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NEW YORK - A New York dispatcher stayed on the phone for eight hours with a stroke victim as emergency crews tried to pinpoint the woman's location.

Fire Department of New York EMT Joann Hilman-Payne took the call from the elderly stroke victim, whose name was not reported, at about 1 p.m. Monday, the New York Post reported Sunday.

Hilman-Payne stayed on the line with the woman, whose speech was badly slurred, as rescue workers tried to track down her location. The East 71st Street address they first went to based on cell tower information was incorrect.

Rescue officials worked for eight hours trying to find the woman's location, which led them to several Manhattan addresses, the Post reported.

"Throughout the entirety [Hilman-Payne] worked to keep the patient awake, she never lost her own composure and remained calm while attempting to elicit more information from the patient," said Emergency Medical Dispatch Capt. Philip Weiss, who wrote a letter to FDNY asking for Hilman-Payne and her colleagues to be recognized for their efforts.

EMTs finally located the victim at an East 72nd Street apartment where a doorman there said the woman was working as a maid when she became ill, the Post said.

The victim was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital where she was in the intensive care unit.

"I have no doubt that without the efforts of all involved [Thomas'] outcome would not have been positive," Weiss said.

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SPRINGWATER, N.Y. (AP) — New York authorities say a man who was stockpiling homemade bombs is in custody following an explosion inside his apartment.

Investigators say they believe Joseph Martino was drying explosive material in his oven Thursday night when the material exploded, heavily damaging the oven.

Undersheriff James Szczesniak (SEHZ'-nee-ak) said Friday that 30 to 40 pipe bombs and other explosive devices and firearms were found inside the 34-year-old man's home in the rural hamlet of Springwater, south of Rochester. Several neighbors were evacuated.

It's unclear whether Martino has a lawyer. He's being held without bail on weapons possession and reckless endangerment charges.

Martino lives alone and is believed to be unemployed. Szczesniak says authorities have no indication that he had imminent plans to do harm, but the investigation is continuing.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Two maintenance workers were left dangling from a collapsed scaffold near the top of a skyscraper for more than an hour on Wednesday before rescuers cut open windows to pull them inside to safety.

The men were stuck in wind gusts outside the 45th floor of the 600-foot-tall Hearst building in midtown Manhattan, just steps from Central Park.

Fire department officials said workers cut open the glass on the 44th floor to reach the men. The maintenance workers, helped by firefighters, moved slowly from the scaffolding, lowered using safety ropes attached to the 46-story building's roof.

Fire department Chief James Leonard said after the rescue it appeared the center motor of the scaffold's three motors may have failed.

The metal scaffold, which was hoisted onto the roof afterward, also appeared to have buckled in the middle, into an elongated V shape. The men were on either side, communicating with firefighters on the roof for about an hour and a half. Fire officials said they were working with the city Department of Buildings to determine if the scaffold buckled after the motor failed or if it was always that shape.

The men were working on the scaffold itself, fire officials said. The scaffold collapsed at about 2:40 p.m., and the men were rescued at 4:15 p.m.

The two workers, a 26-year-old Bronx man and a 49-year-old Brooklyn man, underwent medical evaluations once they were taken inside. Fire department paramedic Moses Nelson said the workers were fine and in good spirits.

"They were all smiles, thankfully," Nelson said. "No major injuries, no complaints."

Authorities said the smiling men thanked their rescuers and called home.

The Hearst Tower is the world headquarters of the Hearst Corp., a media and information company, and the first green high-rise office building in the city.

The accident is under investigation by the city Department of Buildings and the state Department of Labor.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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MELBOURNE, FL/ROCHESTER, NY— Genesee County, New York, has awarded Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) an $8 million contract to replace its aging public safety radio system.  The Harris standards-based communications system will improve coverage and upgrade communications for law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services, as well as county highway and public works departments.

The new system will deliver integrated and interoperable communications capabilities for better and more efficient coordination among public safety and public works agencies.  It will extend coverage to the farthest reaches of the county – covering 95 percent of the region – and eliminate most dead spots.  

The new digital radio system is based upon Project 25 technology standards and features Harris’ VIDA® network, which delivers powerful network management tools and is a platform for easy future growth.  Genesee County first responders and public works teams will be using feature-rich Harris XG-25 portable and mobile radios.

“After a diligent evaluation process, we chose the Harris system because it gives us state-of-the-art communications capabilities that meet all of our needs,” said Sheriff Gary T. Maha, Genesee County.  “We look forward to dramatic coverage improvement from the new system to support our first responders and public service agencies.”

In public safety and professional communications Harris is a leading supplier of assured communications® systems and equipment for public safety, federal, utility, commercial and transportation markets — with products ranging from the most advanced IP voice and data networks, to next-generation, secure public safety-grade LTE (Long-Term Evolution) solutions for voice, video and data applications, to industry leading multiband, multimode radios.  Harris has more than 80 years of experience in public safety and professional communications and supports over 500 systems around the world.

