KCRD

I prefer to do it on here thanks. This way many more people besides me can see the answers, or lack thereof, and thus become informed regarding the extent of this very serious issue.
The silence thus far is deafening. There is much more specific information in the other thread regarding where and when the parades are than in this one. Why do you think that is?
BTW, you can call me John, Johnny, Chief, Mr. Flynn, Flynny, but please don't call me Flynn, it comes across as disrespectful and confrontational, even though I always remember to QTIP.

Unfortunately this does have to be discussed again. In light of the recent fires with places not being able to get enough interior qualified or even just enough personnel to the scene, I believe the chief raises a great point. Those who provide actual answers to the questions posed, and not just get offended and think they are being attacked, will not have a problem with the chief's questions.

Unfortunately this does have to be discussed again. In light of the recent fires with places not being able to get enough interior qualified or even just enough personnel to the scene, I believe the chief raises a great point. Those who provide actual answers to the questions posed, and not just get offended and think they are being attacked, will not have a problem with the chief's questions.

Of special interest, like you, I don't know Chief Flynn, but I sure think I would have liked to work for him.
Are you sure about that?

We have previously established the fact that many departments in the area have a real tough time with having an adequate number of trained firefighters able to cover incidents in their jurisdiction. In light of this, I would be interested to know with as much specificity as possible, what type of preplans various departments have made to ensure that when members and apparatus participate in a parade in another jurisdiction, there will be no diminution in fire protection during the time these members and apparatus are not available????

Date: 2/16/10
Time: 20:10 hours
Location: 1358 Chandler St x Dix Ave
Frequency: FDNY Queens
Weather Conditions: overcast w/ light residual snow
Description Of Incident: fire in a 2 story PD on multiple floors
Reporters/Writer: ryang
Additional Info:
Far Rockaways, Queens, NY, 2/16/10
Address: 1358 Chandler between Dix and Nameoke Aves
20:10 hours
Phone Box 1097 - Report of fire in a PD
Engs. 328, 264
L134, TL121
Battalion 47
Receiving multiple addresses along Chandler and Pinson Sts.
20:11 hours
Now receiving multiple calls
Engs. 266, 314, Rescue 4 assigned
20:11 hours
E265 (3rd due) available assigned in
10-75-1097 - 20:12 hours
L134: 10-75, 2 1/2 story peaked roof PD, it's on Chandler.
L137 (FAST Truck)
Battalion 54
Division 13

20:14 hours
Battalion 47: On this box request an extra engine and truck, we have report of people trapped on the third floor, I'll get you a size-up in second.
TL158 S/C
20:14 hours
Squad 270 being relieved by E294 at their box, now responding.

7-5-1097 - 20:15 hours
RAC2
2-2-1097 - 20:17 hours
Engs. 268, 311, 329
E324 w/ Satellite 4
L173
Battalion 51 (Safety Officer)
Battalion 50 (Resource Unit Leader)
Rescue, Safety Battalions
Tactical Support 2
FieldCom, Command Tactical Unit
20:22 hours
BC47: Box 1097, for the address 1358 Chandler Ave, we're using all second alarm companies for a fire on the 2nd floor of a 2 story 20x40 class 3 private dwelling. We have 3 lines stretched and in operation, primary searches in progress, trucks are opening up, fire's Doubtful. We had reports of residents trapped, all residents are accounted for.
Exposures are:
1 - street
2 - similar attached
3 - rear yard
4 - open lot
20:25 hours
The staging area is Dix Ave and Beach Channel Drive
20:33 hours
Staging area changed to Mott Ave and McBride St
20:36 hours - Duration 29 minutes
Division 13: Box 1079, we have fire in a Queen Anne, 3 lines stretched, 1 in operation, fire knocked down on the 2nd floor, still have fire in the attic, making progress.
(Note: from this point on Div. 13 erroneously gives the Box as 1079, not 1097)
3-3-1097 - 20:47 hours
DC13: 1079, transmit a 3rd alarm, we have heavy fire in the attic.
Engs. 225/331, 302, 285, 236
TL155, TL127
Battalion 39
Battalion 33 (Air-Recon Chief)
Battalion 53 (Staging Manager)
Mask Service Unit
Car 16 (DAC Robert Boyce, Jr., Chief of Communications)

20:57 hours
Car 1H (Commissioner's Liaison) is responding

20:58 hours
FieldCom: Have TL155 back in off of Birdsall St into the fire building.
20:59 hours
Queens advising that Birdsall St ends at Pinson Ave (exposure 3 side)
21:01 hours
FC: You are correct, Birdsall ends at Pinson, we're going to have someone walk down to make sure they can back in, for now have TL155 stand fast at Beach Channel while we check.
21:02 hours
Car 12A (Executive Assistant, Safety and Inspectional Services) is responding

21:03 hours
FC: You can 10-2 the Air Recon Chief.
21:04 hours - Duration 57 minutes
FC: Progress report #5 on the 3rd alarm Box 1097, the address 1358 Chandler St, Division 13 reports at this time they have 5 lines stretched and in operation: 3 to the main fire building, 1 to the exposure, 1 to rear of the fire building. The main body of fire has been knocked down. They have fire in the walls, they're in the process of opening the walls, trying to get to pockets of fire and knocking down the pockets, fire remains Doubtful Will Hold.
21:11 hours
Car 23D (Press Duty Car) is responding

