xchief2x

No Funerals!

To hire "Competent" Individuals who actually care about the Job!

I'll lob this grenade of an opinion, lets see where it leads.
In my opinion, if you are not a Firefighter (read: CURRENT, Certified Firefighter) you should not be eligible to vote for Firematic Officers. If you are not an EMS Responder you should not be eligible to vote for EMS Officers. If we're going to stick to an open season representative election of Officers (which I disagree with) that's fine, but then lets have those Officers actually REPRESENT the personnel in the field. Why should a person who isn't actually in the field have a say in who is going to ensure the safety of personnel on the scene?
But that will never happen for the same reason we'll never get term limits in Congress. The majority of volunteer departments I've seen have way more social "members" than Firefighters or EMS Responders. Therefore, the only way that a change like that goes through is by a vote, and those social members will never vote to lose their voice in how the department is run.

I beg to differ.
nothing that 585 said was disrespectful or rude. I don't think calling names is warranted.
If my information is correct, 585 just finished his term as Chief and was one of the more respected, proactive Chiefs in the county.
He stated the hard facts. The election system is broken and there is no concrete fix. All the courses in the world wont make you a leader and wont give you the respect of your peers. Respect is earned

I'm still confused. How is 585 the a*hole? Especially if you agree with the majority of what he says? You do realize he is a chief officer in his department, right? So, again....please elaborate.

It looks like the only a****** here is possibly yourself. I agree with the majority of the posts here and it is a proven fact that the vast majority of the Volunteer Fire Service elections are pretty much popularity contests and thats garbage. A member can have every class and certification in the book but the bottom line is some people have no business being an officer or chief period. It shouldnt even be a question agencies should and obviously need to have requirments for positions and need to stick to them and just dont "bend them" or make exceptions. Turn-over in the ranks in agencies because "thats just how it is" is Bull****, If they work and are willing to stay put and continue to have the drive to do the job the right way...leave them and groom others to do the right thing, not blow it on a "Filler". The respect of your members toward a potential canidate for the drive of doing whats right for the common good of your district/department/company, citizens, and safety of the membership is paramount. I'd go out on a limb and have to say that maybe it just wasnt your turn and it might be time to start making more training videos.

Why is this in the Law Enforcement section?
First of all, I totally agree in required training for Officers. We recently implemented requirements for our officers, which followed the recommendations of OFPC (DHSES, whatever they are now) and/or NYSAFC (I forget who). We added some other stuff. In order to be flexible to the masses, we had to let former officers be allowed to hold positions again for another two years to give guys time to meet the new requirements, provided the past officer isn't moving up, in which case they must meet the new requirements.
Second, and I swear by this - it doesn't matter what classes or training someone has. If the guy/gal hasn't been around long enough to earn their peers' respect on and off the fireground - they don't belong in the ranks. Experience, training, attendance above that of the minimum, common sense and a mindset of doing the greater good for their company/department are the attributes of a good officer.
Third, you can have someone who either does or does not have a lot of training run your department into the ground. We have suffered quite a few poor Chiefs and poor Company Officers over the years, and I am sure we'll make those mistakes again. (Hopefully I am wrong) You can have a Chief who does nothing at all for two years, followed by one that does a ton and changes things for the good for two, then have another flapjack come in and set you all back in time again for two years. Realistically, term limits should be looked at and if the majority is content with their leadership - why change it because it is someone else's turn? If a guy is in say, 5 years, and the majority has had their fill of him, VOTE HIM OUT. It isn't rocket science to me, but I am part of the minority.
Westchester-area Career Officers generally get FDNY's FLIP school, right? Man I would give my left nut for that kind of program. The officer courses offered to the rest of us don't tell you how to handle your calls - they just tell you how to avoid getting sued and show you ways to earn your members' respect (which is fine, but where the f*** is the REAL TRAINNG?!?!)
I think there are plenty of people in this county - paid and volunteer - that could put together an amazing officer program for both sides of the fence which would cover your soup to nuts. Then, and only then, could any of us really feel "trained & prepared."
/rant

Not to pile on-- but there are things you can do...Career departments have had laws passes to establish the "229" for training. every volunteer organization was against this.. So you need to get your County/ State organizations moving forward. there's a lot of middle ground out there for training. you might go over the heads of local Fd's and go to the local Govt board of trustees- mayor--city council and make them get involved---but I have to say good luck with that. If you have a progressive local govt --they just might understand the problems.
just a few random thoughts

Not to start a fight, I train as many vol ff's as I do career, BUT these statements by you fellows are why the career side pushes so hard for equality in training, to call yourself a firefighter, officer or chief. Look whats happening, A officer wants to change things for the better, and he is voted out. The fire service is in a lot of trouble, it is time to wake up.

I'm sure the MENSA contingent on Capitol Hill will add a clause to remove volunteers from the ACA. Not to get political or anything, but ramming the ACA down everyones' throats before working out every angle is typical government stupidity. In due time, people will either look back at this as a great idea, or future governments will do away with it.
Fear not, for our elected leaders can never steer us wrong...

FAST / RIT is not supposed to be a special op's resource or a special team, county team, select group of folks who are trained differently or to a higher level than other firefighters, etc. FAST / RIT skills are necessary for EVERY firefighter every bit as much as any other firefighting essential functions are. When a MAYDAY is transmitted, IMMEDIATE action by knowledgeable, skilled firefighters is required. FAST / RIT operations are often required very early on during an incident, obviously we all need to be ready to perform appropriately and immediately when a firefighter requires assistance due to entrapment or medical condition while in a hazardous location. FAST / RIT training absolutely needs to be a requirement for new firefighters prior to certification. Currently certified firefighters who are not FAST / RIT certified should be required to attend the course and become certified. Firefighting is not a game, a passtime or a hobby, it's about life and death. Those who don't see it that way need to find a different calling.

