as cuc)
1/2 a small red onion cubed (same same)
3 celery stalks cut into 1/2 pieces (optional)
2 gloves garlic minced
2 Tbsp mint leaves coarsely chopped
1 tsp salt
1/2 tbs coarse ground black pepper
juice of half a lemon

While chicken marinates cut all the vegetables for the salad and combine. Let sit for 15 minutes and then drain. Add garlic, mint, salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon juice and toss to coat. Place in refrigerator until service.

For the rice:

1 cup basmati rice
1 clove garlic minced
1/4 of a red bell pepper (reserved from harissa)
1/4 tbs coarse ground black pepper
1 Knorr chicken bullion cube
2 cups water
remainder of scallion bunch (roots removed)

Finely slice about 1 Tbsp of scallion from the bottom of the bunch (white part) and mince garlic. Finely slice the remaining scallion tops (about 1/4 cup) and finely dice the 1/4 of a red bell pepper. Reserve for later use
Combine water, black pepper and bullion in a small pot and bring to a boil


While water is coming to the boil, add olive oil, sliced scallion bottoms and garlic to an oven safe pot and sautee over medium high heat for 2 minutes, reduce heat to low and add rice and tumeric and sautee for another 2 minutes stirring constantly to coat all of the rice and turn it yellow (don't let rice burn, if water hasn't boiled turn off heat). Once water mixture has boiled add it to the sauteed rice/garlic/scallion, cover and place in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes. (If you don't have an oven safe pot use a medium sized aluminum pan and cover (12x10ish) to cook the rice after everything has been sauteed as described above. Remove rice after 25 minutes, add finely diced red bell pepper and scallion tops and mix thoroughly.

While rice is cooking, grill* the chicken over medium high heat skin side down for about 5 minutes, (if chicken starts to burn reduce heat), flip and continue grilling until thoroughly cooked (about another 5 minutes depending on thickness of the thighs).

*If no grill is available chicken can be broiled in the oven after the rice has finished cooking.



Plate and serve with warm pita bread. Enjoy!!!

More to come......

Maybe they have better mental health programs and less reality TV shows?

Historically, doors haven't been breached during these kinds of incidents so securing the door so it simply can't be "pulled open" may in fact save lives.
Not a really big deal. Teachers have them in their rooms and if a lockdown is called or they hear shots they can secure the room from inside.
Hardly them trying to do emergency response.

10-30 at 19 Dudley St in Yonkers on Sunday, on the grounds of Lenoir Nature Preserve. Tiny streets, difficult address, and close to the border of Hastings. Quick knockdown for a stubborn basement fire - kudos!

I borrowed a camera to get these pics of very impressive ladder placement by Yonkers FD.

The boom in pic one was lifted off the truck bed, over an engine and swung 3/4 way around, then elevated full up and over a tree before coming down. You can see it is resting on phone wires. The phone pole to the left prohibited a direct placement. The truck was backed up onto the sidewalk for this.

Pic two shows the fire bldg.

Pics 3,4, and 5 shows the other ladder. Note the rubber turn markers are both bent as the truck JUST made the alley. If you can't tell, this is a TOWER LADDER. Forger the rig, the BUCKET JUST fit into the alley. Also note the boom under the wires. Crew had to limbo under the wires, as gettng into the bucket would have been impossible with the rear of the rig corking up the alleyway.

June 17, 1972
Fire Lieutenant John E. Hanbury, 46 Ladder 13
Fire Lieutenant Thomas J. Carroll, 52 Engine 32
Firefighter Richard B. Magee, 39 Engine 33
Firefighter Joseph F. Boucher, 28 Engine 22
Firefighter Paul J. Murphy, 36 Engine 32 Firefighter John J. Jameson, 52 Engine 22
Firefighter Charles E. Dolan, 47 Ladder 13
Firefighter Joseph P. Saniuk, 47 Ladder 13
Firefighter Thomas W. Beckwith, 35 Engine 32
170 Commonwealth Avenue, 4 alarms Box 1571, (Dartmouth & Newbury Streets) “The Vendome Hotel Fire”
These nine members died when a rear portion of the Hotel Vendome, 170 Commonwealth Avenue which was under renovation collapsed without any warning. The fire was under control and firefighters were overhauling. Several other members were injured. It took over 10 hours to remove all the firefighters; The Maxim ladder truck of Ladder Co. 15 was extensively damaged also. 4 alarms Box 1571, Lieutenant Hanbury had 23 years, Lieutenant Carroll had 27 years, Firefighter Dolan had 25 years, Firefighter Saniuk had 24 years, Firefighter Jameson had 21 years, Firefighter Beckwith had 6 years, Firefighter Murphy had 5 years, Firefighter Magee had 4 years and Firefighter Boucher had 19 months of service. The alarms were sounded at 1435 hours at 1435 hours, the Working Fire was ordered at 1444 hours, the 2nd alarm at 1446 hours, the 3rd alarm at 1502 hours and the 4th alarm at 1506 hours. Two extra engines were ordered at 1552 hours and the collapse occurred at 1728 hours.