21:18 hours
FC: Queens, can you put in a call to Sanitation for a sander, the streets are getting pretty messy.
21:26 hours - Duration 1 hours 18 minutes
FC Progress report #6 for the 3rd alarm Box 1097, 1358 Chandler St, Division 13 reports at this time there are 6 handlines stretched and in operation, the additional handline is stretched up the aerial in front of the fire building. They're going to an exterior operation to knocked down the pockets of fire in the attic, fire remains Doubtful.
21:51 hours
Queens experiencing transmission issues
21:53 hours - Duration 1 hours 46 minutes
FC: Progress report #7 on the 3rd alarm Box 1097, Car 16, DAC Boyce reports: At this time they still have 6 handlines stretched, 6 in operation. They have switched back to an interior operation knocking down pockets of fire in the attic. Primary search has been conducted and are negative throughout, secondary searches are in progress. They had some water problems, DEP has been on scene and the problems have been completed, and the fire remains Doubtful. Have Buildings Dept respond.
22:01 hours
LIPA Power reports a 25 minute ETA
Dept. of Buildings reports they will not respond until building can be entered
22:07 hours - Duration 1 hour 59 minutes
FC: Progress report #8 on the 3rd alarm Box 1097, DAC Boyce, Car 16, reports: A this time they are starting to take up some of the lines that were operating from the exterior of the building. Secondary searches are still in progress, and places the fire Probably Will Hold.
22:16 hours - Duration 2 hours 9 minutes
FC: Progress report #9 on the 3rd alarm Box 1097, at this time, DAC Boyce, Car 16, reports: secondary searches are still in progress, he's placing the fire Under Control. Also Car 16 will be 10-8, Division 13 will be Incident Commander.
Relocations:
Engines: 304/264, 315/265, 276/266, 291/268, 313/328, 331/329, 225/331, 292/331
Ladders: 135/1??, 160/135, 50/160, 126/134, 169/137, 152/158
Battalions: 49/50, 3/53

OK it looks like story time.
Once upon a time there was a very large strip shopping center whose parking lot straddled two jurisdictions. Quite a few people beat a few arrests because the "jurisdiction that they were arrested in" was wrong. The PD's agreed to paint the city line across the parking lot (3 or 4 city blocks long) so it would very clear where the arrest was made.
Then, one day, an engine Co. from one of the jurisdictions was spotted by a politico, shopping at a market 300 ft out ot their city. (That particular Eng. Co. has no supermarkets in its company area) The poop hit the air circulator,(despite all the logic explained by the guilty Eng. Co.) and City A's FD was banned from shopping out of town for any reason.
Along comes the Eng. Co. from city B. The supermarket lies in city B.
Always willing to help a brother, the City B engine agrees to meet the City A engine at 10:00am every morning at the shopping center, both on the proper side of the city line. The shopping list was passed over the city line, along with the money and you know the rest.
It didn't last too long. Logic prevailled, and logic will probably prevail in Boston, too.
Footnote: I kinda liked the painted line, myself. You don't have to fill out the full NFIRS if your guys can push the car fire over the line before WP (oops... I meant to say City A) gets there.

