lt411

Brewster FD in Putnam County is selling trees as of tomorrow!

Today we remember the horrific events of Sept. 11, 2001 and the lives lost. As a firefighter I share in the sadness and anger of the families of the 343 FDNY members who were murdered. RIP fellas. But there is another part of the story I remember too. With all the grief and anger still felt and with first responders paying a heavy price now for the time spent working at Ground Zero we sometimes overlook the fact that our FDNY brothers, along with the NYPD and PAPD saved over 10,000 people that day, TEN THOUSAND. The heroism and dedication of all of these men and women knows no bounds and the sacrifices, of both the living and of those lost, were not in vain. To all of them I say THANK YOU.

God Bless all of them and God Bless America!!

Never Forget

I was in a bar talking to a friend whom I had met when he and his family visited my firehouse several years earlier. As we talked, we were approached by 4 drunk guys who said they were "firefighters from London Fire Brigade here on holiday". They had overheard us talking, realized I was a Firefighter, and wanted to know if my firehouse was close by so they could visit. I said "no problem, the firehouse (not mine) is at 48th and 8th" (54 Engine/Ladder 4). I even told them to specifically ask for my friend, Steve, who was working. Out of the bar they stumbled and a 1/2 hour later I got a not-so-nice text from Steve telling me what he thought of me sending the guys for their "visit". I thought it was funny.

Ten House is a really special circumstance. I've worked there once or twice as a detail. Great guys, had a great tour there recently.
Here's the deal....that firehouse is a living memorial, a tourist destination and certainly highly visable. It's hard to even respond on alarms from there. The moment the door go up, they're mobbed. They have to put signs out telling people not to cross the apparatus door threshold. They have to use ropes to stop sidwalk traffic to pull out.
It's a revolving door and I'm sure that it can be too much at times.
**To anyone visitng NYC and planning to visit a firehouse:
Please visit us! We're happy to chat, talk a little shop and maybe give a quick tour. However, if you're in the know, (and you are 'cause you're on this site) visit off the beaten path a bit. Give the guys in Times Square and The World Trade Center a break if you can.

After that fatal fire in 1987,at the Schomberg Plaza towers in east Harlem,there was a heavy-duty investigation done. Soon after the fire was under control, the FDNY fire marshals went to the quarters of the administrative fire company whose district the building was in (Engine company 91). They went right to the building inspection folder to see if there were any outstanding fire violations or recent issues with inspections. Luckily the company commander (who was my first lieutenant as a probie) was a very smart and diligent officer.He had documented all the issues with the building, and had sent reports "downtown" and to the NYC Building dept.,concerning problems with the compactor chute.
BOTTOM LINE: When you do a fire prevention inspection on a building,and sign your name on the form, do it right. Cover your butt! You never know when there will be a fire or collapse or other emergency in that building in the future.

After that fatal fire in 1987,at the Schomberg Plaza towers in east Harlem,there was a heavy-duty investigation done. Soon after the fire was under control, the FDNY fire marshals went to the quarters of the administrative fire company whose district the building was in (Engine company 91). They went right to the building inspection folder to see if there were any outstanding fire violations or recent issues with inspections. Luckily the company commander (who was my first lieutenant as a probie) was a very smart and diligent officer.He had documented all the issues with the building, and had sent reports "downtown" and to the NYC Building dept.,concerning problems with the compactor chute.
BOTTOM LINE: When you do a fire prevention inspection on a building,and sign your name on the form, do it right. Cover your butt! You never know when there will be a fire or collapse or other emergency in that building in the future.

After that fatal fire in 1987,at the Schomberg Plaza towers in east Harlem,there was a heavy-duty investigation done. Soon after the fire was under control, the FDNY fire marshals went to the quarters of the administrative fire company whose district the building was in (Engine company 91). They went right to the building inspection folder to see if there were any outstanding fire violations or recent issues with inspections. Luckily the company commander (who was my first lieutenant as a probie) was a very smart and diligent officer.He had documented all the issues with the building, and had sent reports "downtown" and to the NYC Building dept.,concerning problems with the compactor chute.
BOTTOM LINE: When you do a fire prevention inspection on a building,and sign your name on the form, do it right. Cover your butt! You never know when there will be a fire or collapse or other emergency in that building in the future.

