efdcapt115

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  1. FiftyOnePride liked a post in a topic by efdcapt115 in Probe Reveals Ga. FFs Never Checked House   
    Nobody got off the rigs to check the structure. No walk around, no knock on the door, no look through the windows. Nothing. Nadda. Disgusting. End.
  2. FiftyOnePride liked a post in a topic by efdcapt115 in Over The Top?   
    Aside from the children standing on top of the aerial as it rolls down the street?
  3. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by FiftyOnePride in Worcester 6 Memorial   
    My wife and I took a trip to Boston this week as a mini-honeymoon, on the way back through we stopped in Worcester, more specifically at the location of the Worcester Cold Storage fire that took place December 3, 1999, taking with it the lives of 6 Worcester Firefighters. In the demolished ruins of it, the city decided to put a brand new FH which was opened last year and a monument for the fallen. Here are some of the pictures from the stop. A very powerful monument, a very nice tribute.

  4. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by FiftyOnePride in Millerton Fire Company   
    The MFC website recently went through an overhaul, and is current under renovations, but a bulk of the new web page is put together minus some information and some formatting issues...
    www.millertonfire.com
    Enjoy!
  5. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by FiftyOnePride in Revisions to NFPA 1971   
    http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-products/Fire-Goggles/articles/746966-Firefighter-Face-Protection-Goggles-vs-Faceshields/
    The link, which I received in one of my TSL emails talks about NFPA 1971, which is about to be revised. More specifically, what is going to be changed and added to the revision. One proposal for the committee to consider is to make goggles mandatory and face shields optional. If they go with goggles, how do they mandate helmets be sold? With them already integrated with the helmet, or separately, and how to suggest they be protected if integrated? Does eye protection have to be regulated in conjunction with the helmet or can it be separate?
    The article raises these points and a few more..
    What does everyone think?
    I'm not trying to start one of those epic 'what color is better for a firetruck?' or 'traditional or salad bowl helmet?" threads, I think this is an important topic, as showcased in the Hartsdale cover photo display on emtbravo.com and the apparent ruckus that arose from that.
  6. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by FiftyOnePride in Over The Top?   
    Make sure you have your volume turned up when you look at their homepage...
  7. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by Bnechis in "Top" Secret Spy Shots - NRFD Rescue 4   
    According to "M": Missles behind the headlights, a rotating licence plate, the ability to drop oil, stars or smoke and an ejection seat for the officer.
    or






    The light tower has 6 750 watt lights (left & right side can be adjusted independent of each other, so they can actually shine in opposite each other). The tower also has an automatic electric field monitor (the grey box on top of it) and a radar to prevent the tower from hitting anything or getting within 8 feet of powerlines.

    The top....Crane, boat, light tower, storage and the "Hippo" power unit (white box in right rear corner of body).
    THe Hipo unit powers 2 low volume (40cfm) air hoses, 2 hi volume(185cfm) air hoses (to run jack hammers, an air knife and dirt vacume and 2 10gpm hydraulic lines that run our stanley hydraulic tools (concrete chain saw, jack hammer, and pumps). The pumps move 1,600 gpm and unlike drafting have a lift of up to 35 feet at 100 feet from the rig.
  8. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic in "Top" Secret Spy Shots - NRFD Rescue 4   
    whats going to happen with the old rescue? is that going to be the collapse unit or its going to be retired?
  9. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by Bnechis in "Top" Secret Spy Shots - NRFD Rescue 4   
    Now the Right side

    C-1 3 Fans, 3 gas saws, 1 hydraulic concrete saw, floor jack, 6 bottle jacks, H2O & DC Extingushers and portable winch.
    This compartment has an automatic fan to remove fumes

    C-2 upper section same as S-2 plus Rope & Confined Space Rescue Ropes & harnesses
    Lower section is rigging gear and hardware


