xfirefighter484x

I am still reeling over the events that have unfolded over the last 24 hours here in Poughkeepsie. I cannot even begin to express my sympathy, and sorrow, for the families of the slain officer, both his blood, and professional families. You are all in my thoughts.
To all the brothers and sisters in the City, my sincerest condolences. I am 100% certain that anything you need, you just ask, and we all will do, at the drop of a hat.
While I cannot officially represent everyone, from myself, at the least, your neighbor over at County.
Officer Falcone, I salute you. The true content of your character shines through the tragic outcome. Rest In Peace, you served faithfully, and have been taken to a higher calling, and can now take your post.

I think it should go one further, and be ANY firematic officer (or line officer of any similar organization, PD, FD, EMS). There are so many people these days that get squashed by their organization for posting on websites such as this, then there are some where the upper echelon/brass posts something that if it was one of their members, would most likely bring retaliatory action.
Final thought, all members should uphold such a behavior, because, what makes any one single person better than anyone else?

I think it should go one further, and be ANY firematic officer (or line officer of any similar organization, PD, FD, EMS). There are so many people these days that get squashed by their organization for posting on websites such as this, then there are some where the upper echelon/brass posts something that if it was one of their members, would most likely bring retaliatory action.
Final thought, all members should uphold such a behavior, because, what makes any one single person better than anyone else?

I think it should go one further, and be ANY firematic officer (or line officer of any similar organization, PD, FD, EMS). There are so many people these days that get squashed by their organization for posting on websites such as this, then there are some where the upper echelon/brass posts something that if it was one of their members, would most likely bring retaliatory action.
Final thought, all members should uphold such a behavior, because, what makes any one single person better than anyone else?

Google is your friend!!!
Moto's site for the pagers.
http://www.motorola.com/Business/US-EN/Business+Product+and+Services/Two-Way+Radios+and+Pagers+-+Business/Pagers/MINITOR+V_US-EN

I recieved a call the other night from Firefighter Gene Margerum of the Buffalo FD, the settlement is in. Over $2 million will be awarded to the 13 members who were not promoted because they were white. Gene will recieve over $500,000 in damages. Its nice to see that the courts recognized the wrong doing unlike another case I am aware of !

Just answer the question and tell the truth 100%. If you have seen a Psychiatrist in the past for what ever reason thats ok.Just answer the questions to the best of your knowledge don't leave anything about your medical history out or say you forgot.Don't listen to what others are saying about the exam 7/8 of them don't even have a badge.
I took the exams several years ago in hopes to cross the floor to the Fire Department some day because of the fact that i was older than 27 and could not take the FD test anymore.
The Invetigators do make the rounds so you better be living where you ssay on that application.
At the time they were waiving the college credits around so you could get hired if you were short credits. You had to get them when you were in better position after the Police academy thoe.
Still a great job with plenty of avenues to transfer to different jobs once you got your sea legs.

That would be a maple tree.

Sorry but out of all the federal stimulus packages the auto industry is the only one to me that made sense. If any one of the auto companies failed we could have been back in another great depression. It kept Americans who truly needed it working. The majority of that money was repaid. The bank bailout was ridiculous as there are plenty of other banks to pick up the slack. It would have hurt the strength of the dollar...but no where near the amount of people would have lost their jobs like that if they auto industry collapsed.

A lot better than the Emenim Detroit Videos (yes the singer)

I will post more photos as soon as a few of them are lettered...

In an effort to turn a very sad tragic situation into something positive, Fairview Firefighters in cooperation with other agencies are conducting a door to door visitation to homes in neighborhoods near the location of this fire. Their message is to promote fire safety and give smoke detectors to homes that are in need of them. It is unbelievable that in this day of smart phones, etc. that some residents are still lacking such basic life saving devices as a properly located, functioning smoke detector and or CO detector. Kudos to them!
From Fairview's IAFF FB page:

CO exposure last year in queens generated 20 something patients. Look for a new MRTU and redesigned MERV more suited to establishing a sheltered treatment/rehab area rather than a transport unit in the near future.

If you're going to ascribe these deaths to some greater purpose, then why not a discussion about ventilation? It does nothing to belittle their lives and will maybe, just maybe save a life down the road. Sadly we learn from tragedy. Changes in building codes come from massive and tragic civilian loss. Changes within the fire service are similarly motivated by death, and occasionally just serious debilitating injury. Without investigation and the resulting evolution and education many thousands of people would have died without meaning and for no purpose.

Agreed INIT. I am not trying to crucify these people, but lets be honest, as I said before, do you think John Q Public would run into an active hostage situation or an armed bank robbery and try and help out? Chances are not. People don't view fire the same way.
Ignorance/lack of knowledge is a dangerous thing, just as fire is.
People who THINK they have knowledge is probably even more dangerous.

