M' Ave

That's right, it's just a machine. That one happens to have a mural on the side. Last time I worked in L10, they had a spare. It was an old rusty bucket and I PROMISE you, there wasnt any less pride among the members.There's plenty of pride in that rig......because we have pride in our TOOLS. When we start our tour or after a job, we wash our rig, we take a wire wheel to our hooks, haligans and brass nozzles.....because they're tools that we have pride in.

That's right, it's just a machine. That one happens to have a mural on the side. Last time I worked in L10, they had a spare. It was an old rusty bucket and I PROMISE you, there wasnt any less pride among the members.There's plenty of pride in that rig......because we have pride in our TOOLS. When we start our tour or after a job, we wash our rig, we take a wire wheel to our hooks, haligans and brass nozzles.....because they're tools that we have pride in.

That's right, it's just a machine. That one happens to have a mural on the side. Last time I worked in L10, they had a spare. It was an old rusty bucket and I PROMISE you, there wasnt any less pride among the members.There's plenty of pride in that rig......because we have pride in our TOOLS. When we start our tour or after a job, we wash our rig, we take a wire wheel to our hooks, haligans and brass nozzles.....because they're tools that we have pride in.

Lights and siren, with people riding on top? Are you kidding, this is not tradition, its just stupidity.
I know nothing about this department, other than this snap shot of how unprofessional they are and what a poor example they are setting for the members, the dept., the community and the fire service in general.
I am surprised that no one else is commenting on this aspect.
Fire Chief X, please tell the jury if their is a plaque on the vehicle stating "death or serious injury can occur from ridding on top or on the tailboard"
Same question to the driver:
Fire Chief X, (and Driver) Do you have a riding on top policy or a seat belt policy?
Why did you allow, why did you operate with members in such an exposed position.
Tradition is not an answer the jury will buy.
As the chief, you are risking your people and the financial downfall of the department. You may also have personal liability.
As the driver, do you know that if someone is killed in this stupidity, you may forfeit your home, your car and your salary for years to come.

No, it is a tool.
Those that choose to elevate to something other than a tool, are usually the same tools that believe that racing around town with sirens and lights blaring while squirting water at each other is an acceptable way to demonstrate or use a tool.

Is teenagers riding on the top of the body part of a "wet down"?
I'm not a fan of all work and no play either.....but I never understood the point of a wet down. It's a truck/engine. A tool. I've been working more than once for the assignment of a new apparatus......the shops calls, we dump the tools/hose on the floor, drop the old rig off at the shops, get the new one, load it up and a few hours later we're back in service. Next run comin'......

Departments don't care, they will do what they want. Its already a waste of time, money, and resources on the part of the departments who hold them, and those that come to them. They don't give any thought to these things as far as a reason to not do wet downs, so why would some other common sense stop them?

Well, the fares only cover about 40% of what it costs to get your from point "A" to point. "B", so either fares have to go up or taxes have to. Personally, I'd rather see regular users pay, not me and my already crazy taxes.That said, I love the Railroad and I think MetroNorth runs an excellent operation. I hope they get every bit of funding they seek and I certainly hope to see Penn Station access. Not so much for the ride to Penn, but for the amazing flexibility that would be gained.....along with 4 new and needed stops in the eastern bronx.

Well, the fares only cover about 40% of what it costs to get your from point "A" to point. "B", so either fares have to go up or taxes have to. Personally, I'd rather see regular users pay, not me and my already crazy taxes.That said, I love the Railroad and I think MetroNorth runs an excellent operation. I hope they get every bit of funding they seek and I certainly hope to see Penn Station access. Not so much for the ride to Penn, but for the amazing flexibility that would be gained.....along with 4 new and needed stops in the eastern bronx.

Spoke to that LCC shortly after the incident, he did in fact look down that side, made sure it was clear, ran back and started lowering and the RMP squeezed in and parked there at just the right time, for all the wrong reasons.

