xchief2x

Good old quota systems working for America....

As a "civilian" fire commissioner, I feel I must respond to this post. Although I have 25 years experience in emergency services, I am not a firefighter and know nothing regarding trucks or firefighting. I rely heavily on my fellow commissioners who are firefighters/Ex-Chiefs/Ex-FDNY.
You are probably asking, "what purpose do you serve then"? In my position on the Board, I handle the insurance and I am the LOSAP Administrator. As a former Treasurer of the District, I also help out with the fiscal responsibilities.
As said previously, we not only have to answer to the tax payers, we have to answer to NYS. We have an outside professional audit done every year which is forwarded to the State Comptroller's office.
To have a Board the consists of all "civilians" would be ridiculous. I know of a neighboring District that has a majority of "civilians" on their Board and they have been spending more money on "consultants" than anything else. The "consultants" should be your experienced members, not some "white collar" person who knows nothing about the fire service.
I am very glad that I have four very experienced members of our department sitting beside me.

Meetings are open to the public and you do not have to be a taxpayer to vote on items such as resolutions, all you have to be is a registered voter within that fire district to be heard. Our district adopted a public comment section to their monthly meetings just for that very reason "public comments". Sadly it is the same people that attend monthly, the fire commissioners and a few officers, even when we went through the purchasing of the new engine that failed on the first vote, no one from the public attended a meeting, once in a while we get a "hot" topic and a few individuals show up. I personally would like more people from the public to be on the board, instead of just members or past members, I've found that many times some of our own members that haven't seen a fire or been an active member for a great length of time really have no idea what is going on in today's emergency services either so are they really an "asset"? I think not. I would like to have five members that a are financially responsible and not "yes" members to the Chief. As always like you did above, do your homework ahead of time, be prepared, justify your expenditures and make a presentation to the members that have been voted in to over see how the taxes are spent, as well as the public, chances are if you are prepared, you should have no problem with getting approval for items, at least that's been my experience sitting at the other side of the table.

We are accountable to the taxpayers, members of the department, as well as the state comptrollers office to name a few. And if I may ask can you elaborate a little more when you say drama stems from or is blamed on fire commissioners? I see a lot of drama and it is usually disgruntled people that like to throw gasoline on things and make things bigger than they really are.

It was a tough old 3 story building and one FAST was "activated" when a pass alarm malfunctioned on the third floor area (would not shut off until batteries were removed) thankfully the FF was okay..the truck work was unbelievable due to the masonry construction inside and outside of the building...fire was in the walls and ceilings on all three floors and up to 5 layers of plaster, old tough wire lath, masonite sheets and plywood over plaster on walls "renovated" over time..ate saw blades/chains...many doors were difficult to open with irons with heavy inside smoke banked down to lower levels but no visible fire until roof was vented ..making a lot of truckie work...and some reported smelling smoke for hours prior to dispatch...tough job...but good job by all on scene... so multiple FAST teams are "angels on our shoulders" with so much going on..good call if you ask me...

A 1963 mack with a Gerstenslager body. It was refurbed in 2 projects in the mid 80's. Repower with a detroit diesel/allsion automatic tranny done by Excelsior. Body was refurbed by Amthors.

Dinosaur I agree with you and that's what I meant AFTER the initial size up from a mobil radio.

A 360 degree size-up is nice but that should follow the initial size-up as you arrive. We don't live in a portable radio friendly system and if you get out of your truck without saying anything and encounter something problematic on the backside of the building, nobody will know it.
A brief size-up upon arrival should simply be the way we operate.

Just wondering how in the heck did this get so far off topic????????????

Typical Emtbravo this post should have been closed already cause it's so far off topic. All of this career and volunteer needs to stop. What is Emtbravo motto "working together winning together". This post is so far off .does career Department's in Westchester have their problems yes do have some of the same issues as the volunteers Such as manpower. You got a lot of taxpayers that view career firefighters as greedy Workers because of high pensions is this a problem with the careers side yes. How about Bengal tiger fire You had North White Plains engine covering the city of White plains. I have heard a few times of West Harrison tower ladder standing by White Plains quarters headquarter. White Plains, Purchase and West Harrison working together on I-287 to get a job done. when Purchase had the Full Moon fire White Plains Ladder was their at purchases headquarters on standby. How was Fairview working with Elmsford or Valhalla all of these are Emtbravo motto "working together winning together" . Seems that a couple member all always "putting down volunteer firefighter" in Westchester there are many professional volunteer firefighters which take it serious as will as Department. To The administrators of Emtbravo close out this topic. Been a member on the site since 2006 I have seen a big downfall of the site or a few months now. Seems like every other post is career versus volunteer. It seem that the site lost member that you to post a lot on here. That the rule are not followed. Let's work together

Subjects wanted in the Ossining Home Invasion/Robbery on Dale Ave are now IN CUSTODY by State Police assisted by Croton, County and Peekskill PD on Route 9 at Welcher Ave in Peekskill.