    C-3 Small High Pressure Air bags and Low Pressure Air bags


    C-4 Air Shores, same as S-4 plus airshore controls and end fittings


    C-5 Cribbing, Ratchet Straps, 2 Farm Jacks, 6 Pickets
    All that is left is the roof, I need some good weather to get those shot
  10. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by Bnechis in "Top" Secret Spy Shots - NRFD Rescue 4   
    Thank You!!!!
    I dont know about that......but I did stay in a holiday inn last night...lol
  11. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by Bnechis in Mohegan Lake Working Fire 1-26-10 & Manpower Issues   
    Again my issue is if a member does not have FAST training then they are not an interior qualified firefighter.
    Yes it is part of the career academy. Just because it is not included does not mean a department can't or should not require it.
    When we talk about the different training standards, I find it amazing that any chief would consider sending a member (his "brother") into a working fire without having been trained in survival. And not requiring them to know what to do if a "brother" gets in trouble.
    So based on previous postings and OFPC's discription of FAST, we have departments that are willing to send members into burning buildings that do not know how do the above listed skills. Why bother having a fire department at all, it is clear that these departments do not care about there members or the public if they are so willing to put themselves at risk, because 16 hours is way to much time to invest in ones brother.
    PLEASE THINK LONG AND HARD ABOUT THIS....IF YOUR DEPARTMENT ALLOWS THIS, IT NEEDS TO CHANGE TODAY.
  12. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by Reliance in Heard over the air -- you can't make this stuff up   
    You should not be allowed to use the radio for anything but what you are profesionally supposed to use it for.
    That is why all transmissions are recorded are recorded and if in court are used as evidence.
    If yo are a proffessonal act like one.
    That is coming from experience. I said the wrong thing once and had a written reprimand on my file.
    You never know wno is listening especially the FCC or the DOC.
  13. x635 liked a post in a topic by efdcapt115 in Mohegan Lake Working Fire 1-26-10 & Manpower Issues   
    I know one member here was peeved that the discussion has as much of, if not more to do with FAST/RIT than the actual Mohegan Lake fire title at this point.
    Well, the board is a bit short on information about this particular incident right now, maybe more will come in.
    In the meantime, to see this much discussion and interest in FAST/RIT work, is in my opinion FANTASTIC.
    Not so many years ago, I remember many Incident Commanders grappling with the concept of RIT; being resistive of it because in many cases the arguement was there wasn't adequate manpower for the fire attack, let alone dedicating members to "do nothing" but stand-by, watch and the key ingredient "be ready."
    The OSHA standard has been effective in that the discussion has evolved to this point; where being RIT qualified is actually additional training, a different mindset on the fireground, and departments have moved up to, and are maybe still challenged by the standard.
    Firefighter Survival has become "mandatory" for RIT, as has the actual RIT training.
    It has been incorporated into the standard curriculum for firefighter training.
    Tools, techniques, improvements, have exploded from being rare, to being standard.
    I'm glad I lived to see this day.
  14. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by Beekman in Mohegan Lake Working Fire 1-26-10 & Manpower Issues   
    01-05-0018 Firefighter Assist and Search Team (FAST)
    The firefighter as a member of a FAST operation will identify the tools and staffing requirements for a FAST operation; develop a rescue plan for a missing, lost, or trapped firefighter; demonstrate rope search techniques; and demonstrate removing a firefighter/victim up a stairwell, up or down through a hole in a floor/roof, moving a downed firefighter out of a window, and lowering a firefighter down a ladder. This course requires students to perform a number of practical evolutions with self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
    Designed For:Fire service personnelCourse Length:16 hours
  15. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by Beekman in Mohegan Lake Working Fire 1-26-10 & Manpower Issues   
    Correct me if I'm wrong but Westchester was the first to attach Firefighter Survival to the end of the Firefighter 1 classes. Dutchess started incorporating the class into FF1 last year. East Fishkill was gracious enough to host a Firefighter Survival class in November of 2008 and they had to send a ton of people away because the class was way over the max.
    In the next two months, Dutchess will add waiting lists to its online training registration website and CC-9 will truly have an idea how many Dutchess firefighters still need Survival. Then they can tackle the FAST class issue.
    Should every firefighter have FAST? Absolutely. You just need to remember that your firefighters will need to practice those skill regularly. Taking the class 4 years ago and not practicing the skills should not qualify you as a FAS team member.
    FF2 touches upon some of the FAS skills but firefighters should take the full FAST class.
  16. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by PEMO3 in US Criticized for Relief Effort in Haiti   
    While I am all for helping out other nations in a crisis, and we should, hundreds of millions have been spent, concerts have been held, charities have been created, corporations have donated tens of millions of dollars and goods, the networks and various television shows have just about created 24/7 coverage and yet we have a national crisis occurring under our noses that is all but being ignored. Families are becoming just as homeless here in the US as homes are foreclosed and jobs are lost by the hundreds daily. Children are going to bed at night hungry and grown men are seeing a jump from a bridge as the only solution to their problems. Maybe we do not have people trapped under bricks and concrete but they are trapped under mountains of debt and hopelessness. When I was growing up there was a saying that charity begins at home. Lets face is every time the US steps up to the plate and take resources that could best be used for its own population it is always ridiculed for its actions. Maybe it is time that priorities were reassessed.
  17. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by LTNRFD in "Top" Secret Spy Shots - NRFD Rescue 4   
    Hey Barry, York Twp. PA's crane is bigger than yours!!!!!!!!

