SteveOFD

For those of you (any FD, PD, EMS agency) who have not checked to see if your FCC license needs to be narrowbanded, here is a website to check out your status. The site is at PublicSafetyTools.info.
To start, in the top left corner of the page click on the State, then click and scroll to your city (do not click on the County).
Then at the bottom left click, on the blue report button.
When the Frequency Report Information box pops up, click "2007 and above Excel Document" box. Click "Generate Report" in this same box. In this box a new file will be generated, click on this link. Click "open" on the File Download box.
On the Excel screen, along the bottom left, click on the page title for "LOCATION - NB" (to see licenses that have been narrowbanded), or "LICENSE - WB" (to see if your license is not narrowband compliant).
By generating a report for "Westchester County", it appears that 84% of the "Fixed Transmitters" are narrowband compliant. So in Westchester County it appears that 16% of the "Fixed Transmitters" need their FCC licenses to be upgraded. Lookin through the results, there are at least six Westchester County FD's that need to address this licensing issue including some Career and some Volunteer Departments.
NOTE: Now is the time to start the process to get your FCC license compliant (I am working on ours right now), not as the January 1, 2013 deadline nears.
If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

I grew up in that rig. My Father, Grandfather, and Uncle were members of Fire Patrol. If I recall correctly, the rear had lights similar to what is on the front of the rig, just above the directionals in the following pre-renovation picture from CrotonOnHudson-NY.gov

The Ossining FD website has been upgraded as of today. This site is a work in progress, and will be updated in the near future.
FYI, the pictures on the main page of L41 & TL42 were taken by me.

For those of you who don't know, the Federal Communications Commission has mandated that all radios in the bands from 150MHz to 512MHz be narrowband compliant by January 1, 2013.
What this means is that previously all radios, and frequency assignments, were in wideband (typically 25KHz between frequencies). Narrowbanding will "create" new frequencies by authorizing "new" frequencies in between the old 25KHz frequencies.
Example: Wideband - 460.0000, 460.0250, 460.0500
Narrowband - 460.0000, 460.0125, 460.0250, 460.0375, 460.0500
Both VHF-High (150-174MHz) and UHF (450-512MHz) are affected by this mandate.
Low Band frequencies are not required to be narrowbanded.
What this means is that if you are operating radio equipment that is wideband, you will be out of compliance on January 1, 2013. Most radio equipment manufactured after 1997 has the capability of operating in either wideband or narrowband mode. If this is your case, reprogramming your radio equipment for narrowband operation will make the equipment compliant.
Your FCC license also needs to be modified to reflect narrowband operation. You can check this out at the FCC's Database Website. Enter your license callsign, then click on the "Frequencies" tab, then click on the individual frequency. This will bring you to a page which shows the "Emissions" for that frequency. If your frequency is already narrowband compliant it will show an "11K_ _ _" emission designator. Wideband is shown as "20K_ _ _".
Here are some links which go into more detail:
FCC Narrowband transition
Narrowbanding.com
Narrowbanding.com - additional resources

My friend bought this a couple of months ago. Now in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.




Any one have the history on this rig? It is lettered as a Fire Police unit??

This is a replica of a typical response back during the 1960s for the DCFD. Up until the 1990s, all engine companies ran with two pieces, the engine and the hose wagon. So you would typically get three engine companies (6 pumpers), a ladder company, the rescue squad and a battalion chief. The hose wagons would take the hydrant and lay into the scene then the engine attachment would hook up to the hydrant and pump to the hose wagon. One of the big thing DCFD is key on is to "cover the rear". One engine company always goes to the rear of the building due to the way they are situated in the city.

Congrats on the progress. It was a surprise to see the application, and best of luck with the system. Yes, it was a no brainer to go 700MHz.

I found these two pending FCC applications for Rockland County for a new 700MHz P25 Radio System 0004803161 and 0004803164. This is mentioned in the RCVFA Trumpet on page 8. According to the link in the Trumpet, the System is supposed to be operational by 12/31/12. Apparently change from UHF T band to 700MHz has been in the planning for some time, just not publicized from this link at Rocklandfires.com.

Another pic of the Fire Fighter 2 from fire fighter apprecion at the intrepid

Let me add my 2 cents to this:
Tradition is electing your Fire Officers and Chiefs by popular vote and electing them because "it's their time"
Progress is electing your Fire Officers and Chiefs by their training and qualifications.

bump.
It's this weekend, Friday to Sunday.

The New England Association of Fire Chief's Expo will be Friday June 24 through Sunday June 26, 2011 at Springfield, Mass. Hours for the Expo are Friday 0900 - 1700, Saturday 0900 - 1500, and Sunday 0900 - 1400. Price of admission is $10 each and parking is $5.
This show is well worth the ride (two hours from Central Westchester). Last year Buchanan's Rescue, Katonah's Engine and Yonker's Ladder were on display, so there are local rigs on display. There is a good mix of manufacturers on display with Fire Apparatus, EMS rigs and firematic supplies and related services. Definately worth it.

