DCJPells

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Posts posted by DCJPells

  1. Posted

    Here are my thoughts:

    Who would ever!!!!!!!

    But because it is so; Exterior ops only. Unknown how much is really there and anybody who has had a large tire fire know the consequences. Large amount of water and foam just to control. Bring in a big excavator to rip and tear. I would also report this through DEC and look at it as a haz-mat situation for recouping of funds. Imagine the runoff potential and contamination.

  7. Posted

    Hey Everyone...!

    I am both pleased and honored to be a part of the emtbravo family.... I'm the " ghetto fire officer" from Poughkeepsie, and am looking forward to seeing more pictures of me in the many fires that I face in the Po'k. ghetto...!!!

    Hope everyone had a Gr8t Holiday! Hopefully I will catch up on the old friends I made in NYC and Westchester!!!

    You'll remember the live fish in my pocket at Probie School!!!!!!!

    Welcome "Ghetto Fire Officer"!!!!!

    Alot of good info and coversation happens here so stay tuned.......

  8. Posted

    I am a trooper though I work in western nys and don't do much interstate work. But I will say this, more often than not it is the individuals trooper's ego or attitute that causes these sorts of problems. I for one have never argued with a fire service or IC about opening a road back up. I would gladly have the road remain closed until it is safe to re-open. Not to mention I am incredibly appreciative of the rigs and manpower provided by the FD to handle traffic control and scene safety. I have never had a problem with any FD and I have been to thousands of incidents. I guess all I am saying is don't let a few bad apples spoil the bunch because we are not all like this hothead.

    I think you hit it right on the head. Most of the times it is ego or attitude and not just on the PD side. Though I have never dealt with NYSP, we have had town PD members with this attitude and simply working with them has always worked. Also knowing the Chief of Police helps.

  13. Posted

    I'm looking for some help.

    I know the NFPA and OSHA have their standards / recommendations for firefighter physical standards and requirements.

    Where can I find some (free) literature on this?

    Can anyone cite actual NFPA and/or OSHA wording on these matters?

    Also - in the event a firefighter has sustained a heart attack or other medical condition and their Doctor has cleared them for full duty, can they return to duty?

    Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

    Part of NFPA 1582

    5.1 Essential Job Tasks and Descriptions.

    5.1.1 The fire department shall evaluate the following 13 essential job tasks against the types and levels of emergency services provided to the local community by the fire department, the types of structures and occupancies comprising the community, and the configuration of the fire department to determine the essential job tasks of fire department members and candidates:

    (1)* Performing fire-fighting tasks (e.g., hoseline operations, extensive crawling, lifting and carrying heavy objects, ventilating roofs or walls using power or hand tools, forcible entry), rescue operations, and other emergency response actions under stressful conditions while wearing personal protective ensembles and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), including working in extremely hot or cold environments for prolonged time periods

    (2) Wearing an SCBA, which includes a demand valve–type positive-pressure facepiece or HEPA filter masks, which requires the ability to tolerate increased respiratory workloads

    (3) Exposure to toxic fumes, irritants, particulates, biological (infectious) and nonbiological hazards, and/or heated gases, despite the use of personal protective ensembles and SCBA

    (4) Depending on the local jurisdiction, climbing six or more flights of stairs while wearing fire protective ensemble weighing at least 50 lb (22.6 kg) or more and carrying equipment/tools weighing an additional 20 to 40 lb (9 to 18 kg)

    (5) Wearing fire protective ensemble that is encapsulating and insulated, which will result in significant fluid loss that frequently progresses to clinical dehydration and can elevate core temperature to levels exceeding 102.2°F (39°C)

    (6) Searching, finding, and rescue-dragging or carrying victims ranging from newborns up to adults weighing over 200 lb (90 kg) to safety despite hazardous conditions and low visibility

    (7) Advancing water-filled hoselines up to 2 in. (65 mm) in diameter from fire apparatus to occupancy [approximately 150 ft (50 m)], which can involve negotiating multiple flights of stairs, ladders, and other obstacles