Date: 1/11/10
Time: 11:50 hours
Location: 84-70 129 st x Kew Gardens Rd
Frequency: FDNY Queens
Weather Conditions: Cold
Description Of Incident: heavy fire on arrival on the 2nd floor of a 6 story MD extended to the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors.
Reporters/Writer: ryang
Additional Info:
Kew Gardens, Queens, NY, 1/11/10
Address: 84-70 129 st between Kew Gardens Rd and Metropolitan Ave
11:50 hours
Phone Box 9689 - Report of fire on the 2nd floor and heavy smoke on the 3rd floor
Engs. 298, 315, 294
L151, TL127
Battalion 51
10-75-9689 - 11:51 hours
Squad 270 (1st due) is 10-84, transmitting a 10-75 for fire on the 2nd floor
L143 (1st due) available around the corner, assigned in.
L126 (FAST Truck)
Battalion 39
Rescue 4
Division 13
7-5-9689 - 11:53 hours
Battalion 51: We have fire on the 2nd floor of a 6 story MD, we're going to use All-Hands on arrival!
Squad 288
RAC4
11:53 hours
Receiving report of a female trapped on the 5th floor with a baby, unknown apartment.
11:54 hours
BC51: We have heavy fire on the 2nd floor, exposure 1, it's a 100x100 6 story MD.
2-2-9689 - 11:54 hours
Division 13: Transmit 2nd alarm, we have heavy fire on the 2nd floor auto-exposed to the floor above!
Engs. 305, 308, 285, 293
E324 w/ Satellite 4
TL142
Rescue, Safety Battalions
Battalion 46 (Safety Officer)
Battalion 50 (Resource Unit Leader)
Tactical Support 2
FieldCom, Command Tactical Unit
11:56 hours
DC13: 2 additional trucks above the 2nd alarm!
TL138, TL152 S/C
12:00 hours
L126: Advise the incoming units not to come into 129 st from Kew Gardens Rd.
12:01 hours
DC13: 3 lines stretched, 2 in operation, we have fire knocked down on the 3rd floor, extended to the 4th floor. Heavy fire on the 4th floor.
3-3-9689 - 12:03 hours
Engs 275, 299, 302, 301
Battalion 43 (Air-Recon Chief)
Battalion 52 (Staging Manager)
Mask Service Unit
Car 9 (DAC John Sudnik, Queens Borough Commander)
12:06 hours
DC13: Box 9689, 4 lines stretched and operating, main fire on the 2nd floor, the fire floor, extinguished, making progress on the 3rd floor, possible extension to the 4th floor.
12:08 hours
The staging area is Hillside Ave and Metropolitan Ave
12:09 hours
Thawing Unit 293 is responding
12:11 hours
FieldCom: Have Battalion 52 switch to Handy-Talkie channel 5 when they arrive.
4-4-9689 - 12:13 hours
DC13: Box 9689 transmit a 4th alarm, we now have heavy fire on the 4th floor, extension to the 5th floor!
Engs. 319, 236, 286, 225
E262 w/ IMT Unit
TL135, L129
Battalion 33 (Planning Sections Chief)
12:18 hours
DC13: Box 9689, primary searches on the fire floor, which is the 2nd floor, and the floor above are negative. Primary searches on the 4th and 5th floors are in progress. Main body of fire is darkening down on the 4th floor, making progress, main body darkening down on the 5th floor, fire's Doubtful.
12:20 hours
Car 12B (OSHA) is responding
12:20 hours
Receiving apartment 2F, trapped occupants asking for instructions, not in immediate danger.
List of apartments received so far: 2K, 2A, 2B, 2C, 1E, 2F
12:21 hours
Department Mechanic is responding
Car 4 (Chief of Fire Operations Robert Sweeney) is responding
Fire Building Height/Size-up:
6 story non-fireproof OMD 200x100
Exposures are:
1 - street
2 - PD separated by an alley
3 - rear yard
4 - PD separated by an alley
12:25 hours - Duration 38 minutes
FC: Progress report for the 4th alarm, the address 84-70 129 st, fire in a 6 story 200x100 MD. Division 13 reports primary search negative on the B in the 2, 3, 4, 5 floors. Doubtful.
12:35 hours - Duration 46 minutes
12:56 hours - Duration 1 hour 7 minutes
FC: Progress report #6 for the 4th alarm Box 9689, the address 84-70 129 st between Kew Gardens Rd and Metropolitan Ave, building is a 6-brick 200x100 MD, fire on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th floors. Car 9, DAC Sudnik, Queens Borough Commander, reports: secondary search complete and negative on the 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 floors. 1 10-45 code 4 (Green Tag, Minor). 10-41 code 1. Request Buildings Department to check stability. Probably Will Hold.
12:58 hours - Duration 1 hour 9 minutes
FC with a mixer-off message
13:04 hours - Duration 1 hour 15 minutes
FC: Car 4, Chief of Operations Sweeney, will be in command.
13:05 hours
Car 1H (Commissioner's Liaison) is responding
13:06 hours - Duration 1 hour 17 minutes
FC: Final progress report for the 4th alarm Box 9689, the address 84-70 129 st between Kew Gardens Rd and Metropolitan Ave, Car 4, Chief of Operations Sweeney, reports: secondary search throughout negative, Under Control.
Relocations:
Engines: 83/262, 217/293, 313/298, 50/299, 263/301, 91/263, 94/315, 206/319
Ladders: 176/126, 124/127, 50/138, 140/143, 117/140, 42/117, 3/151
Battalions: 37/50, 26/52

Date: 2/10/10
Time: 07:20 hours
Location: 18 Greenwich Ave x W10 st
Frequency: FDNY Manhattan
Weather Conditions: heavy snow
Description Of Incident: heavy fire in a 1 story paper shop with a nightclub in the cellar, Mayday transmitted.
Reporters/Writer: ryang
Greenwich Village, Manhattan, 2/10/10
Address: 18 Greenwich Ave between W10 and Charles sts
Box 507
Squad 18, Engs. 24, 3
L5, TL12
Battalion 2
10-75-507 - 07:19 hours
E14
L3 is the FAST Truck
Battalion 7
Rescue 1
Squad 1
Division 1
7-5-507 - 07:20 hours
RAC1
07:27 hours
Battalion 2: We have fire in a 1 story taxpayer 10x40. We have 2 lines stretched in operation, fire's darkening down.
07:28 hours
TL9 S/C
2-2-507 - 07:31 hours - Duration 14 minutes
Car 6 (AC James Esposito, Manhattan Borough Commander): Transmit a full 2nd alarm for Box 507, we have 3 lines stretched, 3 in operation, we have fire in a club in the cellar of the basement. We're forcing entry now into the club. We have heavy fire. This report by Car 6, AC Esposito.
Engs. 5, 55, 1, 7
E9 w/ Satellite 1
L20
Battalion 6 (Safety Officer)
Battalion 1 (Resource Unit Leader)
Rescue, Safety Battalions
Tactical Support 1
FieldCom
07:34 hours
Car 6: Special call another FAST Truck, k, we're operating under a Mayday. Put a rush on EMS if they're not here,
L24 S/C as an additional FAST Truck
07:35 hours
Car 6: We've got the member, k. He's being treated by EMS as we speak.
07:37 hours - Duration 21 minutes
07:39 hours - Duration 22 minutes
Car 6: We've got 4 lines stretched, 4 in operation. Main body of fire has been knocked down. We do have the member accounted for, it was only 1 member, but the fire's going to remain Doubtful, let's go with a mixer off.
07:48 hours
Car 6: On 507, we'll go with PWH. We have 5 lines stretched: 3 in the fire building, 1 to the roof, and 1 in exposure 3A, k. Searches are in progress. Searches will be delayed due to the building being a paper supply store, we have heavy stock through the store. We'll go Probably Will Hold, let's go with a mixer-off again. This report by AC Esposito, Manhattan Borough Command.
07:48 hours
Staging area is Greenwich Ave and 7th Ave South.
07:49 hours
Car 6: 10-2 the FieldCom and thank them for us, see them on the next one.
07:50 hours
L118 is relocating to L24
07:51 hours
L8, TL1 S/C
08:05 hours - Duration 49 minutes
Car 6: At Box 507, we'll place the fire Under Control. Primary search in the fire building, exposures 3 and 3A, in the cellars, are negative. Extensive overhauling in the fire building, which is a paper shop. Fire's Under Control. Still have 4 lines stretched, 2 in the fire building, 1 in exposure 3, 1 to the roof. This report by Car 6, AC James Esposito. Car 6 will be 10-8, Division 1 will be Incident Commander.
Relocations:
Engines: 33/3, 53/5, 202/55
Ladders: 108/8, 13/9, 110/20, 118/24
Battalions: 32/6