He should be hired immediately! s*** Ive seen 50 yr old guys run frigging circles around younger guys who want to do nothing but sit and play with their laptops all friggin day and then complain when they have to mop the floor! Some of them are lucky if they can even throw a 24' up by themselves! Age to me doesn't mean s*** anymore on our Job! If he's in good enough shape to do the Job and is willing to, which he seems to be by Volunteering to do it then give it to him! WTF!

Have to agree with "16fire5" on the extinguishment of wind driven fires. Was 1st due engine at a high-rise MD fire on Broadway, opposite the Lincoln Center plaza. Fire was on the 20th(?) floor in an apt. facing the west (Hudson River), started by a halogen torchire lamp, that fell on the bed. The maid opened all the windows to "get the bad smoke out";called bldg. maintenance; and wheeled the occupant (Lionel Hampton, the jazz musician) out,leaving the apt door open.Eventually the concierge called 911. My engine company was across the street on an EMS run, in a hotel, babysitting a dead body awaiting PD,when my MPO reported fire out the windows across the street from us. We ended up 2nd due, and stretched a 2nd standpipe line down the hall. The truck tried to breach a wall from the adjoining apt., with no luck. Anyway, it went to 5 alarms, with the 1st alarm engines getting 2nd degree burns. The 4th and 5th alarm engines, down from Harlem, busted our chops about the ghetto guys putting out our fire, but truth be told- they could only advance their line as fast as the contents burned away. You cannot put out a wind-driven fire if you are coming at it from the downwind side. The KO curtain /fire blanket would have been put to good use at that fire, but it was not yet in our "toolbox" of equipment/tactics. Sorry for the long-winded tale from an old retired guy! Still miss "the job" every day!

Have to agree with "16fire5" on the extinguishment of wind driven fires. Was 1st due engine at a high-rise MD fire on Broadway, opposite the Lincoln Center plaza. Fire was on the 20th(?) floor in an apt. facing the west (Hudson River), started by a halogen torchire lamp, that fell on the bed. The maid opened all the windows to "get the bad smoke out";called bldg. maintenance; and wheeled the occupant (Lionel Hampton, the jazz musician) out,leaving the apt door open.Eventually the concierge called 911. My engine company was across the street on an EMS run, in a hotel, babysitting a dead body awaiting PD,when my MPO reported fire out the windows across the street from us. We ended up 2nd due, and stretched a 2nd standpipe line down the hall. The truck tried to breach a wall from the adjoining apt., with no luck. Anyway, it went to 5 alarms, with the 1st alarm engines getting 2nd degree burns. The 4th and 5th alarm engines, down from Harlem, busted our chops about the ghetto guys putting out our fire, but truth be told- they could only advance their line as fast as the contents burned away. You cannot put out a wind-driven fire if you are coming at it from the downwind side. The KO curtain /fire blanket would have been put to good use at that fire, but it was not yet in our "toolbox" of equipment/tactics. Sorry for the long-winded tale from an old retired guy! Still miss "the job" every day!

Have to agree with "16fire5" on the extinguishment of wind driven fires. Was 1st due engine at a high-rise MD fire on Broadway, opposite the Lincoln Center plaza. Fire was on the 20th(?) floor in an apt. facing the west (Hudson River), started by a halogen torchire lamp, that fell on the bed. The maid opened all the windows to "get the bad smoke out";called bldg. maintenance; and wheeled the occupant (Lionel Hampton, the jazz musician) out,leaving the apt door open.Eventually the concierge called 911. My engine company was across the street on an EMS run, in a hotel, babysitting a dead body awaiting PD,when my MPO reported fire out the windows across the street from us. We ended up 2nd due, and stretched a 2nd standpipe line down the hall. The truck tried to breach a wall from the adjoining apt., with no luck. Anyway, it went to 5 alarms, with the 1st alarm engines getting 2nd degree burns. The 4th and 5th alarm engines, down from Harlem, busted our chops about the ghetto guys putting out our fire, but truth be told- they could only advance their line as fast as the contents burned away. You cannot put out a wind-driven fire if you are coming at it from the downwind side. The KO curtain /fire blanket would have been put to good use at that fire, but it was not yet in our "toolbox" of equipment/tactics. Sorry for the long-winded tale from an old retired guy! Still miss "the job" every day!

