spin_the_wheel

Could they be the employees of Spartan ERV that previously were using a portion of the same Ephrata plant?

Ding Ding Ding!!! But on a serious note my department is affected by this mess.

My inside sources (no BS) tell me that every day a certain number of employees work at the Lancaster LTI site and work the complete day.

Rockland Monsey old school Rescue

From Rockland ALF from Spring Valley. This must have been a work horse!

Goldens Bridge Mack CF

Great later model Maxim from Ossining. Question about this rig. If I am not mistaken this rig lasted into the 2000's? If so di the guys still ride the back step? I think it had hose bed bench seats...did they ride up there?

Rye Classic Seagrave

What a shattered success story. It's sad that they bought all these great brands (LTI, etc) to bring into their portfolio, and then ruined them as well. It was going so well for them, I wonder who exactly started them down the wrong path? And it doesn't even look like they even tried to sell the company.

I wonder what plans they have for departments that have warranties and/or need parts and service?

Very true. LTI was one of the best manufacturers of aerial ladders at one time. I am sure someone will buy LTI if this is the final call for ALF.

I saw an email from a high up at LTI stating LTI will remain open. We will see what happens I guess.

We had 2 of our engines with the walkway, it had advantages and disadvantages and the main disadvantage was like posted elsewhere, it was tough on the back packing hose especially as you get on in years. I for 1 am glad we don't have those rigs anymore for that reason only, but I sure do miss those 2 MACKS (1962 & 1984).

My Department had many Engines like this up until 1990. It was a popular feature in Volunteer Departments in the North East especially on Mack trucks. Believe it or not back in the day the "bench seats" above the hose beds were usually filled with many bodies gearing up!

Photos circa 1971

Why is it that Firefighters and Police Officers in NYS can retire after 20 years under civil service laws, yet 911 Dispatchers that fall under civil service laws can't until what, 30 years?

Seth years ago...maybe 10-15 there was a state wide push and I think a bill for 20 year retirement (or maybe it was 25) for 911 ops and dispatchers in NY State. It got as far as Pataki's desk and he killed it.

There are many things rookies should know.... here is one thought I teach. RESPECT your uniforms. All 3 of them. Firefighting (actions on the fire ground), dress (actions when in class A's), and civilian (actions while off duty and wearing your FD t-shirts, hats, puffy jackets etc....)

Understand that YES you are held to a higher standard when your a firefighter. If you cannot respect this fact, understand it and live it, move on.

The EMS service in the are is obviously flawed and needs help. I agree that is the true problem here.

That said....as far as the individual involved you do what you have to do sometimes. IF things work out you can look yourself in the mirror every morning and know that you did the right thing. The hell with whatever anyone else thinks or a suspension letter on file. Like someone else said take your medicine and move on. These are the "war" stories that get better with time. "Remember the time when you took the......." When things work out you are able to laugh at them years form now. I would walk with my head held high for a job well done.

For the individual to resign there has to be other problems going on. Who knows what they are but this is not worth resigning over. JMO

For you young guys it is a good stepping stone and will be good on a resume for the future for someone seeking to get hired for the Port Authority F/F positions that will open up soon and be permanent positions for years to come.

There are some fire districts with 5 elected fire commissioners without their own fire department.

Well done although I prefer the "in service weathered look" Here is the box that was on duty 2 houses away form me growing up. It looks virtually the way it did when it was taken off the pole in 1986.

I bet dpw guys are union ???

What would that have to do with the Spring Valley FD? They are not "taking jobs" form union people. How could that be if there were never paid positions to begin with?

I guess if your a union guy (for the record I am also, and also volunteer) when you have work done on your home you always use labor from union locals to do the work. Not electricians, plumbers or carpenters that are not in a union right? Good man.

It seems like a big party at these fires nowadays and departments invite their friends....then these people and departments go onto Facebook afterwards and brag about how much mutual aid there was and what a battle it was. What they are saying is that they really don't care about someone's life being burnt away, and they are proud that one or two departments can't handle what is essentially a simple fire without having to call in a ridiculous amount of help. I recall a fire whether Chief actually said he had 150 firefighters on scene of a fully involved raised ranch in defensive operation! How is that possible?

I guess your not a firefighter. Unfortunately firefighters refer to a "good job" large fire, all the time and brag about how many workers a department/company responds to in the course of a year. From NY City to Seattle and all points in between. There is a fire service magazine Firehouse that does an annual "run" survey in which it lists the number of alarms a department/company responds to during the year. The more "runs" the more bragging rights. So in a way we all glamorize and promote someone else's pain and loss. The departments/companies with the most "destruction" are the ones we all want to run with. Not saying this is right, but it is a part of the firehouse culture. It's said that the best firehouse would be the one that gets no alarms. This means a safe community with 0 dollars fire damage.

As far as 150 firefighters at a raised ranch house, this all depends on the size of the home. There are some very big raised ranch homes. A large ranch that has gone to a defensive operation may be a very manpower intensive operation when all is said and done. (long hose stretches and packing, exposure problems/brand patrol, over haul, relief crews, 1 bottle and done) Another thing about Chiefs giving numbers on manpower at alarms, they usually always go over the actual number if they are not prepared and have done an actual personnel count. But that means a good accountability officer and system in place. A topic for another day.

