mamaro40

Date:  04-10-16
Time:  1430
Location:  53 Herriott Street
District:  City of Yonkers
 
Weather:  clear
Units:  Engines 303, 304, 306, 308   Ladders 74, 71 and Battalion 1 on the initial response.    Ladder 72 as FAST and Squad 11 added due to numerous calls. 

10-29 confirmed on arrival.  (working fire).  Batt 2 as safety officer
Batt 1 reports 3 story frame with possible extension into connected 3 story frame already.  Similar exposure with 3 foot separation on other side of building.  
 
Engines 309 307 and Ladder 75 on the 2nd Alarm.  MSU also requested.
Engine directed to stretch into exposure 4.
 
Engines 310 312 Ladder 73 on the 3rd Alarm.  FIU and MSU on scene.
3rd alarm companies to stage on Riverdale Avenue.
 
New Rochelle sending 1&1 to Yonkers (engine 22 and ladder 12) Station 12.
Car 3 is now the IC.
PD requested to close Riverdale Avenue so they can access large water main on Riverdale.

Engines 313 314 and Ladder 70 on the 4th Alarm.  This accounts for all on-duty companies in the city.
Ladder from Eastchester to Station 14.  Engine 29 out of service to staff.
 
Car 3 reports partial collapse of original fire building - #53 Herriott.  All companies are out of building.

YFD personnel recall underway to staff reserve apparatus.  Engines 300, 319 and Squad 45 in service (that I've heard).

Yonkers OEM on scene.  Red Cross requested to assist displaced residents.
 
During this fire:
Engine 319 (reserve) responding to medical emergency.
New Rochelle 1&1 with Yonkers Batt 3 responding to fire alarm.
MVFD Engine 204 and YFD Squad 45 responding to trauma (fall victim).
Greenville Squad 15 responding to medical emergency.
 
 

Writer:  Me

 

Date: 4-11-16
Time: 18:32
Location:  14 Intervale Pl C/S McClean Ave
District: Yonkers
Weather: 45F, overcast
Units: Yonkers FD        Engine 304, Engine 303, Engine 306, Engine 307, Ladder 74, Ladder 71,
                                     Rescue 1, Battalion 1 (IC)
          (On the 10-30)   Ladder 75 (FAST), Squad 11, Battalion 2 (Safety), MSU, FIU, Empress EMS, Yonkers PD
          (On the 2nd)       Engine 309, Engine 310, Ladder 73
          (Additional)         Car 3, Rehab
Writer:  x635

Description:
 
18:36  Ladder 74 on scene, 10-29, Battalion 1 on scene requesting a 10-30
 
18:47 Battalion 1 reporting three story ordinary OMD with fire in the rear of all three floors
 
18:49 Battalion 1 requesting a second alarm
 
19:08 Battalion 1 reporting fire under control, checking for extension
 
Notes:
 
Battalion 3, off duty recall units placed into service

 

That was satire, right?
 
I know that it wasn't, but stuff like this is typical of where we are these days.  People expect a prompt, professional response from EMS when they or a loved one is experiencing a medical emergency, but they don't want to actually put up the money necessary to put that in place.
 
The problem isn't so much the increasing training requirements.  The problem is that too many are still trying to look at this in terms of what's convenient for the providers and not what's best for the patients.  EMS has progressed significantly over the past 4 decades in the care that we can bring to a patient's doorstep.  This increased capability necessitates increased training in order to effectively provide it.  We are no longer "ambulance drivers" scooping patients up and racing to the hospital.  We are now pre-hospital medical professionals bringing the ER to the patient, particularly at the Paramedic level of care.
 
If the requirements for providing this level of care have reached the point where the care can no longer be reliably provided by an all or largely volunteer staff, the solution is not to lobby the state to decrease the amount of medical training for providers.  The solution is to start treating EMS as the medical profession that it now is.
 
If that means a tax increase to do so, then suck it up buttercup.
 
 
 
 
 
 

First, I want to preface this by saying the dispatcher at 60 Control who handled this incident did an EXCELLENT job coordinating everything given the situation. It was almost mind boggling to try and keep track of everything and he nailed it.
 
