RES20CUE

Inspection trips to PL custom and Rescue 1 (same place!!) scheduled this week for both the new 80B3 and Rescue 20. Both still on track for deliveries bewteen April and June, respectivly.

The Town of Mamaroneck Ladder 19 was originally a tiller, but was replaced in the 70's. Since then, the ladder has used rear-mounts.

Congrats to Gary- It was a pleasure to write a recommendation for you! By the way- look out- Somers has been moved into Battalion 13!!! [-o<

A little birdie dropped by and said something about Somers now having a Station 6 somewhere (possibly 1966) Commerce Street in West Somers? I also heard that Seth has a picture to prove it. Anybody hear the same thing? :-P

SOMERS-NORTH STATION #10 has been annexed- Route 6 and Croton Falls Road, Mahopac! (formally Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department) seeing how it's going to be torn down, we didn't think they'd mind. But remember us for the new house!! Did you think you were gonna escape the "Evil Empire" Ed??? Pictures to follow!!!

I believe we had a discussion on this previously, however a post from Mofire 24, caused this one- At a recent structure fire in Mahopac Falls on 2/7/05, the tanker shuttle was inhibited several times by responders, neighbors, spectators, etc. parking along the streets. The Lake McGregor area, much like most of the older Lake communities in Southern Putnam and Norhtern Westchester, had very tight streets. Several vehicles had to be moved, several different times to facilitate the tankers getting in and out. As pointed out by Mofire24, a lot of departments don't normally use tankers, so they are not familiar with "keeping the streets open". So, as it goes with a lot of things we do in the fire service= COMMON SENSE. Here are some helpful hints, so the Water Supply Officer isn't pulling his hair out trying to get water to the scene. 1) Use neighbors driveways instead of the street. 2) If your the first one in an extended driveway, pull all the way in so others can park behind you. 3) Leave your keys in the car! Just in case, so it can be moved if need be. 4) Think- "If I park here, is that monster tanker gonna get through?" 5) Remember- "If the tankers can't get through- there will be no water to fight the fire!" Hope this will help some of you out there, that don't work with tankers very much.

Cutty- In Somers- our members respond to the scene all the time. Unless they are a driver and have to pass a firehouse- then they are suppose to stop and get apparatus out. All of our members are issued gear and they carry it with them at all times, it's not left in the firehouse. The reason for this, is that we cover a 33.3 Square Mile district with 4 houses. If a rig had to wait for a minimum crew of 4 before response, the rigs would not get out. With the congestion on today's streets and no one moving for blue lights, forget it! We do man an Engine first before it responds Mutual Aid, and that's why, it takes us a little longer to get the Engine out for neighbors- It waiting for 1 or 2 members driving 10-15 miles to get onboard. That's been the way we've operated for over 60 years and it works! A lot of times there is already a hydrant man waiting as the Engine comes in, and personnel to grab the handlines and start stretching and charging while others are packing up. In addition- there is a pretty good size-up done before the apparatus arrives. Again- each department has to evaluate there own area and the best way to protect it.

Date: 2/7/05 Time: around 3:20 Location: 55 McGregor Drive, Lake McGregor, Mahopac Falls Agencies: Mahopac Falls- 19-1-1, 19-1-2, 19-1-3, 19-2-2, 19-4-1, 19-4-2, 19-6-1, 19-7-1; Mahopac: 18-1-2, 18-1-3, 18-4-1, 18-5-1 (Scene) 18-2-?? (source at Mahopac Falls HQ) Putnam Valley: 24-1-1, 24-4-1 Somers: C2441, T16 Mohegan: C2261, E258, 258Fast Kent: 1 Tanker to Station II Putnam Car 4, Westchester Battalion 16 Frequency: 46.38 Dispatch; 46.30 Fireground Description: Heavy fire from the rear of a 2 story split-level residential occupied dwelling, upon arrival. Fire extended into attic quickly and caused partial collapse within minutes of arrival, went to defensive attack after collapse.

I was at these meetings and don't remember hearing this. Again, I'm in favor of this switch to UHF, but now the county changed it's mind again! Tell us one thing, we budget for it and plan, etc. Now they change and we have to purchase more radios, and shift money from other areas of need to buy these radios that were going to be provided.