  18. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by fireguy43 in Photo - Popham Road Firehouse Scarsdale NY 1960's   
    Thanks "Iz".... did some research of my own today. Grew up in a department that had nothing but ALF's for years, but never saw one of these.... according to some of the websites I checked, only about 110 of these were ever built in Elmira, and a modest few were built at a plant in the Toronto area. US Gov't sent a few to Austrailia and New Zealand in the late '30's and early '40's before entering the war under a program to supply the Allies. There is apparently some disagreement over what JOX means, J standing for the cab forward design, O for open cab, but the X is defined in different places as for eXposed ladder storage or eXperimental design. Neat looking truck, especially with the rear fender skirts.
  19. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by PCFD ENG58 in Photo - Popham Road Firehouse Scarsdale NY 1960's   
    600 series Amercan Lafrance engine and a JOX Amercan Lafrance ladder both early 1940's vintige. Both series replaced by the post WW2 production of the 700 series cab forword Engines and ladders in 1947
  20. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by Fireman488 in Fairview Fire 01-21 Images   
    Prior to the Babbitt Court address being confirmed, presumably due to incomplete information being received by cell phone call(s), 60-Control dispatched the Elmsford Fire Dept to the vicinity of Route 9-A and Paulding St. for a possible structure fire.
    Once the correct address and actual fire was confirmed, off Route 9-A, just south of the Elmsford Fire District line, E-237 responded to the scene (after checking with the Incident Commander) and L-55 relocated to Fairview Fire Headquarters (60-Control dispatch: Our normal assignment on a Fairview 2nd alarm).
    The E-237 crew operated at the scene, with the other units, until the fire had been brought under control; at which time they were released by the Incident Commander.
    L-55 remained at Fairview Fire Headquarters until most units had returned to service; they were then released by the Incident Commander.
    I hope this clarifies our role in this fire.
    Syd Henry, Chief
    Elmsford Fire Dept.
  21. x635 liked a post in a topic by efdcapt115 in Los Angeles swiftwater canine rescue   
    I know somebody other than me who watched the video is thinking this, so I'm going to pose the question:
    For a.....DOG in the water?
    While I give full credit to the members' performance at this alarm, I must ask; where is the "risk/reward" assesment for this type of response and subsequent rescue? I can understand the concern about civilians attempting an amateur rescue attempt, and putting their lives and thefore LAFD/PD members potentially at risk.
    But what about a sniper with a tranquilizer-dart gun and a net deployed a hundred or two yards down river? C'mon people, use your imagination here. What else could have been done?
    The brother who actually made the grab got multiple puncture wounds and bites from the animal. That was the hardest part of the video to watch. I was wondering if he had some extra protective gear on to prevent the dog from biting him; aside from his regular rescue gear. Guess not.
    *What if the dog is rabid?
    *What would critics be saying if the helo had a tragic accident during the rescue attempt? Do you think the Chief and other Commanders would be receiving any criticism/lawsuits from grieving familes/getting roasted in the press, etc?
    *Helo rescues as routine as they might be for a place like the Los Angeles basin, are still some of the riskiest operations undertaken by emergency services, are they not?
    Risk ALL OF THIS.....for a dog?
    Conclusion: IMHO, If I was making decisions at this incident (based on the limited information received in the post and on the video), I would never have put the helo rescue into operation. Nor would I have risked injury (which did occur) to any one of the firefighters. You know it can be heartbreaking to sit by and just watch as an animal struggles. Human emotion takes over; everyone wants to do something. BUT, somebody has to evaluate what the risk/reward is; and at the end of the day no firefighter's life is worth risking for an animal. As cold as that may sound, that's what "Incident Commanders" are paid to do; take the emotion out of the equation and make decisions in the best interest of those you serve and protect, YOUR TROOPS.
    ~Just an opinion, and once again give credit to all the brothers/sisters who performed their duties as ordered!
  22. x635 liked a post in a topic by efdcapt115 in Los Angeles swiftwater canine rescue   
    Updater:
    http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/01/los-angeles-firefighter-recounts-daring-dog-rescue.html
    Apparently the "rescue" was shown live on both FOX and MSNBC. I stumbled upon this website while doing research this morning. The comments section from the general public reads very much like our thread here on BRAVO:
    http://yesbuthowever.com/los-angeles-fire-department-saves-dog-la-river-8136480/ The following are quoted comments from that site:
    This one is a real interesting take on the state of affairs in LA. (this guy might have some "issues"):