Date: 2/3/10
Time: 21:20 hours
Location: 1102 Herkimer St x Saratoga Ave
Frequency: FDNY Brooklyn
Weather Conditions: cold, light snow flurries
Description Of Incident: heavy top floor fire on arrival extended to several exposures
Reporters/Writer: ryang
Additional Info:
BedStuy, Brooklyn, NY, 2/3/10
Address: 1102 Herkimer St between Saratoga Ave and Loius Pl
21:21 hours
EMS Conditions 44 to Brooklyn, be advised I have a fully involved structural fire, Herkimer and Louis Ave, it's a 3 story MD, fully involved!
21:22 hours
Phone Box 1649 - Report of a structural fire
Engs. 233, 222, 227
L176, TL120
Battalion 57
10-75-1649 - 09:23 hours
E227: 10-75, looks like a 3 story brick, fire out the top floor!
E231
TL124 (FAST Truck)
Battalion 44
Rescue 2
Squad 252
Division 15
09:23 hours
L123 available replacing TL124 as the FAST Truck
09:24 hours
Battalion 37 available replacing Battalion 57 (Battalion 44 is 10-84, assuming Incident Command)
7-5-1649 - 09:26 hours
TL111: Give us a ticket for that Herkimer St box, we're in contact with the 44 Battalion and they're requesting a Tower Ladder.
Battalion 44: All-Hands at this time, extra engine and truck, we need 111 here to set up in front of the building!
E234, TL111 S/C
RAC2
2-2-1649 - 09:28 hours
BC44: 2nd alarm Box 1649, heavy fire in the cockloft!
Engs 277, 332, 217
E207 w/ Satellite 6
L112
Battalion 39 (Safety Officer)
Battalion 28 (Resource Unit Leader)
Rescue, Safety Battalions
Tactical Support 2
FieldCom, Command Tactical Unit
09:34 hours - Duration 13 minutes
FieldCom: Division 15 reports we have a fire at 2nd alarm Box 1649 in 1102 Herkimer St off Saratoga Ave. We have extension into 1100 and 1098 Saratoga Ave in the cockloft. Building is a 3 story 20x40. Trucks are opening up at this time, a 4th line is being stretched, fire is Doubtful.
09:42 hours
The staging area is Fulton St and Thomas Boyland St
09:45 hours - Duration 24 minutes
FC: Progress report for 2nd alarm Box 1649, at the address 1102 Herkimer St at Saratago, fire in a 3 story frame 20x40, Division 15 reports: Primary searches in 1100, 1102, and 1098 on the top floor are complete and negative at this time. Request an additional truck company to respond to the command post for overhauling, and place this fire Probably Will Hold.
TL124 S/C
09:46 hours
Car 13A is 10-8
09:51 hours
E303 is relocating to E332
09:53 hours - Duration 33 minutes
FC: Progress report for 2nd alarm Box 1649, at the address 1102 Herkimer St, fire in a 3 story frame 20x40, Division 15 reports: Primary searches are complete and negative throughout the 3 buildings. Trucks are opening up, exposing pockets of fire, all visible fire has been knocked down. Fire remains Probably Will Hold
09:56 hours
Battalion 33 is 10-8 in Battalion 44's response area
09:58 hours
L132 is 10-8 in L176's response area
TL119 is 10-8 in TL120's response area
09:59 hours
Rescue 2 is 10-8
10:01 hours
TL159 is 10-8 in TL111
10:02 hours - Duration 42 minutes
FC: Progress report #5 and final progress report for your 2nd alarm Box 1649, at the address 1102 Herkimer St off Saratoga ave, fire in a 3 story frame 20x40 with extensions to exposure 2 and 2A. Division 15 reports: fire is Under Control.

