msm232

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Posts posted by msm232

  2. Posted

    The City of Mt. Vernon for the last couple of years has had a suplus within the city coffers. I firmly believe that there is a turn around brewing for that department from within the ranks and the foot doctor commish has got to go. From other sources outside the department, they are very close to (2) new engines and a tower ladder. more info as available.

  4. Posted

    I think the the mid-west in general is more progressive because of the age of the departments and area's they protect. The area's area newer then the North East, they are not enbridled in tradition like the North East. Many traditional features that are available on apparatus come from the North East but these newer areas especially the Dallas Fort Worth areas that have seen huge population explosions can be more progressive with out the hinderence of " This is the way we have always done it" mentallity.

    I spent 6 years in the Mid-West and grew up in Westchester so thats just my opinion.....

    keep your head down and stay safe...

    msm 232

  5. Posted

    There are some other factors that go into borrowing spare apparatus that has not been discussed like the fact that most of the Sound Shore Fire Departments such as Larchmont have special Hydrant and Hose threads (New York Corp) Right away you limit a majority of fire departments out side that immediate area. And New York Corp Threads are different then FDNY threads as so many departments found out during the 9-11 event. This is a major issue in the Northeast and the fire service as a whole is trying to address interoperability issue.

    keep you head down and stay safe.

  6. Posted

    I would like to better understand the problems that exist and how the other members including chief's and commissioners know these problems exist and yet rigs have not been pulled of the streets or have they? If NOT....Now the liability is on the fire Dept and the chief's and not seagrave and the dealer. You have in the past talked about a commercial rescue-pumper the district bought and if I am not mistaken, this too had lots of problems, were those ever taken care of by the dealer or manufacturer?.....see where i going with this....There is no perfect rig, we would like to think there is but there is not.....These are pieces of machenery, some are built on friday and mondays but it is up to the FD to make sure that it lives up to your FD's expectations. I can also say that sometimes, the dealer may not even know these situations exist!!! All manufactuerers screwup, and *&@^ up! Some times the dealer can fix it easy and sometimes not.....but if the information is not getting to the right people, then shame on the FD. I know of at least 2 departments with paint issues and you know what both have been solved.... so in my opinion, i would get a list together and let the powers to be know that there are problems with these rigs that should be fixed ASAP. Again, not trying to defend only trying to understand so history does not repeat.

    Keep you head down and stay safe.

  7. Posted

    Res20cue, in several posts you talk about problems that have never been resolved with the 2 Seagrave Engines. Those engines are 2 years Old now? If the fire District had all of these problems with this apparatus, Why did they pay for them? Who accepted 3/4 million dollars worth of apparatus with out doing a inspection? What are the exact problems and do they relate to the manufacturer or the Dealer? Why has the district not used their legal counsel to try get satisfaction? I was recently talking to a member of a department in NJ where every time they used their tower ladder in rain, the control electronics would short out. The manufacturer took awhile but flew a team in and completely installed all new electronics and all it took was one letter from the departments counsel. What about the warranties? So if you could, you should be more specific about whose problems they exactly are Seagrave, Detroit Diesel, Allison, Hale etc? Does your department have its own mechanic? Things are not always as they appear to seem. Plenty of departments have Seagrave fire apparatus in westchester and I have never heard those kind of complaints. Do not get me wrong, I am not trying to defend only to educate.....

    Keep your head down and stay safe

  8. Posted

    Westchester County Firefighting ...200 Hundred years of Tradition.....unimpeded by progress.

    Some of the issues....

    -Multiple PSAPS.

    -Confusing apparatus designations

    -No Standardized training between departments

    -Strategy and Tactics take back seat to politics and pay back.

    -Carreer and volunteer fire services

    -Lack of countywide leadership to deal with above issues.

    Stay safe and keep you head down.