Children SHOULD be safe in school, but that's not the world we live in. You know what stops a shooter really effectively? .40cal hollow points to center mass coming from those guys in the blue suits wearing the shiny metal thing on their chest.
We keep coming up with more and more excuses NOT to have cops (or at the VERY least, well-trained armed guards) in every single school in America.

Honestly I don't see the problem with this, it's not like they are trying to mitigate the situation or take down the gunman. Sure doors can be breached, but most gunman aren't carrying around forcible entry tools with them just multiple weapons and ammo. These sickos are trying to inflict maximum damage in minimal time because they know sooner than later there will be armed response, something like this that slows them down could make them move on to try and find another target or buy precious time while law enforcement is en route in order to save lives. It's not like these people think they have found a solution to school shootings. Plenty of times in these instances you hear about teachers and students barricading themselves inside classrooms, this is just another method to accomplish just that. Why bash it if it could save lives? If your child was stuck in that room would you prefer if the teacher was just trying to hold the door shut from the inside or if they actually had a device like this to better accomplish the same task?
On top of all this, when is the national news media going to stop plastering these killers faces all over the place granting them their fifteen minutes of fame? It only further emboldens others to commit similar acts. Knowing they will achieve some infamy and exposure as they escape their own perceived notions of insignificance is a lot of what drives these lunatics. The media is more concerned with selling papers than they are with common sense and the safety of the public.

April 1975 Two Alarm high rise fire at 1841 Central Park Ave.
When residents abandoned their attempt at fighting the fire with the standpipe line, they left the apartment door open allowing the fire to take over the public hallway. Yonkers firefighters went over the 19th floor roof to attack the fire from the balcony.

Yonkers Ladder 75 operating at a multiple alarm fire at Riverdale and Herriot St in Sept 1982.

April 1975
Two alarm high rise fire at 1841 Central Park Ave
Yonkers firefighters go over the 19th floor roof to attack the top floor fire.

Great pics. OMG, a parade? How unprofessional.

Sorry, couldn't resist. Seriously, great pics!

Great pics. OMG, a parade? How unprofessional.

Tip of the hat to Chief Wraftery. Well done Sir.

Chief, I believe in giving credit where credit is due and in this case it is. Great job to you and your son. Not just for saving two lives that day but also for being able to quickly recall your training and put it into action. As you mentioned, two separate generation firefighters were able to quickly and efficiently work together to mitigate a situation In which life could have been lost. I am not trying to soak up your 15 minutes of fame here, just quite impressed that two people who took a training class almost five decades apart were able to work as smoothly and efficiently as you were. That being said, I will leave you alone. Stay safe folks.

Funny you should mention training, Capt32. I learned water rescue using a boat when I was about 16 years old. That's 50 years ago, but this was the first rescue of a swimmer in trouble I ever made. My son is on the VBFD Tech Rescue team and learned the evolution a few short years ago. When the rescue was being made, we were both exactly on the same page. Each knew what the other was doing. Communication between us was clear and concise and both of us knew the drill step by step. That was an operation conducted by two generations of firefighters.
You might need your training today, tomorrow, or maybe 50 years from now. When the unusual situation comes along, it usually comes quickly "Whoop...there it is." Ours is the only profession that has to commit every training course to memory and remember it forever. Do you remember high school trig? Probably not. But do you remember the signs of impending backdraft? I bet you do...forever.
Tommy Brennan (RIP) used to say that a good firefighter has to fill his head with "stuff" and be able to get up at 2am from a sound sleep and be able to pull that "stuff" back out.

YFD Ladder 69 operating at 3 alarm fire 35-41 Hawthorne Ave on Oct 5, 1983. The red American LaFrance truck was purchased used from the Great Neck Fire Dept in 1979 and later converted to a Compac and painted lime green.

Truck 1 had a 1934 or 35 American LaFrance 75ft wood aerial, Truck 3 had a straight frame American LaFrance wood aerial, not sure of the year, Truck 4 had a 1938 American LaFrance 85ft wood aerial and Truck 5 had a 1929 American LaFrance wood aerial, not sure if it 75 or 85ft. Truck 2 did not have an aerial, just a 1936 or 37 American LaFrance city service rig. The photo of Truck 5 is from the YFD Web page. The photo of Truck 2 is mine from 1960.

These are some great photos, Ron. Keep'em comin!

Yonkers purchased a used 85ft American LaFrance tiller from the Great Neck L.I.'s Alert Hook and Ladder and Hose Co 1 on Feb. 28, 1979.
Richard Smith and Joe Kelly drove the truck back to Yonkers from Long Island with Sam Locatelli on the tiller. The truck went to Station 12.

Photo by Ron Frehm of YFD Engine 8 operating at 88 Buena Vista Ave 2 alarm fire on Feb 1, 1970