Have to agree with "16fire5" on the extinguishment of wind driven fires. Was 1st due engine at a high-rise MD fire on Broadway, opposite the Lincoln Center plaza. Fire was on the 20th(?) floor in an apt. facing the west (Hudson River), started by a halogen torchire lamp, that fell on the bed. The maid opened all the windows to "get the bad smoke out";called bldg. maintenance; and wheeled the occupant (Lionel Hampton, the jazz musician) out,leaving the apt door open.Eventually the concierge called 911. My engine company was across the street on an EMS run, in a hotel, babysitting a dead body awaiting PD,when my MPO reported fire out the windows across the street from us. We ended up 2nd due, and stretched a 2nd standpipe line down the hall. The truck tried to breach a wall from the adjoining apt., with no luck. Anyway, it went to 5 alarms, with the 1st alarm engines getting 2nd degree burns. The 4th and 5th alarm engines, down from Harlem, busted our chops about the ghetto guys putting out our fire, but truth be told- they could only advance their line as fast as the contents burned away. You cannot put out a wind-driven fire if you are coming at it from the downwind side. The KO curtain /fire blanket would have been put to good use at that fire, but it was not yet in our "toolbox" of equipment/tactics. Sorry for the long-winded tale from an old retired guy! Still miss "the job" every day!

Have to agree with "16fire5" on the extinguishment of wind driven fires. Was 1st due engine at a high-rise MD fire on Broadway, opposite the Lincoln Center plaza. Fire was on the 20th(?) floor in an apt. facing the west (Hudson River), started by a halogen torchire lamp, that fell on the bed. The maid opened all the windows to "get the bad smoke out";called bldg. maintenance; and wheeled the occupant (Lionel Hampton, the jazz musician) out,leaving the apt door open.Eventually the concierge called 911. My engine company was across the street on an EMS run, in a hotel, babysitting a dead body awaiting PD,when my MPO reported fire out the windows across the street from us. We ended up 2nd due, and stretched a 2nd standpipe line down the hall. The truck tried to breach a wall from the adjoining apt., with no luck. Anyway, it went to 5 alarms, with the 1st alarm engines getting 2nd degree burns. The 4th and 5th alarm engines, down from Harlem, busted our chops about the ghetto guys putting out our fire, but truth be told- they could only advance their line as fast as the contents burned away. You cannot put out a wind-driven fire if you are coming at it from the downwind side. The KO curtain /fire blanket would have been put to good use at that fire, but it was not yet in our "toolbox" of equipment/tactics. Sorry for the long-winded tale from an old retired guy! Still miss "the job" every day!

Have to agree with "16fire5" on the extinguishment of wind driven fires. Was 1st due engine at a high-rise MD fire on Broadway, opposite the Lincoln Center plaza. Fire was on the 20th(?) floor in an apt. facing the west (Hudson River), started by a halogen torchire lamp, that fell on the bed. The maid opened all the windows to "get the bad smoke out";called bldg. maintenance; and wheeled the occupant (Lionel Hampton, the jazz musician) out,leaving the apt door open.Eventually the concierge called 911. My engine company was across the street on an EMS run, in a hotel, babysitting a dead body awaiting PD,when my MPO reported fire out the windows across the street from us. We ended up 2nd due, and stretched a 2nd standpipe line down the hall. The truck tried to breach a wall from the adjoining apt., with no luck. Anyway, it went to 5 alarms, with the 1st alarm engines getting 2nd degree burns. The 4th and 5th alarm engines, down from Harlem, busted our chops about the ghetto guys putting out our fire, but truth be told- they could only advance their line as fast as the contents burned away. You cannot put out a wind-driven fire if you are coming at it from the downwind side. The KO curtain /fire blanket would have been put to good use at that fire, but it was not yet in our "toolbox" of equipment/tactics. Sorry for the long-winded tale from an old retired guy! Still miss "the job" every day!