For those that didn't monitor, there was a cardiac arrest involving a crew member on a tugboat in the Hudson River. The tugboats location was static, but had to be determined further. It was one worst incidents I've ever heard logistically play out just given the fact that there was no coordination by any unit with anyone else. Everybody was freelancing, and everybody wanted to play. There was no concrete information about which boat had EMT's or Medics. It was, literally and this was stated on the radio several times, whoever got to the boat first got the patient. No one knew who was the true incident commander, and there was no true command.  Rockland couldn't communicate with Westchester and vice versa in a timely or efficient manner. Both Rockland and Westchester were basically both working the same incident completely separate from one another with no idea of who was doing what.
 
It also should have been kept in mind that it was pitch black out, and the current very strong, with heavy winds. You had rescue boats swarming from each directions with limited to no awareness of anyone else in the area. Responders putting other responders in danger.

The inefficiency, to say the least, could have made the difference in the outcome of a cardiac arrest. I get everyone wants to help, but sometimes you're doing more harm then good.
 
And, at the very least, Westchester and Rockland need to develop a better system of interagency incident command and training, especially since there seems to be a very large overlap of jurisdiction. There should be numerous drills and tabletop exercises on a regular basis, as well as a single channel for Hudson River incidents that is primary and a dedicated tactical channel that both counties can access.
 
60 Control needs to be able to have the authority to control units, such as to stand down units or give specific commands in a situation like this where no one else is capable of taking charge over such a widespread area.
 
Another thought. Westchester DES needs to appoint a Marine Battalion that is familiar and capable of coordinating incidents on the Hudson, and capable of taking command of multiple jurisdictions and equipped with Rockland radios. Or appoint WCPD SOD as primary command and coordination since they have better resources.
 
Quite frankly....one of the major issues was that no one could take personal blame  for the situations....it was the circumstances at play.
 
AGAIN...EXCELLENT JOB BY THE 60 CONTROL DISPATCHER, who made the best of what and who he had to work with! It was almost mind boggling to try and keep track of everything and he nailed it.

Fellow member and friend,
 
Happy Easter to you and your family! May this special day be blessed with joy and happiness. We hope the Easter Bunny brought you tons of chocolates!
 
Seth Granville
Founder & Community Manager
EMTBravo.com
AKA EMTBravo AKA x635
 
"A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act". ~ Mahatma Gandhi

FDNY Field Com 1
2014 Seagrave
 

It has arrived in Tarrytown:
 
 

 
Didn't 'technology' give us air packs, foam, thermal imaging cameras, nomex, halon, etc, etc, etc, etc.? We've come a long way from bucket brigades and that's due to technology.  'WE' are only the means of utilizing and deploying the technology.

http://www.prolinerrescue.com/recent-deliveries/mamaroneck-ems

If you still believe that, you must still be wearing 3/4 boots and fireball gloves.
The GFD has become a career department supplemented by the volunteers simply by call volume alone. It is totally unreasonable to expect volunteers to staff ALL 4000 plus incidents a year. Can't be done.
The majority of the ACTIVE volunteers are great people with a true desire to serve. But there are still a few "members" who consider the career staff "paid drivers" and will stand on their soapbox complaining that they are being picked on for being held to minimum standards regarding training and accountability. These "members" still conduct backroom politics to block funding and department policy changes because they don't want to lose their fiefdom.
Don't get me wrong. There are career staff who can be difficult to work with also. Not everybody is a model employee. But at the end of the day, both career and volunteer staff are there to help the citizens. But when you go to lengths to block funding or conduct backroom deals so you can retain your status you are doing the community and yourselves a disservice.
Before anyone says that I am volly bashing, I got my start in the volunteer fire service 40 years ago in one of the Greenwich fire companies (Sound Beach). I never forgot where I came from. I still retain that membership to this day. And I also volunteer in the town where I am currently residing for over 25 years. I also served 25 years on the career staff in Greenwich. So I think I am entitled to give my opinions since I have witnessed and dealt with the after effects of these situations first hand over the years.
So, the comments made by the above post still tell me that those members are still out there. They will stop at nothing they continue to block any kind of improvement that would benefit both the volunteer and the career staff and most importantly the citizens of Greenwich.
 