Being a former volunteer firefighter and a career firefighter for the last 23 years (an officer for the last 15), here is my take on it:
Being career does not make you any better than being volunteer. I know some volunteer departments in my old hometown (Dutchess County NY) where everyone is well certified and competent, and they show up very rapidly when the tones go off. Heck, some of those guys are better trained than the people I currently work with.
It all has to do with the following and applies to both volunteer and career departments:
Leadership -- if the department's leadership does not make sure that there is a means to get their membership trained and encourages it, the department will never be functional.
Membership -- if you can't get enough people to adequately staff the vehicles when called, then the department will not be functional.
Political Support -- if you can't get the support of your commissioners or supervising governmental entity, the department will not be functional.
Fire Prevention -- if the department or municipality doesn't take fire prevention seriously and does not have a good inspection program in place where property owners are held accountable, there will be fire safety issues.
I've seen terrible volunteer departments and I've seen terrible career departments. I've also seen great career departments and volunteer departments that would put most career departments to shame. I really don't think it has anything to do with volunteer vs. career as a whole, but the specific area in NJ.
I've seen many departments here in Florida go from volunteer to career and shut down/disband firehouses completely so they could pay the staff of 2 firefighters on an engine for each of the other stations covering a larger area. Yes, you have 100% assurance a unit will respond immediately, but you have less units and longer response times in those areas where the fire stations were shut down.
This is just my 2 cents.

You know this is quite simple when you come right down to it. Brotherhood is really just remembering to follow a few core tenets:
Treat others as you want to be treated.
Remember we're here to serve so put others above yourself
The wants and needs of the many outweigh the wants and needs of the few...or the one.
Everyone has a place to serve and all service is valuable and important even if only in small amounts.
I am who and what I am in the fire service because of those who came before me and those who serve with me.
WE are the fire service, I am only one very small part of it.

Pretty fitting here I think......

Do you recognize this man? Do you know his name?

Lots of people know he’s an actor, and that his name is Steve Buscemi.

What very few people realize is that he was once one of New York’s Bravest.

In 1976 Steve Buscemi took the FDNY civil service test when he was just 18 years old. In 1980 Steve Buscemi became a New York City Firefighter.

For four years, Buscemi served on one of FDNY's busiest, Engine Co. 55 in Manhattan's Little Italy. He later left the fire service to become a successful actor, writer and director.

After 9/11/2001... Brother Buscemi returned to FDNY Engine 55.

On September 12, 2001 and for several days following Brother Steve worked 12-hour shifts alongside other firefighters digging and sifting through the rubble from the World Trade Center looking for survivors.

Very few photographs and no interviews exist because he declined them. He wasn't there for the publicity.

In 2003 he also gave a speech at a union rally supporting higher wages for firefighters and to stop fire houses from closing. He got arrested along with other firefighters.

Also not very well known is that in 2012 Brother Buscemi showed up in Breezy Point, NY and quietly assisted in the clean-up efforts of the damage and mass destruction left by Super Storm Sandy.

Once a brother, always a brother!

Just so we're clear… this guy is a Badass !!!

Tip of the helmet Brother Steve!

Jonathan Lusk
Publisher ~ Brotherhood of Fire
Captain ~ Fresno Fire, CA ~ E18C

“Brotherhood Strong”

Thank you cogs, you beat me to it.
I never knew that about him, but I will watch all of his movies now and respect him a lot more. That to me is a true test of brotherhood...here you have a famous actor, successfull, he could have very easily made a big spectacle out of it with video cameras and taking pictures of him in his gear shaking babies and kissing hands and "helping" his former work buddies dig through the pile. But he didnt. He kept his identity secret and did what he knew was right and went to look for the guys that were lost and never made it public. THATS brotherhood.