    (8) Climbing ladders, operating from heights, walking or crawling in the dark along narrow and uneven surfaces, and operating in proximity to electrical power lines and/or other hazards

    (9) Unpredictable emergency requirements for prolonged periods of extreme physical exertion without benefit of warm-up, scheduled rest periods, meals, access to medication(s), or hydration

    (10) Operating fire apparatus or other vehicles in an emergency mode with emergency lights and sirens

    (11) Critical, time-sensitive, complex problem solving during physical exertion in stressful, hazardous environments, including hot, dark, tightly enclosed spaces, that is further aggravated by fatigue, flashing lights, sirens, and other distractions

    (12) Ability to communicate (give and comprehend verbal orders) while wearing personal protective ensembles and SCBA under conditions of high background noise, poor visibility, and drenching from hoselines and/or fixed protection systems (sprinklers)

    (13) Functioning as an integral component of a team, where sudden incapacitation of a member can result in mission failure or in risk of injury or death to civilians or other team members

    5.1.2 The fire department physician shall consider the physical, physiological, intellectual, and psychological demands of the occupation when evaluating the candidate's or member's ability to perform the essential job tasks.

    5.1.3 Medical requirements for candidates and members shall be correlated with the essential job tasks as determined by 5.1.1.

    5.1.4 The fire department shall provide the fire department physician with the list of essential job tasks to be used in the medical evaluation of members and candidates.

    5.2 Essential Job Tasks for Specialized Teams.

    5.2.1 If the fire department operates specialized teams such as hazardous materials units, self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) teams, technical rescue teams, emergency medical services (EMS) teams, or units supporting tactical law enforcement operations, the fire department shall identify for each team it operates additional essential job tasks not specified in 5.1.1(1) through 5.1.1(13) that would apply to the members of that team.

    5.2.2 The fire department shall provide the fire department physician with the list of essential job tasks specific to each specialized team.

    5.2.3 When performing the medical evaluation of members of a specialized team, the fire department physician shall consider the following:

    (1) Additional medical and/or physical requirements that are related to the job tasks being performed by the team that are not enumerated in this standard

    (2) The impact on the member of having to wear or utilize specialized personal protective equipment (PPE) that can increase weight, environmental isolation, sensory deprivation, and/or dehydration potential above levels experienced with standard fire suppression PPE

    6.2 Medical Conditions Affecting Ability to Safely Perform Essential Job Tasks.

    6.2.1 Medical conditions that can affect a candidate's ability to safely perform essential job tasks shall be designated either Category A or Category B.

    6.2.2 Candidates with Category A medical conditions shall not be certified as meeting the medical requirements of this standard.

    6.9 Heart and Vascular System.

    6.9.1 Heart.

    6.9.1.1 Category A medical conditions shall include the following:

    (1)* Coronary artery disease, including history of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary artery bypass surgery, coronary angioplasty, and similar procedures

    OSHA is vague and conflits with NFPA in the physician certification

    1910.156(B)(2)

    Personnel. The employer shall assure that employees who are expected to do interior structural fire fighting are physically capable of performing duties which may be assigned to them during emergencies. The employer shall not permit employees with known heart disease, epilepsy, or emphysema, to participate in fire brigade emergency activities unless a physician's certificate of the employees' fitness to participate in such activities is provided.

    1910.134(e)

    Medical evaluation. Using a respirator may place a physiological burden on employees that varies with the type of respirator worn, the job and workplace conditions in which the respirator is used, and the medical status of the employee. Accordingly, this paragraph specifies the minimum requirements for medical evaluation that employers must implement to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator.

    1910.134(e)(1)

    General. The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator.

  15. Posted

    I live off taft and go to work by the court house.

    traffic increased 200 % on my street.

    I hate to be the medic in the back of the bus doing C.P.R .