 

I do not know GFD's details, but your assumption of 24 on duty (based on 96 assigned to suppression) is not likely unless they are backfilling about 20% of the time with ot. This is needed to cover contractual time off (vacation, personal days, sick etc.) it often does not cover long term service connected injury or sick leave. If they are not covering it, that would leave them closer to 19 per shift or 4 staffed rigs plus command with an aide.
 
How many engines do you think they need?
 
Greenwich is 67 sq miles. If properly located an engine company (based on ISO & NFPA standards) can cover 1.5 road miles in any direction, that's approximately 5 square miles. When a station is located along a distric (or in this case a state line) the area for that company is cut in half. Even at the maximum road distance of 5 miles, that's about 15 square miles, but your rating will be very poor.
 
now add truck companies, a rescue and tankers.......
 

But it does not go out the window when you pull up and your told everyone's out.  Being told everyone is out does not mean a primary search is not needed and without more staff your options for an interior attack is delayed, allowing the fire to grow and making it more hazardous when the rest of the troops arrive 

How do you conduct a primary search with a two person engine? When the homeowner comes running out of the smoke filled house screaming the children are inside, what do you say?  They'll be another truck along in a few minutes!!
 
Where does the money go?  
 

Over the course of several years on this forum, there has been discussion over the allotment of Paramedic resources in Westchester.
 
As a former Paramedic, Firefighter, 911 Dispatcher, and scanner enthusiast, I'm tired of hearing ALS being dispatched to cut-and-dry BLS calls.  I believe the issue is deeper seated.
 
The way we currently do it is to send a Medic on everything no if, ands, or buts. But that has far reaching implications. We are going to face a Paramedic shortage at some point. Paramedic school is getting longer and more intense, and the people who want to put up with it and the low pay they get when they graduate is getting lower, while the cost to live around here is getting higher. Burning out Paramedics by having to go on these runs constantly is a real threat. Then there is the case of making the medic ride it in because BLS could only get a driver. We should not use this as a factor when dispatching Paramedics. 
 
Not to mention all the money that fuel costs and the wear and tear placed on the vehicles and equipment going to an 89 year old female who routinely pulls out her catheter. Some of money saved could be used to give Paramedics raises, which gives more incentive to be a Paramedic.
 
If EMD was properly used, and our dispatchers trained and trusted, we could utilize our resources better, saving them from the problems above.

I completely rebuilt the front page of http://www.emtbravo.com/ . Although it looks exactly the same, I cleaned up a lot of the old unused code, upgraded existing code and wrote some new code on the backend. This should also make it render better on mobile devices. I will also be adding more features in the near future. 
 
Can a few of you check it to make sure it's rendering/showing properly? I want to make sure.

 
While I agree with you on this, there's no better leader than the one that gets out there and does the same training as everyone else.  Yes, the chief needs to worry about those meetings, the safety issues, the rig maintenance, etc.  But, every once in a while, a great leader needs to get out there and show that he/she still has the skills and can still do the job.  This is partly because the chief still needs to know how to do the ob, especially in a day and age where science is proving different fireground conditions, equipment is becoming more integrated and innovative, and just to keep the skills up in general.  A great leader needs to be just as reliable on the fireground as followers.

The other thing that is great about this is the chief is showing that he hasn't left the workers in the dust.  He hasn't forgotten about them and the work that they do.  A lot of career chiefs just settle into their offices and never go back into the line of duty.  But, if you go out there and show the front line personnel that you can still do the job, you earn their respect 1,000 times over.  The firefighters know that you can still do what they do, and that you haven't become just a political desk jockey.
 
The fire service needs leaders, not bosses with bright white coats and helmets.  Lead by example, lead with courage!

While I can see this is certainly well meaning, I have to disagree. There's no reason the Chief of one of the largest FDs in the nation will ever have to pack up, much less escape a building. While it's great that he "trains just like us" there's a dozen things I'd rather have the chief of my city driving his time doing. Pushing city hall to hire enough personnel to fix our rigs, giving them money and equipment to fix them, updating our out of date equipment, better code enforcement of illegal apartments and abandoned houses and factories, and fighting attempts to close companies and reopening previously closed companies all come to mind. Yeah it's great that he took the time to suit up but a Chief has more important issues at hand that only he can do. There's plenty of Indians, be the Chief. 