Yes its the trend, and the short term solution has been to hire. But it is not the long term solution and in general it holds EMS back.
How many agencies in Westchester now have paid staff (EMT's &/or Medics)?
How many of these EMS employees are working for multiple agencies?
How many of these agencys are handling less than 1,000 calls per year (1 call per 8 hours)? or even less than 2,000 (2 calls per 8 hours)?
The reason some can call EMS....Earn Money Sleeping is because we do not need 1 or 2 paid staff members covering every little VAC. We need a SYSTEM. That can ensure a response and does not nickle and dime the staff. As long as all the jobs are hourly with minimal or no benefits, then EMS will always be a 2nd class job.

I'm not sure what type of material you're seeing, but I can tell you with certainty that our apparatus with chevrons are far more visible to drivers with headlights on at night, and at a far greater distance to boot. The actual amount of reflection back out is unnecessary and unwanted as it could impair vision. The unit should become more visible, not more of a distraction. We (the fire service) have been stressing the reduction of lights and strobes that impair drivers for the more passive high visibility standard. While 3M may be benefiting, in this case I don't see it as a profit driven mandate.You're correct in saying drivers who are distracted will still hit apparatus, though I'm betting on a reduction in the percentage of incidents to apparatus struck. By reducing the "strobe light" distraction we are in fact making the area around the apparatus and emergency safer for our personnel operating on the roadway.
The other part to the standard is the chevron pattern that has been studied over the years by DOT here and similar counterparts worldwide. The angle and direction of the chevron when properly applied reportedly effects the subconscious brain and "tells" drivers to steer away. This is why all bridge and tunnels have the split chevrons on both sides directing you into the middle vs. to the outboard sides. DOT trucks carry often carry signage with the half-chevrons to place in the appropriate lane to direct motorists properly.
Without a doubt, just like lights and sirens, many FD's go way overboard and make their apparatus into moving retro-reflective billboards which actually impairs the intent of the basic package. While many of us are stuck in our traditional ways, a fire truck is red, ambulances are white with orange, etc. we cannot ignore scientifically proven methods that will make the emergency scene safer for our personnel. Personally I'm over the traditional look issues and am much more apt to look at function over form. This may be unpopular at times, but when you look at doing things for the right reasons and the benefits are tangible, it's really for the best.

FDNY Accountability Board (prototype)

NRFD EMS & Fire Command Boards

NRFD Fire Command Board has 2 mobile radios (fire ground & dispatch) area for documenting unit location in a multi story structure

Fire Command Board shows radio speakers, incident timer & clock, light & radio power on buttons and internal/external antenna switch ( a remote antenna or our highrise leaky cable can be attached to one of the radios.

Fire Command Board shows unit accountability list just out of view are checklist & hi-rise info.

EMS Command Board shows trunk radio (EMS & hospitals) out of view is 2nd radio for fireground or dispatch

Hospital Bed Status and Accounting of # of patients sent to each (by triage catagory)

Unit Tracking (Staging, Triage, Treatment, Transport)

Out and about this week, took some pic's of Scarsdale & Bedford Hills Firehouses under construction.
First up Scarsdale FD's Headquarters.

From Fenimore Road.

From Fenimore Road.

Rear of HQ along Post Road.

Nice Antenna Tower.
Next up Bedford Hills HQ.

Looking from Bedford Road, Rt 117.

Old & New Sections.

New Section.

Caption for this picture is:
BHFD Engine & Rescue couldn't wait to get in to new section
or
"Now that we have a bigger Firehouse, we need bigger Fire Trucks, these don't fit."
More photos can be found at BedfordHillsFD.org.

OK, So whos up for an EMS exercise. Lots of comments have been made, none of them very positive. So if you are an EMS agency Capt, Chief, or training officer etc. and your agency would be interested in participating in an EMS led exercise or just taking part in some face to face general joint training events, please let me know.
Capt. Jeffries
Empress EMS
SOD

I was driving through Bedford Hills last week and caught same different angles of BHFD's Tower Ladder.

I thought that Bedford Hill's TL was 57, not 75, as it looks like on the bucket.

Maybe there are just too many digits on the bucket .

This is cool.
I came across this at Firehouse.com, read the full article at the above link.

This is cool.
I came across this at Firehouse.com, read the full article at the above link.

This is cool.
I came across this at Firehouse.com, read the full article at the above link.

A couple of months ago I happened to drive by this house and was unable to snap some pic's. This week I finally got them, so here they are.

The quarters of FDNY Ladder 47.

The quarters of FDNY Engine 64.

And their relation to each other.
They are located on Castle Hill Avenue, Bronx.
This firehouse was mentioned previously in this FDNY E45/L58 Firehouse thread.
Here are a couple more pics with some more detail.

Some additional detail of the L47 house.

Some additional detail of the E64 house.

A couple of months ago I happened to drive by this house and was unable to snap some pic's. This week I finally got them, so here they are.

The quarters of FDNY Ladder 47.

The quarters of FDNY Engine 64.

And their relation to each other.
They are located on Castle Hill Avenue, Bronx.
This firehouse was mentioned previously in this FDNY E45/L58 Firehouse thread.
Here are a couple more pics with some more detail.

Some additional detail of the L47 house.

Some additional detail of the E64 house.