In my opinion NO! There is also no need to have a ladder and tower ladder designation either, a Good Chief will know what resources they have available to them from their mutual aid departments. This is of course MY OERSONAL OPINION.

Ossining FD deserves credit for throwing the ladders as well. They're among a small percentile around the county that has strong Truck Company presence at a fire scene - whether it's throwing portable ladders or getting the Truck into position. I actually missed this fire, but can tell you I am proud of the guys for always doing the right thing.
Ironically, Monday night's FAST drill was a review of throwing ladders...

This does not come as a surprise to me what-so-ever. I've said it on here plenty of times before and ill say it again; Crotons FAST is one of the most pro-active that i've had the pleasure of working with. They have been strong from their inception and continue their great work today.
I've been out of Westchester for about 3 years now, so i'm somewhat out of the loop. So i'm always glad to see posts like this to keep me in touch with my roots.
I was always glad to see Crotons FAST at any job as i knew they were competent and very able to perform the tasks at hand. They have ALWAYS been strong in their ground ladder placement and keeping egress a top priority.
As always, job well done fellas! Of course, hats off to the OFD guys and gals as well, as they are one of the strongest vol forces in the County (IMO).

In my opinion NO! There is also no need to have a ladder and tower ladder designation either, a Good Chief will know what resources they have available to them from their mutual aid departments. This is of course MY OERSONAL OPINION.

In my opinion NO! There is also no need to have a ladder and tower ladder designation either, a Good Chief will know what resources they have available to them from their mutual aid departments. This is of course MY OERSONAL OPINION.

As x129k would say, "Strong Work"!
From the Bedford Hills FD Facebook Page:

Another example of how we consistently fail to manage and simply respond. With adequate resources in a STAGING AREA, you never have to put the FAST/RIT to work (of course they're already at work because FAST is a job).
So why don't we have adequate resources in a staging area? Because (waaahhh), if we aren't needed at the scene don't call us (waaaaahhhh), we don't just want to sit there in staging we want to work (waaaahhhh). Guys gotta get a grip and realize that some time being in staging is an important job and the more we cry about it and refuse to do it the further we come from letting the IC manage an incident with enough resources available to him.
Nothing aggravates me more than 12 chiefs at a command post and none leading the troops in the thick of it!

Mant Depts. are lucky if they have enough guys to get the 1st hoseline in operation quickly and provide f/e and adequate and proper ventilation in a timely fashion so I can understand. Maybe if Depts could meet the above, along with hiring competent and able individuals to carry out same, and not lower their standards to meet an objective, "quotas" there'd never be a need for FAST/RIT teams. Let's face it fellows, Im sure if you did a little research many FF injuries and LODs were caused by complacency, human error, and even incompetence. Id rather see guys train just as much on getting the 1st hoseline charged as well as performing proper ventilation and strategy and tactics. I can't understand why so many people are so worried about who and how many ffs are standing by as a FAST/RIT while you have one guy stretching 6 lengths of hose by himself to a 4th fl JOB. But hey everything's Ok we have 4 guys responding in as our FAST/RIT. I've on numerous occassions also seen important jobs not getting done cause th IC is more concerned with having his FAST/RIT out front to cover his ass and have it on record, while the skeleton crew inside whose already taxed is left to perform these vital functions. Now Im not saying it's not needed cause yes there's always the chance of the unforseen occurring, but many times I guarantee it us as ffs that put ourselves and others in a situation that requires a FAST/RIT to be deployed. Stick to your Basics and your SOP's and most importantly put the fire out as fast as possible and everything else will generally get better and there wont be a need for FAST/RIT. Remember, as many FDNY Chiefs have always stated, a properly positioned and charged hoseline will save more lives then and ladder will. JMO

I can't think of any situation where a fire investigator would need to get to a scene in an emergency.
"Quick, get here fast to investigate this fire," said no one ever...
But then again, people still respond lights and siren to sit in someone else's fire station, so what do I know...

Lets see if I can answer that
1. they are too heavy
2. we don't have enough people on the fire ground to do it
3. last time we did it, the guys complained that it was too much work.
4. we almost dropped it so we put it back.
5. I don't like heights.
prob the most under utilized tool on the rig. When I watch a dept to throw up ladder at the fire academy you can always tell who trains with them, and who looks like a monkey #$%%$$#@ a football.