Today, I had to move a member to the "Answered Final Alarm" group. I found out a friend, member of this forum, and EMTBravo advertiser/sponsor Ed Simione, AKA "Officer Ed", passed away after a long and difficult battle with cancer. Although I've never met Ed in person, we've maintained a friendship online and corresponded. We have had some common ground.
 
Ed was a retired Police Officer in Arizona, and also a volunteer firefighter. He worked as an officer in Narcotics Interdiction, and as a Narcotics Detective in the Phoenix area. In his retirement after an on the job injury, he operated an emergency lighting business, Dash Flash, which his mission was to provide emergency lighting to those who have to buy their own equipment at an affordable price . He has been an advertiser/sponsor of this site for several years, and has given EMTBravo members significant discounts on his products.  He was an advertiser on this site. Since there are so many fly by night LED light companies, He sent me some to demo so I could vet him. His products were solid. I gave the demos to friends who could use them, and they are holding up nicely in busy enviroments. I've spoken with his daughter, and her and his wife intend to keep the business going. He was also  an active member on this forum, logging in almost every day.
 
RIP, Ed. I'll continue my mission to help raise cancer awareness. Feel bad I didn't write you sooner. Thank you for all you've done for this forum. Condolences to Cheryl, his wife. Thoughts and prayers.
 
This was his last post, responding to a post I made about this site:

 
 
 
 

I'm gonna take a wild guess based off the url that this was published in April 2015.

 
While there is no restriction, that I am aware of, of using an ambulance as a fly car, it might cause some awkward conversation on the scene with some of the family members, who might not be up on emergency operations. Especially if there is a delay in getting another ambulance to the scene. you know, paging out several times for a crew even if after waiting( as I have) before telling disp. that I'll ride it in BLS, just get me an ambulance please. I can see it going something like this....
 
"What are we waiting for, my (pick your loved one, wife, husband, child etc) needs to get to the hospital"
" I'm sorry we're waiting for an ambulance"
"Isn't that an ambulance out front" 
"No, that's my fly car"
"It says it's an ambulance"
"Well its a little complicated, you see my (fill in organization) has some difficulty keeping appropriate vehicles on the road some times so we're filling in with what we have in order to to serve the community"
Family member mumbles under breath "The only thing you're serving me is a load of B*##@%&+" "Does it have one of those, whatchamacallits, little beds inside"
"Yes, but I don't have any one else to drive"
"Can't one of the other (half dozen or so) responders (getting in their points) standing around drive for you"
"Well, no they're from a different agency and our insurance won't cover them"
"Well I haven't had an accident in over 20 years, not even a parking ticket, I'll be happy to drive. I'll sign any wavier of liability you want"
"Thank you for the offer, but I can't allow that either"
"Oh hell I'll drive them myself" (after hearing the third or forth page for this location)
" I'm sorry you can't do that until you sign my RMA form"
"RMA form? What's that"
"Well, that says you're Refusing Medical Assistance"
Family member now a little red in the face
"I'm not refusing anything!! You can't get them to the hospital!!"
"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to control yourself or I'm going to be forced to ask you to leave"
"LEAVE, LEAVE!! THIS IS MY F#*#*&g HOUSE!"
"Sir, sir if you don't get yourself under control I'll be forced to ask the officer to remove you"
It quickly spirals down (as if it could get any worse) from here
 
While this might be a little over dramatized I would rather be spared this particular or similar conversation. While there might not be anything preventing such use I wouldn't want to be involved, thank you. Sending a patient transport vehicle to an emergency and then saying you couldn't transport would be like sending an engine to a confirmed structure fire, KNOWING, that you only have the driver going. (Yeah, I know, unlikely, but it's the only comparison I could think of) "Sorry, I brought the truck but we don't have anyone to man the pumps." Permissible, maybe, but a public relations disaster as the driver and home owner watch the house burn down.
What do you guys out there think? Maybe I should think of starting a new career writing fiction, no? Either that or apply for a job at LoHud! I got it, I could run for President!
 
