jack10562

I wouldn't dig the hole any deeper. I'd be careful about saying you aren't on good terms with them thats why you didnt put them down. Looks like youre hiding two employers that you dont want the FD talking to, and those are the two theyll probably WANT to talk to. Estimate the dates and just say they were off the books and you werent sure how they would go over on an application. And in the future put it all down!!! I bet you wont make this mistake again. Good luck.

Giving someone the wrong information because you don't have experience is not advice, it is your opinion. Not discounting it just making an observation from the inside. I had to deal with the CI people for months because they didn't believe a signed lease and cancelled checks was an acceptable format for proof of residency, I also know from working on that floor of Metro Tech what to expect. I told him my advice via a PM which is what everyone should do, since as many of you pointed out, you NEVER know who is lurking on any forum.

Without knowing the identity and background of every member in an online forum you should absolutely take everything with a grain of salt. Every response to this thread has been opinion because we're not the background investigator with this application nor are we policy makers in the FDNY. Simply being an employee of FDNY doesn't qualify anyone as an expert in applicant investigations either.
Lots of input has been provided, the original question answered with several different viewpoints, so the thread is now closed, Any further dialogue on the subject should be by e-mail or PM.
Thank you.

January 1, 2012 has come and gone and the Federal Communications Commission's deadline for narrowbanding is less than a year away (January 1, 2013). Information on narrowbanding can be found in my previous post from August.
Narrowbanding requires both the reprogramming of existing radios (or purchasing of compliant radios), and updating FCC licenses to reflect the narrowband emissions.
With that said, in researching the FCC's database, the following Westchester agencies are in need of at least updating their FCC licenses. (This may not be a complete list, so please verify yourself).
I am not trying to put down any particular agency, just trying to give a heads up on the deadline, and as you will see below, I am working on updating my agency's license (all of our radios are compliant, only had to reprogram some to meet compliance).
Briarcliff FD & PD
Ossining FD & VAC
Croton on Hudsson PD
Peekskill VAC
Sleepy Hollow PD
Pound Ridge PD
Elmsford FD & PD
Hastings on Hudson FD & PD
Tarrytown FD
Harrison PD
Mamaroneck Village PD
Larchmont PD
New Castle PD
North Castle PD
Mount Kisco PD
Lake Mohegan FD & VAC
Yonkers FD & PD
Eastchester FD
Mount Vernon PD
New Rochelle PD (Mobile)
White Plains FD & PD
As stated above, this may not be a compete list of agencies who need to update their licenses. To view the status of your license(s) go to PublicSafetyTools.info and follow the instructions in my post linked above.
If you have any questions please feel free to post or PM me and I will try to help.

For those of you who don't know, the Federal Communications Commission has mandated that all radios in the bands from 150MHz to 512MHz be narrowband compliant by January 1, 2013.
What this means is that previously all radios, and frequency assignments, were in wideband (typically 25KHz between frequencies). Narrowbanding will "create" new frequencies by authorizing "new" frequencies in between the old 25KHz frequencies.
Example: Wideband - 460.0000, 460.0250, 460.0500
Narrowband - 460.0000, 460.0125, 460.0250, 460.0375, 460.0500
Both VHF-High (150-174MHz) and UHF (450-512MHz) are affected by this mandate.
Low Band frequencies are not required to be narrowbanded.
What this means is that if you are operating radio equipment that is wideband, you will be out of compliance on January 1, 2013. Most radio equipment manufactured after 1997 has the capability of operating in either wideband or narrowband mode. If this is your case, reprogramming your radio equipment for narrowband operation will make the equipment compliant.
Your FCC license also needs to be modified to reflect narrowband operation. You can check this out at the FCC's Database Website. Enter your license callsign, then click on the "Frequencies" tab, then click on the individual frequency. This will bring you to a page which shows the "Emissions" for that frequency. If your frequency is already narrowband compliant it will show an "11K_ _ _" emission designator. Wideband is shown as "20K_ _ _".
Here are some links which go into more detail:
FCC Narrowband transition
Narrowbanding.com
Narrowbanding.com - additional resources