+1 to this. SOP's have the control man flush out the standpipe before hooking-up. However....you can't flush 20 foors worth of water (or 40, 50, ect) and something could very well come through the line and clog at the tip. However, you're much better off with a 1 1/8th smooth bore tip, both for lower propensity to clog and for it's superior penetration ability.
My personal belief is.....automatic/fog nozzles have no place in interior structural firefighting. They have a multitude of applications in brush, rubbish, decon, utility emergencies, exterior and many others....but a straight up house or apt. fire.....i'll take the smooth bore.

FDNY: total of 519,798 runs for the Fire Suppression units, broken down as follows: structural fires- 26,531; non-structural fires-15,512; emergencies-226,724; medical emergencies- 231,122; malicious false alarms- 19,909. The EMS Bureau did well over a million calls in addition to these numbers. The year 2014 was the busiest year in terms of total alarms.

FDNY: total of 519,798 runs for the Fire Suppression units, broken down as follows: structural fires- 26,531; non-structural fires-15,512; emergencies-226,724; medical emergencies- 231,122; malicious false alarms- 19,909. The EMS Bureau did well over a million calls in addition to these numbers. The year 2014 was the busiest year in terms of total alarms.

Well guys after 43 years as a Port Chester Firefighter [ 18 years very active volunteer working at DPW then getting the dream job getting paid to do what I love to do this is my last day. It didn't end the way I wanted it too but away I go . I was fortunate to catch the war years when we went out every day for a job worked side by side with many dept.'s and made a lot of life long friends on mutual aid. I saw a lot of death and sorrow [ Gulliver's 24 DOA Stouffer's 26 DOA 9/11 world trade center ] and saved a few along the way but my greatest call was closing a large window [ life savers building ] for a 84 year old lady who was freezing because her window was open and she needed help. The next day she baked a apple pie for me and my partner. So I say good bye to it all and hope that I left a small mark somewhere. To my 2 sons that are following or trying to follow in my foot step's keep up the good work in this most rewarding profession . Good luck to the guy's that are left on my job and hope that thing's get better for you and the people we were sworn to protect.
Angelo Sposta [ Retired Local #1971 ]

As far as "knocking with your elbows" at the firehouse, it usually means an Entemann's cake;bagels;donuts;eggs and bacon to cook for breakfast (if you're coming in for a 9x6 tour), and The Daily News (or the Post, but not so much). Bring copious amounts if you have a pumpkin patch on your helmet (Probie)! That's why you have to "knock with your elbows", cause you're carrying.

You might want to check the last issue Of WNYF (With New York Firemen). It's the FDNY official quarterly magazine that gives a lot of great information. The latest issue listed all the companies in the FDNY and all the special response assignments they have ( command post co's; high-rise nozzle co's; foam co's;LDH hose co's; ventilation support trucks; SOC support ladder co's; Haz Mat Tech Units (Engine co's specially trained); marine (fire-rescue boats) co's;etc.). Anyone really interested in the FDNY should subscribe to this magazine- I think it's about $40 a year. Go the the FDNY website and you should find out how to subscribe.

Hey guys here for an update-my father was responding to a full assignment on Monday when he suddenly collapsed. My brothers from WPFD used an AED to bring him back almost immediately. He went in for surgery yesterday and all went well. The doctors expect him to make a full recovery. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

If you're smart, a little buffy and into the job, please take this if it comes to you. A great dispatcher is invaluable to us in the field and we need more.

Price includes many many spare parts from doors to windshields and trans axels. It also includes a warranty for half the service life of th unit. It's fully comprehensive, bumper to bumper with all repairs included.Over 10 years and hundreds of thousands of miles the price proves it's worth.