    Sometimes when a controversial topic is brought up on EMTBRAVO, some people on our board only see in posts what they want to see. I posted in support of everyone on the ground/in the air doing their duties, before concluding that the DECISION to perform the helo operation and the amount of resources deployed, the risk/benefit analysis, I disagreed with.
    Since then I'm finding through research how the task-force system utilized in LAFD can be very effective in deploying vast resources rather quickly. Learning is fun!
    The "I'm proud....blah blah" comments on our thread are redundant at this point.
    Back to BRAVO:
    It's really great to see the humanity of those who posted in support of the actions taken at this alarm, even though I disagree with you about the way this problem was solved. Thank you Chris for acknowledging my question about sedating an animal; I hope someone steps forward here who has further knowledge on the animal sedation subject and adds to what you have informed us of.
    I have to say though, that I am surprised at SOME of you who would equate this response and subsequent control of the alarm, to a "training exercise." I don't think I'm exaggerating if I say that NO department would ever conduct a training exercise with a chopper in the immediate vicinity of high-voltage wires, nor would they lower the rescuer and the training victim onto a roadway that moments earlier had free flowing traffic on it.
    This was by no means a controlled environment, and please correct me if I'm wrong; training exercises are conducted in CONTROLLED environments. So please to whomever, you want to support the canine rescue that's your opinion and right, but do not compare what happened during this incident to training.
    I have no experience operating choppers, being lowered out of one for a rescue, flying in darkness with night vision goggles, etc. But I have helped a few of them land at emergency scenes in my day. A few years ago on the Bronx River Parkway, we had a BMW that flipped over at a high rate of speed, pancaked the passenger compartment, and the driver suffered a fractured spine as a result.
    While we were cutting the roof off, the Medic decided he wanted a medivac chopper on scene, so we called for them. When the chopper arrived, an engine had been assigned, they had cones set up on the far end of the grassy area we were operating on, furthest away from the wreckage. Yet that did not prevent the chopper from nearly landing on top of the vehicle, and while doing so much of our emergency equipment was literally blown away. Yes, your oxygen bag will roll down the roadway very quickly if you happen to find yourself in a "prop wash." I remember looking up and saying to myself "so...this is how Vic Morrow felt in his last breathing moment!" Thankfully, the pilot's "situational awareness" saved us all.
    Since that event, I have never looked at chopper related incidents as "routine", and in my opinion there is an inherant danger at all times during helicopter operations.
    I have a close friend who suffered a major tib-fib compound fracture while in the NAVY. A chopper that was delivering mail was tethered to the ship with a steel cable. They used to slide the mail bags down the cable to the ship. Something mechanical happened, the chopper crashed into the ship, the sailor standing next to my bud was killed, as were the helicopter crew.
    Maybe some of you who think deploying a chopper should be an easy decision to make, will have to wait for some kind of incident with one to see things a bit differently. Try googling "Rescue helicopter crashes" for a start.
    FYI: This is a Los Angeles law firm that specializes in suing helicopter agencies with regard to personal injury or death:
    http://www.airplanecrash-lawyer.com/PracticeAreas/Air-ambulance-accidents.asp
    Lastly, I happen to love dogs and most other animals. My pet is a Senegal Parrot, he's getting to be fifteen now, soon he'll be chirping for his drivers licence.
    If you would like to follow up on your good will toward animals, I strongly suggest you consider making a donation to help support those most in need:
    http://www.aspca.org/donate/