Date: 1/2/2012
Time: 1150hrs
Location: 22 Eastern Ave (Between Linden and Churchill St.) - across from St. Ann's School
Frequency: 46.26, Fire 12, EMS 12, Fire 11, EMS 11, FG 3, 154.115 (OPD), 460.6125 (Fire-Police), 453.075 (OVAC), 156.225 (TFD), 453.200 (BMFD)
Units Operating on Scene: [Ossining FD: 2331 (IC), 2332, 2334, E96, E97, E98, E99, E100, E101, L41, TL42, R14], [Croton FD: 2081, E119 (FASTeam)], [briarcliff FD: 2052, R37 (Cascade)], [Ossining VAC: 74A1, 74B1, 36M1, 74-05 (EMS Command)], [Croton EMS: 55B1], [WCDES: Bat 12, Bat 11], Ossining PD, Con Ed (Electric and Gas)
Unints on Standby at OFD HQ: [Millwood FD: 2251, 2253, E247], [sleep Hollow FD: 2311, 2313, TL38]
Unints on Standby at SHFD HQ: [Tarrytown FD: 2461, 2462, L37]
Units on Stanby at OVAC HQ: [briarcliff FD: 53B1]
Description Of Incident: Working Fire in residential Structure. 4 L/S/O, 2 story wood frame
Reporters: Bigbuff, peterose313
Writer: firedude
Ossining Patch Article
Lohud Article
1146hrs: Ossining dispatched to a reported structure fire
1150hrs: Ossiing Command confirming 10-75, requesting Croton FAST to sceve via 60 control
1152hrs: Croton FAST Dispatched
1153hrs: 2081 reporting crew is assembling
1159hrs: Bat 12 Dispatched
1202hrs: 2081, E119 responding
1205hrs: Bat 11 dispatched
1206hrs: Ossining Command requesting E119 set up in St. Ann’s School Parking lot
1208hrs: 2081, E199 on scene
1210hrs: 74A1 and 36M1 reporting they are treating homeowner, requesting Croton ambulance to standby in OVAC HQ
1212hrs: Croton EMS dispatched for 1 Ambulance to standby at OVAC HQ
1218hrs: Ossining Command requesting Millwood Engine, Sleepy Hollow Ladder to Standby at OFD HQ, Con Ed to scene
1220hrs: Millwood Engine, Sleepy Hollow Ladder dispatched
1223hrs: 74-05 requesting Croton EMS to respond to scene, Briarcliff EMS to standby at OVAC HQ, 74A1 transporting homeowner ALS to Phelps Hospital
1224hrs: 55B1 responding to scene
1225hrs: Briarcliff Dispatched for 1 Ambulance to standby at OVAC HQ
1226hrs: 55B1 on scne
1225hrs: TL38 relocating to OFD HQ
1227hrs: E247 awaitng crew, retone for additional manpower
1228hrs: Bat 12 requesting Con ed Gas
1230hrs: 2253 out at OFD HQ
1220hrs: 2311 relocating to OFD HQ
1231hrs: Bat 12 reports 4lines, all units operating, 2 story wood frame, continuing to operate
1231hrs: 2461, L27 responding to Sleepy Hollow to standby
1239hrs: TL38 out at OFD HQ
1241hrs: E247 out at OFD HQ
1241hrs: Bat 11 reporting fire under control, checking for extension
1243hrs: 2461, L37 out at SHFD HQ
1245hrs: Bat 12 reporting Con Ed Gas on scene, requesting ETA on electric, 60 reports they are enroute from Yorktown
1254hrs: Bat 12 reporting IC requesting Briarcliff rescue-cascade (R37) to scene, set up in St. Ann’s School Parking lot
1300hrs: R37 awaiting crew
1302hrs: R37 responding
1304hrs: 2313 responding
1311hrs: 2312 out at OFD HQ
1359hrs: 74-05 reporting Briarcliff ambulance can go back in service
1400hrs: 53B1 back in service
1401hrs: 2081 reporting all Croton FD units back in service, FASTeam released
1424hrs: Bat 11 reporting Croton EMS ambulance can go back in service from scene
1427hrs: 55B1 back in serice, returning to croton
1428hrs: 74B1 back in service, 74-05 still on scene with 74A1
1429hrs: Bat 11 reporting Briarcliff R37 released from scene
1434hrs: 2052, R37 clear from scene. R37 going to St. 2 Millwood to fill up
1435hrs: Bat 11 requesting Red Cross, 1 family displaced
1436hrs: Bat 11 reports IC releasing SHFD & MFD units from standby
1437hrs: 2311, 2312, TL38 back in service
1440hrs: 2251, 2253, E247 back in service
1442hrs: Bat 11 back in service
1447hrs: 2311 reporting TL38 back in Sleepy Hollow, releasing tarrytown from standby
1447hrs: 2461, 2462, L37 back in service
1448hrs: E97 back in service
1449hrs: E98 back in service
1452hrs: TL42 back in service
1452hrs: 74-05, 74A1 back in service, all EMS units clear
1453hrs: E98 back in quarters
Please PM me if you have any info to add. Happy New Year!

Please just post run totals here.We can discuss other response concerns elsewhere.
Thanks!

Elmsford Fire Dept.
Fire: 561
EMS: 485

Please just post run totals here.We can discuss other response concerns elsewhere.
Thanks!

Please just post run totals here.We can discuss other response concerns elsewhere.
Thanks!

Please just post run totals here.We can discuss other response concerns elsewhere.
Thanks!