Date: 2/1/10
Time: 08:00 hours
Location: 135-05 Cross Bay Blvd x Linden Blvd
Frequency: FDNY Queens
Weather Conditions: cold
Description Of Incident: Fire in private dwelling extended to two exposures
Reporters/Writer: ryang
Additional Info:
Address: 135-05 Cross Bay Blvd @ Linden Blvd
Box 2009
Engs. 285, 331
TL142, L173
Battalion 39
10-75-2009 - 08:00 hours
Engs. 225, 308
TL107 (FAST Truck)
Battalion 51
Squad 270
Rescue 4
Division 13
08:04 hours
L143 S/C
08:07 hours
E293 S/C
08:08 hours
Division 13: It's a 2 story 20x60, fire on the 2nd floor I believe, and it's a wood row frame.
08:10 hours
E311 is relocating to E331
7-5-2009 - 08:09 hours - Duration 14 minutes
DC13: 2009, we have 3 lines stretched, 2 in operation, trucks are opening up, we have fire in the 1st floor ceiling which extended to the 2nd floor, we're still Doubtful.
RAC4
2-2-2009 - 08:11 hours
DC13: Transmit a 2nd alarm for Box 2009, we have extension into exposure 2.
Engs. 236, 294, 303
E324 w/ Satellite 4
L126
Battalion 44 (Safety Officer)
Battalion 50 (Resource Unit Leader)
Safety, Rescue Battalions
Tactical Support 2
FieldCom, Command Tactical Unit
08:14 hours
DC13: We have fire in the cockloft in exposure 2, trucks are opening up.
08:16 hours
Thawing Apparatus 293 is responding
3-3-2009 - 08:17 hours
DC13: Transmit a 3rd alarm for box 2009, we have fire into the cockloft of the original fire building.
Engs. 302, 332, 290, 286
TL155, L175
Battalion 46
Battalion 58 (Staging Manager)
Battalion 33 (Air Recon Chief)
Mask Service Unit 1
Car 9 (DAC John Sudnik, Queens Borough Commander)
08:19 hours
Battalion 51: Have TL155 come up on 94 st, set up right behind exposure 4, we've got an engine on a hydrant ready to set up the tower ladder
08:19 hours
The Staging Area is Cross Bay Blvd between 149 blvd and Pitkin Ave
08:22 hours
Car 17 is responding
Car 12A (Executive Assistant, Safety and Inspectional Services) is responding
08:23 hours - Duration 28 minutes
DC13: Third alarm box 2009, we have 6 lines stretched, 4 in operation, we have fire in the original fire building, exposure 2, exposure 2a, we have heavy smoke in exposure 4, no fire at this time, making good progress
08:27 hours - Duration 33 minutes
DC13: Third alarm Box 2009, we have 6 lines stretched, 4 in operation, 2 are precautionary. Main body of fire has been knocked down in the original fire building, exposure 2, and exposure 2a, we have no extension into exposure 4 and 4a, we are going to go Probably Will Hold.
08:31 hours
FieldCom: Can you have Battalion 58 when he's 10-84 contact us on channel 5.
08:31 hours
Car 23D (Press Duty Car) is responding
08:31 hours
Battalion 50: 2009, you can 10-2 all special units on the 3rd alarm.
Battalion 33, Mask Service Unit 1 are 10-8
08:33 hours
Car 23 (Executive Officer of Public Information) is responding
08:34 hours
E287 is acting E308, E258 is acting E287
Battalion 49 is 10-8 in Battalion 51's response area
08:36 hours
Rescue Battalion is 10-8 back to Citywide
08:36 hours
Battalion 3 is relocating to Battalion 46
08:39 hours - Duration 44 minutes
FC: Progress report for the 3rd alarm Box 2009, the address 135-05 Cross Bay Blvd, that's near Linden Blvd, Division 13 reports: primary search throughout negative, secondary in progress. There will be extensive overhaul, Under Control.

