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Hartsdale Members Deploy to Buffalo
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By Captain Timothy Mentrasti
November 22, 2014

On Saturday, November 22, 2014, the Yonkers Fire Department as well as the Westchester departments that are members of the Westchester County Career Chiefs Special Operations Task Force received the request from The New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control to deploy a USAR Task Force (Urban Search and Rescue) to assist in hard hit Buffalo, New York. This request was part of the New York State Fire Mutual Aid Plan. The Task Force was made up of 4 members of the Hartsdale Fire Department, all trained in Collapse Rescue, Search and Shoring Operations. The deployment was set to be a 72 hour operational period from Sunday, November 23 at 8:00 am until Wednesday, November 26, at 8:00 am. The operational period did not include the 8 hour ride each way. Despite being away from their families and with less than 3 hours notice, multiple Hartsdale members offered to deploy. The Task Force was made up of members of the Hartsdale, Yonkers, Fairview, New Rochelle, Greenville and White Plains Fire departments, totaling 18 vehicles of all types and 56 members. The Task Force, after traveling for approximately 10 hours, arrived in Erie County at 2:30 am Sunday, November 23rd. The team went operational at 8:00 am and almost immediately began responding to collapse calls. The unit was split into smaller teams that responded to calls, as well as set out in predetermined geographical areas to survey buildings and assess damage. Engineers were assigned to each forward unit to aid in the assessments. Multiple buildings were damaged ranging from soffits and/or gutters torn off to partial collapses and even complete collapses. On day two of the deployment with the temperatures rising, multiple buildings began to become stressed requiring fire department response or shoring operations. Hartsdale members responded to and assisted at two collapse calls in the 2200 Block of Seneca Street. Hartsdale also operated at two shoring operations that prevented further damage to structures that engineers deemed necessary to allow residents to remain in their homes. On Tuesday, November 25, with the weather conditions improving New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control began a demobilization of all the mutual aid units. The Task Force headed home at 10:00 am Tuesday morning. The Hartsdale Fire Department wishes to acknowledge the generosity, massive level of gratitude demonstrated by the citizens of Buffalo and Erie County despite the hardships they were enduring and we are thankful for the opportunity to assist.

Units: Car 2173, Yonker USAR multiple units, MSU, Fleet Services, Fairview 2121, Greenville Car 2154, New Rochelle Car 2303, White Plains Utility 2
 
 

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