  13. Posted

    Lukas and Hurst are owned by the same corporation " IDEX " , the very same who owns Hale......Lukas is NOT out of business, and was not bought out by Hurst. IDEX forced Hurst and Lukas into a marketing agreement for distribution in the United States. To cut a long story short....Hurst was losing market share to High pressure tool lines like Lukas, Holmatro, Amkus and TNT. Mineral Oil tools that run at 10K psi are lighter, faster and safer then the antiquated Hurst Tools. It's like comparing apples and oranges! Hurst has the name...It was the first tool in the US much like Kleenx and Xerox. While Hurst was spending mucho amounts of money on the " Jaws of Life " Campaign, companies like Lukas spent tons of money on engineering the tools to out perform Hurst. Side by Side - High pressure Tools in the Hands of similar experienced FF'S will out gun the low pressure Tools. Every where else in the world .....Lukas is Lukas...Check it out for yourself... www.lukas.de. Oh and by the way....Before Hurst started marketing the centurian tools.......every new product that was introduced in the prior 5 years was made or given to hurst by lukas. FD's in Westchester using Lukas:

    South Salem

    Bedford Hills

    Katonah

    West Harrison

    Purchase - 3 Sets

    Fairview

    Yonkers - 5 Sets

    New Rochelle

    Larchmont

    Town Of Mamaroneck

    Village Of Mamaroneck - Ladder 21?

    Montrose

    Peekskill

    Vista

    Valhalla

    Thornwood

    Millwood

    Hastings

    Armonk

    North White Plains

    Greenburgh PD

    Stay safe and keep your head down.

  16. Posted

    I would like to think that the fire department leadership of Westchester County would consider structured response as far as apparatus and tactics are concerned but it's just not going to happen. It has to happen between departments first, some are doing it on a small scale with dual responses and training. But as far as apparatus, and how departments decide to switch from ladder to towers, nothing will change in the near future, because the proliferation of T/L's in Westchester County will continue, these changes last 20 to 25 years if not more. Keep you down and stay safe.

  17. Posted

    Spring Valley is good example of a volunteer department that catches major work and will regret buying that Metz ladder.....they got rid of one of the best early quints ever made.... 1981/82 American Lafrance 75' single axle quint.... That apparatus was on the cover of FireHouse Mag Twice!!!! What a work horse battle wagon of a vehicle......Spring Valley has companies and I believe, the companies try to out do each other and therefore " Bigger is Better mentality" might have something to with that purchase.....Firefighting is very different in other parts of the world. Many places do not believe in interior attacks. Beware of vehicles that are not made in the US and have separate chassis, body and ladder manufacturers. Single source manufactures are the only way to go.....The metz has a detathable bucket, try doing that on a night like tonight. KISS method RULES. (Keep it simple stupid) (1) reason sticks are better for most departments are for there ease of deployment. Most standard duty ladder require only 2 stablizer jacks. Out/Down! Done! In the Town of Mt. Pleasant alone, Vahalla, Thornwood, Pleasantville, Hawthorne, Chappaqua, and Sleepy Hollow. Six out 10 departments have T/L's in mostly residential areas. Some stationed less then 1 mile away from each other. 4 to be exact - yet homes burn to the ground because of areas that do not have hydrants in these districts....is there something wrong with this picture! Keep you head down and stay safe.

  18. Posted

    The question I have is for the departments that have gotten rid of the sticks and gone to T/L's. Why? What has the stick not done that you want it to do? Most of Westchester is residential,, like Chap FD. How do you justfy going from 100' stick to a 70+ (what ever that is) Quint that is not running 1st due!!! Has the size of the home and set backs shrunk? or Has there been an influx of Taxpayers been built in the lovly hamlet of Chappaqua? Most of the time, in my opinion, there is a lack of forethought associated with these major purchases. How can a FD buy a piece of apparatus that does not go places in the district it may be needed? Yet, year in and year out this is happening in these departments. The thrill of getting a new truck, A TOWER LADDER over whelms any kind rational thoughts(strategy and Tactics) regarding residential structure fires. Don't get me wrong T/L's have their places in the fire service and several departments in Westchester warrant this type of equipment. But does Fairview need one, when Elmsford, White Plains, Hartdale, and Valhalla all have similar units soooo close. Sooner or later these types of poor stratefic decisions(Decisions that last 20 to 25 years) will come back to haunt the fire service and particularly those districts in the future. Keep your head down and Stay Safe.