Some words from karen Torre, New Haven20 Attorney:
Spilled Chili And Other Liberal Nonsense
By KAREN LEE TORRE
As if the New York City Fire Department has nothing better to do, U.S. District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis has ensured that it will be embroiled in court proceedings for years, at enormous public expense, and for unsound reasons.
By judicial fiat, Garaufis invalidated FDNY hiring exams as discriminatory against African Americans. Acting as if racial imbalance in the FDNY was a social anomaly and the handiwork of racists in city government, Garaufis managed to transform nationally common statistical disparities in qualification rates into a ridiculous finding that city officials intentionally discriminated against blacks.
In an intellectually indefensible leapfrog, Garaufis cites the racial gap seen over years of fire department testing and concludes that this amounts to intentional discrimination because city officials were aware of this racial gap for years. This non sequitur is a convenient shield against a constitutional attack on one of the most obnoxious “remedies” in judicial history. Crude, standardless racial quota hiring will now be imposed.
Notably, and for reasons that ring hollow, Garaufis exempted New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg from the politically injurious “intentional discriminator” label. Bloomberg just happens to be the one who will decide how far the city will challenge Garaufis’ rulings. The seemingly irrational drawing of a line at the mayor’s door, while besmirching the reputations of the less powerful on the city’s political ladder, gives rise to the appearance of a judicial move calculated to increase the chances that New York City will acquiesce in this judicial intrusion into its affairs.
Bloomberg should not capitulate. He should fight it tooth and nail or Garaufis will be his new fire chief and take over the FDNY for life. Other like judges have done that and wrecked the agencies of which they took control.
Even before Garaufis, the FDNY, responding to pressure from race mongers, dumbed down its tests to the point they became a joke. Here is one of many outrageous examples: One test actually asked candidates what they should do if they discovered that a co-worker spilled chili on the floor and didn’t wipe it up. Adding to this nonsense, more than one of the moronic multiple choice answers was correct. Firefighters erupted in protest and disgust over this assault on their professional standards, right in the city where hundreds of firefighters lost their lives.
Even the spilled-chili type of questions won’t satisfy liberal activist judges, who know nothing about the jobs of these heroes, show little respect for them or concerns for their safety, and issue these offensive edicts from the safety and comfort of their chambers. That these lunatic rulings come almost entirely from President Bill Clinton appointees (and will no doubt proliferate under President Barack Obama-appointed “judges”) should be laid out for voters in November.
While we’re at it, let’s not stop with spilled chili for firefighters. Let Garaufis extend his logic to fix the racial gap in bar exam pass rates and stop pretending that education and knowledge are important to our jobs. Ditch those unfair questions about property and contracts. Let’s learn from the learned Garaufis. Here’s a suggested question on a judicially reformed multistate exam:
A witness you are cross-examining at trial starts to pick his nose. What should you do?
A. Yell, “Dude, you’re grossing me out” in front of the jury.
B. Offer the witness some Kleenex.
C. Move to strike the snot.
D. Start picking your own nose so the witness does not feel isolated.
Answer key: Both B and C are correct and you get two extra points if you are oppressed.
Maybe Garaufis will compromise and allow New York City to change the spilled chili hypothetical to at least add that the chili is on fire.
Disgusted firefighters from around the nation are, at last, organizing nationally to fight against this elitist judicial assault on their profession – an overdue and welcome development.
Recently, countless thousands of firefighters gathered in New York to bury one of their own killed in the line of duty. The hero left behind a wife and beautiful little daughters. His twin brother, also a firefighter, must now bear an unspeakable pain for the rest of his own life. Mayor Bloomberg – do the right thing. Don’t let robed elitists make a joke of your fire department.•
Karen Lee Torre, a New Haven trial lawyer, litigates civil rights issues in the federal courts. Her e-mail address is thimbleislands@sbcglobal.net

First I am glad that I am not the only one who has noticed Mohegans downfall in the recent years. I am still concern with the quality of fire service here.
Well as a resident of Lake Mohegan I decided to call the firehouse. It was not easy but I got through after 2 attempts. The first time I called was a Saturday I got a recording, A RECORDING? WT*! Its a Saturday and there is no one at the fire house?
Turns out that they were all at another firehouse training. OK
The second call was more productive, I spoke to a Paid Firefighter. He told me that this has been getting worse for some years. The Board of Commissioners have turned the focus of the dept towards medical response. The paid staff has been cut by 30% hoping that maybe the volunteers would pick up the ball. (didn't happen) One Lieutenant and six firefighters have not been replaced, 4 firefighters retired and 2 firefighters retired due to injuries from the job. I asked if they were injured due to lack of man power, after a long pause He had no comment. They have not hired any new firefighters in 7 years. I wonder how old the force that they have is
I decided to call up some old friends who I know are volunteers in Mohegan the other in Yorktown. It seems Monday’s fire that their paid Capt that usually does not respond to fires, did so. They could not fight the fire from the inside because they did not have enough firefighters to do so. Westchester dispatch, which has taken over the radio dispatch in recent years, did not get the message to respond all on duty firefighters from the outer stations. This would have put 5 fire fighters and a Capt at the scene. Five years ago this would have been 6 or 7 paid firefighters but the volunteers feel intimidated with that many paid firefighters on scene. Some of the volunteers that showed up were not “inside firefighters”(which means that they are not allow to enter a building fire. WHAT!!!!!) Some of the Outside firefighters refused setup the hydrant and opted to take pictures instead. This action caused one of the paid firefighters to go take care of the hydrant and took him away from inside firefighting. BRILLIANT! This left one Capt and two Firefighters to fight the fire. There is a difference of opinion but it seems all safety teams ( FAST) were used to fight the fire.
The chief claims that the fire got a good headway (news12). I bet it did while you were waiting there for more people to show up! Apparently the paid firefighters have complained about unsafe working conditions and the volunteers don’t like that OSHA said that they must follow a 2in2out policy. This was being violated until recently. I don’t want my house to burn down, but I don’t want any one killed for my house even more.
The morale in Mohegan is low and the commissioners are turning a blind eye. The volunteers FF do not like that they are being restricted by the laws that keep them safe. The paid FF (that are union) feel like they don’t get the respect from volunteers that are themselves are in other unions (paid firefighters including NYC, Police, paid EMS, Town workers,) These volunteers are union members so they can have better pay and working conditions for them and their families but don’t like when the paid force in Mohegan asks for the same for themselves and their families.
Even if the Commissioners hired 6 paid firefighters tomorrow they would still have to be trained and this would take time. I can hardly believe that such a great dept as Mohegan has been reduced to not being able to fight their own fires, because of should short sighted Commissioners.
I am getting a lesson in fire dept politics and the games people play with others lives.

