SOlsonBFDL14

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Posts posted by SOlsonBFDL14

  1. Posted

    They did an AMAZING job with the restoration! They moved back in on July 18th & we had the plaque dedication for FF David Middleton LODD on May 28, 2007 on July 25th. The reason for the delay is Captain Watson didn't want to put the plaque up before all the work was done. While it was nice having them with us for 13 months, it's nice having fewer guys in the house again as well!

    x635 likes this

  3. Posted

    Well seeing as how I appear to be the ONLY person here who actually OPERATED at this fire, albiet as part of the 2 & 2 fire detail that commenced at 1330hrs, I feel qualified to clear up a few things and inject some FACTS into this discussion.

    1. There were TWO 2.5" lines operating on floor 3. The ceiling was constructed of wire lathe & plaster which made it difficult to open which contributed to the heavy conditions in the cockloft.

    2. As far as PPE goes, of the four men that were operating up there I saw ONE with his coat open and that was as they were evacuating the roof area. I see FOUR helmets of the roof of the Exposure D building. Anyone care to guess where they came from? The men decided to minimize the risk of them falling off into the alleyway when they were evacuating. All members were wearing bunker coats & pants, boots and gloves.

    3. I've NEVER worn a SCBA to a roof and can't imaging why on earth anyone would. If conditions are that bad that you need to be under air, then perhaps you don't belong on that roof in the first place. IMHO, and in the opinion of most of the men I work with, all the SCBA is is another 40lbs of unnecessary weight to lug up to the roof with you.

    4. The operator of the aerial was a Captain on an Engine company who shall remain nameless. As a rule we do NOT leave a member behind on the turntable as we only run 1 & 3 and it's a waste of our precious resources.

    5. As for all the Monday Morning Quarterbacking, we're all big boys so that's fine. What I find difficult to stomach however is the personal attacks. "Bunch of amatuers", "Embarrassing" and "These guys are paid?!" is, at least in my opinion a little over the top and I find it insulting as a member of the Boston Fire Department. I especially liked the gentleman from New York describing the weather conditions based on a video taken from a helicopter. The roof was NOT burned through, it was opened by members of Ladders 6 & 29, and there was little to NO wind (trust me we were up the street in Jamaica Plain until we were called to the scene at 1330hrs). It certainly makes it a lot easier to put out a fire in a cockloft if the roof is being opened while the ceiling is being pulled so I'm not sure why many of you would have had us abandon the roof so soon. I agree that a ground ladder probably should have been thrown to the roof in the rear, but hindsight is 20/20. This was not a perfect operation, but then again I've yet to see one that was. I don't think it's fair to critique or criticize our work unless you've actually done it, and from just glancing at the profiles and locations I'd wager the majority of you have NOT battled a fire in a triple decker. Feel free to flame me, bash me, criticize me what have you. I will sleep just fine tonight knowing that I am a member of the Boston Fire Department, a resident of the City of Boston and that I have the BEST job in the world.

    Thank you.