grumpyff

69 years, and most people today probably cant even tell you where Pearl Harbor is. I was lucky enough to visit in 2008, and it is a very moving experience seeing the USS Arizona Memorial. I heard more than one person remark about the oil that continues to seep out of the Arizona, like tear drops coming to the surface. As someone who took part in the rescue and recovery operations after 9/11, it gave me a better perspective of what those young sailors went through that morning. Actually hearing a Pearl Harbor survivor speak about events during the attack, really made it hit home. He had made his peace with everything that had happened, but the memories were still with him, like it was yesterday. Thankfully there are some of us today who understand the sacrifices made that day, and will continue to honor their memories today.

Here are some photos of Patterson's Spartan/SVI rescue truck, 22-6-1 placed into service earlier this year. I took these photos shortly after it was placed into service, so some equipment currently carried is not shown here.For the the specs, 515 HP Detroit Diesel, Allison EVS 4000 transmission, 6 man cab, 250 gpm PTO pump with 230 gallons, AMKUS Ultimate system (4 tools preconnected), 25 light tower, 25kw Harrison PTO generator. It also carries trench rescue panels, various power and air tools, an air cart, ice rescue, low angle rope rescue, Paratech struts, Resque Jacks, petrogen torch, front bumper winch, 250+ speedy dry in hopper with chute, and lots of cribbing

Driver side compartments

Officer side compartments

The next evolution utilized the air driven Paratech rescue strut system The struts where lowered into place using webbing and the driven to 200psi, and the collar locked in place by using either the webbing or a pike pole. The strut, once secure is the nailed to the upright.

Two struts in place.

Removing the victim

to gain more room to operate, whalers can be installed with more struts, and then the original struts may be removed

With the whalers in place, there is a lot more room to work in

The second evolution was a done using timbers in place of the Paratech struts. Thanks for looking

Looking towards the rear, at the waist gunner positions, the piping in the front is for the ball turret

A look inside of the ball turret, from outside the plane, looking towards the tail.The black part at the bottom is the seat, and towards the top are two 'stirrups' for your feet

Looking into the cockpit of the B-17

Down by the pilots left knee

Inside the bomb bay

TP-51C 'Betty Jane', a two seat fighter used for training, and transporting VIP's

While there, we got to watch 'Betty Jane' take off, someone had purchased flight time ($2200 for a half hour, or $3200 for a full hour) Rides were also available in the bomber for $425

and

Who said the front intake restricts water flow

I'm not against anyone speaking their mind, asking questions or offering advice to improve things.
What I am against is the hypocratical nature that this forum was founded upon. "Your knowledge helping others." Asking questions that only instigate debates and hard feelings does nothing for anyone involved. For example, what, if anything, has the questions regarding Banksville's response done? My guess - NOTHING.
A general rule I abide by is that you should only type what you would say to someone's face. Way too many people hide behind their keyboards.
This is all going to turn into a pissing match, because one side will be convinced they're right, and the other side thinking they're right. It will lead to heated discussions and will rarely be of any use to anyone. Eventually people will tire of reading the debates and criticism on this site and find other avenues to vent. Unfortunately, it will be AFTER someone's feelings are hurt.
It's bad enough that certain people (not just on here) constantly make younger, newer and more impressional members feel inadequate and/or that their whole existence and/or organization is a joke. Some read what others post or write as gospel and become combative to the order within their own ogranization. I, personally, have learned A LOT from here, probably more so than most other things I read, yet I know the difference in spirited debate compared to others who see it as bashing.
I don't think censoring is permissable, but I do think we all need to remember that what we say here can and will hurt feelings, and the ramifications can be worst then a lot of people are realizing. A prime example that I am familiar with involves certain postings by some in regard to certain organizations that resulted in bad blood between several organizations. It's immature, I know, but this is the world we live in.
People don't know when to tune out certain things and when to listen. Like Chief Flynn says, Quit taking it personally, but for all too many this is impossible.
If discussion about incidents is going to be permitted, then everyone better grow a thick, THICK skin, because firemen are our own worst enemy and our biggest critics.
Game on...

Censorship seems harsh. That said, free speech isn't free any more than 'freedom' is. Freedoms come with a responsibility to others to show respect,restraint. To paraphrase a well known opening line in a letter addressing a complaint.... Dear Sir, Thank you for sharing your views. I agreed with you until I read your letter....
I wasn't aware people were unhappy, thought it sounded less than serious..... but if there is one more comment about "grow a pair", "man up", or "quit being a girl" you're really going to piss me off. There is nothing wrong with having a 'full set' [a.k.a. two XX's] of chromosome 23. And there is no honor in being thick skinned if it leaves the person insensitive, indifferent, unable or unwilling to show compassion. Grow a thicker skin or take a walk is more or less the same as saying, my sandbox, my rules. The only person who has a right to say that on this forum has asked us our opinion about how to keep all participants engaged. We owe him better answers.
I've never met anyone from whom I could not learn something and to whom I could not teach something, if one actively keeps an open mind and an open heart. Pushing to the sidelines members who don't meet some 'manly' standard is giving up the opportunity to teach and to learn. I hope we are all here to do a little of both.
Is there value in anonymous posts? Require everyone put their real name on what they write... and maybe try 'girling up' once in a while.

Saw this article in today's NY Post. Allegedly Anderson Cooper has purchased the house on West 3 Street.
CNN star buys Firehouse

Love the quote from the union "Too stupid to be true"
Chicago Sun Times
seems like every few years, about 10 or so, some knucklehead comes up with a brilliant idea like this. Even FDNY is facing this with the 6 out of 10 proposal, but at least that would have been off the ones that at least took a test. Cant wait to retire and move to the middle of nowhere away from stupid people

I'll second that, I remember hearing 60-Control dispatch that as I was getting ready to head into the 50 Pct, and thinking "what the hell was that."
...as a side note all you need to open those magnetic hydrants is a good strong speaker magnet, and a pipe wrench. just ask any kid in the neighborhood to show you how to do it.

Well south of the Mason Dixon now so past experience is all I've got....
Best chimney firefighting SOP's I've experienced were in college in Gettysburg, PA. Tried to bring some of it home to Millwood but got the usual Westchester "we know it all attitude" and barely got a set of chimney bombs (plastic baggies with dry chem) on the rigs as a result.... Rumor has it that they've been removed since.
HOWEVER I used to run 10+ serious chimney fires a year and the following always worked:
1: Make sure a truck company is there to have competent people on the roof
2: Use sand or dry chem via shovel to extinguish fire in fire box. Extinguishers only add to property damage. Leave exterior door open.
3: Place sheet of plywood over front of fireplace.
4: Have PPV in place (not necessarily running) at exterior door
4: Have crew on roof drop 1lb bags (preferably from the produce section of the grocery store because they melt easy) of dry chem into chimney.
4: Place metal plate over top of chimney, close exterior door.
5: Allow fire to suffocate in chimney.
6: Use PPV, exterior door, and roof crew to mitigate smoke condition via chimney as it is the most efficient way to expel smoke after fire has been extinguished.
7: The following should always be deployed as a backup: Uncharged line at firebox, uncharged line on roof, dry chem at fire box, chains on roof, utility rope on roof, pike pole or haligan on roof to be tied to rope, metal can to remove debris from fire box.
Chimfex, AFFF, wet water, and dry chem via pressurized extinguisher only add to property damage.
It doesn't take much to put a chimney fire out. It also doesn't take much for a chimney fire to put a house on the ground.