Bob, nice topic! Allright, I'll contribute...I wonder if I can manage to not get acccused of being a big, bad, bully???
First of all, my compliments to you all. A lot of great tips on this thread.
In no particular order:
When you can't see where you are about to put your foot due to somke or darkness you should be, you guessed it....CRAWLING...or, ok do the duckwalk if you're on the nob (nozzle)...I'm aware of two incidents in my own department during the last month where guys fell through a floor or down stairs and were injured. I have no idea if they were crawling and I don't know for sure if it would have made a difference but I'd be willing to make a bet (see? now I've even most likely pissed off guys on my own job...I don't just pick on defenseless women, children, sneior citizens, etc.)
When raising a ground ladder to the roof, just raise (extend) it all the way every time- saves time looking up and trying to figure whether or not you've raised it enough to have 3 or 4 rungs above the roof line, and then possibly having to raise it all over again if you come up short once you drop it onto the roof...who cares if you ahve 5 or 6 rungs above the roof instead of 3 or 4?
Before entering a room for a search in low or "zero" visibility, put your head right on the floor and turn your head sideways to get as low as possible...in pretty much every room, even those which seem to have "zero" visibility, there will be a couple of inches at least at the bottom of the room of fresh air and thus visibility...if you take the time to do this, you may be able to make out furniture, doorways, drop down fire, or even victims, giving you valuable clues to aid your search, or even to help you make the decision whether to begin a left or right handed seacrh.
Going above the fire in an interior stairwell? Keep your shoulder up against the outside wall. This will give you protection in the event that heat, smoke or fire vents up the stairs from below and will also minimize the chance of being struck by falling skylight glass in the event it is being vented as you ascend the stairs.
During overhaul when pulling walls or ceilings with a charged handline present, try to open up as much as possible before opening the nozzle. Once you start spraying water, we have to deal with all that steam which makes it not only more uncomfortable but much more difficult to see.
Don't crown the nozzleman! Give him and his Officer and/ or nozzleman room to work. If the line isn't advancing fast enough for you, go back down the line and help to dekink it and move it around corners as necessary.
When forcing a bulkhead door, pop off the top hinge so it won't close inadvertantly. Don't chock it. Take the hinge so it definitely will not close. It really sucks for the guys below to be operating on the firefloor or floors above with decent stairwell ventilation and then to have it go to s$#t because someone bumped into the already opened bulkhead door and knocked the chock out.
Please, please, please, DO NOT vent windows from the outside unless you have coordinated this action with an engine company which is advancing toward this window and there are no strong winds blowing in the direction of the window, or if you plan on entering the window for a search.
On the fireground, when it's really cold out, please don't say, "I hate the cold!" Same goes for the "man it's hot!" comments in the summer...we all know this already and you're just annoying us.
Did I mention, CRAWL?
And by far, most importantly, please QTIP.

If two people disagree on something and you don't care who's right, wouldn't that infer that you don't care about the issue at all?
You mention that you are not happy certain things becoming "two or three page threads on here"...if something becomes a two or three page thread, wouldn't that infer that it is a topic of interest to at least several people?
Please show me where in my comments i "opined on what should have been done"??
Who made an "endless barrage of criticism over every single incident"??
I have questioned response times a few times in structure fire IA's and I have done so for a reason. To establish whether or not there is a real systemic problem, we need to investigate whether or not there is a pattern, and not just one or two isolated incidents. I'll tell you what...as soon as I feel comfortable that the fire service in Westchester County on a whole recogjnizes and begins to deal with this serious problem in a healthy way, I'll stop occassionally asking questions about response times and manning levels at certain incidents.
I have not opined on much on here, I ask questions or state facts usually. I will opine, however, that you are easily upset over the issue because it hits close to home and shines a light on something that makes you very uncomfortable. You are blaming the messenger and your desire to brush this problem under the rug puts you in a small minority on this site apparently (and thankfully).

I think it is fine the way it is. If certain "members" are upset by other "members" critiquing response times and the number of personell who respond- fix it. If an IA went out that said xyz dept responded within 2-3 minutes with appropriate apparatus and personell, then other "members" would have nothing to critique. It is not the Deputy Chief's problem for pointing out the obvious, maybe it is others problem for trying to ignore it.

"...and who cares?..." Lots of us do, apparently. In the fire service response times are crucial. That is why they are tracked and recorded. It's simply not good enough to say, "we do the best we can", or "these times aren't exact", "what's the big deal?", etc. It is a big deal. SECONDS COUNT. If we can improve response times, we will save lives and property. What is more important than that, someone's feelings?? QTIP.

There could be more, but ONE is minimum manning. You also need back-ups to cover vacations, sick time, etc.
In a high trivia area some Depts run full company of know-it-alls. You've seen them. They show up at your job, rate you on a scale of 10, and tell you how THEY would have put the fire out.
Lawyers don't count...different category, not covered under the manning clause.
While we're at it, there's another firehouse group that is actually saving their cities some money, Cities across the nation are removing the sirens from their apparatus. This is because of the large numbers of guys who WHINE all the way to the fire.

