Code 3 Yonkers NY American LaFrance Tower Ladder 71 (12745)

This is Item # 12745.

Scale: 1/64
Release: December 2002
Edition Quantity: 3,000

From the time the first roll call was held by Chief James Mulcahey, the Department has grown from a single engine and ladder company manned by 6 firemen, to one with 11 engine companies, 6 ladder companies and Hazardous Materials Squad.

Over the years since the Yonkers Fire Department celebrated their 75th anniversary, there have been some significant changes.

Probationary firefighters who once received only a few weeks of training at Fire Headquarters on New School Street, now utilized the Westchester County Fire Training Center in Valhalla to receive a full eight weeks (now 10 weeks) of training conducted by Yonkers Fire Officers who were specifically assigned for this task. July 1979 had the largest group of probationary firefighters to be hired when 54 took the oath of office. Also in '79 Engine Company 305 (housed at Station 2) and Ladder Company 76(housed at Station 11) were placed into service In 1980, Fire Station 2 on Vineyard Avenue was closed due to the structural condition of the building. Engine Company 302 was relocated to Station 9 and Engine Company 305 was relocated to Station 1. In December of that year the City Charter was changed to provide for the title of Fire Commissioner replacing the civil service title of Fire Chief.

Due to a fiscal crisis in 1982, Engines 302, 305, 311 and Ladder 76 were disbanded, also included in these cuts were the Battalion Aides. A compromise was reached shortly after the cuts were made which provided that Battalion 1 would have an aide while Battalion 2 would ride without one. 1984 saw the reactivation of Engine Company 311. At the same time, the position of the aide in Battalion 2 was also reinstated. In July of that year, Personal Distress Locators were issued to all members. These devices were to be attached to the firefighter's turnout coat and would sound if the wearer was motionless for a period of time. The alarm would allow a search team to locate and rescue the fallen firefighter.

In 1990, the Department recognized the need to begin to develop a special unit to cope with the rise in Hazardous Materials incidents as well as to comply with the new OSHA regulations, which specifically detailed the training requirements for personnel handling Hazardous Materials. Initially all line officers and firefighters were trained to the Operations level, while a team of six officers were further trained to the Technician level. These six officers provided 24/7 coverage on more serious Hazardous Materials incidents while maintaining positions in Engine or Ladder companies.

1991 a Safety Division was instituted and manned with a full-time Safety Officer. The Safety Officer responds to all structure fires and supports the health and safety needs of the firefighters.

In July of 1992, a significant step was made to improve emergency medical services in the City. By Special Order 34-92, the First Responder Program was implemented. This program takes advantage of the fact that Fire Stations are strategically located throughout the city. When a call for emergency medical help is received, the closest Engine Company is immediately dispatched. The resulting reduction in response time translates into increased chances of patient survival with firefighters administering life saving first aid. Since 1991, all probationary firefighters are trained as Certified First Responders. Many senior Department members have also opted to receive medical training and became New York State Certified First Responders, Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics. Firefighters have performed a variety of emergency medical tasks, from delivering babies to administering CPR. 1998, the Department began using a UFH channel as the primary operations frequency. The low band frequency continues to be used for fire station alerting and has remained in reserve in case there is a failure of the primary frequency.

As the Yonkers Fire Department entered the new millennium, Squad 1with its two man crew was decommissioned. In its place, on March 6, 2000, Rescue Company # 1 was commissioned with a four man crew. The City of Yonkers once again has a Heavy-Rescue Company almost 70 years to the day from the commissioning of the original rescue.