FULL ARTICLE: http://www.lohud.com/story/news/transit/2014/09/23/mta-plan-includes-money-metro-north-m-cars/16117453/

In the city, I've found that cops have been more careful about parking in the vicinity of the fire building, lately. I recall having more issue a few years ago. Perhaps training and awareness has improved. Something seems to have worked.
I completely agree about being wary of this, "cowboy" mentality and the attitude of, "doing no wrong" in the pursuit of the job. Some guys really want to be the engine chauffeur who puts the supply line through the car windows. In this case, I'd say the chauffeur did a pretty good job. He made a careful and calculated maneuver to get through a tight spot. He pulled up, gently pushed the cars outta the way and then proceeded past. He almost made it, apart from the Bimmers bumper.....but, stuff happens....
I'd call this a successful example of how to professionally improvise.

On those photos......
I remember this, that's Washington Heights. I can't remember if it was 45 Truck or 23 Truck. You have to lay some blame on the Truck Chauffeur, of course, however I believe that the RMP parked there after the Tower Ladder. I'm pretty sure that the coast was clear when the LCC first checked, but I'll take some help here from someone better in the know.

I would say awareness has improved

In the city, I've found that cops have been more careful about parking in the vicinity of the fire building, lately. I recall having more issue a few years ago. Perhaps training and awareness has improved. Something seems to have worked.
I completely agree about being wary of this, "cowboy" mentality and the attitude of, "doing no wrong" in the pursuit of the job. Some guys really want to be the engine chauffeur who puts the supply line through the car windows. In this case, I'd say the chauffeur did a pretty good job. He made a careful and calculated maneuver to get through a tight spot. He pulled up, gently pushed the cars outta the way and then proceeded past. He almost made it, apart from the Bimmers bumper.....but, stuff happens....
I'd call this a successful example of how to professionally improvise.

In the city, I've found that cops have been more careful about parking in the vicinity of the fire building, lately. I recall having more issue a few years ago. Perhaps training and awareness has improved. Something seems to have worked.
I completely agree about being wary of this, "cowboy" mentality and the attitude of, "doing no wrong" in the pursuit of the job. Some guys really want to be the engine chauffeur who puts the supply line through the car windows. In this case, I'd say the chauffeur did a pretty good job. He made a careful and calculated maneuver to get through a tight spot. He pulled up, gently pushed the cars outta the way and then proceeded past. He almost made it, apart from the Bimmers bumper.....but, stuff happens....
I'd call this a successful example of how to professionally improvise.

In the city, I've found that cops have been more careful about parking in the vicinity of the fire building, lately. I recall having more issue a few years ago. Perhaps training and awareness has improved. Something seems to have worked.
I completely agree about being wary of this, "cowboy" mentality and the attitude of, "doing no wrong" in the pursuit of the job. Some guys really want to be the engine chauffeur who puts the supply line through the car windows. In this case, I'd say the chauffeur did a pretty good job. He made a careful and calculated maneuver to get through a tight spot. He pulled up, gently pushed the cars outta the way and then proceeded past. He almost made it, apart from the Bimmers bumper.....but, stuff happens....
I'd call this a successful example of how to professionally improvise.

The police officer didn't appear to be all that concerned, you can't be certain he even had the keys to move those THREE police vehicles blocking the block. This wasn't overly aggressive, he didn't smash through the cop cars at speed causing any serious damage or potential for major catastrophe, he moved them until he had enough room to get by and squeezed through. He even had his guys out of the rig spotting him as he went through. I don't think he did anything particularly terrible, stopping where he was on a tight block like that, before the fire building, isn't exactly the ideal spot for an engine. He would have further blocked out any other apparatus, particularly ladders who should be in front of the building. None of us know all the facts, but this isn't exactly a video to freak out about, sometimes you need to pull a maneuver like this, should you be trying to smash into a police car on every run? No, of course not, should the police be a little more cognizant of their vehicle positioning at a fire? Quite probably. I don't think this guy made a mistake or had bad judgement, I don't think it was the oh the fire department can do no wrong mentality either. He decided pushing those cars and doing some damage was worth the reward of getting himself into position, it looks like it worked out just fine.

This was a great judgment call by the officer. All the driver did was gently push the cars out of the way. He didn't slam into them. Heavy fire on the top floor of an 8 or 9 story bldg., no evidence of water on the fire (no white smoke). Great job by the MPO. That's why they put big front bumpers on fire engines.

It should be re-opened as 36 Engine.

It should be re-opened as 36 Engine.

It should be re-opened as 36 Engine.

It should be re-opened as 36 Engine.

It should be re-opened as 36 Engine.

It should be re-opened as 36 Engine.