FASNY had a class on this a few years back. Why dont you contact them.

Just curious but why would this have to be unanimous or require a decision by anyone other than the Board of Fire Commissioners? That's their job and very often to do your job right you have to make unpopular decisions.

The only problem is that Westchester County talks out of both sides of their mouth. They take on more and more responsibilities while cutting positions. How many people have been added to the radio room to accommodate the increased volume over the past 5 years?

Few things are ever unanimous. Look at the posts in this thread. Clearly people have strong feelings for both sides of the topic of switching. In the end it will be the board of fire commissioners call as to switch or not. How they do it will make a world of difference. Management 101 never make a major change without including lower management (Chiefs, Officers) and even some of your workers (back step firefighters) in explaining your decisions and thought process as to why the change needs to be made. It makes everyone on the "team" feel as if they are part of the process in deciding the course and future of the organization or buisness. You need to back up a decision like this with facts. In the end you do what you have to do but doing this without feedback from the ranks is wrong. JMO

On the fire end of things who has mobile fieldcom/command post units?

Westchester County DES & Yonkers FD. Some FDs have a vehicle with radios and a table in it, and consider that a FC or CP unit.

I know Yonkers has their own unit, who mans it civilian dispatchers or firefighters and is it available to respond anywhere in Westchester if needed?

60 control do they have a larger unit and a smaller unit? Who mans these units the dispatchers? Any other departments have one...New Roc, White Plains? One larger unit, Field Comm 1. Staffed by 60 Control personnel.

Do the people manning the units have Class A fire gear if they are not firefighters? Nope.

Who acts as Supervisor/boss on the units? A Lieutenant or the Senior Operator.

In the event of a really large scale incident is there any plan to use all the units? Like one for operations, one for logistics, one for planning to work with the NIIMS system? Pause...NOT!

Does the Westchester office of emergency management have their own? Are they included in anyone's large scale plan. Our FC 1 is there for OEM and anyone else who needs it.

I know this is a lot of questions but Nassau had a large brush fire last week and we had 3 fieldcom units working together on day 2 of the incident. Once you got over the ego trip of "this should be our fire" the 3 units worked very well together. We have worked with others before, and it's not really an issue. CALL US NEXT TIME, PLEASE! LOL

Thanks Guys.

Thanks for the info.

When 60 control's unit is called how does it deploy? With a dispatcher that's working taking the rig or are dispatchers called in from home? Or does a supervisor take the truck?

Nassau County uses an on duty dispatcher to take the truck with the closest off duty supervisor going to the scene to meet the truck. Minimum manning for the truck is 2. Usually the number 1 or 2 Chief from our communications center will also respond as well as the county Fire Marshal or his assistant.

A dispatcher is called in from home to report to the dispatch center to cover the open spot. Minimum manning 24/7 is 5 dispatchers and one supervisor.

In regards to your question about a different Field Comm for Ops, Logs, Plans, etc. I think you're using the idea of Field Comm and an Incident Management team interchangeably, when they are typically two very different resources.

You would think so, but at the incident I am speaking of there were over 40 incoming mutual aid companies from 2 counties. The area for the command post was ideal to stage the 3 units. Each unit had a specific area of responsibility with the appropriate rep from the host dept in their particular IC role. Each unit had all the necessary freq's and the communication between the 3 went well. I think this system worked well especially when there was a chance to be operating for a few days.

Don't forget pissing away moneys on parades and tee shirts and beer.

If they are non-operational why do they even exist?

Because most of these fire companies were probably incorporated in the late 1800's and early 1900's. To be a corporation you needed "directors" to apply and then corporation officers... President, Vice, Secretary etc....

On the fire end of things who has mobile fieldcom/command post units?

I know Yonkers has their own unit, who mans it civilian dispatchers or firefighters and is it available to respond anywhere in Westchester if needed?

60 control do they have a larger unit and a smaller unit? Who mans these units the dispatchers? Any other departments have one...New Roc, White Plains?

Do the people manning the units have Class A fire gear if they are not firefighters?

Who acts as Supervisor/boss on the units?

In the event of a really large scale incident is there any plan to use all the units? Like one for operations, one for logistics, one for planning to work with the NIIMS system?

Does the Westchester office of emergency management have their own? Are they included in anyone's large scale plan.

I know this is a lot of questions but Nassau had a large brush fire last week and we had 3 fieldcom units working together on day 2 of the incident. Once you got over the ego trip of "this should be our fire" the 3 units worked very well together.

Thanks Guys.

Good luck to the 60 Control dispatchers. As evidenced by some of the above posts this is not something that is unanimous. If this is something that the Board of Fire Commissioners have decided on their own and did not involve the membership to a certain degree it's going to be a bumpy road indeed.

From experience there will be a portion of people not in favor of the move, probably the majority that will be looking for any reason to slam 60 and go back to self dispatch. "The procedures were not followed correctly, half the departments pagers did not go off, the transmissions are very low, we never get answered, etc...."

Maybe not. But I'm sure 60 control dispatchers have experienced this before. The thing that sucks is that the dispatcher is caught in the middle of this BS.