About Harris Corporation
Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 125 countries.  Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has approximately $5.5 billion of annual revenue and about 15,000 employees – including 6,000 engineers and scientists.  Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class assured communications® products, systems, and services.  Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at harris.com.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Authorities are investigating the cause of an overnight fire that seriously damaged a row of businesses in Borough Park, Brooklyn. Some of them were destroyed.

NBC New York (http://bit.ly/191YjFO ) says several businesses had their front glass blown out. Charred debris littered the street on Tuesday morning.

The fire began just before midnight.

A pharmacy owner rushed to the scene to find his store had been destroyed. He'd bought it from the original owners two years ago and said it had served the community for 60 years.

The fire also destroyed a dry cleaner, a mobile phone store, a restaurant and a liquor store.

___

Information from: WNBC-TV, http://www.nbcnewyork.com

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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The FDNY celebrated what many described as the “best day of the year,” on June 5, when hundreds gathered at the 69th Infantry Regiment Armory for the 144th annual Medal Day ceremony.

“We’re paying tribute to the bravest of the Bravest,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. “Protecting the lives of others is a duty, a mission and a sacred calling. For that you have the City’s deepest admiration and gratitude.”

The event honored seven fire officers, 28 firefighters, two Emergency Medical Service (EMS) officers, four paramedics, four emergency medical technicians (EMTs), one fire marshal, and three fire companies for their heroic acts in 2012.

Read the Medal Day Book

FDNY Medal Day Photos

“You put your lives in harms way to make a difference,” Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano said. “Your work has made a difference to so many people. And each story you hear today is so important, because it represents the tremendous work our members do each day.”

The year’s top medal, the James Gordon Bennett, was presented to Lt. Thomas Woods, Ladder 154, for the heroism he displayed on Oct. 29, 2012, the night Hurricane Sandy hit.

While off-duty, he rescued 25 people from a rising storm surge and multiple-alarm fire in Belle Harbor, Queens. That night, Lt. Woods and his neighbors were forced to the upper floors of their homes on Beach 130th Street in Queens when neck-deep water flooded the area. To the south and east of Lt. Woods’ home, a large fire, fueled by winds in excess of 80 miles-per-hour, was quickly spreading from house to house and raining burning embers from the sky. Over several hours, Lt. Woods used a surfboard, a kayak and his own swimming ability and training to rescue and remove his family and neighbors – including young children, seniors and a wheelchair bound adult – from the rapidly moving fire and flooded roadways.

FRM/FFN: Daring Rescues During Queens Fire, Flood

FFN/FRM Hurricane Sandy Coverage

This is only the third time since 1869, when the FDNY began awarding medals for bravery, that the top honor has gone to an off-duty member.

Yet Lt. Woods stayed humble about the honor saying, “This is just one story among many. There are a lot of amazing stories here today.”

EMTs Marilyn Arroyo and Jimmy Guailacela of Station 46, were awarded the highest EMS honor, the Christopher J. Prescott Medal, for their extraordinary efforts to save three seniors from a trapped car during a flash flood in August 2012.  They responded to a report of occupants trapped inside a partially submerged vehicle in Queens, with the water continuing to rise over the stuck vehicle.  They scaled a fence, swam to the vehicle and safely removed all three occupants as the car was completely submerged, then evaluated all three patients to ensure they were in no further medical danger.

“My family is so proud and I’m just extremely happy,” EMT Guailacela said. “I love my city and it’s such an honor to be here.”

EMT Arroyo agreed, “The day this happened we weren’t thinking, so remembering it here today was overwhelming, it really brings me back. But this is what people in EMS do every day, so I think we’re really receiving this for all of them.”

Thirty FDNY members, including three fire companies, also were honored for their work during the storm.  The World Trade Center Memorial Medal was awarded to Staten Island’s Ladder 82, whose members operated for six hours, carrying residents to safety through neck-deep flood water strewn with floating debris.

“This is one of the best feelings I have had on this job,” Lt. Michael Bernstein from Ladder 82 said. “I’m so happy for my firefighters, it’s well earned.”

Commissioner Cassano also announced at the ceremony that more than 7,000 FDNY members – both uniformed and civilian – who worked in the 24-hour period during and immediately after the storm will receive a Sandy Campaign Service Ribbon to recognize their extraordinary work.

Two Probationary Firefighters, Matthew Cook and Thomas Staubitser, were awarded the Lieutenant Kirby McElhearn Medal for their work as FDNY EMTs at Station 4 on March 28, 2012. They responded to a disoriented driver in Manhattan.  While attempting to assess the patient, the driver stepped on the gas and sent the vehicle careening towards a crowded intersection. Their quick thinking enabled them to gain control of the vehicle before it struck any pedestrians.

“I’m speechless being here,” said Firefighter/former EMT Staubitser. “I’m really excited to be here and I hope I’m making my dad [recently retired FF Thomas Staubitser] proud.”

The Deputy Commissioner Christine R. Godek Medial was awarded posthumously to Fire Marshal Martin J. “Woody” McHale of Citywide North Command for his work successfully bringing to prosecution two men charged with attempted murder and arson from a fire in Richmond Hill, Queens.  The medal was accepted by the Fire Marshal’s wife, Hope, and his twin boys, Matthew and Ryan.

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