I wonder if those "good samaritans" who broke down a door helped seal the fate. Immediately after breaking down a door, there was a "burst of flames in the rear side of the home and they had to move away"... Hmmmmmm... Sounds like an introduction of fresh air....
Without the proper training and equipment, its just asinie. We all know what improperly timed ventilation does...
That's why these things should be left to the professionals... Remember the other year when a "good samaritan" broke out all the windows to a house where a woman was trapped (East Dorsey Ln in Fairview) and she died?? Sound familiar???
No good deed goes unpunished....

I can personally attest to the efforts from first arriving units. There was an initial attempt at an interior attack, forced out due to heavy involvement.
My thoughts are will ALL involved in this, the PD, FD, EMS, dispatchers, and all other agencies and persons that were assisting.
Very tough case overall.

Who's fault is that? We continue to place people on pedestals in the media for doing what they did. Off duty firefighters, cops, anyone willing to charge into a burning structure gets the hero treatment.

NICE JOB FELLAS! Having a special needs child myself, I know all to well the ups and downs you face as a family being in the Hospital so far from home over the Holidays. I have spent a good amount of time, a few times months at a time, in Westchester and in New York City with my oldest daughter. Thank god for Ronald Mcdonald House! God speed Chris, heal quickly!

First, how often do members honestly question their own depts (I dont mean here, I mean in general)? We have all seen departments with 1 man rigs or "paging for any available driver & crew" ....no response, but no one in the dept has an issue with that, its ok because "we know whats best in our community"?
Second,how different are communities? Are there specific needs that different? Great Britain has 1 design for an engine. It is used in 4 different countries (England, No.Ireland, Scotland & Wales). They make it work from busy London to isolated islands. Is this best or would it be better to have a dozzen different designs....maybe. In the US we have 30,000 (or more) different designs because every community is unique.
In Germany they have about 10 different designs you can chose from, (more seating, bigger tank, bigger pump, etc.) But again they realize that very few communities are that different.
The level of standardization in GB is to the point that the same equipment is in the same compartment on every pump (engine). When there are special local needs they get a rescue to cover that. I got to watch the 1st day of field exersises at Morton-in-Marsh (the National Fire Service College). 6 brand new LT's from 4 countries pulled up (in an engine) to a fire in a burn building. they had never worked together before and they put almost every drill here I've ever seen to shame. They knew without even inspecting the rig where everything was and since they had all used the same SOP's they were able to gain entry, search and extingush the fire like they had been assigned to the same crew for years. We have companies in the same station that cant do that.
This is exactly why Westchester has more engines than NYC (and all our extra engines have no or substandard staffing). The leadership of every square mile here apparently knows more than the rest of the fire service in the nation.
We have 3 ladder companies (4 ladder trucks) and are surrounded by 6 departments that collectivly own 9 ladder trucks. Why cant we just use them? Maybe its because they do not have ladder companies? 5 of them run with only 1 firefighter, 2 run with only 2 firefighters and 2 are spares.
4 of those ladders are towers and every manufacturer, requires 3 firefighters to safely operate them (2 in the bucket, 1 at the turntable). Even state law says when that bucket is in smoke (IDLH) they need 2 FF's (in the bucket)but may only have 1. Its clear to me that the leaderships educated decisions are unacceptable. Why isnt everyone questioning this practice?
We have seen depts in this county that perchased vehicles to "improve" its insurance rating and the rating went up, because they do not understand what the rating standard is. We have seen depts buy trucks that do not fit into the fire station or are to heavy for the station or the bridges in town. We have seen depts buy tower ladders because every town in the parade has one and we dont (oh we also need to buy a smaller ladder because our members cant drive the big one). We have a lack of standardization that is so bad, that 1/2 the county is Rated a 9 by the insurance industry (on a 1-10 scale) That means on an open book test they scored below 10%.
I always liked the line: "If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem". You come to a descusion board, but you do not want anyones opiniton. No wonder you are disapointed. Everyday we see and hear all of the problems in emergency services in Westchester and the problems have been getting worst for the last 30 years and anyone who dares to suggest change gets us all upset.
Even when negative discusions occure, information exchange occures and that can make for possitive outcomes. I often see great post from many on this board that will take the negative and refute it. There are many here who are either new to emergency services or has been isolated in there own system and have no idea what goes on in other places. Hopefully, even the negative will open there eyes just a little.
And so we are clear, I do have an agenda. Its to make sure that apparatus respond in a timely manor, with sufficient personnel & equipment and the proper training to reduce the number of injuries and deaths to our brothers and the community. One thing I have found in 30+ years, there are a lot of individuals who do not want that and will do what ever it takes to prevent it.

You made the statement "would be interesting if they were right down the street from Empress like AMR used to be", and the poster affirmed that they are close to Empress base. You brought it up, so why are you asking what the proximity to Empress has to do with anything?

I think you are right, some people SHOULD get a grip. I merely stated facts, you sir, read too far into it.

Friends don't let friends post/text tired, drunk or angry...

I think you are right, some people SHOULD get a grip. I merely stated facts, you sir, read too far into it.

Friends don't let friends post/text tired, drunk or angry...