Just having a law doesn't mean people are going to comply. We can only hope (and pray) that they do.
How long have there been seat belt laws, and people are still getting killed or ejected from vehicles involved in an accident because they don't buckle-up.
Or how about those pesky hands free cellphone use, or texting-while-driving laws?
Or, how about this one, drunk driving?
People are still dying in fires, from smoke and CO, despite laws requiring detectors.

I wanted to congratulate Chief Fitzpatrick on his well deserved retirement. Many people know how he was key in developing Yonkers FD SOD to the finest in the region. But, he was also key in improving special operations countywide.
While Yonkers clearly has the best capabilities in the county, Chief Fitzpatrick was able to evaluate the gaps and realized that additional resources beyond Yonkers would be required for a large scale ongoing disaster. He proposed to the Westchester Career Chiefs Association the concept of the Westchester Special Operations Task Force (WSOTF), and then he created it. He was able to get federal funding for the training and equipment, which he spec'ed, purchased and distributed to the 9 departments.
He oversaw the training of over 700 firefighters to the Hazardous Materials Technician level and another 500 firefighters to the Technical Rescue Technician level. He was also directly involved in the oversight of the development of the Westchester Tech Rescue Team where his experience convinced the county to adopt minimum training standards for the team. He also was one of the lead instructors at OFPC Technical Rescue School at Camp Smith.
From Hazmat, WMD, a building collapse, trench collapse, confined space incident or a high angle accident the public and all emergency responders are safer today because of his leadership.
Chief, you accomplished what few have ever done. Job well done.
Enjoy your retirement. Be well.

Probies face is Priceless

Oh Lord, why's an Engine Captain teaching vent ops? He won't be able to do that from a Florida beach (soon)........More War stories to tell @ The Villages Senior Complex in Fla.
Ed:

Regarding the site's editing policy, I'd just like to observe how the process has changed over time:
USED TO BE:
*You could delete any of your posts, anytime you felt like it. This apparently disrupted the flow of the threads, so it was eliminated.
*You could edit your posts going back in time with no limits.
*Used to be if you edited, it was a note at the bottom of the post.
NOW:
*There's an "edit window" where you get a chance to correct or reword for a limited amount of hours.
*If God forbid, you DO edit you weasel, it looks like a big dirty pencil eraser that says "edited by such and such" in bold letters.
*So think twice before you edit. It's obviously frowned upon. You weasel. lol
Edit: I admit it, I've edited!

Yonkers 3rd Alarm, 12-28-11 at 81 Van Cortlandt Park Av

With due respect to the staff,
Before the topic was locked, there was some measure of displeasure with the post from the site's founder regarding one-liners and inflammatory comments, with a poster saying the site has lost it's balls and the members need thicker skin.
It's not a matter of the site "losing it's balls" or members who need "thicker skin", it's about keeping the site educational, a positive environment, and most of all, PROFESSIONAL. Sometimes we need to remember that "we" (emergency service members) are not the only ones who read the content contained in these forums. I'm sure there are enthusiasts, members of local government, members of the media, and so on who read the content contained in these forums. While it's all good to banter amongst each other as if we were in the firehouse, precinct, quarters, or whatever you would like to call it, we still have to maintain some level of decorum and professionalism just as if we were present in a public place, since this board is easily viewed by members of the general public, and more importantly the media. Case in point;
The NYPD Rant for those who's haven't read it is full of so much garbage since there is little to no moderation, it's not one bit enjoyable to read from an educational standpoint. If anyone outside the NYPD read the material in that forum, the useless bantering of a few sets a bad precedence and honestly depicts the members of the NYPD in a very negative light. The media reported today on a thread contained in the NYPD Rant website about posters who posted personal attacks against an NYPD member. As a civilian reading that article, what kind of opinion do you think the "average Joe" will have of the Rant and the members of the NYPD?
So in order to keep this site from becoming another "rant style" website, there needs to be a level of moderation that suits the wishes of the site's founder, since it is ultimately his call on what is and what is not permitted. If any of us don't like it, we are all free to start up our own site where anything goes and all the members can brag over who has the biggest balls. Personally, I'll stick with the site that's an educational portal as well as promotes and exhibits the professionalism of emergency service providers.