As for the original post and the article. We've seen what happens when a FD has a tank and pump on their aerial then fails to maintain them due to budget woes. Faced with major cuts, repairing pumps and leaking tanks on apparatus that functionally never used them didn't make sense, next thing you know you're Houston FD on 60 Minutes (mid 90's?) explaining why your truck company couldn't stretch a line. More primary systems require more upkeep and maintenance. Typically FD's aren't apparatus poor, their manpower poor. If there are holes in someone's response system that allow for long periods of time between a truck arriving and the next in engine, likely tossing a Quint in will create an even longer delay when that piece is tied up or out of service.
This reminds me of the Louis CK clip about "Of course, but maybe". Of course, of course we have to make due with the funding and staffing the public gives us, but maybe when they cut and cut until we're riding twice as far with half the members to a fire the public should get what they paid for... Of course not, but... While I wholeheartedly believe we must provide the highest level of service we are capable of with the resources we're given, we must educate the public as to the limitations these cuts make. It is our job to to assume risk to address the emergency needs of our communities, but it's also our job to ensure that we take every measure possible to return to quarters with the same personnel we left with in the same condition. There is a balance between acceptable risk to our members and the amount of risk assumed to save life and property, if the public doesn't understand that scale we are partially to blame. We understand that it's impossible to provide the level of service many Metro FD's provide in rural America, yet how many citizens really understand the difference?

I am with you BNechis. I have seen a number of incentives given in exchange for activity, yet, it is my belief that none of them actually make more people come to each call / event. I have seen departments give out Meals, Perks, Gas Cards, LOSAP (Length of Service Applied Pensions) and, while all of these are great reinforcements for people who come to calls, it does not effectually make them want to be more active. It just rewards members (those who are more active) for being as active as they want to be.
When I was a member in an Eastern Connecticut department, the town paid EMTs $50 per call to take in EMS runs on the ambulance. They would not pay all 8 EMTs that showed up but paid 1 Driver/EMT and one Patient Care EMT (unless the call was serious - then they would pay an extra EMT in the back i.e. CPR in progress). This effectively incentivized people to get their EMT training to make some extra money and to show up for the calls that no one wanted to go on. It even went a step further since "the juice was finally worth the squeeze to go on all of the crummy calls (I think I'm not the only firefighter who dreads the fact that the EMS job fell into our laps in a lot of places), people would come around the firehouse to hang out more hoping to be there when the call went out so that they could beat out the other guys to earn an extra $50...therefore, they would be there to take in all of the other calls. It also created a good amount of friendly competition that was fun for the guys. I can remember making $1500 in some months just to hang around the firehouse on the weekends and evenings a few days a week. The town would re-coup this money easily by billing the insurance companies of those who were transported to pay the volunteers.
Another thing that I found to be effective were departments that had bunk rooms. In this day and age where the economy is crap and young adults are being forced to work more hours for less cash and can't afford to buy / rent houses in their home communities, they move away after high school or college leaving the departments that they have been with for 8 or 10 years. Departments that allowed members to "bunk," effectively kept members that were trying to get out of their parents' houses and gave them a free place to live where they could still give back to their community. There major rules:
1. You must have taken your firefighter 1 class.
2. If you are at the firehouse when a call went out, you must go on the call!
3. If you do something stupid, you can't live there anymore!
This resulted in 3-6 free 20-30 year old live-in firefighters at the firehouse most of the time (definitely nights and weekends). You essentially had a full crew ready to roll. And, with 5 or 6 bunk people, there are seldom less than 2 guys there to take in a call at any given time.
Lastly, you need to encourage training so that people don't just want to do the bare minimum. Training bonuses! Take Firefigher II, get a $300 bonus!
The three aforementioned ideas utilized in conjunction resulted in the creation of a "quasi-paid" firehouse for very little cost. For the cost of a couple of sets of bunk beds and a few lockers, you got a full crew on staff at the firehouse who were happy to have a free place to stay and a pocket full of cash from training & taking in EMS runs. These 5 or 6 guys, subsidized by the rest of the volunteers, many of whom would hang around quite a bit to make some EMS cash, created a pretty good system where most calls were adequately staffed, response times were great, and the members were well-trained and happy. When i was a bunk person I was in college and loved it. I went to class during the day, had a free place to stay and more money in my pocket than a college kid could spend. The set-up allowed me to be an honor student and one of the most active members of my department with plenty of time to spare. Many of the other bunk guys had full-time jobs during the day, evening, or night and would come and go as they pleased.