x635

Man, this is like right out of a movie! I can't believe there were no systems in place to prevent this type of fire spread in such a large building. They say this fire was started by a candle. And only 200 firefighters responded. Guess not much you can do there.

Information passed along to me from FAC911. Dante was a former MOS of Empress EMS, as well as OLM*EMS and St. Vincents Midtown EMS. Dante moved to Florida a few years back for a career in Law Enforcment, and his life was tragically cut short a few days ago. RIP Dante. Link to the story regarding this tragedy: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/flo...,0,343882.story

What a nice obit in the paper today.. Just curious where he resided, and if we was affiliated with any company in WC. RIP Joe

Actually, "EDP" can be a medical condition. Schitzophrenia and Bipolar disorder, just to name a couple are disorders in the brain which cause behavioral disorders. Also, the symptoms of an "EDP" can also be caused by a diabetic emergency, drug overdose, stroke, hypoxia, or other life-threatening medical condition. Although some psych patients can be transported by PD to the hospital for evaluation, and in some cases, should be (Depression/Suicidal Idealogy), most of the times an ambulance is warranted and the safe thing to do. There have been several cases where the patient had been handled as an "EDP" by PD, and later died due to the undetected medical condition. IMO, there needs to be more emphasis in the EMT and EMT-P curriculum in how to handle, communicate with, and restrain EDPs. This is a fairly common call, and many people just dont know how to deal with it. However, I do also think that succesfully dealing with EDP's comes with experience and tact. Though sometimes, no matter what you do, chemical restraint is the only way to fly.

Excellent article, and excellent advice!!! =D> I absolutely agree with all your points and tips. I have always tried to do everything described below, it really does work.

Engine 148 is HOT! Very nice job by Gowans Knight in the layout and construction, and CFFD in the spec. I really like the Spartan Gladiator Xtreme Duty Cab. It's weird, with their quality and proximity to Westchester, its quite a suprise that more departments in this area don't use them. They will make anything. Engines, Tankers, Ladders (Bodywork) , Rescues, Tac Units, whatever you need they can do. CFFD's fleet is almost exclusively GK.

Gee this is a suprise. Duh! This is part of the reason why I like the "new thumper" that Mohegan has, and why it IS useful.

I said no such thing, and just because you and I have different opinions you said my comments are one sided, our Firefighting experiance's are different thats all. I have been in the Fire service for over 25 yrs and most of the replies are from one sided views. the only problem is they are on the wrong side. I haven't been negative, just stating my view. :-k =D> My issue is that you make up a bunch of "What Ifs" about the Dispatch side of things. The "What Ifs" could just as easily happen to the response side of things. I respect your views, and you have every right to state your opinion, as do I. Please note I've been on both sides of this issue. I just feel you need to look (and understand) facts from both sides of the issues before making prejuical comments. The term "Benefit of the doubt" comes to mind. You're not even giving this switch a chance with an open mind. 25 years is a long time, and you are probaly set in your ways, and like most senior guys, think us youngins are nuts. But it's going to be our future, and we all need to work together to progress to serve the citizens of the WC better.

The New England Patriots are the best team in Football!!! I've been saying it all along, and it rings true again tonight. Not only that, but they are a nice, down to earth bunch of guys!! CONGRATS AND GO PATRIOTS!!!

Date: 2-8-05 Time: 1022hrs Location: 718 Nepperhan Ave, C/S Lake St. Precision Valve Corp. Frequency: 484.725 Units Operating: Yonkers FD (Specific Units Unknown), Yonkers FD Special Operations-HazMat Divison, YPD*ESU, Empress Yonkers EMS SOD Description Of Incident: Volatile chemical leak from storage tank. Building (Manufacturing Plant) being evactuated while leak is contained and material is offloaded from faulty storage tank to tractor trailer. Writer: x635

I give up, lol!!! Your views are EXTREMLY one sided! Try and look at the whole big picture. Your points are very vague to me. So you are saying EVERY single Firefighter, er, dispatcher is a great dispatcher? And you are saying that every single Firefighter in any department is a great firefighter? You are portraying the perfect-do-no-wrong Firefighter Dispatcher. Selective memory I guess. All I'm hearing here is a bunch of prejudiced excuses why this won't work, or why it is bad. How about why it is good, and what will make it work better? Adapt to change??? BTW, FYI, 60 Control is not a single person effort....it is a TEAM effort!! Each group of 4-5 dispatchers works together to handle each and every call.