Now who would consider an aircraft accident to be a hazmat incident, fuel, hydraulic fluids, cargo, O2 generators, etc.?
Federal law is very clear as to the training levels required off the incident commander at a hazmat incident. It is also clear that all firefighters are legally required to meet the standard, but law enforcement is not required to meet it (not saying they can not meet it, just not required to). So if they do not meet the standard, who is incharge?

The guy with the gun

I honestly have never heard something so obserd. The minimum training you need to participate in the Flash Over Training is Firefighter I OR Basic Firefighter and Intermediate Firefighter OR Firefighting Essentials and Fire Attack. (the Chief must also sign and "Authorization Letter" which attests that they have a firefighter physical and comply with OSHA 1910.134). I know of multiple volunteer departments that participate in the flashover training in Rockland County and also multiple departments that participate in the in the NYSAFC Flashover training when their simulator tours New York State. NYS has some of the best fire instructors out there (and I am not just talking about OFPC Instructors). To say that the training is to dangerous for the volunteers just doesn't make sense. Was this training just set up for the career staff? What is the word from the horses mouth?
I have never heard of an insurance company not pushing training for those that they insure. I have always seen the complete opposite. If a department is not recieving training someone needs to start stepping up to the plate to ensure their firefighter start recieving the needed training.
This may sound a little harsh, but "Volunteering as a Firefighter" only really means that you are doing the job for free. You volunteered to join one of the most professional orginizations and careers in the workforce. Once your accepted its time to do a job!! You have made the comitment and you need to put forth the effort to show up at training and ask for more training. The Officers, from the Lt's to the Chief's need to put forth the effort to ensure that they can send their firefighters to all training available. The more training you attend, the better the firefighter you hopefully become. The better firefighter you become the better the service you are now offering to your customer (the Village, Town or District you protect).

I had many mentors through the years, too many to mention individually. Therefore I will just lump them together in a group I shall call all the senior firefirghters in my department and some of my neighboring departments. Now that I am a "senior member" I sincerely hope that I am having an influence on some of our younger members and setting a good example for them!

I know there is probably alot of people that have the same feeling here But Ray Rush, awesome introduction to the fire service. He was a tell it like it is No BS. he did my essentials class in 1993. My father introduced me into the volunteer side of things at a very young age and taught me what it was all about, volunteering for years with many good people in northern westchester helped me to become a fireman in the greatest fire department in the world. Thanks to all who were a part of this

I have had a few very good mentors both in the Pleasantville and Hawthorne FD and also Pleasantville Ambulance Corps. They know who they are.

I must say it have quiet a few. First my grandfather Thomas "the rock" Conklin. Then my father Ex-chief Ken Gilleo. The first person who actually took me in and I have a pleasure of sittin with and talking to all the time Billy "Bull" Flynn. On the EMS side I have to say my cousin Pat Wisker (FFEMT150) for smacking me in the head and having me get my stuff together, TM for pushing me to learn more and increase my knowledge. And so many others that I'm having a hard time of coming up with the words to describe how they have helped me in so many ways.
Stay safe all

I had many mentors through the years, too many to mention individually. Therefore I will just lump them together in a group I shall call all the senior firefirghters in my department and some of my neighboring departments. Now that I am a "senior member" I sincerely hope that I am having an influence on some of our younger members and setting a good example for them!

I had many mentors through the years, too many to mention individually. Therefore I will just lump them together in a group I shall call all the senior firefirghters in my department and some of my neighboring departments. Now that I am a "senior member" I sincerely hope that I am having an influence on some of our younger members and setting a good example for them!

true but then you get kicked off if some one doesnt like it.

I kind of subscribe to a couple lines of thoughts on this matter.
1) If I'm not posting offensive comments or causing problems, then my actual identity is largely irrelevant for others to assess the validity of my comments.
2) My comments are my own and not specifically reflective of my department, with the exception of explaining how we operate. So, knowing specifically where I work is largely irrelevant.
3) If a person really, really wants to know specifically who I am, they can always ask.
4) What's the guarantee to other forum members that the information I might list in a profile/signature is the truth?

I'm wondering why many of the people have "screen" names that are not their own, and also have no information in their profile depicting who they are or wear they work/volley. These are folks that seem to have the most to say. Man up and let the world know who you are.

Ok,maybe I'm confused,if there is no emergency,such as driving to another one's quarters,how do you justify going Lights and siren's? If and only If, another call comes in,than it's an Emergency,and you go lights and sirens. God help the driver,officer ,chief and taxpayers of the municipality,if that rig gets into an accident,relocating to stand-by in another FD. Not only will the Dept get sued,the officer or Chief and driver may get sued personnally,and if the lawyers can prove negligence on anyone's part,you could be held liable and if punitive damages,that come out of your pocket,not the Department.Sure wouldn't want that headache..
With all the comments on here about let's be safe and what-not,how anyone can advocate screaming to another town to sit in the firehouse,lights and sirens,is mind-boggling..
For that matter,why do we still respond to CO (No Symptoms) calls,and other nuisance non- emergency calls,lights and sirens? That's for another day though....
Just my thoughts...Cover your A$$.....

Agree, 30 years after Maryland and 25 years after Connecticut. But better late than never!
Another good start would be to get away from Home Rule, which allows municipalities and fire districts to set their own minimum training standards.

My 12 year old daughter runs that far in school for fitness testing.
In 8 minutes.
Just throwing that out there.