 

They gave the test a few years ago and they have not exhausted the list yet, so it will probably be a while before they give it again.

Empress has ordered several Ford Transit T-250/Medix Type II ambulances with the I-5 Diesel engines for delivery in April, from Medix Ambulance Company, through their dealer VCI
 
I believe they have ordered additional demos of the above to place into immediate service.
 
Here's all the info and specs:
http://vciambulances.com/vehicle-sales/trucks-on-order/2015-empress-ambulance-2016-medix-15-trvd0197-0199

 
http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/new-rochelle/2016/02/26/new-rochelle-rescue/80234734/

Date: 2-27-15
Time: 08:38hrs
Location: 185 Bronx River Road C/S New St
District: Yonkers
Incident Commander: Battalion 2
Weather: 50F, clear
Units:  Yonkers FD  Engine 313, Engine 304, Engine 307, Engine 308, Engine 310, Engine 314,
                                Squad 11, Rescue 1, HazMat 1 w/ Engine 309 (S/C), 
                                Battalion 2 (IC), Battalion 1 (Safety), Car 3  (*See note below*)
           FDNY             Engine 63, Ladder 39, Battalion 15
           Yonkers PD     Patrol, Traffic, Supervisors
           Empress EMS  BLS Tac 1
           WCPD SOD     Marine Unit, ESU Truck 4
           Con Ed            Gas & Electric Emergency Commanders
Writer: 635

Description: Dispatched as an oil truck with a broken hose leaking oil. Upon arrival,  5,000+ gallon fuel tanker carrying #4 home heating oil spilled an estimated 2,100 gallons onto Bronx River Rd adjacent to the Bronx River near NYC line. Approximately 1,500 gallons were recovered, leaving 600 gallons unaccounted for, which made it's way into the adjacent Bronx  River, south all the way to 233rd St before being boomed.
 
Click Here For Photos
 
08:34 Engine 313 on scene, requesting a Battalion and Rescue 1, they are going to need assistance diking
 
08:38  Engine 313 reports leaking at main fitting, no way to stop it. Asking for all available absorbent citywide.
 
08:40  Engine 313 advising responding units take caution in area, 400 ft long, 2 feet wide, 2" thick oil slick on roadway.  Dispatch requesting if they need PD for road closure, Engine 313 states affirmative.
 
08:42  Engine 313 states driver is stating he contacted EPA, requests Yonkers Dispatch to contact
 
08:43  Engine 313 states owner sending a vacuum truck, leaking at a rate of 50 gallons a minute, unable to stop, onto the roadway and into the sewers
 
08:50  Rescue 1 requesting Engine 307 respond, they have a member of Rescue 1 detailed there today who has a expertise knowledge of the HazMat cache at the Nepperhan Ave SOC HQ
 
08:55 Engine 314 is responding with a 20 bags of absorbent, Squad 11 responding with a half a pallet of absorbent as well as minimal booms.
 
08:56 Battalion 1 requesting Sander from City DPW. Dispatch advising per DPW, they have taken all the sand off the trucks and replaced it with salt. There is only one guy working, and he will have to unload the salt, then refill the truck with sander. It will be a while.
 
09:30  US Coast Guard notified in case spill makes its way into the Long Island Sound
 
10:30hrs  Engine 306 relocated to Station 11
 
11:00  Battalion 2 Aide reporting offloading operations commencing.
 
13:50   Battalion 2 aid reporting Fuel offloading transfer complete, turned over to the environmental cleanup company, all units picking up
 
NOTES:
Many engine companies were called for their absorbent stock and to move materials and quickly went back into service. Engine 304, Squad 11, HazMat 1, and Battalion 2 remain on scene as of 13:00.  Battalion 3 was placed into service during this incident to handle calls citywide.
 
**Please PM me if you have any further information or corrections**

23 years ago today, marks the first attack on the World Trade Center. A van full of explosives was driven down into the lower parking garage, in an attempt to bring one tower down into the other. Thank God this did not happen.  But it did kill 6 people and injure thousands. NEVER FORGET!