State Fire administrator has authority to create additional teams
NYC = NYTF-1
Capital District Team = NYTF-2
They have not designated any additional teams because they claim they do not have the resources ($$$$$)to validate any others at this time.
The Career Chief's have a template which utililzes over 9 dept's - The Yonkers team as well as the Squads from other career dep'ts.
Yonkers recently deployed over 50 personnel with a squad from Greenville (for a total of just under 60) to the Buffalo area for operation Vigiant Guard for a 4 day exercise. Outside of the 2 teams mentioned above there were no other NY resources there that were even close to our capabiltiy.
Why do I point this out - it is becasue of the politics on the County and state level of pandering to every little group out there that wants to be a State team. The state knows if they acknowledge any additional groups it would create a "me too" effect and they would not want to stir up that hornets nest state wide.
The career depts in Westchester have trained, have a "real" track record and the resources to be designated a state team - It has always been my contention that these other teams are a drain on the system and create unneccessary duplication and competion for the limited resources available ($$$$$)
All the nice tales of training twice a month and having been activated (????) all sound nice but we all know the the truth - but no one wants to hear it or say it
But it all boils down to they don't want to hurt any ones feelings by telling them they are not needed or especially never going to be capable of measuring up to what they say they can be.
"The Emperor has no clothes", Don't upset the apple cart - that is the underlying message
Maybe the new C/E Rob Astorino if he is really concerned about cutting ($$$$$$) will realize that the County Hazmat & Tech Rescue team would be nice to have but are really a waste of resources that are already provided through other dept's - they all want to talk about sharing resources but they certainly don't want to offend anybody. Especially all of of the volunteer (aka voters) team members and fire fighters.
So go ahead and bang my post with the negative rep points - the more attention that is brought to it maybe the truth will finally surface - and that is all I have to say about that!

Well I am glad some can actually past the BS and nonsense and take some good from this post. Yes, it could have been taken as stirring the pot, and I will admit - it may have been - a little. BUT..I KNOW those vollies who post here, who are active in conversations, to gain knowledge and information from the more esteemed members ARE NOT THE TYPE WHO WOULD CALL IT A DAY IF THE TOOK AWAY THE BELOVED WHOOPIE LIGHTS. You, and I do it for the right reasons..
Barry nailed it - the young fellar in question who I saw, at a local gas station talking to his other young buddy, was driving a raggedy a** pick up, dual whip antennas, primer, bondo, stickers UP THE WAZOO, a dash light, lights in the rear window, and the holy grail of buffiness, a shiny new full length LED bar with yellow, blue, and red to the back (he turned it on to show his buddy)...His buddy laughed, said it was illegal and the Chief might make him take it off...his reply, "Hell with that! i'll quit first!"
For the record - I used to have a bazillion whoopie lights on my vehicles..(Seth can attest to that! LOL!)....got in trouble a few times too..actually had a Chief with BALLS who took them away for 3 months. I slowly learned my lesson.
It aint about lights...stickers...LOSAP...etc...It's about doing the right thing. Doing all you can to be the BEST firefighter you can...learning, training, and applying.
To those who cry shhut this topic down, perhaps the truth hurts?

I don't post on here often, and when I do I keep my posts to a minimum. I like to get involved in debates about sensitive issues just as much as some other members do, but I don't get involved in serious debates on this site because you say one thing and right away 10 people are crying that you're bashing or criticizing. Quite frankly, it's a turn off for a lot of people who may be able to contribute positively to the forum, but don't want to get all mixed up in the nonsense.
I don't think that outright attacks should exist in this forum. I don't think this forum should become the equivalent of an NYPD Rant type forum where a bunch of disgruntled emergency services personnel talk about who is the worst paramedic, or the laziest cop, or the buffiest firefighter. I think this forum should remain a constructive place for local emergency services personnel to debate and discuss the issues that exist in emergency services, whether at the local or national level. Chris192's post in the other thread related to this topic is a perfect response I think... if only I could put it so eloquently, but honestly I don't care much about being eloquent.
Emergency services personnel generally have Alpha/dominant personalities. They're leaders, they face things that the general public does not face, and we do things that the general public does not do. Having an alpha personality means sometimes you have to grow some thick skin. If someone throws a jab at volunteers, don't cry about it. Come up with an educated rebuttal that disputes what that member is saying. Problems exist across the board with paid, volunteer, and combination departments. Discussing these problems is not bashing, it's a discussion to talk about the problems that exist. If you don't like the fact that your agency has faults that someone pointed out in this forum, get over it. Maybe the points brought up here are valid points, so instead of crying about it, do something about it. Make necessary changes, ask how things can be improved, ask what you can do to bring your agency up to the recognized standards.
The simple fact is that in an area where there is so much diversity amongst its emergency service personnel, there's always going to be conflict and debates. Just because someone's views on a certain person, agency, service, or method of doing things aren't your own views, as JFLYNN says, QTIP.
I can only hope that too many members of the general public don't read the nonsense that goes on here. Some of the threads are fantastic, with great input from a lot of educated and experienced individuals. The moderators do an excellent job of weeding out posts that are not constructive.
While I don't personally know you Seth, I know you value this forum for what it is and I know that you and the staff have put a lot of time, effort, and money into creating this forum. All I can say is, don't let all the petty complaints and other nonsense get to you. If people have a problem with things that are said here or topics that arise, let them move on, and find another forum where everyone holds hands and sings songs around a campfire. If they choose not to move on, then they are going to have to learn not to be so sensitive and grow some thicker skin.