Again, I don't understand your comments. You say what if your CAD crashes, well there is a system in place for in the rare occurence that that happens. (Also, just so you know, hundreds of agencies around the country succesfully use a CAD system. CAD systems enhance operations in many different ways) WHAT IF YOUR FIRETRUCK BREAKS DOWN ON A WAY TO A CALL??? What if your hose breaks?? Huh? What If, What If, What If??? Yes, 60 Control has HAD CAD issues, but in the last couple of years they have made quite succesful strides. The County needs to allocate more $$$ for more staff to maintain the CAD. Don't forget, this is WC....it's not like its one agency.....YOu have 56 different fire and 38 different EMS agencies that all have their own way of doing things, which makes operating/desinging a CAD system for that quite a unique challenge. IMO, the words "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" are very, very dagerous words that usually impede progress. How would we find new, better, safer and more efficient ways to do things if we'd live by those words????? That statement right there is part of the problem with some people in the WC fire service. If the medical field lived by those words, then barbers would still be doing minor surgery. You say in one post that there is no time for mistakes, but in this post you say wait till a problem arises and lives are at stake before fixing it. Whats up with that? As far as firefighters making good dispatchers, I'm not really arguing that. I'm saying Firefighters shouldnt be dispatching, and professional dispatchers in a professional setting should. That, IMO, is a negligent waste of resources. How can you justify keeping a Firefighter behind a desk dispatching when there is an agency there that will do it essentially for free? I urge you to do a sit along with the professional men and women of 60 Control, and see how challenging their job is, and how well they do it. Anybody else with me here?

In tonights Simpsons episode, Comic Book Guy revealed his real name while introducing himself to Flanders. His real name....Jeff Albertson. And for those who follow, his T-shirt read "Nerds Do It Rarely"

LMAO!!! No, but it certainly sounds similar to somebody we work with, hence a new nickname, lol!!!

Congrats!!!

PLEASE explain to me how the call is delayed????? I assume call is transferred via PCPD to PCFD, so now instead it's transferred to 60, WHERES THE DELAY THERE??? In fact, a professional dispatcher with a CAD system may be faster to get a call out that someone who has to do it manually. Also, the professional dispatcher may be more experienced and better at calltaking and dispatching, and therefore quicker. Also, they may be better at interviewing the caller and getting better information to pass along to responding units, and may also have better tools at his/her disposal. Dumping your house dispatch to 60 Control or splitting it between two places or people......now THERE IS a fine example of delaying output of a call!!!!!!!!!!! About the mistakes part?? So were never supposed to progress foward because we are afraid of mistakes??? How about somebody follow the FD around all day, watching-listening-recording-documenting their every move? That's what a dispatchers life is.....and everybody thinks they know how to do the job....I guarentee you if we follow the FD around, they would make mistakes too. Again, I don't understand where your coming from on this issue. Mistakes in Dispatch can kill somebody, yes,(just like mistakes in the field) but so can being anti-progressive and negative. You fail to provide to me enough serious arguments or facts to make me even consider that a switch like this would harm citizens. Don't be so quick to criticize without knowing the other side. The comments you made apply to people in the field just as much as they apply to dispatch. HOME DISPATCH=OLD SCHOOL. Firefighters should fight fires and rescue people, Dispatchers should dispatch and rescue people. There's nothing wrong with your own dispatch center, but in this county and most, centralized dispatching is the way to go.

You are absolutely right!!! I love Boston (and Worcester)!

I think EMT301, and other posters of this thread, have some valid points. It's so easy to make that type of comment to stir the pot. Anybody can sit there and complain and say stuff like that. But substantiate it with something. Also, was the previous dispatch setup problem free? Would you rather have full-time, dedicated professional dispatchers in a professional enviorment with proper equipment, that will follow the call from beginnning to end? Or have firefighters that take the call then dump to the next house and then dump to 60 anyways? Do you realize what's lost in that type of system? Is that the right way to do things? Are firefighters supposed to be dispatchers? Or should they be on the streets? Complaints are absolutely useless, unless you complain and have a solution. A transition from a very old and traditional department that's been doing something the same way for years is going to have some bugs, and some of the Anti-Progressive people whining. This has only been in effect for a very short period of time, and there are many people on both sides working hard to try and make this work well. Negative does nothing, positive pushes progresion.

#1. There's nothing wrong with buffiness. It's the buffs that probaly progress things a little, and the WC Anti-Progressive Cranky (and sometimes ignorant) "Keep It Like It's Been For 100 Years" movement hates change...well too bad! Just try and keep up!!! We will win...eventually!! The youth is taking over!!! And your point with the 10-75 being??? Westchester County never used the 10 code for working fire either at all before. 10 Codes need to be standardized. Every department should have the same set. EVERY single WC agency needs to come to a unanimous decision.

An awesome video from an awesome event!!!

Off the top of my head, I can think of a couple local departments that have converted their ambulances (Type III's) to another purpose. I know Bedford PD converted an old KBHVAC bus into a Arson Investigation unit. Leonia, NJ converted an old Type III into a multi-purpose unit. I know there are several that have been done, inside and outside of this area, I'm just having trouble remembering where. I'll keep thinking. Mount Vernon and New Ro maybe??

When DFFD227 is not available (like at school or work) , he contracts out his photographic work with his equipment to YPD459.

I believe VMFD has been aiming for quite some time to build a "Central" station. I don't remember quite well, but I think Ladder 20 would be one of the companies to move in.