Unless the County changed something (gee!!). The original plan was to install a mobile and a "command" portable in every front-line piece of apparatus in the county, for the Fire/ EMS side. If this has changed and they are not providing these portables- someone better start jumping up and down and telling the Chief's in the county, because that is going to make a huge impact on the local departments purchasing! And again will delay the project. I've been basing my purchases for the last 4 years around the understanding of above, and that I would have to purchase radios for my Utilities. :dizzy:

Somers is getting the following new vehicles in 2005: Rescue 20 (expected delivery- Apr,May) Ambulance 80B3 (expected delivery- May, Jun) Chief's Command Vehicle (in commitee) Mini-Attack 14 (in commitee)

Total Runs for 2004 for SOMERS- 1509 Another record breaking year!

First, in my opinion- the title speaks for itself "MUTUAL AID COORDINATOR" This person does not become the Incident Commander, and should stay off the radio!!!!!!!!! -Vital communications need to happen, and need to be heard, especially on Westchester's congested air waves, no body cares about info comming from a County Car- who is in charge of nothing, other than getting mutual aid units when the Incident Commander requests it. The Battalion coordinator should not be giving Size-Up info, or anything else, that is the IC's job!!!! As examples, Twice- a report was given at recent fires, by the "Battalion" reporting "fire doubtful" and less than 5 minutes later, the IC reported a 10-30. Also, at another area fire, "The Battalion" reported "Fire under control" and the IC never said that- the IC reported 10-30 about 15-20 minutes later!

Absolutely, we do the same. We utilize both the county fireground channels and our own district-wide.

I sure hope not!!! The current UHF-Low Band cross-band repeaters are killing 46.26 even more than the already crowded airwaves that we have been dealing with for several years. Not mentioning any departments- but a No. West FD, recently went to a UHF-Low Band cross-band repeater, now you can hear there 54,000 calls in Florida!!!!! Living in a neighboring town, it's not right that I can't even hear my own dispatch, when the _ _ FD decides to talk when we are dispatching an alarm. That FD seems to think they are the only ones on the radio!

I'm with ALS- Somers relocated to Montrose during this past year, for multiple structure fires. It was over a 35 minute "response" both the Engine and Chief relocated with NO lights and sirens, per our SOG's. No emergency occurred while we were enroute, we arrived safely, no accidents, no incidents. All was well. That's the way it should be!! Sometimes we are our own worst enemies- Chief Officers need to look at themselves in the mirror and see what you would look like sitting in the "chair" in the court room trying to explain why you have a policy that allows this. The Chief is ultimately responsible for everything that happens. Think about it!!!

I whole-heartedly agree with NO Lights and Sirens for Back-fills. There is absolutly no emergency that you are responding to. I just heard Tower Ladder __ acknowledge 60 that they were re-locating to Chappaqua for the Thornwood Fire, and all you heard was the Q in the background. Where is the Emergency??????????

I agree, plain English is a good idea- over the 10 code, if people don't know the 10 codes, or use the wrong ones.

Hopefully with changing to 60, Portchester and Rye Brook will finally use the correct 10 code for responding 10-17 :-P

The mid-mount aerial was around for a long time. Long before the rear-mount was ever even developed. Just like any other piece of equipment in the Fire Service, it has it's advantages and disadvantages. What's the difference between a mid-mount Tower and a mid-mount Aerial? Not much other than the bucket, the same as if both were rear-mounts. One huge advantage to the mid-mount is no front overhang- to hit those trees and such that pop out when your making a tight turn.

Here's SOMERS' break down- FIRE/RESCUE Related- 552 15- Structure Fires 32- Other Fires 227- False Alarms 140- Other Calls 127- Auto Accidents EMS Only- 957

ENGINE 185 has finally been delivered and accepted! =D> It is currently at Headquaters awaiting lettering. Lettering is scheduled to start today and run to Sunday. Hose has already been loaded. Equipment mounting and Training will ongoing over ther next few weeks. Hopefully, be in service before January 1st!!

ENGINE 185 IN SERVICE Engine 185 was finally placed in Service last night at approximately 1930 hrs. Engine 185 is running 1st Due out of the "Big House" in Granite Springs alongside Ladder 18. Engine 186 has been removed as a "front line" engine, and placed as a reserve engine, and 2nd Due Engine/Tanker out of "Heritage Hose" out of Somers House. With 185 in Service- ALL Front Line Somers apparatus now feature fully-enclosed cabs. 186 is scheduled for replacement in 2006.

The VMFD went to 60 quite a while ago.

CONGRATS- Sorry I couldn't make the meeting- sounds like it was a good one!!!