After a long 4 1/2 year battle the 2nd circuit ruled yesterday against me, the findings of the court basically say that because of lack of proof they would not rule in my favor. I know the truth, promotions were stopped by the request of the Vulcan Society and senior Black officers of the FDMV. The decision of my attorney to go for a summary judgement was because of the NH20 decision from our highest court. They stated that you can't hold back a list of white firefighters in fear of litagation alone. In my case the City Attorney at the time on federal EEOC forms stated that she didn't want to promote in fear of a lawsuit from the Vulcans. 3 days after the promotion was stopped the Vulcans very own attorney withdrew the complaint claiming that the review of the decree showed that there was no violation if the promotions of 2 white firefighters went ahead. The City Attorney did nothing but ignore the Vulcans Attorney and ordered the civil service commission to terminate the list even though it had 2 weeks to go before termination date. Facts are facts and we will go on knowing the truth and who was involved in this case.That same very attorney is now a city court judge and I pray that she doesn't rule on the bench because of race.
I have to say that I am proud that I stood up and fought this case,even though the results were not in my favor I realize that throughout the country racism is strong in the fire service, against white and black,females,asians,hispanics etc. The brotherhood that I am very proud to be a member of certainly has some issues. I will continue to serve the citizens of Mount Vernon to the best of my ability something that I swore that I would do. There is no other career that I would want to do. I also want to take this time to thank everyone for the donations,words of encouragement and just the support that I have recieved. Its been a long haul but well worth itThe world is round and someday those who were responsible for this mess will realize that.Again, thank you and be safe! FF Joseph J Carroll FDMV

Let's clarify our definitions before this thread starts rolling.
"Buff" is someone whose hobby is the FD, be it fires, fire apparatus, old tools, history, etc. A buff often appears at fires but is not involved with any part of the command structure. His position is to stay behind the fire lines and observe, take photos or videos, or discuss the strategy. Sometimes, he is well known and trusted by the IC, and is allowed to cross the fire lines and take pictures, but he cannot become involved in the operation. Also, both career and voll personnel are often found buffing, many are there not to buff but to learn strategy or tactics to better their knowledge of firefighting. Most buffs are not a problem. If they go where they are not supposed tb be, they are told to get back and usually comply.
"Freelancer" is someone who IS part of the command/operations structure but is not following the orders of his superiors or the incident action plan. For example, without an order, he may vent a window, discharge a hose line, enter a building without authorization, etc. A freelancer, by the way, can be a Chief from another department who is operating and giving orders like it was his fire instead of the actual IC. It could be a company that is assigned to the job, but is doing their own thing. Freelancers will get people killed. Yes!...straighten them out or get them off the fireground. Career FFs who are freelancing are easy to correct. Their freelancing can cost them 3 days pay or worse. Volls might take some schmoozing to correct the problem, but if it happens more than once, it's probably time to drop him from your rolls. I know it's hard to get volls to join, but losing a member is better than losing a life.
If there is really a problem, you can get a police officer and request an arrest for interfering with governmental operations. (That's if the freelancer isn't the cop)
Sorry Brothers in blue, I just couldn't pass that one up. I still like you guys.

What is so incredibly sad is there is speculation that there were no working smoke detectors in the house, which was undergoing substantial renovations.
You can never have too many working smoke detectors.

What is so incredibly sad is there is speculation that there were no working smoke detectors in the house, which was undergoing substantial renovations.
You can never have too many working smoke detectors.

A "political s*** storm"...really?
The "political s*** storm" comes when the public's expectation is that in there hour of need, the fire department shows up with enough trained personnel to save "my child", "my parent", "my wife". So far every department listed (except 1) routinly sends less personnel than every standard calls for.
The political push is to make sure that every response has enough personnel, to actually protect the public and every responder. As a chief officer you should not only understand this, but be promoting it.
This is not about career, combo or volunteer, how many depts and how many chiefs still thinks its ok to send one man apparatus to a structure fire?
I know of 9 (of the 59 in Westchester) that not only think its acceptable, but its actual policy. There are others that think 2 firefighters per rig is ok.
Fair enough, so sticking to the topic.....I know more than 1 department in Westchester thats run card says 2 engines, 1 ladder & the chiefs car (because a chief would be a person). So thats the apparatus count.
Now you made it clear that you do not want to hear this because it ruins the thread, but its the single biggest issue for Westchesters fire service. Those 2 engines, 1 ladder & the chiefs car were dispatched and retoned for any available driver/crew or rolled with 1 or 2 firefighters.
ISO has sent its new staffing policy to the State Insurance Commissioner. Their new position is that since state law requires 6 responders (2in/2out, MPO & IC) to enter a burning structure. If you can not meet that as a rock bottom minimum, then they plan on rerating your dept to a 9. This will affect dozens of Westchester departments in the next year.

Thoughts and prayers for all.
I wholeheartedly endorse utilizing critical incident stress management especially for those exposed to the tragedy first hand.
Someone may think they're OK, but having the incident fresh in everyone's mind is the best opportunity to hold a debriefing.
For many, just having been at a scene like this is sufficient to create elevated stress, even if they didn't witness the fatalities, and it's a perfectly normal reaction. First responders are generally thought to be tough professionals but It's important to deal with the stress as soon as possible.
The mental images one has will never, ever, go away, it just has to be addressed and understood.