    With the 3 or 5 daily trip's A.F.D makes to the College.

    Double trouble.

    Has anybody seen any plan's .

    I think Arlington should now be call Roundbout.

    More round a bouts to come. Rt-44 in Pleasant Valley and Rt-55 in Lagrange are being looked at.

  16. Posted

    Yeah agreed, I am still waiting for my bailout kit!!!!!, it's not for a lack of trying

    I don't know if this was discussed or know.

    NFPA 1901

    5.8.3* Miscellaneous Equipment. The following additional equipment shall be carried on the apparatus:

    (18) One traffic vest for each seating position, each vest to comply with ANSI/ISEA 207, Standard for High-Visibility Public Safety Vests, and have a five-point breakaway feature that includes two at the shoulders, two at the sides, and one at the front

    (19) Five fluorescent orange traffic cones not less than 28 in. (711 mm) in height, each equipped with a 6 in. (152 mm) retroreflective white band no more than 4 in. (102 mm) from the top of the cone, and an additional 4 in. (102 mm) retroreflective white band 2 in. (51 mm) below the 6 in. (152 mm) band

  19. Posted

    Great video that was sent to me by Dave Walsh of Dutchess Community College's Fire Science Program

    "Amazing video clip of part of a front bumper from a car shooting off during firefighting efforts. More and more FD's are attacking involved vehicle fires with their deck gun. Interesting concept, especially after watching this clip. The insurance industry clearly states that any fire of significance in any of the three compartments on a vehicle (engine, passenger, trunk) results in the car being totaled as it is cheaper to replace it than repair it. So why risk anything to fight that fire?. "

    http://www.afd.org/movie/car%20fire.wmv

  20. Posted

    "OSHA States I need like 40 hours of refresher training in order to be a firefighter,"

    Not sure where this is from. PESH only requires 8 hours (everybody refers to it as OSHA training). This was a "comprimise" at that time with FASNY and other self interest groups. This is a far cry from what should be done.

    I agree with the concept and there is a lot of resistance. Many states treat all firefighters (Career and Volunteer) the same, NY does not and that is a problem. With the litigation decisions going the way of citing NFPA as the standard, those standards should be followed which the National Certification follows.

  21. Posted

    Several years ago the city of Poughkeepsie went to a structure fire in the middle of winter. They arrived and tried to hit a hydrant that was covered with snow but it was frozen, they hit the next, frozen, I think they got one working but very little water. They ended up using a tanker shuttle, something way out of the norm for the city. In the end, 2 houses were destroyed and several people were injured. I can't recall if this was a fatal but I'm sure our P-town guys could give a better deception

    January 1, 2001. Three properties destroyed and 5 fatalities. 14 Dutchess and Ulster Departments involved at scene or in station standby.

  22. Posted

    First frames show white smoke pushing through openings and then it appears that the Firefighters opened something. This looks like side C of the structure. White smoke pushing can indicate fire at a distance from that location and possibly free burning.

    Next clips shown from A-B corner looking down A side shows smoke pushing getting darker and at the top of the windows and doors of the structure/ Looks like ordinary construction, possible older but cannot determine roof construction. Looks like a cockloft area above a single story. Does not appear to be 2 floors.

    Note the yellowish tingeing developing (Not good). Smoke continues to push greater but still remains at the top of the doors and windows. (00:45 mins.) Fire is not visible. This can indicate the fire in the upper areas for the structure or remote from the location.

    02:07. Heavy pushing through an opening and also note the smoke has dropped down in the doorway.

    02:35. Fire breaks through the roof but not visible in the windows or doorways. Note decrease in smoke pushing now that it is vented through the roof. Up high in the doors and windows on side A.

    Fire visible on A side in frame at 03:00 and flashes in that space. Hose stream ineffective on the fire load.

    I would say the indications were the fire started in the ceiling space in the middle of the building and flashover happened after breaking through the roof and ceiling collapse due to the extreme buildup.