  23. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by mikerabbit in Los Angeles swiftwater canine rescue   
    In regards to using tranquilizing darts, or sedating the animal it is not as easy as it sounds. As Chris said earlier their are different dosages for different animals and they are all weight dependant, so it is necessary to be accurate on your estimate of the animals weight. The darts are also very slow due to being in most cases air propelled and heavy, so even if you are a "great shot" hitting the animal in the right spot (a large muscle ie. thigh or shoulder)is difficult when the animal is moving , especially as you get farther away. Once you dart an animal you own it. That means that you are responsible for its well being and sustaining its life, if you are not able to get to the animal after it is darted, it could lose its airway and die. Depending on the drug used, many animals are still conscience and just their muscles are disabled so this would be considered cruel should the animal be conscience and drown due to being darted. You would have been better off shooting it and putting it down immediately.
  24. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by BFD1054 in Orange Sheriffs deputies join saturation patrols in Newburgh after fatal Newburgh stabbing   
    Chris, my thoughts exactly. Its quite obvious that the City of Newburgh needs all of its emergency services, instead of making cuts.
    Its a shame because there are some decent parts of Newburgh, but the "bad areas" far outweigh the good ones. I like to go to some of the restaurants/bars along the waterfront, but getting there is an eye-opener. Id much rather go on my boat so that i can avoid these areas. I can remember our realtor showing us a house off of Broadway and i was like "seriously?" It can be quite scary to drive through the City. My wife, who is from Vermont was quite shocked to see children, some barefoot, playing in the street with no parents in sight. This was a shock to me as well, but not all that surprising.
    Its great that the OCSO is stepping in to assist in patrols, but how long will that last? A City such as Newburgh should have a big enough police force so that it can be self-reliable. Im all for agencies assisting one-another, but it shouldnt be something to rely on. It seems as though Newburgh and other cities such as Mt. Vernon continue to ask for help instead of resolving their own issues.
  25. efdcapt115 liked a post in a topic by ckroll in Los Angeles swiftwater canine rescue   
    Only the rescuers on the call are in a position to judge the risk/benefits/value of the operation. They know their abilities, which from viewing the clip are remarkable. It looks like the ultimate training exercise. Pulling a mannequin is nothing like dealing with a terrified living creature. As we all know, when conditions are right for one emergency, they are right for many. Had there been a need for the resources that were at scene, say for a person in the water, one may assume those resources would have been redeployed to the higher value target---and response time would have been excellent.
    Having been bitten or kicked a time or six on rescues, when handling wild/terrified animals it is almost a given that teeth or hooves will be an issue. Getting bitten is not that bad. It's why some of us have had rabies vaccinations and why there is prophylaxis for animal bites with unknown vaccination history.
    Motorcycle tie down straps from wreckers work well for securing legs of large things that kick. Cargo netting, commercial or home made, especially out of rope that floats is light weight and works well for 'If you can't tie it, tangle it.' situations in conjunction with a handful of carabiners. A jacket/shirt flipped over a head with sleeves used to secure it buys time.
    As for, 'it's only a dog'. A life is a life; where one draws the line on value is a personal decision. -- A society can be judged by how it treats its animals and its elderly--- [someone else said that]. If we start placing a value on a life before deciding what resources it gets.... well that might be a slippery slope.
    Operations one is well trained for will be easy/safe and operations one has not trained for will be difficult/dangerous. My opinion is the rescue of the dog was a well orchestrated act of compassion that speaks volumes about those who did it and their dedication to training and preparedness. It should make us all proud.